A spectrometer having improved energy resolution by correcting for error introduced by charge carrier trapping. By monitoring the shape of the pulses produced by the detector, a digital filter is adjusted to improve the energy resolution. The adjustment is performed manually by an operator or automatically by an automatic optimizer circuit that modifies the digital filter until the spectral peaks have a width and shape matching the desired characteristics, which are a minimum width and a substantially symmetrical shape. By correcting for the energy loss associated with long rise time events, the charge-trapping correcting spectrometer produces spectral peaks with improved energy resolution.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an improved gamma-ray spectrometer. More specifically, the present invention relates to a gamma-ray spectrometer incorporating a method of improving the energy resolution of detectors whose energy resolution is degraded because of charge carrier trapping.
2. Description of the Related Art
The germanium detector is the most commonly used high-resolution gamma-ray detector. When the germanium detector absorbs a gamma-ray photon, free electrons and holes are produced. The number of electrons and holes produced is proportional to the gamma-ray energy. The associated electronics collects the electrons and holes producing a signal proportional to the gamma-ray energy. The energy spectrum of the system is a histogram of the number of measured events versus the recorded energy. The width of the line in the energy spectrum caused by a mono-energetic gamma-ray source is called the energy resolution of the system. The width of the line is usually measured at the point where the number of counts is half of the maximum in the peak and is referred to as the Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM).
Only the electronic noise and the statistical variation in the collected charge would limit the energy resolution of a perfect detector. In addition to electronic noise and statistical variations, the energy resolution of real detectors is degraded when some of the free charge carriers are trapped before reaching the collecting electrodes. The fraction of the charge signal that is lost depends on the point of interaction of the gamma-ray inside the germanium crystal and thus varies from event to event producing an increase in the FWHM.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,452, entitled "Charge Trapping Correction in Photon Detector Systems," issued to Michael L. Simpson, et al., on Jun. 26, 1990 shows an analog spectrometer that corrects for the trapped charge and improves the energy resolution. Although the energy resolution is improved, the Simpson device requires the manual adjustment of two independent parameters to match the specific detector being used.

Spectrometer with charge-carrier-trapping correction


A product production system for producing a product ordered by a customer, wherein the product includes an output image for outputting image data received from the customer to another medium. The system includes a first terminal having an image data input unit for inputting the image data; an order information input unit for inputting order information to designate order contents of the product; and an identification information input unit for inputting identification information to identify the order contents; an image data storing unit for storing the image data by associating with said identification information; an order information storing unit for storing order information by associating with the identification information; a second terminal for inputting the identification information as information to be used for authenticating the order information; and a production unit for producing the product designated in the order information after receiving the authenticated order information and the image data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for producing products, apparatus for managing productions, and a method for producing designated products. In particular, the present invention relates to a system for printing print pictures, which are the output of image data, and a method for producing the print pictures.
2. Description of the Related Art
A print picture service, which prints out image data photographed by a digital camera as high-precision print pictures, is provided. In the print picture service according to the conventional art, customers hand over photographed image data to shops such as photo shops and make orders such as the quantity of the prints. The customers then visit the photo shops again, pay for the prints, and receive printed pictures. Also, customers can make orders for printing by inputting photographed image data from terminals placed in photo shops.
Moreover, a service that reads photo films or developed pictures, converts the read films or pictures to digital image data, and accumulates the converted image data in an image server, is provided. In this case, customers make orders for printing through a network or from terminals placed in shops. Since the above described image server accumulates customers' image data, orders for extra copies of pictures can be received from the customers. The Japanese Patent Applications Laid-Open No. H10-13589, No. H10-302045, and No. H11-4311 disclose a system for recording or sending digital image data with identification information.
In the print picture service according to the conventional art described above, when photographed image data is input and then when orders are made, printers start printing print pictures instantly. Since customers pay for the service in exchange for receiving the printed pictures, shops may incur monetary damages if customers do not come to collect the ordered pictures or input false orders intentionally, for example.
On the other hand, since it takes time for print orders of which customers select image data of their choice and decide the quantity of prints, smooth service can be easily provided if the contents of orders are previously determined.

Product production system, apparatus for managing productions, and method for producing designated products


A thermal management power battery assembly and a battery pack having a plurality of the thermal management power battery assemblies connected in series. The battery assembly includes a plurality of staggered battery cells, a thermal conduction module, a liquid cooling module, and a battery cell fixing module for fixing the battery cells. The battery cell fixing module includes a battery cell position limiting device, and assembly supporting device located at two sides of the battery cell position limiting device; the liquid cooling module is integrated in the assembly supporting device; the thermal conduction module is simultaneously in contact with the battery cells and the assembly supporting device. The liquid cooling module is integrated with the assembly supporting device. The liquid cooling module is intergrated with the assembly supporting device.

Blade electric vehicles (BEV) use batteries as an energy storage power source to supply electric energy to an electric motor, and the electric motor are driven by the batteries, to drive a car. At present, the batteries usually are cylindrical power battery assemblies.
Common forms of liquid cooling assemblies of cylindrical power battery include: undulating pipe plus a thermal pad, straight pipe plus a thermal pad, or glue filling plus a cooling water pipe. The principle of various liquid cooling assemblies is to circulate coolant in a pipeline, thereby taking away the heat generated by the batteries. However, various liquid cooling solutions currently have their own defects and deficiencies.
1. When the liquid cooling assembly with undulating pipe or straight pipe is employed, it is difficult to process and install the cooling pipeline in the liquid cooling assembly.
2. When the liquid cooling assembly with undulating pipe or straight pipe is employed, there is a great risk of insulation performance of the liquid cooling assembly.
3. When the liquid cooling assembly with undulating pipe or straight pipe is employed, the requirements for the processing precision of the assembly is strict, and the processing cost of the parts of the liquid cooling module is high.
4. When the liquid cooling assembly with glue filling and cooling water pipe is employed, the requirements for the glue are high, such as the requirements for viscosity, density and thermal conductivity of the glue is strict.
5. When the liquid cooling assembly with glue filling and cooling water pipe is employed, the requirements for the design and processing precision of the structural parts of the liquid cooling module are high, and there is a large risk of leaking glue during the filling, which makes the production more difficult.
6. When the liquid cooling assembly with undulating pipe or straight pipe or glue filling is employed, after a thermal runaway occurs between the battery cells, the battery cells can not be directly blocked, and a chain reaction of the thermal runaway is easy to occur.

Thermal management power battery assembly and battery pack


This disclosure is directed to a novel bioactive compound obtained from oil palm based materials and compositions containing said bioactive compound. The bioactive compound obtained in accordance with the present invention has a molecular mass of 482. The bioactive compound also has potent HIV reverse transcriptase activity and antioxidant activity.

The demand for bioactive compounds is expected to increase dramatically with the increase in world population and thus the need for various industrial and pharmaceutical uses, e.g in the use of manufacturing medical remedies such as anti-viral drugs particularly in the event of a pandemic outbreak.
At present a great majority of bioactive compounds are generally found in substantially low concentrations. In addition, the process or method of extraction is expensive. Further, the scarce availability of bioactive compounds has hampered the potential production of medicaments, and thus stresses the need for other abundant sources. Accordingly, it would be desirable to explore other low cost and abundant sources for bioactive compounds in order to aid in fulfilling the surging global demand.
The present application focuses on realizing the value and potential of the vegetation liquor and oil palm based materials from palm oil milling and palm oil mill effluent (POME) as a source of bioactive compounds.
The present invention discloses oil palm based materials including the vegetation liquor of palm oil milling as an abundant source of bioactive compounds.

Bioactive compound obtained from oil palm base materials


A packet-data network is made intelligent in the sense of a connection-oriented, switched telephony (COST) network by enhancing one or more interconnected IP routers in the network with computer-telephony integration (CTI) processors executing CTI applications. No-charge-to-calling-party IP addresses are assigned and sponsored by various enterprises, who may also maintain call centers having at least one CTI-enhanced IP router connected to the network, and agent stations having IP telephones connected to the call-center-located IP router. With appropriate software and the CTI link to IP routers the performance of well-known conventional telephone systems may be provided in packet networks like the Internet.

The present invention is in the art of telecommunications including data-network-telephony (DNT) which encompasses Internet-protocol-network-telephony (IPNT), and pertains more particularly to methods and apparatus for providing platform-independent intelligence to routing nodes and servers within a DNT network.
The present invention is related to U.S. Pat. No. 08/947,043 entitled Uniform Control of Mixed Platforms in Telephony, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,788 filed on Oct. 8, 1997, which is incorporated herein in it""s entirety by reference. The present invention is also related to U.S. application Ser. No. 08/948,554, Entitled Uniform Control of Mixed Platforms in IPNT Telephony, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,065 filed Oct. 10, 1997, also incorporated in its entirety by reference.
In the field of telephony communication, there have been many improvements in technology over the years that have contributed to more efficient use of telephone communication within hosted call-center environments. Most of these improvements involve integrating the telephones and switching systems in such call centers with computer hardware and software adapted for, among other things, better routing of telephone calls, faster delivery of telephone calls and associated information, and improved service with regards to client satisfaction. Such computer-enhanced telephony is known in the art as computer-telephony integration (CTI).
Generally speaking, CTI implementations of various design and purpose are implemented both within individual call-centers and, in some cases, at the telephone network level. For example, processors running CTI software applications may be linked to telephone switches, service control points (SCP), and network entry points within a public or private telephone network. At the call-center level, CTI-enhanced processors, data servers, transaction servers, and the like, are linked to telephone switches and, in some cases, to similar CTI hardware at the network level, often by a dedicated digital link. CTI and other hardware within a call-center is commonly referred to as customer premises equipment (CPE). It is the CTI processor and application software is such centers that provides computer enhancement to a call center.
In a CTI-enhanced call center, telephones at agent stations are connected to a central telephony switching apparatus, such as an automatic call distributor (ACD) switch or a private branch exchange (PBX). The agent stations may also be equipped with computer terminals such as personal computer/video display unit""s (PC/VDU""s) so that agents manning such stations may have access to stored data as well as being linked to incoming callers by telephone equipment. Such stations may be interconnected through the PC/VDUs by a local area network (LAN). One or more data or transaction servers may also be connected to the LAN that interconnects agent stations. The LAN is, in turn, connected to the CTI processor, which is connected to the call switching apparatus of the call center.
When a call arrives at a call center, whether or not the call has been pre-processed at an SCP, typically at least the telephone number of the calling line is made available to the receiving switch at the call center by the network provider. This service is available by most networks as caller-ID information in one of several formats such as Dialed Number Identification Service (DNIS). If the call center is computer-enhanced (CTI) the phone number of the calling party may be used as a cross-reference key to access additional information from a customer information system (CIS) database at a server on the network that connects the agent workstations. In this manner information pertinent to a call may be provided to an agent, often as a screen pop, and in some cases prior to a call being connected to the agent.
Proprietorship of CTI equipment both at individual call-centers and within a telephone network can vary widely. For example, a phone company may provide and lease CTI equipment to a service organization hosting a number of call-centers. A telecommunications company may provide and lease CTI equipment and capability to an organization hosting call centers. In many cases, a service organization (call center host) may obtain and implement it""s own CTI capability and so on.
In recent years, advances in computer technology, telephony equipment, and infrastructure have provided many opportunities for improving telephone service in publicly-switched and private telephone intelligent networks. Similarly, development of a separate information and packet data network known as the Internet, together with advances in computer hardware and software have led to a new multi-media telephone system known in the art by several names. In this new systemology, telephone calls are simulated by multi-media computer equipment, and data, such as audio data, is transmitted over data networks as data packets. In this application the broad term used to describe such computer-simulated telephony is Data Network Telephony (DNT).
For purposes of nomenclature and definition, the inventors wish to distinguish clearly between what might be called conventional telephony, which is the telephone service enjoyed by nearly all citizens through local telephone companies and several long-distance telephone network providers, and what has been described herein as computer-simulated telephony or data-network telephony. The conventional system is familiar to nearly all, and is often referred to in the art as Plain Old Telephony Service (POTS). In the POTS system calls are connection oriented lending to the preferred terminology, connection-orientated-switched-telephony or COST. The COST designation will be used extensively herein when describing typical connection orientated networks or calls.
The computer-simulated, or DNT systems, are familiar to those who use and understand computer systems. Perhaps the best example of DNT is telephone service provided over the Internet, which will be referred to herein as Internet Protocol Network Telephony (IPNT), by far the most extensive, but still a subset of DNT. DNT is a term used to describe basically any type of packet switched network whether public or private. Examples of DNT networks include the public Internet, Intranets, private company owned wide area networks (WANs), and so on. These DNT networks may operate using several differing or combined protocol, but generally are supportive of DNT.
Both systems use signals transmitted over network links. In fact, connection to data networks for DNT such as IPNT is typically accomplished over local telephone lines, used to reach such as an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The definitive difference is that COST telephony may be considered to be connection-oriented as previously described. In the COST system, calls are placed and connected by a specific dedicated path, and the connection path is maintained over the time of the call. Bandwidth is thus assured. Other calls and data do not share a connected channel path in a COST system. A DNT system, on the other hand, is not connection oriented or dedicated in terms of bandwidth. That is, data, including audio data, is prepared, sent, and received as data packets. The data packets share network links, and may travel by varied and variable paths.
Under ideal operating circumstances a DNT network, such as the Internet, has all of the audio quality of conventional public and private intelligent telephone-networks, and many advantages accruing from the aspect of direct computer-to-computer linking. However, DNT applications must share the bandwidth available on the network in which they are traveling. As a result, real-time voice communication may at times suffer dropout and delay (latency). This is at least partially due to packet loss experienced during periods of less-than-needed bandwidth which may prevail under certain conditions such as congestion during peak periods of use, and so on.
Recent improvements to available technologies associated with the transmission and reception of data packets during real-time DNT communication have enabled companies to successfully add DNT, principally IPNT capabilities to existing CTI call centers. Such improvements, as described herein and known to the inventor, include methods for guaranteeing available bandwidth or quality of service (QoS) for a transaction, improved mechanisms for organizing, coding, compressing, and carrying data more efficiently using less bandwidth, and methods and apparatus for intelligently replacing lost data via using voice supplementation methods and enhanced buffering capabilities.
In typical call centers, DNT is often accomplished via Internet connection wherein IPNT calls may be placed or received. Call centers may also be linked to sub-networks, including private networks that are linked to the Internet. Data packets arrive at the call center after having traveled from node-to-node through the DNT network or networks, and must be sorted and simulated at the call center on a PC/VDU (computer with display), or DN-capable telephone. DNT-capable call centers are more appropriately termed communication centers in the art because of the added scope of media possibilities presented therein. Therefore, the term communication center will be used extensively hereinafter when describing a call center.
In systems known to the inventors, incoming IPNT calls are processed and routed within an IPNT-capable call-center in much the same way as COST calls are routed in a CTI-enhanced center, using similar or identical routing rules, waiting queues, and so on, aside from the fact that there are two separate networks involved. Call centers having both CTI and IPNT capability utilize LAN-connected agent-stations with each station having a telephony-switch-connected headset or phone, and a PC connected, in most cases via LAN, to the network carrying the IPNT calls. Therefore, in most cases, IPNT calls are routed to the agent""s PC while conventional telephony calls are routed to the agent""s conventional telephone or headset. Typically separate lines and equipment must be implemented for each type of call weather COST or IPNT.
Much has been accomplished with regard to increasing the intelligence and capability of COST telephony at the network level before calls arrive at a call center. However, no such inroads have been made with regard to DNT telephony at network level. This is in part due to the nature of data-packet networks wherein data travels by varied and variable routes. Generally speaking, routing within a DNT network is indiscriminate from node to node with only the next destination address of the next node as a routing guideline for individual packets.
In COST systems known to the inventor, intelligent routing rules have been extended into the public network domain principally via the addition of CTI processing capability at the network level. For example, SCPs may be enhanced with a processor running varied software routines adapted to increase intelligence in call handling. Intelligent peripherals, statistical servers, transactional servers, and the like give added control regarding call handling to individual communication centers that support complimentary equipment and software.
Of particular notice is the recent implementation of T-server function (known to the inventor) within COST networks allowing the communication center to exert control over standard telephony switches and routers involved in routing both incoming and outgoing communication. The CTI processor renders the proprietary nature of many of these switches and routers as a non-factor with regards to compatibility with each other. Hence, the implementation renders systems platform-independent. These CTI Processors, known to the inventors as T-server functions (largely software) installed in the switch or router-connected processors can communicate with each other via a separate digital network that links the processors and routers to each other and to similar equipment in the communication center. In this way, call identification, destination verification, importance or priority of the call, and who best to deliver the call to may be decided before the call arrives in the domain of the communication center. Moreover, information about the call and the calling party may be routed ahead of the actual call so that agent""s are better prepared to handle the call.
As more and more telephony is being practiced over switched-packet data networks, it becomes desirable to enhance such networks with added intelligence so that calls may be routed intelligently in much the same way as in a COST network. Recent advances in technology have made it possible to convert COST calls to DNT format and vice versa, however, systems known to the inventor to have this capability are lacking in intelligence on the DNT network side with regards to further routing of calls.
What is clearly needed is a method and apparatus that would provide a controllable intelligence to switches and routers within a DNT network so that calls originating from either a data-packet network, or a COST network may be routed intelligently and in a platform independent fashion according to communication center rules. Such method and apparatus would do much to revolutionize the way that DNT is practiced as well as further aid in seamless integration between COST and DNT networks.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention an intelligent data-network telephony (DNT) packet-data network is provided, comprising a first IP Router connected to the packet-data network; a computer-telephony integration (CTI) server connected to the first IP router by a dedicated data link enabling monitoring of transactions at the IP Router and manipulation of IP Router functions; and telephony applications executing on the CTI Server. The executing applications provide a Service Control Point (SCP) for preprocessing and further routing of incoming DNT calls at the first IP Router.
In some embodiments, associated with the CTI-enhanced IP router, there is a DNT-capable Interactive Voice response (IVR), wherein the SCP connects the callers on the incoming DNT calls to the IVR, which elicits information from the callers, and the SCP uses the elicited information to further route the calls.
In some embodiments there is further a protocol-translating bridge connected on the network and to a dedicated-connection, switched telephony (COST) network, wherein calls after IVR processing, based on the elicited information, are routed over the bridge and into the COST network. The DNT network can be the Internet, as well as other known data-packet networks. Further, in the case of interconnection with a COST network, the COST network can be any publicly-switched telephony network (PSTN).
In various embodiments there may be multiple instances of IP routers enhanced by CTI servers executing CTI applications, providing thereby intelligent routing of DNT calls at multiple points and levels. Further there may be at least one call center implemented at a customer premise, the call center comprising a second IP router enhanced by a CTI processor, the second IP router connected to the DNT network and to plural agent stations each having an IP-capable telephone coupled to the IP router; wherein a call routed by the SCP to the second IP router may be further routed by action of the CTI processor to an agent at a selected one of the agent stations.
In thew case of enterprise-hosted DNT call centers, the IP-capable telephones may be implemented on computer stations having video display units (PC/VDUs) at the agent stations, and the PC/VDUs may be coupled to the second IP router and to the CTI processor by a local area network (LAN).
In addition to the apparatus, methods are also disclosed for practicing the invention in various embodiments, and all is disclosed below in enabling detail, enabling one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention.

Telephony intelligence in a data packet network

Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc.


When transmitting an audio signal by multiplexing in a synchronous period of a video signal, a buffer memory for time axis adjustment of the audio signal is controlled. The number of audio signal samples in the buffer memory is detected in every n fields (n being a positive integer) of video signal, and when it is different from a specific value, the read or write address of the buffer memory is preset, so that the number of audio signal samples in the buffer memory is kept constant at the moment of inspection in every n fields. Besides, by inspecting the number of audio signal samples in the buffer memory in one field or more, a line providing a maximum or minimum value of the number of samples is stored, and thereafter the number of audio signal samples in the buffer memory in that line is kept constant, so that the buffer memory capacity may be utilized effectively. As a method of recovering isochrony of the video and audio signals, at the transmission side, the delay time of the audio signal with respect to the video signal of a predetermined video line is kept constant, and, at the reception side, the video signal is delayed on the basis of the delay time of the audio signal with respect to the video signal in that line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a systems for multiplexing and transmitting a digital audio signal and a digital video signal, and more particularly to a signal multiplexing apparatus for multiplexing a digital audio signal and a digital video signal, and a signal separating apparatus for separating the digital audio signal and the digital video signal from the transmitted multiplexed signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, as the method for transmitting digital video signals in a broadcasting station, the serial transmission system of transmitting digital data in a serial form has come to be used progressively. This transmission system is standardized as SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) 259M Standard. In this standard, in the synchronizing signal portion of the digital video signal, other signal than the video signal can be multiplexed and transmitted, and as an example thereof, the digital audio signal is multiplexed.
In such transmission apparatus, an audio signal entered in one line of a video signal is multiplexed and transmitted in the horizontal synchronizing period of the next or subsequent video signal. A buffer RAM (random access memory) is required for time axis correction of the audio signal in each of the transmitter and receiver. Generally, no audio signal is multiplexed in the line for changing over the video signal or in the next line to prevent influences of the changeover on the audio signal. In particular, in the composite video signal, audio signal is not multiplexed in the line containing the equalizing pulse, and the audio signals to be transmitted in this period are multiplexed together in a vertical synchronizing period, so that a buffer RAM of a sufficiently large capacity is required.
A structural example of such buffer RAM is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 4-313979. In this known art, a memory of two ports is used for time axis correction of audio signal. The writing address is compared with a value obtained by adding a specified value to the reading address, and the reading address is controlled so that the reading address added with the specified value may not overrun the writing address.
In this method, it is guaranteed only that the writing address is ahead of the reading address by the specified value. The mean value of the differences between the writing address and reading address is guaranteed more than the specified value, but does not become just the specified value. Therefore, the delay of the audio signal with respect to the video signal is not constant, and it varies depending on the initial state of the transmitting apparatus or the line from which the input video signal begins to be inputted. Fluctuation of the delay time of the audio signal is disadvantageous when the timings of the video and audio signals are adjusted to be the same by delaying the video signal with respect to the audio signal before transmission or after transmission.

Video and audio signal multiplexing apparatus and separating apparatus


A connector assembly is described for concrete structural elements, such as concrete crypt modules for mausoleum structures. The connector assembly includes a top corner member connectable to a concrete structural element with a horizontal top plate extending along the top of the structural element and a vertical edge plate extending down one side of the structural element. The vertical edge plate has an inwardly stepped portion extending downwardly from the top of the structural element and terminating in a horizontal shelf portion and the horizontal top plate has a recess adapted to extend into the concrete. One edge of the recess and the top end of the vertical edge plate have opposed interlock projections. The assembly also includes an interlock plate means having projections for engaging the opposed interlock projections and one edge of the plate means has a downwardly projecting flange terminating above the corner member shelf portion. The downwardly projecting flange and shelf form therebetween a pocket for retaining the end flange of a projecting connector of an adjacent concrete structural element.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to connectors for concrete structural elements and, more particularly, to the use of such connectors for connecting concrete crypt modules for mausoleum structures.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As available land becomes scarcer, there is an increasing demand for more efficient utilization of land, especially for burial purposes in areas where the population growth is large. One of the solutions to this problem is the use of above-ground mausoleums, similar in concept to highrise apartments. The advantages of the above-ground, multi-level mausoleums are readily evident since this system permits a more efficient utilization of land and has the added advantage of permitting visitors to be indoors while paying respects to the deceased. This is of special interest in cold northern climates.
A variety of different construction techniques have been employed for constructing multi-level, above-ground mausoleums. For instance, one technique is a poured-in-place method such as that used in apartment construction. While this technique produces a highly satisfactory product, it is both a slow and very expensive construction technique.
There are also various techniques employing precast concrete structural elements and one such modular mausoleum crypt system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,878,656, issued May 22, 1975. In that system, the modules are joined together by means of an adhesive or cement. Such a system functions very well provided there is no movement in the supporting medium. However, if the floor or supporting medium deflects in any manner, the joints between the modules may separate to the point of collapse of the structure.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a modular crypt system in which the modules are joined together by techniques which require neither adhesives nor grout. It is of particular interest to provide such systems which will allow structural movement without showing signs of distress.

Connectors for concrete structural elements


An electromagnetic actuator having stationary and movable elements. The actuator includes a magnet arranged on one of the stationary and movable elements, a coil arranged on the other one of the stationary and movable elements, a first coolant channel formed near the coil, and a second coolant channel formed in or near a surface of at least one of the stationary and movable elements. The first coolant channel and the second coolant channel are formed between the coil and the surface or in the surface.

The present invention relates to an electromagnetic actuator such as a linear motor having stationary and movable elements and, more particularly, to an exposure apparatus having the electromagnetic actuator, a device manufacturing method using the exposure apparatus, a device manufacturing factory where the exposure apparatus is installed, and a maintenance method for the exposure apparatus.
Typical, conventional exposure apparatuses used for the manufacture of various devices, such as a semiconductor device, are a step and repeat exposure apparatus (also called a stepper) for sequentially exposing a plurality of exposure regions on a substrate with the pattern of a master (reticle or mask) while stepping the substrate (wafer or glass substrate), and a step and scan exposure apparatus (also called a scanner) for repeating step movement and scanning exposure to repetitively expose a plurality of regions on a substrate. In particular, the step and scan exposure apparatus uses only a light component relatively close to the optical axis of a projection optical system by restricting a light beam through a slit. This type of exposure apparatus enables higher-precision exposure of a fine pattern with a larger field angle.
These exposure apparatuses comprise stage devices (wafer stage and reticle stage) for moving a wafer and reticle at high speed and aligning them. A general stage driving method adopts a linear pulse motor (linear motor) using the Lorentz force. The use of the linear motor realizes high-speed driving of the stage movable and stationary portions in non-contact with each other and high-precision alignment.
The stage acceleration along with higher-speed (higher-throughput) alignment processing increases more and more. For example, in the step and scan exposure apparatus, the maximum stage acceleration reaches 5xc3x979.81 m/s2 (5G) for the reticle stage and 1xc3x979.81 m/s2 (1G) for the wafer stage. The driving force defined by  less than mass of moving member greater than xc3x97 less than acceleration greater than  becomes very large. This also increases the heat generation amount of a stage driving linear motor, and generated heat is seriously influencing the surroundings. To suppress heat generated from a coil, a coolant has conventionally been caused to flow near the coil. The coolant flowing method includes a method of cooling only a coil support, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, and a method of cooling the entire coil, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. A linear motor shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B and a linear motor shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B schematically represent a linear motor in which a coil 4 is attached to a stationary element 1 to drive a movable element 2. FIGS. 6A and 7A are plan views, and FIGS. 6B and 7B are sectional views taken along the lines D-Dxe2x80x2 and E-Exe2x80x2, respectively. In FIGS. 6A and 6B, a coolant channel 32 is formed partially inside a coil support 33, which partially supports the coil 4, and only the coil support 33 is cooled. In this method, the coil 4 is exposed at portions other than the portions where the coil 4 is supported by the coil support 33, and heat greatly influences the surroundings. In FIGS. 7A and 7B, a coolant channel 32 is formed entirely inside a coil support 33 which supports a whole coil 4, and the whole coil 4 is cooled. In this method, heat less influences the surroundings, compared to the method of cooling only the coil support, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. However, a relatively large temperature difference is generated between the upstream and downstream of the cooling coolant. The surface temperature of the linear motor cannot be made uniform, and the temperature difference influences the surroundings.
The conventional manufacturing process of a semiconductor element such as a VLSI formed from an ultrafine pattern employs a reduction type projection exposure apparatus for projecting a circuit pattern drawn on a mask onto a substrate coated with a photosensitive agent and printing the pattern. With an increase in the mounting density of a semiconductor element, demand has arisen for further micropatterning, and the exposure apparatus is coping with micropatterning.
To achieve high-speed alignment by using the linear motor capable of high-precision alignment, a large driving force must be generated. For this purpose, a large current must be caused to flow through the coil. Causing a large current to flow further increases the heat generation amount of the coil.
In general, a semiconductor exposure apparatus uses an interferometer for high-precision alignment. However, heat generated from a coil increases and fluctuates the temperature near a linear motor or in a stage space where the optical axis of the interferometer and a mirror are installed. This decreases the measurement precision of the interferometer.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electromagnetic actuator such as a linear motor capable of suppressing the influence of heat generated from a coil in an external space.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an exposure apparatus capable of increasing the alignment speed in exposure, increasing the throughput, performing high-speed alignment, and exposing a fine pattern, a device manufacturing method using the exposure apparatus, a semiconductor manufacturing factory including the exposure apparatus, and a maintenance method for the exposure apparatus.
The present invention provides the following electromagnetic actuator. This electromagnetic actuator is an electromagnetic actuator having stationary and movable elements, comprising a magnet arranged on one of the stationary and movable elements, a coil arranged on the other one of the stationary and movable elements, a first coolant channel formed near the coil, and a second coolant channel formed in or near a surface of at least one of the stationary and movable elements. The present invention may be applied to a movable magnet type electromagnetic actuator, a movable coil type electromagnetic actuator, or another type of electromagnetic actuator.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the first coolant channel is essentially formed to cool the coil, and the second coolant channel is essentially formed to adjust a surface temperature of the electromagnetic actuator.
According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, the electromagnetic actuator preferably further comprises a support which internally supports the coil, the first coolant channel is preferably formed inside the support, and the second coolant channel is preferably formed between the first coolant channel and a surface of the support or in the surface of the support. This electromagnetic actuator is suitable for an electromagnetic actuator in which the stationary element has the coil and the movable element has the magnet.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the electromagnetic actuator may further comprise a support which supports the magnet, the support may be arranged outside the coil and the first coolant channel so as not to contact the coil and the first coolant channel, and the second coolant channel may be formed between the first coolant channel and a surface of the support or in the surface of the support. This electromagnetic actuator is also suited to an electromagnetic actuator in which the stationary element has the coil and the movable element has the magnet. The first coolant channel is preferably so formed as to surround the coil.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the electromagnetic actuator preferably further comprises a temperature detector for detecting at least one of a temperature of a coolant flowing through the first coolant channel and a temperature of a coolant flowing through the second coolant channel, a thermo-regulator for adjusting temperatures of coolants supplied to the first and second coolant channels, and a temperature controller for controlling the thermo-regulator on the basis of a detection result of the temperature detector.
Alternatively, the electromagnetic actuator preferably further comprises a temperature detector for detecting a temperature of a surface of the electromagnetic actuator or a temperature near the surface, a thermo-regulator for adjusting temperatures of coolants supplied to the first and second coolant channels, and a temperature controller for controlling the thermo-regulator on the basis of a detection result of the temperature detector. The temperature detector preferably detects a temperature of a coolant flowing through the second coolant channel in addition to the temperature of the surface of the electromagnetic actuator or the temperature near the surface.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the electromagnetic actuator preferably further comprises a heat insulator arranged outside the second coolant channel or between the first and second coolant channels.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the first and second coolant channels preferably flow coolants in opposite directions. Alternatively, a plurality of second coolant channels are also preferably formed parallel to each other, and flowing directions of coolants through the plurality of second coolant channels are preferably made opposite to each other every predetermined number of channels. Alternatively, the second coolant channel is also preferably meandered.
The present invention provides an exposure apparatus in which the above electromagnetic actuator is applied to a stage for moving a substrate or master. This exposure apparatus comprises a laser interferometer for measuring a position of the stage, and the second coolant channel can be formed between an optical axis of the laser interferometer and the coil.
The present invention provides a device manufacturing method, comprising the steps of installing manufacturing apparatuses for performing various processes including the above exposure apparatus in a device manufacturing factory, and manufacturing a device by performing a plurality of processes using the manufacturing apparatuses.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the device manufacturing method preferably further comprises the steps of connecting the manufacturing apparatuses by a local area network, and communicating information about at least one of the manufacturing apparatuses between the local area network and an external network outside the device manufacturing factory. The method preferably further comprises the step of accessing a database provided by a vendor or user of the exposure apparatus via the external network to obtain maintenance information about at least one of the manufacturing apparatuses by data communication. The method preferably further comprises the step of performing data communication between the device manufacturing factory and another device manufacturing factory via the external network to perform production management.
The present invention provides a device manufacturing factory comprising manufacturing apparatuses for performing various processes including the above exposure apparatus, a local area network for connecting the manufacturing apparatuses, and a gateway which enables access from the local area network to an external network outside the factory, wherein information about at least one of the manufacturing apparatuses can be communicated.
The present invention provides a maintenance method for the above exposure apparatus that is installed in a device manufacturing factory, comprising the steps of causing a vendor or user of the exposure apparatus to provide a maintenance database connected to an external network outside the device manufacturing factory, permitting access to the maintenance database from the device manufacturing factory via the external network, and transmitting maintenance information accumulated in the maintenance database to the device manufacturing factory via the external network.
The exposure apparatus preferably further comprises a display, a network interface, and a computer for executing network software, and maintenance information of the exposure apparatus can be communicated via a computer network. The network software preferably enables connecting the computer to the external network outside the factory where the exposure apparatus is installed, providing on the display a user interface for accessing a maintenance database which is provided by a vendor or user of the exposure apparatus, and obtaining information from the database via the external network.
According to the preferred aspects of the present invention, most of the heat from the coil is recovered by the first coolant flowing through a coil cooling coolant channel (first coolant channel). The remaining heat which cannot be recovered by the first coolant is recovered by the second coolant flowing through a temperature adjustment coolant channel (second coolant channel). The overall electromagnetic actuator such as a linear motor can be efficiently cooled. Heat recovery by the second coolant is much smaller than that by the first coolant. The temperature distribution between the upstream and downstream of the coolant can be substantially ignored on the surface of the electromagnetic actuator. The influence of heat in the vicinity of the electromagnetic actuator, particularly the stage space of the exposure apparatus, can be suppressed.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

Electromagnetic actuator and exposure apparatus having the same


This invention relates to polymers having enhanced hydrophilicity and thermal regulative properties. Exemplary polymers include aliphatic polyamide polymers and polyester polymers. The polymer has bonded thereto a hydrophilic polysiloxane having an affinity for the polymer and having a molecular weight greater than about 1000 g/mol preferably greater than about 2000 g/mol, and preferably greater than about 4000 g/mol. The polymer has substantially no polymerization with the hydrophilic polysiloxane. Alternatively, an aliphatic polyamide polymer is provided having enhanced hydrophilicity and thermal regulative properties. The polymer has bonded thereto an anionic hydrophilic polysiloxane having an affinity for the aliphatic polyamide polymer. The aliphatic polyamide polymer has substantially no polymerization with the anionic hydrophilic siloxane.

The present invention relates to polymers having enhanced hydrophilicity and thermal regulative properties and a process of producing the same.
Many polymers such as aliphatic polyamide polymers (e.g., nylon) and polyester polymers are inherently hydrophobic. Fabrics formed entirely from these polymers tend to exhibit poor moisture absorption and release properties and fail to provide thermal regulative properties. Typically in apparel fabrics, comfort is obtained by blending the aliphatic polyamide or polyester polymer fibers with hydrophilic fibers such as cotton fibers.
There are also various recognized methods for enhancing the hydrophilicity of the polymer. For example, aliphatic polyamide and polyester polymers can be treated with appropriate hydrophilic add-on agents or coatings. However, these add-on agents or coatings have not met with widespread acceptance particularly due to the lack of permanence under repeated laundering conditions.
Another method of enhancing hydrophilicity is the preparation of graft polymers of aliphatic polyamide and polyester polymers and appropriate hydrophilic comonomers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,877 to Aikawa et al. proposes the graft polymerization of water-soluble vinyl monomers such as acrylic acid, acrylamide and N,N'-methylene-bisacrylamide onto polyamide fibers using heat and an aqueous treating solution containing acid. The graft polymerization of hydrophobic vinyl monomers with nylon, polypropylene and polyesters is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,297,786 to Horowitz. See, also, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,099,631 to Tanner; 3,097,185 to Armen et al.; 3,252,880 to Magat et al.; and 3,278,639 to Matray. These graft polymerization techniques, however, often alter the structure of the aliphatic polyamide and polyester polymers. This can be counterproductive in that such altering of the structure results in the loss of other physical properties of the polymer such as hand, fabric strength and thermal regulative properties.
Despite the general availability of various add-on chemicals and graft polymerization techniques for improving hydrophilicity, there continues to be a desire for method improvements for enhancing the hydrophilicity and thermal regulative properties of polymers, particularly aliphatic polyamide and polyester polymers, and fibers and fabrics formed therefrom. For example, improvements in the retention of the hydrophilicity can improve the extended wearability and washability properties of the fabric made using the polymers. Adverse affects to other properties such as hand, fiber and fabric strength, flammability, etc. also must be avoided. The processing steps also must be controllable and not require additional steps to remove contaminants from the polymer or from the processing equipment.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a polymer (e.g., aliphatic amide or polyester polymers) having enhanced hydrophilicity and thermal regulative properties, and a process for providing the same.

Polymers having enhanced hydrophilicity and thermal regulated properties and process of producing the same


At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a zoom lens which includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having positive refractive power and is stationary during zooming, a second lens unit configured to move to perform zooming, a third lens unit configured to move to compensate for variation of an image plane caused by zooming, and a fourth lens unit having positive refractive power and is also stationary during zooming. The first lens unit includes, in order from the object side to an image side, a first lens subunit having positive refractive power and is stationary during focusing, a second lens subunit having positive refractive power, and a third lens subunit having negative refractive power and is also stationary during focusing. The second lens subunit moves along an optical axis during focusing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zoom lens that can be used in imaging apparatuses.
2. Description of the Related Art
Among the zoom lenses, especially, high-power telephoto zoom lenses, each of which has an angle of view of 2 degrees or less and a variable power ratio of 5.5 to 13.4 at a telephoto end, are discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-292524.
In a case where images of animals and birds are taken at long range out-of-doors for television nature programs, camera operators demand zoom lenses having high variable power ratios (for example, a large magnification of 5 or more and an angle of view of 2 degrees or less) and high optical performance. Also, in such a case, an operator often carries a camera over his shoulder while using the camera. Thus, more compact and lightweight and highly portable zoom lenses are demanded.


A dental cleaning brush, in particular an interdental brush, comprising a plurality of fiber portions retained between two twisted wire sections and extending away from the latter, has at least a certain part of the fiber portions formed such that they extend approximately in the longitudinal direction of the wire sections or the brush core, respectively, in order that painful galvanic effects during the use be avoided.

A brush of the generic type is known for instance from DE 31 28 749 A1. This publication also describes the problem that any direct contact of the metal wire sections with paradontous tooth-necks or fillings and bridges may generate painful galvanic effects.
For the solution of this problem, in the known interdental toothbrush provision is made for the wire sections of steel wire to be surrounded by an electrically insulating layer, which may consist of a flexible and non-abrasive material such as for instance nylon or polyurethane. It is provided that this layer can be applied as a varnishing by dipping or spraying or that it coats the wire in the form of a hose.
If such a coating is to be applied as such after the manufacture of the brush, this is only feasible with comparatively expensive manufacturing techniques and the individual bristles must moreover have a comparatively large distance one from the other. If, prior to being twisted, the wire is provided or coated with the plastic layer, then there is the risk that the layer cracks as a result of the twisting and also the engagement of the wire with the fiber portions is affected by the plastic coating, so that it is not possible, at least not without any difficulties, to produce the desired distribution of the tips. Moreover, such a coating will inevitably increase the effective thickness of the twisted central portion of the brush, so that the brush can no longer enter into narrow tooth gaps to the extent desired.


An electromagnetic resonator has a resonant element made of a high-temperature superconducting material such as YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x. The resonant element has a substrate coated with a thermally conductive layer such as silver, over which the high-temperature superconductor material is placed. The thermally conductive layer distributes heat along the length of the resonant element to minimize the effects of localized heating at, for instance, the center of the resonator. The resonant element is held to a housing by a mounting mechanism including a post made of polycrystalline alumina. The polycrystalline alumina transfers heat away from the center of the resonant element and may be used to suppress spurious response due to second harmonic resonance.

Electromagnetic resonators are often used in filters in order to pass or reject certain signal frequencies. To optimize filter performance, the resonators should have a minimum of signal loss in the passed frequency range. Such losses in resonators can occur in a variety of modes, but all manifest themselves through the generation of heat caused by resistance to current flowing on the surfaces of conductive elements in the resonator. For that reason, conductors in resonators are usually chosen for their low-surface resistance. However, even with low-surface resistance metals, such as copper or silver, significant heating and signal losses may occur. The heating can further increase the surface resistance of the metal, thereby adding to signal loss.
In order to minimize losses in resonators, superconducting materials have been used. For instance, if a cavity resonator is used, the walls of the cavity or a resonant element located inside the cavity may be made from or coated with a superconducting material. While superconductors have a significantly lower surface resistance than ordinary conductors, a relatively small amount of heat will still be generated in a superconducting resonator. Dissipation of that heat may not be a significant problem if the power of the filtered signal is relatively low. Thus, when a superconducting resonator is used, for instance, as a component in systems receiving low-power radio frequency signals, heat build-up in the superconductor may not have significant adverse effects. However, if the superconducting resonator is used, for instance, as a component in a high-power signal transmission system, heat build-up in the superconducting material can result in serious performance degradation.
As heat builds up in a superconducting material, the temperature of that material may rise above its critical temperature. Once a superconductor rises above its critical temperature, it loses its superconducting properties, thereby increasing the surface resistance drastically, and further generating heat until the component completely fails. This phenomenon is known as thermal runaway. Therefore, removing heat from a resonator handling relatively high power signals, particularly when superconducting materials are used, may be required for effective resonator performance. Moreover, removal of heat must be accomplished without significantly increasing the overall loss of the resonator.


Disclosed herein is an ability to create segments of content, such as video, audio, multimedia, image, animation, interactive, etc. content, to associate metadata to each segment created, and to generate a summary of content comprising one or more segments using the metadata associated with the content segments. One or more acticons represented as icons in a user interface displayable to a user can be used to indicate a starting and/or ending point for a content segment. An acticon can represent an occurrence in the content, or a reaction of a user experiencing the content, for example.

Content, e.g., multimedia, audio, video, image, animation, interactive, etc. content, has increasingly become more accessible to users. In addition, the amount of video that is accessible has increased. By way of a non-limiting example, the amount of video content that is accessible by a user via the internet, or other computer network, has increased. While a user may only be interested in a portion of a video, the user is forced to view an entire video, which may be quite long, in order to view the portion that may be of interest to the user.


A folding floor mat that is formed from a plurality of panels formed from a resilient polymeric material and having a work surface and a grip surface. Flexible hinge assemblies foldably join at least two of the panels along a fold boundary, which preferably incorporates a plurality of channels that are integrally formed in the work and grip surfaces. More preferably, the channels are laterally spaced apart about the grip and or work sides. Even more preferably, the channel or channels formed in the work surface are staggered relative to the channel or channels formed in the grip surface. Also, each channel is ideally shaped to optimize relief internal material stresses of the polymeric material during and after it has been folded. The folding mat is manufactured from any of a number of readily available thermoplastic and similarly capable materials that are resilient, flexible, and durable and resistant to abrasion wear and impervious to biological, food service, health care, and industrial fluids and substances including steam, high temperature water, cleaning fluids, petrochemicals, animal fats, biological fluids, cooking oils and greases, and raw and prepared agricultural food stuffs. In the most preferably configuration, the folding mat is sized to be folded to have a maximum folded dimension compatible for cleaning in, for example without limitation, food service and medical industry standard cleaning units such as dish washers and sterilization units.

This invention relates to a reusable and conveniently cleanable and transportable fatigue reducing foldable floor mat that is well-suited for use in a wide variety of industrial, healthcare, food service, and similar applications.
In the various pertinent industries, including for purposes of illustration but not limitation, food service and medical professional applications, those with skill in the art have long-recognized the need for various fatigue reducing devices, such as cushioned floor mats. In the noted examples of the food and medical industries, chefs and surgeons alike have suffered from seriously debilitating maladies of the back and legs resulting from their long hours spent standing. Many prior art attempts have been made to minimize such fatigue for purposes of mitigating the painful consequences of standing for long periods of time.
For example, attempts have been made to create floor mats adapted to facilitate fluid drainage, as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,144 to Spica, while others were more directed towards developing well-padded surfaces as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,846,945 to Roby, which among other features, purports to offer a fatigue relief capability. Devices such as the Roby floor mat have also sought to teach multi-paneled mat arrangements having panel-to-panel interconnection capabilities. Additional multi-panel configurations are illustrated, along with other various features, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,167,599 to Nissinen, 4,468,910 to Morrison, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,502 to Glaza et al. Yet other prior floor mats have attempted to improve the field of art by focusing on improved traction, in addition to previous features, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,729 to Morrison, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,995 to Adam. And, still others aimed to improve the liquid and debris collection capability of foldable floor mats. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,620 to Silk et al. for a food collection mat for high-chairs and U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,346 to Middleton for a sponge floor mat for surgical applications.
What continues to be missing from the technical field of floor mats is a solution to the need for ease of introduction to the work place or station, easy cleaning after work is completed, and convenience of storage and transport after cleaning. While many of the prior art devices aimed to improve these attributes in the art of such mats, none has achieved an optimized capability in an easy to fabricate, convenient to use form that is readily suited to application in the myriad industries that have demonstrated a need for portable, easy-to-clean, and convenient to transport and stow floor mats.
What has been needed but heretofor unavailable in the prior art devices and methods, is a floor mat that is adapted to low-cost, high volume manufacturing techniques and processes. Also, what continues to be needed is a foldable, fatigue-reducing, and traction improving floor mat that is easily deployed for use, and that is compatible for cleaning with widely available and well-entrenched industry cleaning equipment, including commercial and food service dish washers and medical poison gas and steam heat autoclaves. Moreover, such a preferred floor mat must also offer convenient transport and stowage that improves upon the currently available rolled and folded mats, while still maintaining the preceding preferred and long-sought capabilities.
The most preferable folding floor mat would be compatible for use in wide-ranging industrial applications involving standing for long periods of time, as well as professional industries such as food preparation services and surgical applications, among many other situations that require long duration standing activities.
The present invention meets these and other needs without adding any complexity, inefficiencies, or significant costs to implementation in existing applications and environments. In fact, the preferred folding floor mat according to the present invention can be implemented with relatively low-cost modifications to existing floor mat fabrication equipment and methods. The various embodiments of the present invention disclosed are readily adapted for ease of manufacture, low fabrication costs, and immediate compatibility with both the most widely available and installed manufacturing and cleaning equipment used in the previously described industries, as well as similar equipment that may subsequently become available.
In its most general capacity, the present invention injects a variety of new capabilities into the field and overcomes many of the shortcomings of the prior art in a variety of ways. In one of the many preferable configurations, the folding floor mat according to the present invention includes, among other elements, a plurality of panels, for example, 2, 3, 4, or more panels that are preferably formed from a resilient polymeric material such as a thermoplastic. The more favored floor mat of the instant invention incorporates panels that are substantially planar and formed to have a work surface that is configured to support a worker and a grip surface that includes features for optimized application to a flooring surface.
Additionally, the present invention contemplates the floor mat having a flexible hinge assembly adapted to foldably join together the panels along a respective fold boundary disposed between adjacent panels. More preferably, the hinge assemblies are formed from or incorporate at least two channels that are integrally formed in the work and grip surfaces proximate to the fold boundary. The channels are generally spaced apart from one another and are shaped to have a profile that is selected for the capability to relieve internal stresses in the polymeric material when the panels are folded together.
In variations of the preceding configurations, the polymeric material of the folding floor mat is selected to be a resilient, flexible, and durable material that resists abrasion wear and that can withstand exposure to severe and deleterious fluids and substances, such as, without limitation, biological, food service, health care, and industrial fluids and substances. Some such exemplary substances and fluids include steam, high temperature water, cleaning fluids, petrochemicals, animal fats, biological fluids, cooking oils and greases, bacteria, fungi, insects, pests, and raw and prepared agricultural food stuffs, to name a few.
More specifically, any of the preceding embodiments may include panels and hinge assemblies preferably formed from polymeric material that is selected from the group including thermoplastics, thermoformed plastics, thermoset plastics, elastomers, grease-resistant rubbers, vinyls, polyvinyl chlorides, acetal resins, delrin, fluorocarbons, polyesters, polyester elastomers, metallocenes, polyamides, nylon, polybutadienes, silicone resins, ABS (acrylonitrile, butadiene, styrene), polypropylenes, liquid crystal polymers, and combinations, composites, mixtures, admixtures, alloys, laminates, reinforced compositions, and hybrids thereof.
In alternative configurations of one or more of the previously described embodiments, the hinge assemblies are formed to have a minimum cross-sectional thickness to optimize durability while facilitating foldability. This capability is achieved from configurations wherein the polymeric material proximate to the fold boundary is formed with a minimum cross-sectional thickness of between about 10% and about 70% or so of the maximum total thickness of the mat between the work and grip surfaces. Even more preferably, any of the preceding configurations are formed whereby the polymeric material has a minimum cross sectional boundary thickness of between approximately 30% and approximately 60% of such maximum mat thickness.
In yet other alternatives and modifications to the previously illustrated exemplary configurations, the folding floor mat of the instant invention incorporates hinge assemblies formed from, among other features, channels that are formed with a cross sectional profile that improves the stress relieving function of the hinge assembly. It has been found that certain types of such profiles are effective for this purpose and include, for purposes of illustration but not limitation, curvilinear such as concave and convex, rectilinear, rectangular, and trapezial profiles.
The preferred floor mat hinge assemblies have also been further modified in other alternatives of the various preceding embodiments with enhanced durability and ability to fold capabilities by arranging the channels that are formed in the work surface to be generally offset or staggered relative to the channels that are formed in the underlying grip surface.
Further optional variations of the preceding modifications also include work and grip surfaces that are also formed to have stipple and or dimple patterns of raised portions. More preferably, the raised portions formed on the grip surface are arranged to project generally downwardly and are adapted to establish fluid passageways by raising areas of the grip surface above an underlying floor surface. Similarly, such projections are further adapted to improve traction against the floor surface to maximize the anti-skid capability of the mat as it lies on the floor during use. In an analogous manner, the raised portions of the work surface are adapted as traction ridges that project generally upwardly to improve the anti-skid capability of the mat as it performs in use by a worker.
In another preferred variation of the preceding embodiments, the folding floor mat according to the instant invention incorporates four quarter panels arranged generally in the shape of a rectangle. As with preceding configurations, the panels are similarly formed from a resilient polymeric material and to have work and grip surfaces. The panels also include flexible hinge assemblies that are integrally formed in the polymeric material of the panels and hinges are adapted to foldably join the quarter panels along at least three fold boundaries. Also, at least two of the four panels preferably define an interstice therebetween to further facilitate foldability, among other benefits. In further optional modifications of the preceding embodiments, this configuration can also be adapted to incorporate hinge assemblies formed with channels formed in the work and grip surfaces about the fold boundaries and spaced apart and staggered as described earlier. Even more preferably, the offset or staggered channels are formed as two or more stress relief notches formed in the boundary of the work surface, and three or more stress relief notches formed in the grip surface boundaries.


A system includes a first powered apparatus having a first analog signal with a fundamental frequency; and a second apparatus providing load diagnostics or power quality assessment of the first apparatus from a second digital signal. The second apparatus includes an input of the first analog signal, an output of the second digital signal, a processor, an adaptive filter executed by the processor, a digital-to-analog converter, and an analog-to-digital converter. The adaptive filter routine outputs a third digital signal as a function of the second digital signal and plural adaptive weights. The digital-to-analog converter inputs the third digital signal and outputs a fourth analog signal representative of an estimate of a fundamental frequency component of the first analog signal. The analog-to-digital converter inputs a difference between the first and fourth analog signals, and outputs the second digital signal representative of the first analog signal with the fundamental frequency component removed.

1. Field
The disclosed concept pertains generally to filters and, more particularly, to filters for removing a fundamental frequency from an analog signal, such as, for example, a motor current. The disclosed concept also pertains to methods of removing a fundamental frequency from an analog signal. The disclosed concept further pertains to systems for removing a fundamental frequency from an analog signal.
2. Background Information
In many situations, current components indicative of system faults are of a much smaller magnitude than the magnitude of a line frequency component. When implemented on low-cost digital signal processors, the performance of fault detection algorithms is significantly impaired by the loss of resolution of such current components after the analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) process. This problem can be alleviated by removing the line frequency component prior to ADC and by utilizing the full dynamic range of the ADC for the current components indicative of system faults. Known conventional techniques involving the removal of sinusoidal components often utilize notch filters set at the particular frequency of interest. However, these notch filters, in addition to canceling the desired frequency component, often remove or attenuate signal components of interest that are sufficiently close to the desired frequency. This is primarily due to the fact that the supply frequency from the utility can vary from the nominal value (e.g., without limitation, 50 Hz; 60 Hz). The conventional filters also cannot be used in applications where variable frequency motor drives are employed.
There is room for improvement in filters for removing a fundamental frequency from an analog signal.
There is also room for improvement in methods of removing a fundamental frequency from an analog signal.
There is further room for improvement in systems for removing a fundamental frequency from an analog signal.

Method and apparatus of adaptively canceling a fundamental frequency of an analog signal


An amount of gas remaining within a fluid control valve is reduced according to a method for fixing the fluid control valve to achieve highly accurate trace dispensation by simply removing gas. The dispensing device has a discharge nozzle, a liquid feeding tube that is disposed so as to connect a reagent bottle in which a reagent is stored and the discharge nozzle and forms a reagent flow path, and a fluid control valve that is disposed on the liquid feeding tube route connecting the reagent bottle and the discharge nozzle. The fluid control valve is provided with a reagent flow path having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet and a diaphragm valve provided in the middle of the flow path. The fluid control valve is disposed in an orientation such that the diaphragm valve is disposed at the bottom of the flow path of the fluid control valve.

In a biochemical automatic analysis apparatus, trace quantification is proceeded in the long term, and quantitativity and reproducibility are required as well. In addition, in a biochemical analysis device, as a technique for dispensing a specimen or reagent, a dispensation technique of sucking or discharging a predetermined fluid by using a syringe pump is widely employed, in general. A highly accurate dispensation technique is the most important element technique in order to realize quantitativity and reproducibility in trace dispensation.
In a dispensing device, a valve for controlling a direction of a fluid is provided between a nozzle for discharging liquid and a syringe pump in many cases, and with this fluid control valve, a complicated flow path configuration is possible. In such a dispensation mechanism, there is a case where, during dispensation operation of repeatedly performing suction of a fluid, bubbles are adhered to a fluid control inner wall accommodating a fluid or an irregular portion connected to a flow path. If trace dispensation is carried out while there are adhered bubbles, the internal pressure of a flow path fluctuates as a result of variation in the volume of the bubbles, and the amount of liquid to be dispensed becomes inconsistent, and thus there is a problem that dispensing accuracy decreases.
For this reason, removing bubbles by providing a special mechanism in a dispensing device is carried out. For example, as in PTL 1, an invention provided with a vibration mechanism for removing bubbles in a dispensing device is known.


A unitized electrode assembly (9) for use in the fuel cell comprises a first GDL (23), a PEM (28), and a second GDL (12), with electrode catalyst (27, 30) disposed between said PEM and each of said GDLs, said layers (23, 27, 30, 12) being impregnated with a thermoplastic polymer a sufficient distance from each edge of the UEA so as to form a fluid seal (13). The UEA is formed by a process which comprises making a sandwich of some or all of said layers (23, 27, 28, 30 and 33), with thermoplastic polymer film (22, 25, 32, 35) extending inwardly from the edges of said sandwich a sufficient distance to form the seal, said thermoplastic polymer film being disposed between each electrode and the adjacent GDL and/or between each GDL and release film (21, 36) on the top and bottom of the sandwich. The sandwich, compressed by force between a holding fixture (19) and an anvil (40), is heated by ultrasonic vibration so as to cause said thermoplastic polymer to melt and impregnate the layers (23, 27, 30, 12) of the UEA with the film (22 and/or 25; 32 and/or 35).

Fuel cell power plants that employ a polymer, proton exchange membrane electrolyte (PEM) include a cathode electrode on one side of the PEM and an anode electrode on the other side of the PEM, the electrodes comprising suitable catalysts so as to convert hydrogen and oxygen reactant gases into electricity and water, all as is known. The reactants reach the membrane by means of reactant gas flow field plates, sometimes referred to as water transport plates, and thence gas diffusion layers (GDLs), occasionally referred to as substrates. The GDLs are adjacent to respective sides of the electrodes. The membrane may typically be a fluorinated polymer, such as that sold under the name NAFION®. The electrodes are typically a mixture of polymer and noble metal, as is known.
A recent innovation is to manufacture a unitized electrode assembly (UEA), including the anode and cathode GDLs and electrodes, on respective sides of the membrane, unitized and sealed into a single structure, using thermoplastics. Thermoplastics only undergo a change of state (liquefy) when at a high temperature and return to a solid state when cooled, and can be re-melted and reformed. This is in contrast with thermoset plastics, which, when formed, undergo an irreversible chemical change, and cannot be reformed with heat.
Techniques for joining thermoplastics use localized heating of the thermoplastics to be joined causing melting, followed by resolidification at the interface.
In "frictional welding", moving one part against the other generates heat at the interface causing one or both parts to melt. Once melting begins, the parts are held together until the thermoplastics solidify to each other. This method may also be known as "linear vibration welding", "orbital vibration welding", or "spin welding".
"Laser or IR" welding directs a beam of laser or IR through a transparent thermoplastic causing surface heating of an opaque thermoplastic at the interface of the two thermoplastics. When the interface reaches a sufficient temperature, the plastics begin to melt and bond together by interflow.
"Radio Frequency" welding, also called "High Frequency" welding relies on the dissipation of some of the energy of a changing electromagnetic field in an imperfect dielectric to heat the plastic; subsequent cooling causes two plastics to be joined together.
In "Hot Plate" welding methods, one or both of the plastic pieces to be joined is/are held against a hot plate until softening begins. The plastic is removed from the hot plate and placed against the mating surface and held until cooled.
The welding methods described are not useful in the manufacture of MEAs because they only effect the joining of two thermoplastic surfaces together at their interface.
"Ultrasonic welding" is defined as employing mechanical oscillations between 16 kHz and 1 GHz. Typical ultrasonic welding machines operate in the 15 kHz to 70 kHz range and most commonly around 20 kHz. A generator produces electrical oscillations at the desired frequency, which are then transferred to a converter in which crystals expand and contract creating mechanical vibrations at the same frequency. These vibrations are transferred to a horn that contacts the stack of plastic parts to be welded. As the horn moves vertically up and down, perpendicular to the plane of the parts, heat friction develops along the joining area between the two plastic parts that melts the plastic and joins the parts.
Not all thermoplastics respond the same to ultrasonic welding. Those that have an amorphous polymer structure, characterized by random arrangement of molecules, will have a broader softening and melting point and transfer ultrasonic vibrations well. Examples of such thermoplastics are polystyrene, polyetherimide and low density polyethylene. Thermoplastic polymers of a semi-crystalline nature have more ordered structure and well-defined melting points and do not transfer ultrasonic vibrations as well and are therefore harder to weld. Examples of such thermoplastics are polyester, polyethylene, and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). In general, high melting point and low melt index polymers are more difficult to weld.
A "press plate" method for manufacturing a UEA involves laying out a complete UEA with polyethylene films between the various layers and on the exterior of the GDLs. Then, press plates apply pressure to the assembly as the press plates are heated to on the order of 150° C. (320° F.). Thereafter, the press plates must be cooled before pressure is released and the sealed UEA removed from the press plates. This process typically takes at least ten and as much as sixty minutes per UEA manufactured. The process is costly and consumes manufacturing floor space. In addition, the process is inefficient in that it requires heating of the entire planform in addition to the press plates. It is known that elevated temperature causes degradation of the PEM, and thus the durability of the UEA is reduced as a consequence of heating of the entire planform of the UEA during manufacture.
Another method utilizing injection molding or compression molding of a thermoplastic polymer is disclosed in patent application PCT/US03/01796, International Publication No. WO03/063280 A2. This process may require pre-treating such as corona treatment, oxygen plasma treatment or fluoropolymer dispersions. There are additional problems of the fountain-flow thermoplastics readjusting the positioning of components, and the like. These and other problems require additional processing techniques in order to cause successful manufacture of UEAs.

Method of preparing a fuel cell unitized electrode assembly by ultrasonic welding


A catalytic cracking process is disclosed using a catalyst comprising a framework dealuminate Y zeolite, which is rare earth and aluminum exchanged.

Naturally occurring and synthetic zeolites have been demonstrated to exhibit catalytic properties for various types of hydrocarbon conversions. Certain zeolites are ordered porous crystalline aluminosilicates having definite crystalline structure as determined by x-ray diffraction. Such zeolites have pores of uniform size which are uniquely determined by the structure of the crystal. The zeolites are referred to as "molecular sieves" because the uniform pore size of the zeolite material allows it to selectively sorb molecules of certain dimensions and shapes.
By way of background, one authority has described the zeolites structurally, as "framework" aluminosilicates which are based on an infinitely extending three-dimensional network of AlO.sub.4 and SiO.sub.4 tetrahedra linked to each other by sharing all of the oxygen atoms. Furthermore, the same authority indicates that zeolites may be represented by the empirical formula: EQU M.sub.2/n O.Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.xSiO.sub.2.yH.sub.2 O
In the empirical formula, M was described therein to be sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, strontium and/or barium; x is equal to or greater than 2, since AlO.sub.4 tetrahedra are joined only to SiO.sub.4 tetrahedra, and n is the valence of the cation designated M; and the ratio of the total of silicon and aluminum atoms to oxygen atoms is 1:2. D. Breck, ZEOLITE MOLECULAR SIEVES, John Wiley & Sons, N.Y., p.5 (1974).
The prior art describes a variety of synthetic zeolites. These zeolites have come to be designated by letter or other convenient symbols, as illustrated by zeolite A (U.S. Pat. No. 2,882,243); zeolite X (U.S. Pat. No. 2,882,244); zeolite Y (U.S. Pat. No. 3,130,007); zeolite ZK-5 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,247,195); zeolite ZK-4 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,314,752); zeolite ZSM-11 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,709,979) and zeolite ZSM-23 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,842), merely to name a few.
The particular faujasitic or Y-type zeolite utilized in this invention has come to be known as ultrastable Y (USY) and is sometimes referred to as dealuminated Y (DAY). A partial list of references describing the nature and methods of preparation of USY or DAY, all of which are incorporated herein by reference are:
1. Maher, P. K., U.S. Pat. No. 3,293,192. PA1 2. Kerr, G. T., J. Phys. Chem., 71: 4155 (1967). PA1 3. McDaniel, C. V., U.S. Pat. No. 3,607,403. PA1 4. Maher, P. K., U.S. Pat. No. 3,402,996.
5. Scherzer, J., "The Preparation and Characterization of Aluminum Deficient Zeolites", ACS Symposium Series, Paper No. 10, June 13-16, 1983, pp. 157-200.
It is clear from these references, and other scientific and patent literature that USY is not a single entity but a family of materials related to zeolite Y. USY is similar to zeolite Y in that its characteristic x-ray diffraction lines are substantially those of zeolite Y as detailed in Tables A, B and C of the above referenced U.S. patent and herein incorporated. USY differs from as-synthesized zeolite Y in that by the nature of the various processing schemes and the degree to which zeolite Y is dealuminated, the effective framework silica-to-alumina ratio is increased. One measure of this change is reflected in the measurement of unit cell size of the resultant zeolite, usually reported in the atomic unit, Angstroms (A). As aluminum is removed from the zeolitic framework, hence causing the zeolitic framework silica-to-alumina ratio to increase, the unit cell size decreases. This results because of differences in bond distances between AlO.sub.4 tetrahedra and SiO.sub.4 tetrahedra.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,280 suggests the use of crystalline zeolites in hydrocarbon conversion processes. Specific processes relating to the cracking of gas oils to produce motor fuels have been described and claimed in many patents including, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,140,249; 3,140,251; 3,140,252; 3,140,253 and 3,271,418, herein incorporated by reference. In one or more of the above identified patents the combination of zeolites with a matrix for use in catalytic cracking is suggested.
Other references disclose the use of USY or DAY to crack alkanes. For example, A. Corma, et al., in APPLIED CATALYSIS, Vol. 12 (1984), pp. 105-116, present a "Comparison of the Activity Selectivity and Decay Properties of LaY and HY Ultrastable Zeolites During the Cracking of Alkanes". Pine, L. A., et al., in the JOURNAL OF CATALYSIS, Vol. 85 (1984), pp. 466-476 present data to support the "Prediction of Cracking Catalyst Behavior by a Zeolite Unit Cell Size Model". The performance of cracking catalysts containing USY or DAY are often compared to catalysts containing zeolite Y which has not been intentionally dealuminated. Because of the deleterious effect of sodium on the performance of cracking catalysts, USY or DAY catalysts are frequently compared with catalysts containing the hydrogen form of Y zeolite (HY) or the rare earth form of Y zeolite (REY).
In general the patent and scientific literature suggests the following for cracking catalysts containing USY or DAY, containing substantially no rare earth (Those claims being at constant conversion relative to REY containing cracking catalyst): 1. significant increases in gasoline research and motor octane (unleaded); 2. significant decreases in coke make; 3. definitive increases in total C.sub.3 +C.sub.4 make, particularly C.sub.3 olefins and C.sub.4 olefins; 4. reductions in gasoline yield.
Furthermore, lower catalytic activity is evidenced with decreasing unit cell size (U.C.S.) of the Y zeolite component. Hence a non-rare earth containing USY or DAY zeolite would exhibit lower activity/stability than a non-dealuminated REY zeolite because the former has a lower U.C.S. both as manufactured and subsequent to equilibration in a conventional cracking unit.
When rare earth components are introduced into these USY or DAY containing catalysts (RE-USY), irrespective of whether they are pre-exchanged onto the zeolite or post-exchanged onto the catalyst the increases in gasoline research and motor octane (unleaded), the increases in C.sub.3 and C.sub.4 production and the decreases in coke make are diminished in proportion to the amount of rare earth added. Furthermore lower catalytic activity for the RE-USY is still evidenced relative to non-dealuminated REY.
The catalyst of the present invention as disclosed below performs in a significantly different manner which was not a priori anticipated.


A method of preventing wear in a blowout preventer includes the steps of forming an inner surface of a blowout preventer body to receive wear inserts at least one wear point in the blowout preventer body; and securing at least one wear insert on the formed inner surface of the blowout preventer body.

A blowout preventer is basically a pressure vessel with moving parts, both inside and out. A key portion of the pressure vessel is the body. The body must have sufficient strength to contain pressured well fluids, (as a pressure vessel), and supply a guide and sealing means for the moving internal parts.
These two functions are contradictory in material requirements. To serve as a pressure vessel, the body and ram block material must meet certain specifications to resist stress cracking in the presence of such chemicals as hydrogen sulphide. This typically means that the material must be relatively soft. Unfortunately, this soft material must also provide a guide and seal means for the moving ram blocks in the extremely abrasive environment of the well fluid. Solving the deterioration of the contacting surfaces would normally require harder, more abrasive resistant materials. These materials however, are either expensive or do not meet the specifications of the soft materials to meet the requirements to resists stress cracking.
The normal practice is to manufacture the body, (pressure vessel), and the ram blocks from softer materials to meet stress cracking specifications, and repair all parts when necessary as they wear. The repair of the material of these components requires a specific weld procedure that is expensive. In addition, the weld material must also be soft and wears as readily as the original material.
Typically, the body is weld repaired several times over without regard to the consequences to the parent material when subjected to the numerous heat cycles involved. A weld repair is a fusion process that involves heat applied to the parent material in excess of it's′ "critical" temperature to fuse with the added weld material to the parent material. Repeated cycles of this nature can permanently change the structure of the parent material and lead to a host of other problems.
There are a number of solutions that have been attempted, but for various reasons, have been unable to solve the soft and hard material preferences for this application. One solution was to weld apply hard surfacing to the parent material where the moving ram blocks contacted the body. This process was unsuccessful due to the expense and inability to meet the material requirements to resist cracking. Because hard surfacing is a fusion process, the hard material becomes a part of the body and must meet the same property specifications to resist cracking. Unfortunately hard surfacing materials would not pass some specific requirements, usually associated with crack initiation. With fusion processes, cracks that initiate in the hard surfacing may propagate through to the parent material, the body, which is to be protected from cracks. Another process that has been attempted to improve the wear of the mating surfaces is an infusion process that relies on a heated gas process to harden a thin layer of the parent material of the body. As in welding hard surfacing material to the parent material, the infusion process also becomes part of the body, or pressure vessel, and must meet all of the required specifications. Testing suggests that not only does the hardened layer not meet specifications, but also suggests that cracks could be initiated at lower stresses than the parent material. Again, crack propagation into the parent material from the hardened surface is of major concern for a pressure vessel.
A more effective system has been used that provides a replaceable seal seat. It is locked into position with a sprung ring and setscrew arrangement that locks an "o-ring" sealed seat into position. The major problem with this arrangement is that it often corrodes and may be extremely difficult to remove.

Blowout preventer having wear, seal and guide plate inserts


When a user inputs an operation of recording a broadcast program into a broadcast reception device, the broadcast reception device outputs, by a display video output unit of the broadcast reception device, a recording setting screen selecting a first recording method of recording program related information and not recording a video content of a broadcast program or a second recording method of recording the program related information and a video content of the broadcast program about a first program. When the first recording method is selected, the program related information is recorded and the video content of the broadcast program is not recorded. When the user inputs an operation of playing back the first program into the broadcast reception device, the broadcast reception device communicates with the server, receives the video content of the first program from the server, and outputs the video content by the display video output unit.

With spread of a high-speed communication technique, proposed has been a technique capable of viewing a broadcast program received by a TV receiver installed in a house or a recording program stored in the TV receiver or a video recorder in the house, outside by a portable terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal through a network. As such a technique, for example, Patent Document 1 is described below.
Patent Document 1 below discloses the following technique: when a control unit of a portable phone transmits playback instruction information to an HDD recorder through a network I/F, the control unit (of the portable phone) receives data from the HDD recorder through the network I/F so as to display the data on a display. A control unit of the HDD recorder plays back a program that has been recorded. Then, the data that has been played back is converted from an MPEG2 format into an H264 format. Then, the data is transmitted to the portable phone through the network I/F.

Viewing system, broadcast reception device, portable terminal, program recording and viewing method, and viewing method of recording program