A digital watermark embedding apparatus generates an echo signal, which is delayed a time period corresponding to digital watermark information to be embedded with respect to each tone signal that forms an original audio signal, and inserts the generated echo signal in the original audio signal by spreading the echo signal on the time axis, thus outputting a watermarked audio signal. A digital watermark detection apparatus despreads echo signals contained in the watermarked audio signal on the time axis, and extracts digital watermark information from the generation time of the despread echo signal contained in the watermarked audio signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital watermark system, which comprises a digital watermark embedding apparatus for embedding digital watermark information in an original audio signal, and a digital watermark detection apparatus for detecting the digital watermark embedded in the original audio signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, end users can easily perform digital recording of digital audio information (audio contents), which are provided via communication media such as digital TV broadcast, the Internet, and the like in addition to commercially available CDs (Compact Disks), DVDs (Digital Versatile Disks), and the like, and can form copies using the digitally recorded contents. Upon digital recording, since copies can be formed without any quality deterioration, problems about infringement of copyrights are serious.
As a scheme for monitoring such pirate copies, a scheme in which a provider of audio contents embeds digital watermark information which has no effect on audio quality and represents, e.g., a production number or the like in the audio contents, has been proposed.
Various schemes have been proposed as a technique for embedding digital watermark information in a digital audio signal. As typical schemes, (a) a single echo scheme and (b) PN (pseudo random noise) sequence scheme are available. The basic operations of these schemes will be explained below.
(a) Single Echo Scheme
In this single echo scheme, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an echo signal 2 is inserted in an original audio signal a at a time delayed a time period (delay time period) Δ1 or Δ2 corresponding to [1] or [0] of digital watermark information b with respect to each tone signal 1 which forms this original audio signal a. Note that the actual time periods Δ1 and Δ2 are as short as several ms (milliseconds).
More specifically, as shown in a digital watermark embedding apparatus in FIG. 2, a time masking unit 3 detects the output time t0 of each tone signal 1 of the input original audio signal a. The detected output time t0 is supplied to an impulse response signal generator 4. The impulse response signal generator 4 outputs an impulse response signal c as the echo signal 2 to a convolution unit 5 at a time which is delayed the time period Δ1 or Δ2 corresponding to [1] or [0] of digital watermark information b with respect to that output time t0.
The convolution unit 5 executes a convolution process of the input original audio signal a and impulse response signal c, and outputs the convolution process result as a watermarked audio signal d shown in FIG. 1.
Although a digital watermark detection apparatus for detecting the digital watermark information b from the watermarked audio signal d generated by this digital watermark embedding apparatus is not shown, if this digital watermark detection apparatus calculates autocorrelation of this watermarked audio signal d, a peak appears at the time Δ1 or Δ2 corresponding to [1] or [0] of digital watermark information b, and the digital watermark information b embedded in the watermarked audio signal d can be detected.
When the original audio signal a is a signal which continues for a given period of time, such as music or the like, if an impulse response signal c, which approximates the entire original audio signal a to a state delayed by the time period Δ1 or Δ2 corresponding to [1] or [0] of digital watermark information b, is continuously output, the time masking unit 3 is not always required.
(b) PN (Pseudo Random Noise) Sequence Scheme
In this PN sequence scheme, as shown in FIG. 5, a PN sequence signal e [PN1 or PN0] corresponding to [1] or [0] of digital watermark information b is inserted in each tone signal 1 which forms an original audio signal a on the frequency axis.
More specifically, as shown in a digital watermark embedding apparatus in FIG. 3, a Fourier transformer 6 Fourier-transforms the input original audio signal a into a signal in the frequency axis domain, and supplies the transformed signal to a frequency masking unit 7 and adder 10. A PN sequence generator 9 outputs a PN sequence signal e [PN1 or PN0] corresponding to [1] or [0] of digital watermark information b to a multiplier 8. More specifically, 2m−1 (m; a positive integer) bit values which form a PN sequence [PN1 or PN0] are respectively added to sample values at all frequencies or at frequencies ω1, ω2, ω3, . . , ωM over a broad range.
The frequency masking unit 7 outputs frequency weighting characteristics for weighting respective frequency components of the PN sequence signal e [PN1 or PN0] to the multiplier 8 on the basis of frequency masking characteristics obtained from, e.g., the frequency distribution of an input signal in consideration of human auditory masking characteristics.
The multiplier 8 weights the PN sequence signal e [PN1 or PN0] using the frequency weighting characteristics, and outputs the weighted signal to the adder 10.
The adder 10 adds the frequency-weighted PN sequence signal e [PN1 or PN0] output from the multiplier 8 to the Fourier-transformed original audio signal a. The Fourier-transformed original audio signal a added with the PN sequence signal e [PN1 or PN0] is inversely Fourier-transformed into a time axis domain by an inverse Fourier transformer 11, and is output as a watermarked audio signal d1 shown in FIG. 5.
In a digital watermark detection apparatus, as shown in FIG. 4, the input watermarked audio signal d1 is Fourier-transformed into a signal in the frequency axis domain by a Fourier transformer 12, and the Fourier-transformed signal is input to a correlation calculation unit 13. The correlation calculation unit 13 makes a correlation operation between the Fourier-transformed watermarked audio signal d1 and a PN sequence signal e [PN1 or PN0], which is output from a PN sequence generator 14, and is the same as the PN sequence signal e used in embedding. The correlation calculation unit 13 outputs the correlation operation result as a correlation signal to a binarization unit 15. The binarization unit 15 binarizes the correlation signal to "1" or "0", and outputs a binary value as digital watermark information b.
However, even in the aforementioned digital watermarking methods, the following problems remain unsolved.
That is, in (a) the single echo scheme, the digital watermark information b to be embedded in the original audio signal a is indicated by the time periods Δ1 and Δ2 between each tone signal 1 and echo signals 2 (impulse response signals c) inserted at temporal neighbors of the tone signal 1, as shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, it is easy for a third party to decode the digital watermark information b from the watermarked audio signal d using, e.g., an autocorrelation calculation method.
That is, since secrecy of information indicating whether or not digital watermark information b is embedded, and the embedded watermark information b cannot be assured, a malevolent third party may use such information.
Furthermore, in order to improve the detection performance of digital watermark information b, since echo signals 2 (impulse response signals c) with a relatively large level must be inserted, signal quality such as the S/N ratio of the watermarked audio signal d may impair.
In (b) the PN (pseudo random noise) sequence scheme, since digital watermark information b of [1] or [0] is embedded as the PN sequence signal e [PN1 or PN0] in the Fourier-transformed original audio signal a, secrecy of the embedded digital watermark information b can be assured. Also, since the PN sequence signal e [PN1 or PN0] is distributed over a broad range, its signal level can be lowered.
In this case, the PN sequence signal e [PN1 or PN0] is consequently distributed over the entire frequency range. However, an audio signal of music or speech is not distributed over the entire human audible frequency range and whole time band.
Therefore, in a frequency or time range in which the original audio signal a has a low level, the embedded digital watermark information b may be heard as a slight noise in the watermarked audio signal d1. Hence, the fact that the digital watermark information b is embedded is perceivable to a listener.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A film sealant useful for tightly sealing an electric device at a low temperature and a sealing method of using the sealant are provided. The device is covered and sealed by covering at least a region of the device with a film sealant containing a copolyamide-series resin, heat-melting the sealant, and cooling the sealant. The copolyamide-series resin may have a melting point or softening point of 75 to 160° C. and may be a crystalline resin. The copolyamide-series resin may be a multiple copolymer or may contain a unit derived from a long-chain component having a C8-16alkylene group (e.g., a C9-17lactam and an aminoC9-17alkanecarboxylic acid). The film sealant may cover one side of the device.

In order to protect a precision part (or an electronic device) against moisture, dust and other unfavorable substances, the precision part (such as a semiconductor element, a printed wiring board, or a solar cell) is sealed (or encapsulated) with a resin. As the sealing method, a known method of sealing a precision part comprises placing the precision part in a mold cavity and injecting a fluid resin into the cavity. This method uses a thermosetting resin having a low viscosity and a high flowability in many cases.
However, the thermosetting resin shortens a storage life due to an additive (such as a crosslinking agent) added to the thermosetting resin, and requires a relatively long time from injection of the resin into a mold cavity to curing of the resin. Thus, the thermosetting resin cannot achieve improvement of efficient production. Further, depending on the species of the resin, it is necessary to cure the resin after molding, which deteriorates production efficacy.
Moreover, it is known that a thermoplastic resin is injection-molded to seal a precision part. The thermoplastic resin, however, is practically injected at a relatively high temperature and high pressure, and thus a substrate or an electronic part mounted on a substrate is liable to damage and loses the reliability. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-133665 (JP-2000-133665A, Patent Document 1) discloses a method of sealing a printed wiring board mounted with an electronic part, the method comprising placing a printed wiring board equipped with an electronic part in a mold cavity and injecting a heat-melted polyamide resin having a temperature of 160 to 230° C. into the mold cavity at a pressure range of 2.5 to 25 kg/cm2. This document discloses in Examples that a polyamide resin (Series Number 187) manufactured by TRL (France) is injected into a mold at a melting temperature of 190° C. and a pressure of 20 kg/cm2 to seal a printed wiring board. This method, however, also exposes the electronic part to relatively high temperature and high pressure, and the electronic part is sometimes damaged.
Packing of a device by a film is also known. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-284779 (JP-2001-284779A, Patent Document 2) discloses a process for producing a sealed part of an electronic circuit; the process includes a method comprising inserting a circuit board (1) provided with electronic parts (2, 2A) into a cylindrical film (3) and closing both openings of the cylindrical film to pack the circuit board, a method comprising covering a region of the electronic parts with sheet films (3A, 3B), a method comprising covering both sides of a circuit board (1) with two sheet films (3A, 3B) and wrapping the circuit board with the sheet films. This document also discloses a method comprising covering the circuit board with film(s) previously softened by heat and a method comprising reducing a pressure between the board and the film(s) for following the film(s) to the above-mentioned part or board. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 11-259021 (JP-11-259021A, Patent Document 3) discloses a liquid crystal display panel comprising liquid crystal display panel members consisting of a plurality of liquid crystal display panel members and a film, the panel members being covered and laminated with the film. This document also discloses a polyamide as an example of a plastic film.
In these methods, however, a device (such as an electronic part) cannot be sealed by tight adhesion. In particular, since these methods protect a device against moisture or water in a wrapping manner, the device cannot effectively be protected in covering only one side of the device.
Further, it is also known to seal a device using a film sealant. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2008-282906 (JP-2008-282906A, Patent Document 4) relates to a process for producing a solar cell module comprising a solar cell sealed between a substrate and a film by a resin; in the process, a first sealing-resin sheet substantially covering the whole surface of the substrate is disposed between the substrate and the solar cell, and a second sealing-resin sheet substantially covering the whole surface of the substrate is disposed between the film and the solar cell for preparing a layered structure. A plurality of the layered structures are stacked while a back plate is disposed outside the film of an uppermost layered structure, air between the substrate and the film is discharged and the resin is heat-melted and then cooled to seal the cell. This document discloses that the sealing-resin is selected from the group consisting of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a poly(vinyl butyral), and a polyurethane.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2009-99417 (JP-2009-99417A, Patent Document 5) discloses an organic electronic device sealing panel which comprises a substrate, an organic electronic device formed on the substrate, and a barrier film sealing the organic electronic device, and a hot-melt member is disposed between the organic electronic device and the barrier film. This document also discloses that the hot-melt member contains a moisture scavenger and a wax and that the hot-melt member is in a thin film having a thickness of not more than 100 μm. Moreover, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2009-99805 (JP-2009-99805A, Patent Document 6) discloses a hot-melt member for an organic thin-film solar cell, the member containing a moisture scavenger and a wax. This document also discloses that the hot-melt member may be in the form of a thin-film, a plate, an amorphous or indefinite, and others.
The film sealant, however, has low adaptability to an uneven portion (a depressed or raised portion) of a device, and thus it is difficult to seal the detailed exact or minutiae form of the device tightly. Further, since the above hot-melt member comprises a wax as a main component, it is difficult to seal the device with higher adhesion.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-234125 (JP-2001-234125A, Patent Document 7) discloses a powder coating material for thermal spray coating; in order to prevent the coating material from discoloring even when exposed to high-temperature flames in a coating process, the coating material comprises 0.05 to 2.0 parts by weight of a hindered phenol-series antioxidant and 0.05 to 2.0 parts by weight of a phosphite-series antioxidant relative to 100 parts by weight of a thermoplastic resin, and has a medium particle diameter of 50 to 300 μm, a bulk specific gravity of not less than 0.30 g/ml and a repose angle of not more than 35°. In this document, the thermoplastic resin includes a polyethylene resin, a polypropylene resin, a nylon-11 resin, a nylon-12 resin, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer resin, an ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer resin, a modified polyethylene resin, and a modified polypropylene resin. An example using a nylon (polyamide) resin (trade name "Grilamid" manufactured by EMS-CHEMIE AG) is also described in this document.
Since the above-mentioned powder coating material, however, is melted and sprayed at a high temperature, there is a possibility to easily damage the electronic part in the sealing process and the reliability of the device.


A multiband dynamics compressor implements a frequency-domain solution for addressing unwanted magnitude peaks which may occur at the crossover frequency (boundary) between two adjacent frequency bands. The solution proposes making slight adjustments to the frequency band boundary locations, for example on a frame-by-frame basis, in order to prevent a spectral peak in the input signal from being located midway between two frequency bands. The adjustment to the boundary location pushes the energy of the spectral peak substantially into one frequency band for compression.

Dynamics compression may be used during audio mastering, broadcast or playback to adjust the gain as a function of time, in order to achieve a desired distribution of output levels. This type of compression (not to be confused with data compression algorithms such as mp3) helps keep the volume in the "sweet spot" between too soft and too loud, reducing the user's need to manually adjust (or "ride") the volume. Dynamics compression allows the quiet portions of the program to remain audible, even in a relatively noisy environment, while keeping the louder parts from becoming disturbingly loud.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a typical feed-forward single-band dynamics compressor (C). Single-band (also known as wideband) dynamics compressors apply the same processing to the entire frequency range. The RMS level of an input signal 10 is extracted 12 and converted 14 to a logarithmic representation. Next, a transfer function (or characteristic) 16 maps the input signal level to a desired output level. FIG. 2A shows an exemplary transfer function 16. FIG. 2B illustrates the gain curve of the transfer function of FIG. 2A which results from the mapping of the input signal level to a desired output level. When the input level is less than the compression threshold 18 (−30 dB in this example), ignoring the noise gate region, each additional dB of input level produces one additional dB of output level. However, when the input level exceeds the compression threshold 18, each additional dB of input level only produces 1/r dB of additional output level, where r is the compression ratio (in FIG. 2A, r=3).
The gain is then converted 20 back from the logarithmic to a linear representation, smoothed 22 and applied 24 to a copy of the input signal 10 which has been delayed (z−n) 26 to compensate for the delay of the gain computation path 28. Finally, some post-gain 30 may be applied 32 to help compensate for some of the gain loss due to the compression. More information on single-band dynamics compressors may be obtained from the following references (the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference): G. W. McNally, "Dynamic Range Control of Digital Audio Signals," J. Audio Engineering Society, Vol. 32, No. 5, 1984 May; Udo Zölzer, Digital Audio Signal Processing, John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 1997, pp. 207-219; and Earl Vickers, "Automatic Long-term Loudness and Dynamics Matching," presented at the AES 111th Convention, New York, 2001.
A multiband dynamics compressor divides the frequency range into a plurality of frequency bands and then processes the input signal through each frequency band independently. In many implementations, a different set of processing parameters (such as compression ratios) is applied to each frequency band. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a typical feed-forward multiband dynamics compressor. The input signal 10 is applied to a band splitting block 30 which divides the signal 10 in the frequency domain into a plurality of signals 32 each being limited to a certain frequency band, there being some degree of frequency overlap between adjacent ones of the frequency bands. In a frequency-domain implementation, frequency band splitting block 30 may consist of a fast Fourier transform (FFT) or short-time Fourier transform (STFT), with an optional analysis window; in a time-domain implementation, frequency band splitting block 30 may consist of one or more crossover filters. Each signal 32 is then applied to one of a plurality of included feed-forward single-band compressors (C1-C5) 34. Each compressor 34 may, for example, have a configuration like that of the compressor (C) shown in FIG. 1. The output signals 36 from the plurality of compressors 34 are then combined 38 together to generate a signal output 40. In a frequency-domain implementation, combining block 38 may consist of an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) or inverse short-time Fourier transform (ISTFT), which may include an overlap-add implementation with optional synthesis window; in a time-domain implementation, combining block 38 may consist of a summer.
Multiband dynamics compressors are powerful, versatile tools for audio mastering, broadcast and playback. When used properly, multiband dynamics compressors have a number of advantages over single-band dynamics compressors, foremost being the fact that loud sounds in one band will not trigger artifacts such as "pumping" or "breathing" in the other bands. However, multiband dynamics compressors have a known problem relating to frequency response.
It has been noted that while multiband compressors may have a generally flat spectral response to broad-band inputs, the narrow-band response exhibits peaks near the edges of the frequency bands. In other words, as shown in FIG. 4, when excited by a (time-varying) narrow-band input, such as a swept sinusoid, the magnitude response of the multiband dynamics compressor like that of FIG. 3 displays unwanted peaks 42 at the boundaries 44 between frequency bands 46. Specifically, FIG. 4 illustrates the magnitude response 48 of a multiband dynamics compressor of the type shown in FIG. 3 to a swept sinusoid 50 with band boundaries 44 located at 500 Hz and 2000 Hz. The unwanted peak 42 phenomenon is caused by the fact that, when a sinusoid's frequency is near the boundary 44 between two compressor frequency bands 46, only a portion of the sinusoid's energy is allocated to each frequency band 46. Therefore, the energy seen in each of the adjacent frequency bands 46 at the boundary 44 is not fully representative of the energy of the sinusoid signal 50. This triggers less compression of the sinusoid 50 at and near the boundary 44 than would occur at other frequencies located in the middle of the frequency bands 46. In other words, less dynamics compression is triggered with respect to the narrowband component at the boundary 44 between frequency bands 46 than if the entire energy of the narrowband component were allocated to a single one of the adjacent frequency bands. As a result, the response is not shift-invariant with respect to frequency. Those skilled in the art refer to this as a "3 dB bump" in the response; but is it recognized that the size of the peak 42 is a function of the compression ratio and can be as much as 6 dB.
It will be noted that absent the application of a non-linear compression, the energy would simply be split into two bands and then recombined with perfect reconstruction. The problem arises from the combination of the splitting of the energy into multiple bands and the applied non-linearity of the compressor. This problem occurs in all conventional multiband compressors, whether analog or digital, time-domain or frequency-domain.
In time-domain compressors, the bands are separated by cross-over filters having gain curves with a finite slope. For ease of calculating the sum of the band outputs, the use of Linkwitz-Riley crossovers, which have a gain of about −6 dB at the crossover frequency and in-phase outputs at all frequencies, is assumed. Similar compressor artifacts occur with other filters, such as odd-order Butterworth crossovers.
For an input sinusoid whose frequency is in the middle of a compressor frequency band, with RMS level X (in dBFS), threshold L (dBFS), compression ratio r, and slope S=1/r (slope of the transfer function's compressor line segment), the output RMS level is:
                              Y          c                =                  {                                                                                L                    +                                                                  (                                                  X                          -                          L                                                )                                                                  s                                                        ,                                                                              X                  >                  L                                                                                X                                                                                X                    <=                    L                                    ,                                                                                (        1        )            and the compressor gain in dB is:Gc=Yc−X=max(X−L,0)(s−1),  (2)where the subscript c signifies the case of a sinusoid near the center of the compressor band. For simplicity of notation, the time index has been omitted.
In the case of an input sinusoid midway between two compressor frequency bands, with the same input RMS level and a filter gain of F (in dBFS) at the crossover frequency, the output RMS level in each compressor band is given by:
                              Y          b                =                  {                                                                                L                    +                                                                  (                                                  F                          +                          X                          -                          L                                                )                                                                  s                                                        ,                                                                                F                    +                    X                                    >                  L                                                                                F                  +                  X                                                                                F                      +                      X                                        <=                    L                                    ,                                                                                (        3        )            and the compressor gain in each of the bands b is:Gb=Yb−(F+X)=max(F+X−L,0)(s−1)  (4)
Since the Linkwitz-Riley crossover filters add in-phase at all frequencies, the total output RMS level of the sum of the two bands (in dB) is:
                                          Y            s                    =                                    20                                                              log                  10                                (                                  2                  ·                                      10                                                                  Y                        b                                            20                                                                      )                                      =                                          20                                                  log                  10                                                2                            +                              Y                b                                                    ,                            (        5        )            where the subscript s signifies the sum of the two bands.
For sinusoids that exceed the threshold (after cross-over filtering) and are thus compressed, the difference between the within-band and between-band cases is given byd=Ys−Yc=6+sF,  (6)assuming the input level X exceeds threshold L by more than the filter gain F.
Reference is now made to FIGS. 5A and 5B. As an example, consider an X=0 dBFS sinusoid and a compressor with threshold L=−20 dB, compression ratio r=2 and slope s=0.5. If the input sinusoid is positioned in the middle of one of the compressor's frequency bands 46, as shown in FIG. 5A, the gain Gc would be 20*(−0.5)=−10 dB, for an output level of Yc=−10 dB.
On the other hand, if the sinusoid's frequency equals the crossover frequency (boundary 44) between two frequency bands 46, as shown in FIG. 5B, the crossover filter gain F will be −6 dB (with a Linkwitz-Riley crossover), so each adjacent frequency band 46 will see an RMS level of X+F=−6 dB. In this case, the gain Gb will equal (−6+20)*−0.5=−7 dB, and the output level Yb in each band will be −6−7=−13 dB.
Since the Linkwitz-Riley crossover filters add in-phase at all frequencies, the amplitude of the sum of the two bands would be:
                              Y          s                =                              20                                                      log                10                            (                              2                ·                                  10                                                            -                      13                                        20                                                              )                                =                                    -              7                                                                                dB              .                                                          (        7        )
The result is that the frequency response at the crossover frequency is d=6+(0.5*−6)=3 dB higher than the response elsewhere. The worst case is with an infinite compression ratio (s=0), in which case the response would have a 6 dB peak at the crossover frequency. Thus, it has been shown how the "3 dB peak" is produced at or near the boundary 44 between two adjacent frequency bands 46.
For compressors implemented in the frequency domain, one might assume that the bands would have a perfect brick-wall response, thereby preventing this problem. However, this assumption does not take into account the effect of the short-time Fourier transform's analysis filter (i.e., input window, in the time domain), which splatters some of the sinusoid's energy into each of the adjacent bands. As a result, a similar crossover peak occurs with frequency-domain compressors (as seen previously in FIG. 4).
In summary, less compression is applied to a sinusoid at the crossover frequency (boundary 44) between two frequency bands 46 than would have been applied had the sinusoid been in the middle of one of the compressor frequency bands. As a result, the response is not shift-invariant with respect to frequency. Note: this issue is not readily apparent in response to typical wideband audio signals.
The foregoing problem has been examined previously in terms of frequency-domain sampling of the power spectrum and it has been noted that a power-symmetric or perfect reconstruction filter bank does not present a satisfactory solution. Rather, a proposed solution (prior art) is to decrease the frequency-domain sampling interval (i.e., to increase the number of bands and the overlap between bands). This solution is analogized to what happens in the human ear. Each hair cell in the cochlea is tuned to a particular frequency by the cochlea's mechanical resonance, which functions as sort of a mechanical Fourier transform. While the hair cells are very closely spaced in frequency, each one is sensitive to a bandwidth of roughly ⅓ octave, so they are heavily overlapped. The proposed solution, however, does not totally eliminate the problem, but with sufficiently overlapped bands the problem can be greatly minimized. Unfortunately, this approach requires a heavily oversampled filter bank, which can be relatively expensive to implement. There accordingly exists a need in the art for a more economic and successful solution.

Frequency domain multiband dynamics compressor with automatically adjusting frequency band boundary locations


A method of manufacturing active optical fibers comprising preparing a preform and then drawing a fiber from the preform, wherein the method consists in using a preform having a doped peripheral outer zone, said zone being intended to constitute the outer cladding of the optical fiber, the doping of the peripheral zone giving it a refractive index greater than that of the optical cladding, and giving it a difference in softening temperature relative to that of the core of the optical fiber which is less than the difference that would exist if the outer zone were not doped.

There exist several methods of manufacturing optical fibers. However, the procedure always includes the following:
preparing a preform, i.e. a rod of vitreous silica of very high purity having the desired refractive index profile; and then
drawing the fiber from the preform.
To manufacture optical fibers for telecommunications purposes, the common practice is to use vapor reaction methods which enable very high degrees of purity to be obtained. The base material is pure silica. Dopants, called "primary" dopants, are added to modify the refractive index of the silica. The dopants selected depend on the desired index difference. For example, boron and fluorine can be used to reduce the refractive index of silica, or phosphorous and germanium can be used to increase it.
Active optical fibers have also been known for some time which are obtained by doping using rare earth elements, e.g. erbium. These dopants are called "secondary" dopants. They are generally used together with another dopant which is a primary dopant, namely alumina, for the purpose of avoiding the phenomenon of rare earth ions "clustering".
To obtain better efficiency in active optical fibers, it has been found necessary to improve interaction between light and matter. This can be done in two ways. Firstly, by increasing energy density in the core of the optical fiber by reducing its radius, e.g. to the m range. This makes it necessary to have a large index difference (about 30 to 50.times.10.sup.-3) and a high concentration of primary dopant. Alternatively, interaction between light and matter can be improved by confining the active species (e.g. erbium) in the most central region of the core.
A problem then arises of the primary and the secondary dopants diffusing which makes it difficult to obtain the two above-mentioned objectives.
Such diffusion takes place during all stages of the manufacturing method in which heating to a high temperature is required, namely during collapsing and possible stretching of the preform and also during fiber-drawing. The temperature is normally governed by the refractory nature of the non-doped outer cladding. This problem due to diffusion occurs as soon as the preform is made, e.g. using the well known technique of internal modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD). For spectroscopically-favorable core compositions, including an Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 content of about 10% and a GeO.sub.2 content of a few tens of %, this diffusion problem manifests itself in the extreme difficulty of simultaneously obtaining:
.DELTA.n>30.times.10.sup.-3
2A>1 mm (where A is the radius of the core in the preform); and
the radius in which the secondary dopant is confined is significantly different from A.
There also arises a problem of thermomechanical stresses due to the large difference in expansion coefficient between the core of the fiber having a high content of primary dopant and its outer cladding which is normally undoped.
In order to mitigate these drawbacks, the present invention proposes making preforms and fibers in which the outer cladding is doped, making it possible:
to maintain its refractive index at a level slightly greater than that of the optical cladding;
reducing its softening temperature to a value close to that of the optical cladding, thereby making it possible to provide preforms and fibers under temperature conditions that are lower, thereby reducing diffusion phenomena; and
to reduce the mean thermomechanical stresses by moving the expansion coefficients or the softening temperatures closer together.
In internal deposition techniques, it is the deposition tube that must include the doping. The invention is applicable, in particular, to the techniques of internal deposition in a tube known by the terms MCVD, plasma chemical vapor deposition (PCVD), surface wave plasma chemical vapor deposition (SPCVD), etc. The techniques used for rare earth doping may be impregnation, nebulization, or the organometallic method.

Method of manufacturing active optical fibers


A process for producing a dyed article having a substrate laminated with a fluororesin film comprises the steps of: providing a substrate having laminated thereon a fluororesin film through an adhesive layer; contacting an original having a pattern or image formed with a sublimating or volatile dye with a surface of said fluororesin film opposite to said adhesive layer; heating said original to allow said dye to permeate said fluororesin film; and allowing said dye to be trapped by at least one of said adhesive layer and said substrate to transfer the pattern or image of the original thereto. According to the process, designs of an original can faithfully be transferred to a substrate for dyeing having any desired substrate on which a fluororesin film having high resistances to light, solvents, heat and stains is laminated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to dyed goods or articles having improved weatherability which have laminated thereon a fluororesin film and also have therein dyed designs faithfully transferred directly from the original.
2. Description of Related Art
Fluororesin films have excellent resistances to light, solvents, heat and stains, and are utilized widely as a laminating film material for endowing high weatherability to articles to be laminated. However, the fluororesins are difficult to form on the surface thereof designs such as designs directly applied and fixed firmly thereto by printing or the like method since they have low surface energies. Substrates on which designs can be formed, for example, by printing include, for example, sheets for tents, aluminum plates, and flexible sheets made of a fabric such as a cloth impregnated with a polyvinyl chloride-based resin.
However, printed matters using such flexible substrates are susceptible to staining on their surface and also to fading with ultraviolet rays when used outdoors as advertisement or for other purposes.
To prevent the surface of the printed matters from staining, it was a conventional measure to laminate a fluororesin film on the designs formed on the substrate. On the other hand, fluororesin films containing an ultraviolet absorbent were used for the lamination in order to prevent the fading of the printed matter.
The process in which the substrate having formed thereon designs in advance is laminated requires a step of forming designs on a substrate and a step of laminating a fluororesin film thereon. In particular, in the case of a single piece production or a small lot production of large signboards, for example, for outdoor advertisement, formation of firmly applied designs on a substrate suitable for the desired use by painting or by any other printing method using no printing plate or block (such as ink jet printing) must be followed by a large scale lamination of a resin. This requires a long time for production and makes the production cost high.

Process for producing dyed laminated products


The invention provides a start-up method for a process for the preparation of glycols from a starting material comprising one or more saccharides in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst system comprising one or more retro-aldol catalysts comprising tungsten and one or more catalytic species suitable for hydrogenation in a reactor, said method comprising introducing the one or more retro-aldol catalysts to the reactor whilst also in the presence of one or more agents suitable to suppress tungsten precipitation.

Monoethylene glycol (MEG) and monopropylene glycol (MPG) are valuable materials with a multitude of commercial applications, e.g. as heat transfer media, antifreeze, and precursors to polymers, such as PET. Ethylene and propylene glycols are typically made on an industrial scale by hydrolysis of the corresponding alkylene oxides, which are the oxidation products of ethylene and propylene, produced from fossil fuels.
In recent years, increased efforts have focused on producing chemicals, including glycols, from renewable feedstocks, such as sugar-based materials. The conversion of sugars to glycols can be seen as an efficient use of the starting materials with the oxygen atoms remaining intact in the desired product.
Current methods for the conversion of saccharides to glycols revolve around a hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis process as described in Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 8510-8513.
A preferred methodology for a commercial scale process would be to use continuous flow technology, wherein feed is continuously provided to a reactor and product is continuously removed therefrom. By maintaining the flow of feed and the removal of product at the same levels, the reactor content remains at a more or less constant volume.
Continuous flow processes for the production of glycols from saccharide feedstock have been described in US20110313212, CN102675045, CN102643165, WO2013015955 and CN103731258. A process for the co-production of bio-fuels and glycols is described in WO2012174087.
Typical processes for the conversion of saccharides to glycols require two catalytic species in order to catalyse retro-aldol and hydrogenation reactions. Typically, the hydrogenation catalyst compositions tend to be heterogeneous. However, the retro-aldol catalysts are generally homogeneous in the reaction mixture. Such catalysts are inherently limited due to solubility constraints. Further, the saccharide-containing feedstock is generally in the form of a slurry in a solvent or as a homogeneous saccharide solution.
The homogeneous tungsten-based catalysts typically used in a saccharides to glycols process may be susceptible to conversion to undesirable products, for example by reduction and precipitation of the metal (tungsten). Precipitated solids in a reactor system can lead to blocked lines and clogging as well as undesirable chemical and/or physical reactions of the tungsten metal with other species present (e.g. catalyst poisoning).
The deposition may occur on any surface, including the walls of the reactor and the surface of the solid hydrogenation catalyst. Over time, this deposition can lead to reduced product yields, operational upsets and reduced catalyst performance.
It is desirable to provide an improved start-up to the process for the conversion of saccharides to glycols in which the deposition of the retro-aldol catalysts is minimized or eliminated.

Start-up process for the production of glycols


An apparatus and method for detecting motor bearing defects obtains motor current transient data during motor start-up, analyzes the motor current transient data via discrete wavelet transform, and compares the wavelet sub-bands to a baseline signature of a bearing-defect-free motor to detect bearing defects.

This invention is directed generally to predictive maintenance and more particularly to detection of motor bearing faults.
Induction machines are called the workhorses of industry due to their widespread use in manufacturing. The heavy reliance of industry on these machines in critical applications makes catastrophic motor failures very expensive. Vibration, thermal, and acoustic analyses are some of the commonly used methods, for predictive maintenance, to monitor the health of the machine to prevent motor failures from causing expensive shut-downs. Preventive maintenance of induction motors plays an important role in avoiding expensive shut-downs due to motor failures. Vibration and thermal monitoring require additional sensors or transducers to be fitted on the machines. While some large motors may already come with vibration and thermal transducers, it is not economically or physically feasible to provide the same for smaller machines.
Continuous monitoring with expensive analyzers may not be feasible, so that motors are checked periodically by technicians moving portable equipment from machine to machine on a maintenance schedule. The migration of multi-function circuit monitors from the principal feeders toward individual loads has propelled a study of the relationship of bearing vibration to the stator current. Current monitoring provides a non-intrusive approach to continuously monitor motor reliability with minimal additional cost.
Motor current signature analysis (MCSA) provides a non-intrusive way to obtain information about bearing health using already available line current. MCSA gets bearing information by relating the current spectral frequencies to characteristic vibration frequencies. Vibration signals from a defective bearing often consist of a superposition of normal bearing noise and the impulse response due to the defects. The characteristic vibration frequencies are calculated using rotor speed and the bearing geometry. MCSA investigates steady state data and utilizes the Fourier Analysis as the primary frequency domain method in determining bearing related spectral components.
Presently, motor current signature analysis techniques cannot detect bearing faults until the bearing fault reaches advanced stages. This increases the risk of a catastrophic failure.
Presently available motor current signature analysis techniques concerned with bearing fault diagnosis use the motor current data collected under steady state conditions. In steady state, the frequency components of motor current caused by bearing faults are very small compared to the rest of the current spectrum. Due to the large difference between current spectrum bearing harmonics and the rest of the current spectrum, it is much more difficult to detect bearing harmonics in the current spectrum.
In this invention, the starting current transient of an induction motor is analyzed via discrete wavelet transform to detect bearing faults. The frequency sub-bands for bearing pre-fault and post-fault conditions are compared to identify the effects of bearing/machine resonant frequencies as the motor starts. Using starting current transient analysis via discrete wavelet transform, the motor bearing faults are detected at an earlier stages so that bearing replacement can be scheduled and down time can be minimized.
Briefly, in accordance with the foregoing, a method for detecting motor bearing defects comprises obtaining motor current transient data during motor start-up, and analyzing the motor current transient data to detect changes in RMS levels due to bearing defect-induced resonance.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for detecting motor bearing defects comprises means for obtaining motor current transient data during motor start-up, and means for analyzing the motor current transient data to detect changes in RMS levels due to bearing defect-induced resonance.

Motor bearing damage detection via wavelet analysis of the starting current transient


A valve for inflation and deflation of an air bag that is operable to allow air pressure to open the valve to allow air to enter the air bag with subsequent sealing of the valve upon removal of the air pressure source. For deflation, a common coin is insertable into the valve insert which is subsequently turned into a locked-open position, allowing egress of the air within the air bag.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fluid valves, and more specifically to a valve for inflation and deflation of an air-containing bag.
2. Description of Related Art
Goods are shipped all over the world in a variety of containers. The goods may travel via air, sea or land. Thus, the container might be, without limitation, an aircraft, ship, railcar, road vehicle such as a trailer truck, or a shipping container within any of these.
During transit, goods are subject to forces that can cause movement within their container. Aircraft are buffeted by winds, as are rail and road vehicles. Ships are at the mercy of swelling seas. Additionally, forces are exerted when vehicles turn, or in some cases, move up and down. Such forces, if uncontained, may cause destruction of, and/or damage to, the goods being transported.
While goods may be packed together tightly to reduce destruction from movement caused by external forces, packages are often of sizes that are different, or even irregular, and attempting to securely stack such packages in a container is often difficult. Void spaces within the containers provide the opportunity for motion of packages.
Accordingly, it is typical to fill gaps between stacked packages with air cushioning bags that can be inflated to a selected size to restrain the load in place. Once a location for delivery of the packages has been reached, the air cushioning bags must be deflated to allow access for removal of the goods from the container.
One previous approach to overcoming the above-referenced problem is a pressure relief valve that allows for removal of excess pressure from an air-containing device. However, while such a device works well to expel excess air, it opens only to expel air, not to allow air into the air bag.
Other devices are spring loaded, wherein pressure opens the valve, but seal automatically once pressure is released. However, in order to vent the air bag, it is necessary to depress, and inconveniently hold, a portion of the valve open to permit egress of the air within the air bag.
Yet other devices allow for locking the device in an open position to allow egress of the air contained in the air bag. However, such devices often act against a spring and are difficult to manually turn without a specific tool designed for turning the insert within the body of the device.
Therefore, it is readily apparent that there is a need for an air bag valve that allows inflation and deflation, and that is readily operable with simple everyday ubiquitous tools.

Valve for inflation and deflation of air bags and method of use thereof


The present invention relates to the recording of moving images by means of a portable communication device, such as a videophone. The communication device includes a main device (101), comprising a video camera (105). Furthermore, an accessory device (102), such as a headset, is also associated with the main device (101) and co-located with a relevant object (103). The video camera (105) records an original image of the relevant object (103). At least one tracking point (107a ) is located on the accessory device (102) and at least one automatic tracking sensor (108a-108c) responsive to the at least one tracking point is located on the main device (101). The main device (101) further comprises a tracking data generator, which receives signals from the automatic tracking sensor(s) (108a-108c) and generates in response thereto tracking data representing a target direction (104) between the main device (101) and the accessory device (102). An image controller in the main device (101) creates a stabilized image of the relevant object (103) based on the target direction (104) and an original image recorded by the video camera (105 ).

The present invention relates generally to the recording of moving images by means of a portable communication device. More particularly the invention relates to a method of producing an enhanced image of a relevant object recorded by a video camera.
The increasing capacities to transport high bandwidth signals in the fixed and mobile communication networks make mobile video telephony an increasingly viable application. A mobile videophone typically includes means for recording a movable image of the phone's user and means for presenting a corresponding movable image of at least one other person with whom the user communicates.
Audio information, for instance in the form of voice signals, is normally also communicated during a mobile videophone call. Therefore, means for duplex communication of audio information are also included in the videophone. Since the image recording means in the videophone requires that the videophone (or at least a device thereof including a camera, which typically is the main device) be placed at a particular minimum distance from the user, the sound information cannot be recorded by a regular microphone, such as those used in standard audio telephones.
The sound information must instead be exchanged between the user and main device either by means of a voice controlled microphone-loudspeaker arrangement or by means of a headset, which includes a microphone (positioned in proximity of the user's mouth) for receiving audio information and at least one earpiece (positioned in proximity of the user's ear(s)) for transmission of audio information to the user. A headset provides a higher degree of privacy than the microphone-loudspeaker arrangement. In most cases, the headset also provides a higher audio quality. The headset may, of course, prove impractical for certain applications. Wireless headsets (e.g. communicating via a Bluetooth interface), nevertheless, overcome the majority of the limitations associated with cable-connected headsets.
Consequently, there exit satisfying solutions for communicating voice signals also via mobile videophones. Unfortunately, there are yet no sufficiently good solutions for recording a moving image of the videophone user.
It is generally desirable that an object regarded as relevant for the videophone call (i.e. in most cases the face of the user) is recorded in such manner that it covers a substantial part of the available image area.
During a call the videophone user may either hold the videophone in his/her hand and point the phone's camera in the general direction of his/her face or alternatively place the phone on a stationary object in front of him/her in such manner that phone's camera is able to record images the user's face. In the first case movements of the user's hand and or upper body may cause the user's head to occasionally (at least partly) fall out of picture (i.e. outside the video camera's angular recording range). In any circumstances, the image of the user will most probably be more or less shaky. In the second case the image is inclined to be more stable, however, the risk that the user moves out of picture is at least as large as in the former case, particularly since the camera has a comparatively narrow angular recording range in order to fulfil the requirement that the relevant object should cover a relatively large part of the total image area. The measures previously taken to alleviate these problems involve the following three techniques.
A first alternative is to digitally analyse an image recorded by a video camera and create a stabilized image by processing a series of consecutively recorded image frames, extracting image features that are estimated to represent relevant information and generating enhanced moving images in which, for instance, the effects of shakes are reduced. This solution is based on complex calculations and hence demands a high processing capacity. That, in turn, means high costs and/or high power consumption. Furthermore, it is not certain that the image processing algorithms detect the correct relevant information and thus enhance the moving images in a desirable manner.
A second alternative to decrease the effects of shakes is to stabilize the camera in the videophone mechanically. This, however, either implies a bulky arrangement including a multitude of engines and complex levers or weights of impractical magnitude to be included in the videophone. Therefore, this solution is not interesting from a practical point of view.
A third alternative to decrease the effect of shakes is to attach the videophone camera to a rod, which is connected to a helmet worn by the user. This is, no doubt, an efficient way to produce a stable stabile image of user's face. Nevertheless, the solution is not likely to attain a high consumer interest, since the solution will probably be perceived as impractical and not very discrete.
The patent literature includes a few examples of applications outside the field of video communication in which headsets are used to adaptively convey information to a user. These examples are not directly related to the field of the present invention. However, they touch upon problems and solutions that are related to some aspects of the present invention.
For instance, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,229 discloses an apparatus for transmitting optical information from an essentially stationary transmitter to a viewer's movable headset. The solution is typically used to superimpose map information on directly observable information in the surroundings of an aircraft pilot. The transmitter tracks the headset and directs its optical information beam to the headset by means of a light source and a tracking guide sensor in the transmitter respective a tracking guide reflector in the headset.
The patent document JP, A, 8102702 describes a radio signal transmission system in which a headset includes two radio transmitters for producing radio signals with horizontal and vertical waveform directivity respectively. A detection device, which receives the radio signals from the headset, determines the orientation of the headset on basis of the different strengths of the respective radio signals.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,619,582 discloses a system for enhancement of audio information in a concert environment involving a wireless headphone system. Multiple radio channels are transmitted to the audience of which all channels contain the same acoustic signal, however for each channel the signal is delayed by a different preset time period. The time of arrival of at least two radio frequency pulses are compared in order to locate the position of a particular headphone receiver in relation to the transmitter. On basis of this position the headphone receiver chooses a suitably delayed radio channel such that the decoded audio signal is approximately in phase with the sound arriving from the main speakers at the stage.
Despite the fact that the videophone communication technology and mobile communication solutions have been known for decades there still exists no example of a mobile videophone solution, which is both capable of producing and maintaining a stable image of a relevant object and is attractive to a user from a practical point of view.

System and method for recording moving images


A tubing hanger is provided for suspending a tubing hanger from a wellhead housing. The tubing hanger body includes a production bore and an annulus bore, a valve opening inlet port, a valve closed inlet port, and a hydraulically operated ball valve to selectively open and close the annulus bore. An actuator sleeve surrounds the ball valve and is movable in response to fluid pressure between the open and closed positions.

The present invention relates to a wellhead assembly including tubing hanger and, more specifically, to positioning a ball valve in fluid communication with the annulus bore of a tubing hanger of an oil or gas well production system. The improved tubing hanger may be used in surface or subsea trees, and may be used in either conventional or horizontal trees.
A conventional tubing hanger in a wellhead assembly has a vertical production bore and at least one generally vertical annulus bore which is in communication with the tubing annulus between the production tubing and the production casing. The lower end of the annulus bore thus exits the bottom of the tubing hanger, and in a conventional tree or a single-bore tree the upper end of the annulus bore typically exits the top of the tubing hanger for communication with the tree. In a horizontal tree, the well annulus is typically in communication with a lateral bore in the tree housing, which in turn may be connected by a crossover line to a crossover valve, thereby allowing annulus fluids to flow laterally out of the tubing hanger and through the tree body.
The annulus bore in subsea trees has conventionally been opened and closed by a gate valve. Gate valves require a large area for installation and operation. Because room in the tubing hanger must also be provided for various penetrations, such as control lines, gate valves in tubing hangers are not preferred. U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,893 discloses a gate valve which requires a complicated operator or actuator which relies upon gears, which are not suitable for use in subsea wells. A gear-type actuator for a rotary shear seal valve in the annulus line of the tubing hanger is prone to clogging with debris, thereby further reducing reliability. U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,700 disclose another gear-operated ball valve in the annulus of a tubing hanger.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,316 discloses a ball valve in the producing fluid bore of a tubing hanger with an external operator. External actuators cannot be retrieved for repair or replacement with the tubing hanger, and the size of the operators add significant length and cost to the tree system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,162 discloses a sleeve valve in the annulus bore of a tubular hanger. Sleeve valves have a tortuous flow path which is undesirable, and seals in a sleeve valve are prone to getting damaged as they pass over the lateral entry port in the valve. U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,230 discloses an annulus slide valve in a tubing hanger. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,143,158 and 5,687,794 disclose annulus lines in a tubing hanger.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,415 discloses a ball valve within the annulus line of a subsea test tree. The ball valve is biased closed by a spring, so that when hydraulic pressure is removed, the valve will automatically close. When a valve is provided in a tubing hanger, the valve should be a xe2x80x9cfail-as-isxe2x80x9d type, so that the valve retains the position in which it was last moved, whether opened or closed. Once moved to that position, fluid pressure may be removed, and the valve will remain in the last moved position. U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,301 discloses two ball valves in series in a subsea test tree each in fluid communication with a production string, with another valve in one annulus bore operated by an umbilical from the surface, and a cable to power an electrical submersible pump in another annulus bore.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,601,190 discloses a ball valve in the production string of a hanger. The valve is accordingly for production control, rather than for annulus control. A sleeve is provided only partially around the ball, and the ball moves up and down axially when it is opened and closed, which may cause pressure build up when the ball is actuated. The ball valve is spring return closed. Internal producing fluid pressure may actuate the ball valve between the opened and closed positions.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,353 discloses a ball valve in a test tree or riser joint which is spring return closed. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,992,527, 5,865,246 and 5,535,826 also disclose a ball valve in a tree. U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,314 discloses a ball valve.
The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention, and an improved tubing hanger is hereinafter disclosed with a ball valve positioned in communication with the annulus bore in the tubing hanger.
A tubing hanger is disclosed for use in an oil or gas well for suspending tubing weight from a wellhead housing. The tubing hanger includes a production bore, at least one annulus bore, a valve open inlet port and a valve closed inlet port. The annulus bore is in fluid communication with an annulus about the tubing string. A ball valve preferably may have a generally straight through bore with an axis generally aligned with the axis of the annular bore. An actuator sleeve surrounds the ball and acts as a hydraulic piston. The actuator sleeve is moveable axially only in response to the application of hydraulic pressure to the valve open or valve closed inlet ports, which are isolated from the annulus and production bores. Axial movement of the actuator sleeve causes the ball to rotate from an open position to a closed position. The release of hydraulic pressure causes the actuator sleeve and the ball valve to remain in last position to which it was moved. The ball valve in the annulus bore may be moved to a closed position to shut off flow during setting of the tubing hanger, and may subsequently be opened for testing and circulation.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved tubing hanger with a ball valve in communication with the annulus bore for sealing the bore when the ball valve is closed, and for opening the bore for testing and circulation operations. A related object of the invention is to provide a wellhead assembly including the improved tubing hanger.
It is a feature of the present invention that the wellhead assembly with the tubing hanger having a ball valve in the annulus bore may be used in a conventional or single-bore tree, wherein flow lines from the ball valve pass upwards to the top of the tubing hanger. It is a further feature of the invention that the wellhead assembly with the tubing hanger having a ball valve in the annulus bore may be used in a horizontal tree wherein the tree housing includes a lateral port in fluid communication with the production bore. The ball valve may be closed when a tubing hanger running tool and/or a work-over riser is in place.
A significant feature of the tubing hanger with a ball valve in the annulus bore is that the ball valve and its actuation mechanism are positioned inside the primary pressure barrier, i.e., inside the seal, such as the DX gasket, on the wellhead or the tree. Since the ball valve is positioned within the tubing hanger, it is immune to being knocked off, e.g., due to dropped objects. The ball valve requires much less room than a gate valve, thus leaving more room in the tubing hanger for penetrators and control lines. The ball valve actuating mechanism is relatively simple and highly reliable.
Another significant feature of a tubing hanger according to the present invention is that the actuator sleeve seals fluid pressure in the annulus bore, and accordingly housings and seals external of the actuator sleeve are not required to close off the annulus bore. An upper seal may be provided along the actuator sleeve above the ball valve for sealing with the tubing hanger body, and a lower seal provided below the ball valve also seals with the tubing hanger body while the actuator sleeve moves between opened and closed positions.
It is a further feature of the invention that a production control valve external of the tubing hanger body be provided for controlling fluid flow in the production bore.
Another significant feature of the invention is that the ball valve is preferably positioned within the tubing hanger body. The ball valve is normally closed, and is conventionally opened for a work-over or crossover operation. The ball valve is moveable between opened and closed positions only in response to fluid pressure from the valve open inlet port or the valve closed inlet port. The ball valve is preferably rotated between opened and closed positions about an axis stationary with respect to the tubing hanger.
Another significant feature of the present invention is that the ball valve may form a straight-through flow path when the valve is open. By providing a ball valve with a straight-through flow path, erosion on the valve is minimized when high velocity fluids pass through the valve.
These and further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, wherein reference is made to the figures in the accompanying drawings.

Tubing hanger with ball valve in the annulus bore


An inkjet recording device includes a main body and a movable unit. The main body includes a recording head and a pump. The recording head is configured to eject ink onto a recording medium to record an image. The pump is configured to draw the ink from the recording head. The movable unit is configured to move between a near position and a far position where is away from the near position with respect to the main body. The movable unit includes a waste liquid chamber configured to accommodate the ink drawn by the pump.

In a conventional inkjet recording device, an ink droplet is ejected onto a conveyed recording medium to form an image thereon. The inkjet recording device includes a recording head and a purge mechanism. The purge mechanism draws ink from nozzles of the recording head to remove the ink together with foreign materials in the nozzles. The purge mechanism is provided with a waste liquid chamber for accommodating the drawn ink.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Inkjet recording device having waste liquid chamber


The invention relates to matte nail compositions including polylactic acid microparticles, as well as to methods, kits and nail composition sets related to such compositions.

Traditionally, matte properties have been provided to nail compositions by including silica in the compositions. However, improvements in matte nail compositions, and in ways to provide matte properties to nail compositions, are desired.
Further, previous attempts to use polylactic acid in cosmetics focused on the use of conventional polylactic acid powders.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,889,107 discloses conventional polylactic acid as a biodegradable polymer in micronized form.
US 2010/0099841 discloses compositions having amorphous polylactic acid resin which has been extracted from plants as the main ingredient in the composition to provide for a biodegradable composition.
CN 105616194 discloses compositions in which polylactic acid is one ingredient in a mixture of ingredients that is designed to modify the shrinking tension to create desirable cracking on the surface giving unique visual characteristics.
There remains a need for new ways to improve matte properties in nail compositions.

Matte nail compositions containing polylactic acid microparticles


A clutch actuator (1) for actuating a vehicle clutch includes a cylinder (3) filled with pressure medium. An annular piston (4) is axially displaceably arranged in the cylinder. The annular piston (4) is fixedly operatively connected to a sliding sleeve (5) slidably mounted on a guide sleeve (6). A radially inner casing surface (16) of the annular piston (4) has an inner radius (Ri) and is arranged radially next to the guide sleeve (6). A sliding ring (18; 19) supports the sliding sleeve (5) on the guide sleeve (6). The sliding ring (18; 19; 18a) is inserted into a groove (27; 28) in the radially inner casing surface (16). In order to be able to mount undivided sliding rings, the groove (27; 28) has a single radially extending groove wall (29; 32) and is open toward an axially outer or inner end face (30; 33) of the annular piston (4).

Clutch actuators for actuating a vehicle clutch are known, in which an annular piston, which can be loaded with compressed air, of a so-called central release unit is mounted via a sliding sleeve so as to be axially movable along a guide sleeve. In such central release units, also known as "concentric pneumatic clutch actuators", normally at least one sliding ring is provided which serves to slide the annular piston along the guide sleeve.
Previously, the sliding ring or rings were each mounted in a groove in the radially inner casing surface. This groove has two radially extending groove walls which axially delimit the sliding ring and hold it in place. Because of the structural circumstances, previously it was only possible to use sliding rings which were slotted. Such an arrangement is known in particular from DE 102 53 021 A1. Inserting slotted sliding rings in the assigned grooves causes no problems in production and such arrangements have proved suitable. Similar arrangements are known from DE 10 2013 219 842 A1, EP 2 539 597 B1 and EP 2 539 598 B1.
During operation of such clutch actuators, it is extremely important to determine the position of the annular piston. The axial position of the annular piston relative to the guide sleeve is here measured by sensor elements arranged externally on the clutch actuator. Even very small tolerances or tilting of the annular piston can lead to measurement errors, so the person skilled in the art has for a long time aimed to eliminate the error sources for measurement errors as completely as possible. It has been found that the sliding rings themselves may contribute to the measurement errors, namely by the rotational movement around the respective retaining groove. The cause of such movements are the slotted sliding rings inserted into the groove up to contact. Since a divided sliding ring placed up to contact will always tend to move during operation of the clutch actuator, it would theoretically be advantageous if undivided sliding rings could be used, so that any rotational or axial movement of the respective sliding ring becomes impossible. However, the former design of the grooves prevents this, since it is almost impossible to insert undivided sliding rings.

Clutch actuator for actuating a vehicle clutch


A valve for reciprocating compressors generally comprising a seat member, a movable plate member, a flat spring plate, and a guard which are assembled as a unitary structure. The seat member and the plate member have linear fluid passage ports which are offset relative to each other. When the valve is in its normal sealing position, the plate member is pressed by linear spring fingers formed on the spring plate against the seat member causing the surface area of the plate member to block the linear fluid passage ports of the seat member. The plate member also has projections extending in a linear or circular direction to receive the spring fingers. When the pressure in the reciprocating compressor becomes sufficiently great, the plate member moves backwards against the spring plate allowing the fluid to move through the valve, including the linear fluid flow passages of both the seat member and plate member.

Suction or pressure valves for use in a reciprocating compressor are heretofore known which are constructed with a valve seat having concentrically arranged, ring-shaped fluid flow passages An example is an invention co-invented by George J. Safford, which is disclosed in European patent application No. 303828, published Feb. 22, 1989. This application shows a seat, a movable plastic valve plate, a flat spring and a guard. The seat has concentrically arranged, ring-shaped, fluid flow passages which are countersunk. The movable plate also has concentrically arranged, arcuate-shaped fluid flow passages which are offset relative to the circular countersunk fluid flow passages of the seat. The top surface of the valve plate has a plurality of arcuate projections extending vertically therefrom. The bottom surface of the plate is flat and has land areas which cover the seat passages and will sealingly engage the seat. The spring has a plurality of arcuate resilient spring fingers. The arcuate spring fingers are positioned to contact projections and normally bias the plate against the fluid passages to maintain a sealed relationship between the plate and seat to prevent fluid from passing through the seat passages. When the pressure becomes sufficiently great in the seat passages, the fluid acts against the plate and forces it outward against the spring. This opens both the seat and plate fluid flow passages to allow the fluid to pass through the valve. A guard is located on the outward side of the spring. The spring is between the plate and the guard. The guard has an annular side wall that contacts the seat. The guard acts as a stop for the plate and serves as a support for the spring. When the pressure decreases sufficiently, the spring fingers force the plate bottom surface against the seat passages and, once again, the plate is in a sealing relationship with the seat.
Other spring members heretofore known include a coiled spring as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,307,751 and 4,184,508, a curved spring plate as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,945,397 or a flat spring which also serves as the plate member as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,238.
A shortcoming of some prior art reciprocating compressor valves is that the plate lift is limited due to the cyclical impact on the guard by the plate which causes the plate to undergo fatigue and metal cracking. Attempts to solve this shortcoming have been to increase the area and strength of the sealing portions of the plate, but such a design decreases the fluid, i.e, air flow. In addition, the guard used with the prior art valves must have sufficient thickness to contain and fasten the coil springs. A thinner guard is desired, however, to allow for greater fluid flow.
A shortcoming of the prior art valve which uses the flat circular spring is that its diameter is restricted in size to, typically, greater than 5 inches. The arcuate spring fingers design pose the restriction because a reduced diameter for the fingers requires shorter spring fingers which, at high lift, causes higher strains leading to finger breakage. Alternatively, the finger length could be maintained the same, but the number of fingers would have to be reduced below values acceptable for preload.

High efficiency plate valve for reciprocating compressor


A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed which comprises a capacitor having a stable platinum (Pt) lower electrode formed using electrochemical deposition (ECD) process wherein an aluminum oxide (Al2O3) layer is formed on the seed conductive layer as an etching barrier film to prevent the seed conductive layer from being damaged during an etching process for patterning a dummy oxide layer.

1. Technical Field
Methods for manufacturing semiconductor devices, and more particularly, methods for manufacturing semiconductor devices are disclosed which comprise a capacitor having a stable platinum (Pt) lower electrode formed using electrochemical deposition (ECD) process wherein an aluminum oxide (Al2O3) layer is formed on the seed conductive layer as an etching barrier film to prevent the seed conductive layer from being damaged during an etching process for patterning a dummy oxide layer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a method for increasing an area of a pole plate or a method of using a high dielectric constant material are used to increase capacitance of a capacitor.
When high dielectric constant materials are used, Pt is used as a pole material. FIGS. 1a through 1e are cross-sectional diagrams illustrating sequential steps of a conventional method for manufacturing a DRAM capacitor using Pt.
Referring to FIG. 1a, an interlayer insulating film 13 and a nitride film 14 are sequentially formed on a semiconductor substrate 11, and etched according to a photo-etching process using a lower electrode contact mask to form a storage electrode contact hole (not shown) exposing a predetermined region of the semiconductor substrate 11.
Thereafter, a polysilicon layer 15 is formed to fill the storage electrode contact hole and then over-etched to partially remove the top portion of the contact hole.
A titanium (Ti) layer (not shown) is formed over the resultant structure and thermally treated to form a titanium silicide (TiSi2) layer 17.
The residual Ti layer is removed from the top portion of the interlayer insulating film 13 and then a titanium nitride (TiN) layer 19 is formed over the resultant structure and etched to form a contact plug 20 having a stacked structure. A seed Pt layer 21 is then formed over the resultant structure.
Referring to FIG. 1b, a TiN layer (not shown) which is a diffusion barrier film and a dummy oxide layer (not shown) which is an insulating layer are sequentially formed on the seed Pt layer 21.
The TiN layer and the dummy oxide layer are etched according to a photomask process and a dry etching process to form a sacrificial film pattern 29 which is a stacked structure of a TiN layer pattern 25 and a dummy oxide layer pattern 27 having an opening 30.
Referring to FIG. 1c, a lower electrode 31 is formed with a Pt layer filling the opening 30 using ECD process.
Referring to FIG. 1d, the dummy oxide layer pattern 27 and the TiN layer pattern 25 are removed to expose the seed Pt layer 21.
Referring to FIG. 1e, the exposed portion of the seed Pt layer 21 is removed, and a dielectric film 33 is formed on the entire surface of the resulting structure using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process.
In order to improve crystallization of the dielectric film, a rapid thermal process (RTP) is performed over the resultant structure, and a Pt layer is deposited on the dielectric film 33 using CVD method to form an upper electrode 35.
However, in the conventional method for manufacturing the capacitor, when the dummy oxide layer pattern is removed to form the lower electrode, the TiN layer is affected by an etching gas due to a low 20:1 etching selectivity ratio of the TiN layer which is the diffusion barrier film and the dummy oxide layer, resulting in the damage of the seed Pt layer 21 in the portion where the sacrificial film pattern is formed. The resulting damage is shown as reference numeral 28 in FIG. 2.
As a result, it is difficult to perform a subsequent process for forming the lower electrode with the Pt layer using ECD process and the yield and reliability of the semiconductor device are adversely affected.
Improved methods for manufacturing semiconductor devices are disclosed wherein a stable lower electrode is obtained using a process for forming a Pt layer via the ECD process by forming an adhesive layer as an etching barrier film having a high etching selectivity ratio to the dummy oxide layer on the seed Pt layer to prevent the seed Pt layer from being damaged during a patterning process of a dummy oxide layer.
One disclosed method comprises:
forming an interlayer insulating film having a contact hole on a semiconductor substrate;
forming a contact plug filling the contact hole;
forming a seed conductive layer over the resultant structure;
forming an adhesive layer on the seed conductive layer;
forming a dummy oxide layer on the adhesive layer;
sequentially etching the dummy oxide layer and the adhesive layer to a sacrificial film pattern having an opening which exposes a portion of the seed conductive layer on the contact plug;
forming a lower electrode filling the opening using electrochemical deposition process;
sequentially removing the sacrificial film pattern and the seed conductive layer using the lower electrode as a mask; and
sequentially forming a dielectric film and an upper electrode on the entire lower electrode.
The adhesive layer can obtain adhesion between the conductive layer and the dummy oxide layer.
It is preferable that the adhesive layer comprises an Al2O3 layer having a thickness of 50 to 500 xc3x85 using CVD process, reactive sputtering process or atomic layer deposition process.
In addition, the dummy oxide layer is removed using the dry etching process. Since the adhesive layer and the dummy oxide layer have an etching selectivity ratio of (adhesive layer: dummy oxide layer) about 50:1, it is used as an etch barrier film during the dummy oxide layer etching process for the lower electrode, thereby increasing an etching process window of the dummy oxide layer. Accordingly, the adhesive layer can achieve stability of the succeeding process for forming the lower electrode according to the ECD process using a Pt layer.
The adhesive layer is removed using the wet etching process. Here, the step of etching adhesive layer is performed in a solution having a HF to water ratio ranging from about 1:1 to about 1:1000 (wt %), preferably, about 1:1 to about 1:500 (wt %), or solution having HF to NH4F ratio ranging from about 1:7 to about 1:500 (wt %), preferably about 1:7 to about 1:200 (wt %).
The adhesive layer has a high wet etching rate over 10 xc3x85/sec in diluted HF solution. Therefore, when removal of the dummy oxide layer is finished, a residual insulating layer can be removed within 10 seconds from a part where a storage node of the Pt layer is formed using a ECD process.

Method for manufacturing semiconductor device using seed conductive layers