An electromagnetic flowmeter includes a measuring tube, an electrode, an exciting unit, a signal conversion unit, and a flow rate calculating unit. The signal conversion unit extracts a ∂A/∂t component irrelevant to a flow velocity of the fluid and a v×B component originating from the flow velocity of the fluid from a resultant electromotive force of an electromotive force ∂A/∂t, with A, t, v, and B respectively representing a vector potential, a time, a flow velocity, and a magnetic flux density. The flow rate calculating unit extracts a variation component dependent on a parameter from the ∂A/∂t component, corrects a span which is a coefficient applied to a magnitude V of the flow velocity of the v×B component, and calculates the flow rate of the fluid from the v×B component whose span is corrected.

The present invention relates to an electromagnetic flowmeter and, more particularly, to an electromagnetic flowmeter which detects a characteristic or state of a fluid or a state in a measuring tube and corrects the flow rate of the fluid.
An electromagnetic flowmeter is a flowmeter which can measure a flow rate with stability owing to its characteristics, and has established a position as a high-accuracy flowmeter. However, a conventional electromagnetic flowmeter is assumed to operate under a condition where the tube is filled with a fluid to be measured, and is generally designed to obtain the flow rate of the fluid by detecting a signal proportional to the flow velocity of the fluid and multiplying the flow velocity by the sectional area of the tube. If, therefore, the tube is not filled with a fluid or air bubbles are mixed in the fluid, an error occurs in flow rate measurement.
For example, as the level of a fluid in the tube varies, the sectional area varies. As a consequence, a span variation occurs in an output from the electromagnetic flowmeter, and a flow rate error occurs. In addition, when air bubbles are mixed in the tube, the volume of the fluid varies. This causes a span variation in an output, resulting in an error in the flow rate to be obtained. For this reason, in order to measure the flow rate of the fluid with high accuracy, it is necessary to perform flow rate correction by measuring a state of the fluid, e.g., the fluid level or the amount of air bubbles mixed by using another sensor. As described above, when a substance other than a fluid to be measured is mixed in the tube, for example, a gas and a liquid or the like constitute a multiphase flow (a fluid level variation can also be regarded as a case wherein air is mixed in the fluid), it is difficult to accurately measure a flow rate by using a general electromagnetic flowmeter. Under the circumstances, demands have arisen for an electromagnetic flowmeter which can accurately measure a flow rate even when a state of a fluid varies.
Against the background described above, an electromagnetic flowmeter for a partially filled tube has been proposed in, for example, reference 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-241855) and reference 2 (JNMIHF edition, "Flow Rate Measurement from A to Z for Instrumentation Engineers", Kogyo Gijutusha, 1995, pp. 147-148) for the correction of fluid level variations. These references propose a technique of correcting a flow rate by measuring a fluid level as an application of an electromagnetic flowmeter for a partially filled tube. The electromagnetic flowmeter disclosed in references 1 and 2 obtains first a fluid level from the ratio between the signal electromotive force obtained by a pair of electrodes provided on the left and right sides of a channel when exciting coils provided on the upper and lower sides of the channel are simultaneously driven and the signal electromotive force obtained when the exciting coil on the upper side is singly driven, corrects the sensitivity which has been obtained in advance on the basis of the fluid level, and outputs a flow rate.
On the other hand, the present inventor has proposed an electromagnetic flowmeter which solves the problem of a span shift in reference 3 (WO 03/027614). A physical phenomenon necessary for the explanation of reference 3 and the present invention will be described below. When an object moves in a changing magnetic field, electromagnetic induction generates two types of electric fields, namely (a) electric field E(i)=∂A/∂t which is generated by a temporal change in magnetic field, and (b) electric field E(v)=v×B which is generated as the object moves in the magnetic field. In this case, v×B represents the outer product of v and B, ∂A/∂t represents the partial differential of A with respect to time. In this case, v, B, and A respectively correspond to the following and are vectors having directions in three dimensions (x, y, and z) (v: flow velocity, B: magnetic flow density, and A: vector potential (whose relationship with the magnetic flux density is represented by B=rotA)). Note, however, that the three-dimensional vectors in this case differ in meaning from vectors on a complex plane. These two types of electric fields generate a potential distribution in the fluid, and electrodes can detect this potential.
Generally known mathematical basic knowledge will be described next. A cosine wave P·cos(ω·t) and a sine wave Q·sin(ω·t) which have the same frequency but different amplitudes are combined into the following cosine wave. Let P and Q be amplitudes, and ω be an angular frequency.P·cos(ω·t)+Q·sin(ω·t)=(P2+Q2)1/2·cos(ω·t−ε)for ε=tan−1(Q/P)  (1)
In order to analyze the combining operation in equation (1), it is convenient to perform mapping on a complex coordinate plane so as to plot an amplitude P of cosine wave P·cos(ω·t) along a real axis and an amplitude Q of the sine wave Q·sin(ω·t) along an imaginary axis. That is, on the complex coordinate plane, a distance (P2+Q2)1/2 from the origin gives the amplitude of the combined wave, and an angle e=tan−1(Q/P) gives the phase difference between the combined wave and ω·t.
In addition, on the complex coordinate plane, the following relational expression holds.L·exp(j·ε)=L·cos(ε)+j·L·sin(ε)  (2)
Equation (2) is an expression associated with a complex vector, in which j is an imaginary unit, L gives the length of the complex vector, and e gives the direction of the complex vector. In order to analyze the geometrical relationship on the complex coordinate plane, it is convenient to use conversion to a complex vector.
The following description uses mapping onto a complex coordinate plane like that described above and geometrical analysis using complex vectors to show how an inter-electrode electromotive force behaves and explain how the electromagnetic flowmeter of reference 3 and the present invention use this behavior.
A complex vector arrangement with one coil set and an electrode pair in the electromagnetic flowmeter described in reference 3 will be described next.
FIG. 36 is a block diagram for explaining the principle of the electromagnetic flowmeter in reference 3. This electromagnetic flowmeter includes a measuring tube 101 through which a fluid to be measured flows, a pair of electrodes 102a and 102b which are placed to face each other in the measuring tube 101 so as to be perpendicular to both a magnetic field to be applied to the fluid and an axis PAX of the measuring tube 101 and come into contact with the fluid, and detect the electromotive force generated by the magnetic flow and the flow of the fluid, and an exciting coil 103 which applies, to the fluid, a time-changing magnetic field asymmetric on the front and rear sides of the measuring tube 101 which are bordered on a plane PLN which includes the electrodes 102a and 102b, with the plane PLN serving as a boundary of the measuring tube 101.
Of a magnetic field Ba generated by the exciting coil 103, a magnetic field component (magnetic flux density) B1 orthogonal to both an electrode axis EAX connecting the electrodes 102a and 102b and the measuring tube axis PAX on the electrode axis EAX is given byB1=b1·cos(ω0·t−θ1)  (3)
In equation (3), b1 is the amplitude of the magnetic flux density B1, ω0 is an angular frequency, and θ1 is a phase difference (phase lag) from ω0·t. The magnetic flux density B1 will be referred to as the magnetic field B1 hereinafter.
An inter-electrode electromotive force which originates from a change in magnetic field and is irrelevant to the flow velocity of a fluid to be measured will be described first. Since the electromotive force originating from the change in magnetic field depends on a time derivative dB/dt of the magnetic field, and hence the magnetic field B1 generated by the exciting coil 103 is differentiated according todB1/dt=−ω0·b1·sin(ω0·t−θ1)  (4)
If the flow velocity of the fluid to be measured is 0, a generated eddy current is only a component originating from a change in magnetic field. An eddy current I due to a change in the magnetic field Ba is directed as shown in FIG. 37. Therefore, an inter-electrode electromotive force E which is generated by a change in the magnetic field Ba and is irrelevant to the flow velocity is directed as shown in FIG. 37 within a plane including the electrode axis EAX and the measuring tube axis PAX. This direction is defined as the negative direction.
At this time, the inter-electrode electromotive force E is the value obtained by multiplying a time derivative −dB1/dt of a magnetic field whose direction is taken into consideration by a coefficient k (a complex number associated with the conductivity and permittivity of the fluidity to be measured and the structure of the measuring tube 101 including the layout of the electrodes 102a and 102b), as indicated by the following equation:E=k·ω0·b1·sin(ω0·t−θ1)  (5)
Equation (5) is rewritten to the following equation:
                                                        E              =                                                                                k                    ·                    ω0                    ·                    b                                                                                1                    ·                                          {                                              sin                                                                          (                                                      -                            θ1                                                    )                                                                    }                                        ·                                          cos                                                                    (                                                  ω0                          ·                          t                                                )                                                                                +                                                                                k                  ·                  ω0                  ·                  b                                                                                1                  ·                                      {                                          cos                                                                    (                                                  -                          θ1                                                )                                                              }                                    ·                                      sin                                                              (                                              ω0                        ·                        t                                            )                                                                                =                                                                                k                    ·                    ω0                    ·                    b                                                                                1                    ·                                          {                                              -                                                  sin                                                                                (                            θ1                            )                                                                                }                                        ·                                          cos                                                                    (                                                  ω0                          ·                          t                                                )                                                                                +                                                                                k                  ·                  ω0                  ·                  b                                                                                1                  ·                                      {                                          cos                                                                    (                        θ1                        )                                                              }                                    ·                                      sin                                                              (                                              ω0                        ·                        t                                            )                                                                                (        6        )
In this case, if equation (6) is mapped on the complex coordinate plane with reference to ω0·t, a real axis component Ex and an imaginary axis component Ey are given by
                                                        Ex              =                                                k                  ·                  ω0                  ·                  b                                                                                1                  ·                                      {                                          -                                              sin                                                                          (                          θ1                          )                                                                                }                                                                                =                                                k                  ·                  ω0                  ·                  b                                                                                1                  ·                                      {                                          cos                                                                    (                                                                              π                            /                            2                                                    +                          θ1                                                )                                                              }                                                                                (        7        )                                                                    Ey              =                                                k                  ·                  ω0                  ·                  b                                                                                1                  ·                                      {                                          cos                                                                    (                        θ1                        )                                                              }                                                                                =                                                k                  ·                  ω0                  ·                  b                                                                                1                  ·                                      {                                          sin                                                                    (                                                                              π                            /                            2                                                    +                          θ1                                                )                                                              }                                                                                (        8        )
In addition, Ex and Ey represented by equations (7) and (8) are rewritten to a complex vector Ec represented by
                                                        Ec              =                                                          Ex                +                                  j                  ·                  Ey                                                                                =                                                                                k                    ·                    ω0                    ·                    b                                                                                1                    ·                                          {                                              cos                                                                          (                                                                                π                              /                              2                                                        +                            θ1                                                    )                                                                    }                                                                      +                                                                                j                  ·                  k                  ·                  ω0                  ·                  b                                                                                1                  ·                                      {                                          sin                                                                    (                                                                              π                            /                            2                                                    +                          θ1                                                )                                                              }                                                                                =                                                                                k                      ·                      ω0                      ·                      b                                                                                1                      ·                                              {                                                  cos                                                                                (                                                                                π                                /                                2                                                            +                              θ1                                                        )                                                                          }                                                                              +                                      j                    ·                                          sin                                                                    (                                                                              π                            /                            2                                                    +                          θ1                                                )                                                                                }                                                                          =                                                                            k                  ·                  ω0                  ·                  b                                                                                1                  ·                  exp                                                                  {                                      j                    ·                                          (                                                                        π                          /                          2                                                +                        θ1                                            )                                                        }                                                                                (        9        )
In addition, the coefficient k described above is rewritten to a complex vector to obtain the following equation:
                                                        k              =                                                                            rk                  ·                                      cos                                                              (                      θ00                      )                                                                      +                                  j                  ·                  rk                  ·                                      sin                                                              (                      θ00                      )                                                                                =                                                          rk                ·                                  exp                                                        (                                          j                      ·                      θ00                                        )                                                                                (        10        )
In equation (10), rk is a proportional coefficient, and θ00 is the angle of the vector k with respect to the real axis.
Substituting equation (10) into equation (9) yields an inter-electrode electromotive force Ec (an inter-electrode electromotive force which originates from only a temporal change in magnetic field and is irrelevant to the flow velocity) rewritten to complex coordinates as follows:
                                                        Ec              =                                                rk                  ·                                      exp                                                              (                                              j                        ·                        θ00                                            )                                                        ·                  ω0                  ·                  b                                                                                1                  ·                  exp                                                                  {                                      j                    ·                                          (                                                                        π                          /                          2                                                +                        θ1                                            )                                                        }                                                                                =                                                rk                  ·                  ω0                  ·                  b                                                                                1                  ·                  exp                                                                  {                                      j                    ·                                          (                                                                        π                          /                          2                                                +                        θ1                        +                        θ00                                            )                                                        }                                                                                (        11        )
In equation (11), rk·ω0·b1·exp{j·(p/2+θ1+θ00)} is a complex vector having a length rk·ω0·b1 and an angle p/2+θ1+θ00 with respect to the real axis.
An inter-electrode electromotive force originating from the flow velocity of a fluid to be measured will be described next. Letting V (V≠0) be the magnitude of the flow velocity of the fluid, since a component v×Ba originating from a flow velocity vector v of the fluid is generated in a generated eddy current in addition to the eddy current I when the flow velocity is 0, an eddy current Iv generated by the flow velocity vector v and the magnetic field Ba is directed as shown in FIG. 38. Therefore, the direction of an inter-electrode electromotive force Ev generated by the flow velocity vector v and the magnetic field Ba becomes opposite to the direction of the inter-electrode electromotive force E generated by the temporal change, and the direction of Ev is defined as the positive direction.
In this case, as indicated by the following equation, the inter-electrode electromotive force Ev originating from the flow velocity is the value obtained by multiplying the magnetic field B1 by a coefficient kv (a complex number associated with a magnitude V of the flow velocity, the conductivity and permittivity of the fluidity to be measured, and the structure of the measuring tube 101 including the arrangement of the electrodes 102a and 102b):
                              Ev          =                                          kv            ·                          {                              b                                                                                1                  ·                                      cos                                                              (                                                                        ω0                          ·                          t                                                -                        θ1                                            )                                                                                }                                                                                Equation                                                                                (            12            )                                                                        is                                                              rewritten                                                              to                                    (        12        )                                                                    Ev              =                                                                                kv                    ·                    b                                                                                1                    ·                                          cos                                                                    (                                                  ω0                          ·                          t                                                )                                                              ·                                          cos                                                                    (                                                  -                          θ1                                                )                                                                                -                                                                                kv                  ·                  b                                                                                1                  ·                                      sin                                                              (                                              ω0                        ·                        t                                            )                                                        ·                                      sin                                                              (                                              -                        θ1                                            )                                                                                =                                                                                kv                    ·                    b                                                                                1                    ·                                          {                                              cos                                                                          (                          θ1                          )                                                                    }                                        ·                                          cos                                                                    (                                                  ω0                          ·                          t                                                )                                                                                +                                                                                kv                  ·                  b                                                                                1                  ·                                      {                                          sin                                                                    (                        θ1                        )                                                              }                                    ·                                      sin                                                              (                                              ω0                        ·                        t                                            )                                                                                (        13        )
In this case, when mapping equation (13) on the complex coordinate plane with reference to ω0·t, a real axis component Evx and an imaginary axis component Evy are given byEvx=kv·b1·{cos(θ1)}  (14)Evy=kv·b1·{sin(θ1)}  (15)
In addition, Evx and Evy represented by equations (14) and (15) are rewritten to a complex vector Evc represented by
                                                        Evc              =                              Evx                +                                  j                  ·                  Evy                                                                                =                                                                    kv                    ·                    b                                                                                1                    ·                                          {                                              cos                                                                          (                          θ1                          )                                                                    }                                                                      +                                                      j                    ·                    kv                    ·                    b                                                                                1                    ·                                          {                                              sin                                                                          (                          θ1                          )                                                                    }                                                                                =                                                kv                  ·                  b                                                                                1                  ·                                      {                                                                  cos                                                                          (                          θ1                          )                                                                    +                                              j                        ·                                                  sin                                                                                (                            θ1                            )                                                                                }                                                                                =                                                kv                  ·                  b                                                                                1                  ·                                      exp                                                              (                                              j                        ·                        θ1                                            )                                                                                (        16        )
In addition, the coefficient kv described above is rewritten to a complex vector to obtain the following equation:
                                                        kv              =                                                rkv                  ·                                      cos                                                              (                      θ01                      )                                                                      +                                  j                  ·                  rkv                  ·                                      sin                                                              (                      θ01                      )                                                                                =                              rkv                ·                                  exp                                                        (                                          j                      ·                      θ001                                        )                                                                                (        17        )
In equation (17), rkv is a proportional coefficient, and θ01 is the angle of the vector kv with respect to the real axis. In this case, rkv is equivalent to the value obtained by multiplying the proportional coefficient rk (see equation (10)) described above by the magnitude V of the flow velocity and a proportion coefficient γ. That is, the following equation holds:rkv=γ·rk·V  (18)
Substituting equation (17) into equation (16) yields an inter-electrode electromotive force Evc rewritten to complex coordinates as follows:
                                                        Evc              =                                                kv                  ·                  b                                                                                1                  ·                                      exp                                                              (                                              j                        ·                        θ1                                            )                                                                                =                                                rkv                  ·                  b                                                                                1                  ·                  exp                                                                  {                                      j                    ·                                          (                                              θ1                        +                        θ01                                            )                                                        }                                                                                (        19        )
In equation (19), rkv·b1·exp{j·(θ1+θ01)} is a complex vector having a length rkv-b1 and an angle θ1+θ01 with respect to the real axis.
An inter-electrode electromotive force Eac as a combination of inter-electrode electromotive force Ec originating from a temporal change in magnetic field and an inter-electrode electromotive force Evc originating from the flow velocity of the fluid is expressed by the following equation according to equations (11) and (19).
                                                        Eac              =                                                          Ec                +                Evc                                                                                =                                                                                rk                    ·                    ω0                    ·                    b                                                                                1                    ·                    exp                                                                          {                                          j                      ·                                              (                                                                              π                            /                            2                                                    +                          θ1                          +                          θ00                                                )                                                              }                                                  +                                                                                rkv                  ·                  b                                                                                1                  ·                  exp                                                                  {                                      j                    ·                                          (                                              θ1                        +                        θ01                                            )                                                        }                                                                                (        20        )
As is obvious from equation (20), an inter-electrode electromotive force Eac is written by two complex vectors rk·ω0·b1·exp{j·(p/2+θ1+θ00)} and rkv·b1·exp{j·(θ1+θ01)}. The length of the resultant vector obtained by combining the two complex vectors represents the amplitude of the output (the inter-electrode electromotive force Eac), and an angle φ of the resultant vector represents the phase difference (phase delay) of the inter-electrode electromotive force Eac with respect to the phase ω0·t of the input (exciting current).
Under the above principle, the electromagnetic flowmeter described in reference 3 extracts a parameter (asymmetric excitation parameter) free from the influence of a span shift, and outputs a flow rate on the basis of the extracted parameter, thereby solving the problem of the span shift.
A span shift will be described with reference to FIG. 39. Assume that the magnitude V of the flow velocity measured by the electromagnetic flowmeter has changed in spite of the fact that the flow velocity of a fluid to be measured has not changed. In such a case, a span shift can be thought as a cause of this output variation.
Assume that calibration is performed such that when the flow velocity of a fluid to be measured is 0 in an initial state (period T1), the output from the electromagnetic flowmeter becomes 0 (v), and when the flow velocity is 1 (m/sec) (period T2), the output becomes 1 (v). In this case, an output from the electromagnetic flowmeter is a voltage representing the magnitude V of a flow velocity. According to this calibration, if the flow velocity of a fluid to be measured is 1 (m/sec), the output from the electromagnetic flowmeter should be 1 (v). When a given time t1 has elapsed, however, the output from the electromagnetic flowmeter may become 1.2 (v) in spite of the fact that the flow velocity of the fluid to be measured remains 1 (m/sec). A span shift can be thought as a cause of this output variation. A phenomenon called a span shift occurs when, for example, the value of an exciting current flowing in the exciting coil cannot be maintained constant.
According to references 1 and 2, the flow rate of a fluid which flows in the tube in a partially filled state can be measured. The electromagnetic flowmeter disclosed in references 1 and 2 detects a fluid level on the basis of the ratio between the signal electromotive force obtained when the exciting coils on the upper and lower sides are simultaneously driven and the signal electromotive force obtained when the exciting coil on the upper side is separately driven. For this reason, when a signal electromotive force decreases as the flow rate approaches 0, the detected fluid level contains a large error, and the accuracy of sensitivity correction deteriorates, resulting in an flow rate measurement error.
In addition, the electromagnetic flowmeter disclosed in reference 3 can automatically perform span correction. The electromagnetic flowmeter in reference 3 can, however, perform span correction only when a parameter free from the influence of a span shift changes in the same manner as variation in span as a coefficient applied to the flow velocity.
Of the inter-electrode electromotive force detected by electrodes, a v×B component associated with the flow velocity of the fluid is represented by, for example, Ka·B·Cf·V (where Ka is a constant term, B is a term associated with a magnetic field, Cf is a term associated with a characteristic or state of the fluid, and V is the magnitude of the flow velocity), and a ∂A/∂t component associated with the characteristic or state of the fluid can be represented by, for example, Ka·B·Cg·ω (where Ka is the constant term, B is the term associated with the magnetic field, Cg is a term associated with a characteristic or state of the fluid, and X is an exciting angular frequency).
The electromagnetic flowmeter in reference 3 is assumed to keep the ratio of Cf/Cg constant. In a strict sense, a ∂A/∂t component and a v×B component change differently with a change in a characteristic or state of a fluid or state in the measuring tube, and hence the ratio of Cf/Cg is not constant. Consequently, as the required flow rate measurement accuracy increases, a flow rate measurement error occurs in the electromagnetic flowmeter in reference 3. This flow rate measurement error becomes conspicuous in particular when measurement is performed by using high-frequency excitation with an exciting current having a high frequency or when a fluid with a low conductivity is measured. Assume that the flow velocity of a fluid is accurately obtained. Even in this case, if the volume (sectional area) of the fluid varies, an error occurs in the flow rate. This may make impossible to accurately measure a flow rate even by applying the principle of reference 3.


A winch for cargo tie-down straps to tie down straps comprising a winch frame having                a frame securing segment and a pair of integrally extending flanges;        a winch drum rotatably mounted between said flanges;        a pawl and ratchet mechanism attached at a longitudinal end of the winch frame;        a fixed gear extending from an opposed longitudinal end of the winch drum;        a free gear extending axially from the fixed gear;        a worm gear mounted within a worm gear frame for driving a driving disc, the driving disc being adapted to selectively engage said fixed and free gears, depending on the positioning of the worm gear frame relative to a worm gear frame mounting assembly extending from the winch frame.

Open top compartments, such as truck trailers, dump trucks, storage bins and the like used for hauling or storing particulate material such as grain, ash, lime or the like are subject to having the materials fall or blow out onto the roadway. Similarly, relatively large loads of commodities such as lumber, plywood, building materials, building panels and the like on the beds of wheeled mobile carriers such as trucks, semi-trailers and full trailers are susceptible of dropping their loads onto the roadway with potentially disastrous consequences. With material such as gravel, aggregate or similar materials having portion of the load fall onto a roadway, is undesirable, both from the point of view of littering and the danger of material striking a following vehicle, possibly breaking a windshield or causing an accident.
Many localities now have laws requiring that all open top vehicle compartment be covered when containing loose or lightweight material. Often, the loads are simply covered with a tarpaulin that is tied to the edges of the open top at intervals around the opening. While sometimes effective, such tarpaulins are difficult for one person to put into place especially in windy conditions.
So called cargo tie-downs, also called hold downs or lashing straps, are commonly used in an attempt to control the hereinabove mentioned situations. These devices typically include a strap, bend or cord having a hook or loop at each end which enable the device to be connected to appropriate structures on a vehicle or trailer.
The strap, bend or cord is tensioned across the load to secure the load to the vehicle. Some of these devices have a generally resilient characteristic while other are substantially inelastic and include a ratchet, gear sets or buckle which allow the length of strap to be varied to secure the load on the vehicle.
Typically, the straps are drawn over the cargo, and each is applied to a winch mounted on the opposite side of the cargo bed. The winch can be turned in a direction to wind the strap tightly on the winch drum in order to tighten the winch straps on the cargo. A ratchet wheel and a pivotable pawl cooperate to lock the winch drum such that the straps are retained in a tight condition in which they are able to effectively restrain the cargo.
This type of restrain system used extensively throughout the transportation industry suffers from major drawbacks. The above described devices, such as the ratchet tie-down device, typically only uses a single ratchet, gear set or buckle to vary the length of the strap. While the single ratchet, gear set or buckle can be effective for securing some loads on vehicles, in some situations it can be desirable to have additional tension on the load which cannot be achieved using these devices. This is in part due to the known devices not providing a mechanical advantage to the strap, when tightened.
The single buckle, gear set or ratchet only have a single block for the strap between the end hooks and otherwise does not increase the user's mechanical advantage during the tie-down process. Moreover, some of these devices, and in particular the ratchet-type device, actually have a decreasing mechanical advantage as the device is being tightened which makes it even more difficult to tighten the device as the strap is pulled. That is why a rod is often used to act as a lever that a user forcibly pushes downward to tighten the strap and then ratchets up for another push downwards. If the gear set should break while the used pushes the lever downwards, he could seriously injure his knees or if there is a release of the pawl it could recoil the lever upwards thus potentially causing injury to the upper body of the user such as the face. Furthermore, because of the strength require to properly tighten a load, there is an increased risk of repetitive stress injury to the back and shoulders.
Another disadvantage associated with prior art devices relates to the fact that no provision has previously been made to disengage the pinion gear from the drum gear. In other words the gears are permanently meshed. As a consequence, when an operator pays out line, that is unwind the lines from the drum by pulling the line, the drum turns and drives the pinion gear which in turns spins the handle. If the line is quickly payed out, the handle spins both rapidly and forcibly, which is another potential cause of injury.
Another main drawback associated with most conventional winch for cargo tie-down straps, relates to the fact that they are both non ergonomical and tedious to operate. Furthermore, they are often mechanically complex and thus susceptible to break down in the sometimes harsh transportation environments.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved winch for cargo tie-down straps.


A device for magnetizing an object includes first and second electrode for contacting the object to be magnetized as well as a current generator. The generator is configured to apply a current having a raising current slope and a falling current slope. The falling current slope is steeper than the raising current slope.

Force measuring is important for many industrial applications, in particular for arrangements being dynamically impacted by a force. Applied forces may be pressuring forces as well as moments like torque and bending impact. An exemplary application for torque is a shaft for a vehicle being arranged between a motor and e.g. a wheel. For determining a torque in the shaft, a particular element needs to be mounted to the shaft. Mounting elements to a shaft may influence the movement of the shaft.

Non-contact torque sensor with permanent shaft magnetization


There is provided a wavelength variable light source system capable of changing wavelength and intensity of output signal light and of improving preset accuracy and stability of the wavelength and strength of the output signal light. The system determines the both or either one of a target value for controlling wavelength and a target value for controlling intensity of output signal light of a wavelength variable light source by correlating a combination of the target wavelength and the target light output intensity specified from a higher-level device and controls operation states of the wavelength variable light source so that output values of monitoring circuits for monitoring the operation state of the wavelength variable light source converge to the target values.

Research and development activities for realizing over-all high-functional optical communications are being aggressively promoted in the optical communications network field. Prior WDM systems exhibit narrowband wavelength intervals from about 200 GHz-50 GHz and from about 100 GHz to about 25 GHz, within which several wave lengths may be selected. The number of selected wavelengths available for optical communications may increase from the order of tens of wavelength values to the order of hundreds of wavelength values. In order to effectuate these changes, there is a need for a wavelength variable light source system capable of dynamically changing wavelength and light output intensity of the output signal light.
FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a prior art wavelength variable light source system. The wavelength variable light source system 211 includes a wavelength variable light source 212 and a control circuit 214 for controlling the wavelength variable light source 212 in accordance with instructions from a higher-level device 213.
As a signal light device of the wavelength variable light source 212, a semiconductor laser 215 may be used. The semiconducting laser may be a DFB (Distributed Feedback) laser that controls wavelength of the output signal light by controlling device temperature or it may be a DBR (Distributed Bragg Reflector) laser that controls wavelength of the output signal light by controlling driving current.
The wavelength variable light source 212 comprises the semiconductor laser 215 and a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) 216 for controlling the temperature of the semiconductor laser 215. The semiconductor laser 215 is mounted on the TEC 216. A TEC temperature detector 217 is installed on the TEC 216. A beam splitter (BS) 218 for splitting part of the output signal light from the semiconductor laser 215 is provided on an optical axis of the semiconductor laser 215 and a wavelength filter 219 that transmits only light of specific wavelength and a photodiode (PD) 220 that detects the transmitted light are provided on a split-side optical axis of the BS 218.
The control circuit 214 has; a current monitoring circuit 221 for monitoring the driving current of the semiconductor laser 215, a temperature monitoring circuit 222 for monitoring the temperature of the semiconductor laser 215 based on the TEC temperature detector 217, an output signal light monitoring circuit 223 for monitoring intensity of the signal light of a specific wavelength component contained in the output signal light of the semiconductor laser 215 based on an output of the PD 220, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 224 that outputs a LD (Light Diode) driving current control signal for controlling the driving current of the semiconductor laser 215, a TEC temperature control signal for controlling the temperature of the semiconductor laser 215 based on outputs of these monitoring circuits 221, 222, and 223, a LD driving circuit 225 for driving the semiconductor laser 215 corresponding to the LD driving current control signal, and a TEC driving circuit 226 for driving the TEC 216 corresponding to the TEC temperature control signal.
Output signals of the monitoring circuits 221, 222, and 223 are converted into digital signals respectively by ADCs (Analog Digital Converters) 227, 228, and 229; and are transmitted to the CPU 224. The LD driving current control signal and the TEC temperature control signal outputted out of the CPU 224 are converted into analog signals respectively by DACs (Digital Analog Converters) 230 and 231, and are inputted to the LD driving circuit 225 and the TEC driving circuit 226. The control circuit 214 controls the wavelength variable light source 212 so that the wavelength of the output signal light becomes constant by performing a feedback control while monitoring the driving current, temperature, and intensity of the signal light of the semiconductor laser 215 so that differences between those values and their target values are eliminated. It is noted that the content of the control is different when the semiconductor laser 215 is the DFB laser and when it is the DBR laser.
In the case of the wavelength variable light source 212 when the DFB laser is used as the semiconductor laser 215, the temperature and signal light output intensity of the semiconductor laser 215 are monitored. Information from this monitoring are used to create a feedback control for determining a command value of the TEC temperature. The command temperature value is used such that differences between actual values and target values are eliminated to control the wavelength of the output signal light. The CPU 224 also simultaneously carries out a feedback control for maintaining a constant driving current of the semiconductor laser 215 based on the output value of the current monitoring circuit 221. The current feedback is independent of the feedback control for adjusting the temperature.
In the case of the wavelength variable light source 212 when the DBR laser is used as the semiconductor laser 215, the driving current and signal light output intensity of the semiconductor laser 215 are monitored. A feedback control for determining a command value of the driving current is established so that the difference between the actual value and target value of the current is eliminated in order to control the output signal light. The CPU 224 also simultaneously carries out the feedback control for maintaining the temperature of the semiconductor laser 215 constant based on the output value of the TEC temperature detector 217 independently of the feedback control for adjusting the current.
Applicants incorporate by reference Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei. 9-219554 which describes a wavelength control technology for controlling wavelength of output signal light by detecting intensity of light signal by inputting light from the semiconductor laser to a wavelength filter whose transmission characteristics is inverse and by adjusting temperature of the semiconductor laser corresponding to a difference of the detected intensity of the light signal. Applicants also incorporate by reference Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei. 11-220198 which describes a wavelength control technology of controlling wavelength of output signal light by controlling a movement of a reflecting surface in an outside resonance section based on absorption wavelength detected by a wavelength detecting section.
In order to build a high functional optical communication network, it is desirable to increase a wavelength variable range and a number of wavelengths. Further, it is desirable to increase the variability of the intensity of output signal by a wavelength variable light source system. Typically, it had been required to mount a plurality of semiconductor lasers and a SOA (Semiconductor Optical Amplifier) within the wavelength variable light source system.
However, with the advance of the functions of the wavelength variable light source systems, problems related to influences of heat and light scatter within the wavelength variable light source system and their effects on output characteristics have outpaced the needs for setting accuracy and stability of the output wavelength and intensity of the optical output.


A SmFe-based magnetostrictive material having an excellent magnetostrictive performance and an excellent mechanical strength provided by achieving a division of crystal grains. The SmFe-based magnetostrictive material includes boron (B) as an additive component, which contributes to the fine division of crystal grains. The content of boron (B) is set in a range of B.ltoreq.0.01% by weight.

In an SmFe-based magnetostrictive material, it is necessary to finely divide or atomize the crystal grains of the SmFe-based magnetostrictive material in order to enhance the magnetostrictive performance in a lower magnetic field and to enhance the mechanical strength. The means that has been conventionally employed to accomplish this involves carrying out a casting operation of the material using a casting mold of copper having a larger thermal capacity to quench and solidify the molten metal. However, this conventional casting means is accompanied by a disadvantage that smaller and larger-sized grains of the SmFe-based magnetostrictive material are liable to be irregularly mixed together, because the size of the crystal grains is governed by the shape, the thermal capacity and the like of the casting mold of copper, and the specific heat, the vapor pressure and the like of the SmFe-based magnetostrictive material.


A heart rate monitor assembly for use in a climbing wall assembly. The assembly includes heart rate monitor devices and heart rate display units for climbers. The monitors, display devices, and pulse sensors may be incorporated into the climbing wall structure, hand holds, and/or the wall or route plates mounted on the climbing wall.

The present invention relates generally to monitoring and display devices for body function data generated during exercise. Particularly, the invention relates to heart rate monitoring and display devices used in conjunction with climbing walls. More particularly, the invention relates to climbing wall structures, climbing wall panels, hand holds and associated components having heart rate measuring and display devices.
While exercising various bodily functions may be monitored because of the changes that occur during such an exercise. For example, heart rate monitors may be used to measure heart rate, i.e., in beats/minute. During cardiovascular activity, for example, blood pressure, calorie usage, time and heart rate may all be of interest. A participant may thereby assess current activity level as well as progress towards a particular physical health goal. It is desirable, for example, to use heart rate monitors in physical education classes. Heart rate monitors may help students become aware and to take responsibility for their effort while enabling teachers and others to evaluate the progress of the participants.
Artificial climbing and bouldering walls are increasingly used due to physical fitness awareness generally and the interest in climbing and bouldering sports, specifically. Climbing wall assemblies are also provided to introduce children and adults to the climbing sports in a safe, convenient and educational manner. Various devices have also been introduced to make climbing for children and adults educational and informative. Exemplary climbing wall assemblies and devices are disclosed in Applicant's pending U.S. patent application having Ser. No. 10/236,728, filed on Sep. 6, 2002, and in the patent application entitled Safety Mat Securement Assembly having Ser. No. 11/061,583 filed on Feb. 18, 2005, the teachings of which being fully incorporated by reference herein.
Because the climbing sports have increased in popularity, it is therefore also desirable to utilize body function monitors, such as heart rate monitors, for example, when engaging a climbing route on a climbing wall. There is a need in the recreational climbing sport industry to provide heart monitoring, sensor, and display devices to climbers. The heart rate monitors, sensors and displays of the present invention are constructed and arranged to satisfy this need.

Heart rate monitors and displays for climbing walls


This invention relates to novel compounds that are liver selective glucocorticoid receptor antagonists, to methods of preparing such compounds, and to methods for using such compounds in therapy and in the regulation of metabolism, especially lowering blood glucose levels. The compounds referred to are compounds according to the formula 1:

A major problem with both Type 2 and Type 1 diabetes is that there is an excessive and inappropriate production of glucose by the liver. This abnormality is the primary cause of fasting hyperglycemia and occurs in addition to defects in regulation of insulin release and in peripheral sensitivity to insulin. Thus, agents that decrease liver glucose production would be beneficial for treating both Type 2 and also Type 1 diabetes.
Intensive treatment of the hyperglycemia of Type 1 diabetes mellitus has been shown to markedly decrease the development of ocular, renal and neuropathic complications, and there is evidence that intensive treatment is also beneficial for Type 2 diabetes. The available data also indicate that most patients are currently not receiving ideal and state-of-the-art treatment for either Type 2 or Type 1 diabetes. This inadequacy exists in spite of the availability of several different types of preparations of insulin for treatment of both Type 2 and Type 1 diabetes, and of a number of additional modalities, including agents that stimulate insulin release (e.g. sulfonylureas), influence liver glucose production (e.g. metformin), affect the sensitivity to insulin (e.g. compounds interacting with the PPARγ such as troglitazone, rosiglitazone and pioglitazone) and glucose absorption (e.g. α-glucosidase inhibitors such as acarbose). In spite of the availability of several different orally active agents that lower blood glucose levels, many patients with Type 2 diabetes also require insulin for control of their blood sugar levels. Overall, insulin usage in Type 2 diabetes exceeds that for Type 1 diabetes, and there is general agreement that there is a need for additional orally active agents to treat Type 2 diabetes.
The glucocorticoids secreted from the adrenal gland (dominantly cortisol in humans) were so-named because of their ability to regulate glucose metabolism. These steroids stimulate the production of glucose in the liver by promoting gluconeogenesis, which is the biosynthesis of new glucose (i.e. not glucose from glycogen). Thus, in glucocorticoid insufficiency there is a tendency to hypoglycemia, with decreased liver glucose production. Further, development of Addison's disease in the diabetic generally leads to lowered glucose l vels. Conversely, glucocorticoid excess can provoke frank diabetes in individuals with latent diabet s mellitus, and generally aggravates glycemic control in established diabetics. Similar influences have been observed in various animal models.
The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) belongs to a large group of ligand dependent intracellular receptors, which regulate transcription of genes. The increased glucose production in response to glucocorticoids is due to effects of a number of proteins, which are GR regulated. Important among these proteins are various transaminases that convert amino acids to glucose precursors, glucose-6 phosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxy-kinase (PEPCK). Even a modest increase of PEPCK, as obtained in transgenic mice, gives rise to hyperglycemia. In mice with Type 2 diabetes and increased levels of corticosterone (the endogenous glucocorticoid of that species) there is increased expression of PEPCK. This over-expression of PEPCK can be repressed by treatment with the GR antagonist RU486 with a concomitant decrease in the hyperglycemia.
The considerations outlined above indicate that if actions of endogenous glucocorticoids on liver glucose production could be blocked in a specific manner, glycemic control could be improved for the benefit of the diabetic patients. However, to date, all means to block glucocorticoid action have been general. Thus, adrenalectomy leaves the patent with frank adrenal insufficiency and the problems of Addison's disease. Blockade of adrenal steroid production, for example by metyrapone, or of glucocorticoid action, for example with RU486 is ordinarily of limited duration of effectiveness and when it is effective also results in generalized adrenal insufficiency. Long term, compensatory ACTH hypersecretion and increased cortisol release that override the block generally overcome these treatments. By contrast, a liver-selective GR antagonist would not have these problems, but should yet counteract the increased liver glucose production in diabetes mellitus and should be useful for treatment of Type 2 diabetes.
A liver selective GR antagonist offers a number of advantages. First, it would decrease liver glucose production. This action will have a significant effect on glycemic control. In fact, excessive liver glucose production can be the major defect in Type 2 diabetes. Secondly, such a drug should enhance insulin sensitivity because of the overall improvement in the metabolic milieu and the amelioration of the hyperglycemia-induced defects in insulin action and secretion. The decreased demand on β-cell secretion, as a result of a reduction in glycemia, would retard the progressive β-cell dysfunction characteristic of Type 2 diabetes. Another advantage of GR antagonist treatment compared with sulfonylurea or insulin treatment is that the patient would run a lower risk of hypoglycemia.
Previous efforts to block glucocorticoid action in diabetes have been hampered by the fact that any compounds used would generally block glucocorticoid action in all tissues and would lead to the potential problems of glucocorticoid insufficiency, such as hypotension, shock and ultimately death if the organism is exposed to sufficiently strong stress conditions. In contrast, a liver-selective GR-antagonist with minimal effects outside the liver could be used as a front line therapy for Type 2 diabetes, or could be used in conjunction with other existing therapies.
Also, glucocorticoids are known to influence the development and maintenance of inflammation, autoimmune disease, transplant rejection, neoplasm, leukemia, lymphoma, Cushings disease, adrenal disease, renal disease, cerebrovascular ischemia, hypercalcemia, cerebral edema, thrombocytopenia, inflammatory bowel disease, wound healing, HIV infection, central nervous system disease, spinal cord tumour, glaucoma, sleep disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, atherosclerosis, hypertension, osteoporosis, occular hypertension, nephrotoxicity, infarction, endometriosis, pregnancy disorder, psychosis, Alzheimers disease, cocaine use disorder, asthma, allergic rhinitis, conjuctivitis, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatitis, eczema, osteoarthritis, hypoglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia and obesity.

Compounds active at the glucocorticoid receptor II

Abstract: wherein the variables are as defined herein.


A toner including a binder resin and a colorant, wherein a pellet of the toner which is prepared by applying a pressure of 15 kg/cm2 to the toner has a tensile strength of from 900 Pa to 10,000 Pa, and wherein the toner has a methanol wettability of from 25 to 65% by volume, wherein the methanol wettability is measured by a method in which the toner is dispersed in a mixture solvent of water and methanol, and methanol is added to the toner dispersion while checking the transparency of the dispersion to determine a transparency fall starting point, wherein the methanol wettability is defined as {Vm/(Vm+Vw)}×100, wherein Vm represents a total volume (ml) of methanol in the dispersion at the transparency dropping point, and Vw represents the total volume of the pure water added.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toner, a developer including the toner, and an image forming method, an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge using the toner.
2. Discussion of the Background
In image forming apparatus such as electrophotographic image forming apparatus and electrostatic recording apparatus, images are prepared by a method including the following processes:    (1) an electrostatic image is formed on an image bearing member such as photoreceptors and dielectric materials (electrostatic latent image forming process);    (2) the electrostatic image is developed with a developer including a charged toner to prepare a toner image on the image bearing member (developing process);    (3) the toner image is transferred to a receiving material optionally via an intermediate transfer medium (transfer process);    (4) the toner image is heated to fix the toner image on the receiving material (fixing process); and    (5) toner particles remaining on the surface of the image bearing member are removed therefrom such that the image bearing member is ready for the next image forming operation (cleaning process).
The toner for use in such an image forming method includes at least a binder resin and a colorant, and optionally includes a charge controlling agent, a release agent and other additives.
Recently a need exists for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus capable of producing high quality images, particularly, high quality full color images. Full color images produced by electrophotographic copiers are inferior to those produced by printing machines in image quality. Therefore, electrophotographic copiers are required to produce high definition images having as good image quality as those of photographs and prints. In attempting to produce high quality images, various toners have been proposed. In order to produce high quality images, the toner used therefor is required to have the following properties:    (1) a good developability so as to efficiently and faithfully develop an electrostatic latent image;    (2) a good transferability so as to be efficiently transferred to a receiving material;    (3) a good fixability so as to be fixed in a wide fixing temperature range without causing an offset problem; and    (4) a good cleanability so as to be well removed from an image bearing member by a cleaner.
For example, in order to impart good developability, transferability and cleanability of a toner, it is attempted to improve the charge properties of the toner. Specifically, it is described in Japanese Patents Nos. 2,942,588 and 3,102,797 that by using a toner including a specific fluorine-containing ammonium salt as a charge controlling agent, the charge properties of the toner can be improved. However, when such a fluorine-containing ammonium salt is used for a toner, there is a case where the fixability of the toner deteriorates (specifically, the fixable temperature range narrows) although the charge properties of the toner can be improved. In addition, it is described in Japanese Patent No. 3,407,521 that by localizing a fluorine-containing compound on the surface of toner particles while controlling the atomic ratio of fluorine atoms to carbon atoms on the surface of the toner particles, the charge properties of the toner can be improved. However, such a technique has a drawback in that the fixability of the toner deteriorates.
As for the fixability, it is described in published unexamined Japanese patent application No. (hereinafter referred to as JP-A) 11-133667 that by using a polyester resin modified so as to have a urea bonding as a binder resin, the high temperature preservability and low temperature fixability can be improved. However, as a result of the present inventors' study, it is found that by using only such a polyester resin, the charge stability to withstand various environmental conditions is hardly improved (namely, the charge of the toner considerably changes when temperature and humidity changes, for example, from normal temperature and humidity conditions to high (or low) temperature and high (or low) humidity conditions).
In addition, it has been described in JP-As 2003-076056 and 2003-167369 that by controlling the methanol wettability, which will be explained later in detail, of a toner so as to be from 35 to 60% by volume, the stability to withstand various environmental conditions and the charge quantity distribution of the toner can be improved. However, as a result of the present inventors' study, it is found that only by controlling the methanol wettability, good stability to withstand environmental conditions of the toner cannot be controlled. In this regard, good stability to withstand various environmental conditions means a good combination of charge and preservation stabilities to withstand various environmental conditions, and is hereinafter referred to as environmental stability. Namely, a toner having good environmental stability is such that even when the toner is preserved under high (or low) temperature and high (or low) humidity conditions, the toner can maintain good chargeability, transferability, fixability and cleanability while the toner particles hardly cause agglomeration.
Further, it is described in JP-A 2003-050477 that by controlling the tensile strength of a toner so as to be from 10 to 1400 N/m2 when the toner is pressed at a pressure of 10 kg/cm2, a good combination of developability and transferability can be imparted to the toner. However, as a result of the present inventors' study, it is found that only by controlling the tensile strength, there is a case where the developability and transferability of the toner cannot be fully improved.
Because of these reasons, a need exists for a toner having a good combination of developability, transferability, fixability, cleanability and environmental stability.

Toner, developer including the toner, and image forming method, image forming apparatus and process cartridge using the toner


The present invention describes a method of producing a photovoltaic solar cell with stoichiometric p-type copper indium gallium diselenide (CuInxGa1-xSe2) (abbreviated CIGS) as its absorber layer and II-IV semiconductor layers as the n-type layers with electrodeposition of all these layers. The method comprises a sequence of novel procedures and electrodeposition conditions with an ionic liquid approach to overcome the technical challenges in the field for low-cost and large-area production of CIGS solar cells with the following innovative advantages over the prior art: (a) low-cost and large-area electrodeposition of CIGS in one pot with no requirement of post-deposition thermal sintering or selenization; (b) low-cost and large-area electrodeposition of n-type II-VI semiconductors for the completion of the CIGS solar cell production; and (c) low-cost and large-area deposition of a buffer layer of CdS or other compounds with a simple chemical bath method.

While the sunlight incident on the earth has significant potential to match our total world oil reserve of ˜3 trillion barrels with 1.5 days of irradiation, the solar approach currently supplies only 0.015% of electricity globally. The bottleneck in the adoption of large scale solar to electrical energy conversion is the low efficiency of the photovoltaic (PV) conversion and high manufacturing cost of solar cells. All of these undesirably stall the lowering of solar cell prices from its current level of >$0.3-4/kW-hr to the market acceptance level of ˜$0.1/kW-hr. The bottom line is that the solar-panel production cost has to be significantly less than the current cost of about $1/W. With the technology advancement in the production of low-cost and large-area solar cells, novel applications such as wearable solar cells fabricated on polymer or other flexible materials will further expand the solar cell market well beyond that presently envisaged.
Among many solar absorbing semiconducting materials, the absorption spectrum of copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin films matches the solar spectrum when the stoichiometry of Cu(InxGa1-x)Se2, with x ranging about 0.6 to 0.8, is reached. They have great potentials to reach very high PV conversion in solar cells because of this behaviour. CIGS will therefore play a vital role in solar cell production. In fact, conversion efficiencies of ˜20% has already been demonstrated with CIGS thin film solar cells in research laboratories. Following the prevalent technology in producing compound semiconductors for optoelectronics in the current market, nearly all global players in CIGS business produce CIGS by the high vacuum techniques of evaporation or sputtering. However, both the capital and operation costs involved in these methods of fabrication are high, the throughput is limited and is not conducive to size-scalable production as would be required for efficient commercialization of these films due to the limited size of the vacuum chambers used for depositing these films.
Another technical problem is the control of the formation of stoichiometric CIGS films and proper grain properties in these films required for this material to be useful in large scale solar cell applications. Due to the relatively high vapor pressure of selenium even in a moderately elevated temperature, as-deposited CIGS films often do not have the optimum amount of selenium. The prevalent approach to circumvent the problem is to sinter as-deposited CIGS films in the presence of a selenium vapor at a temperature in the range of 300-600° C. Although the films can be fed continuously into a space-optimized sintering chamber for throughput improvement and cost reduction, this post-deposition treatment is still an extra manufacturing step requiring vacuum technology, thermal and electrical energy, and comprehensive safety procedures due to the presence of very toxic selenium vapor. More importantly, the adoption of thermal sintering at >300° C. forfeits the opportunity of producing solar cells directly on polymers and many other potentially desirable materials.
To meet the market-driven technology requirement of efficient, economical and practical large-area production of rolls of CIGS films for CIGS solar cell fabrication, Nanosolar Inc. pioneered an ink-jet printing technology of CIGS film formation (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,122,398 issued to K. Pichler and references cited therein). In this method, nano-particles of CIGS are chemically synthesized and suspended in a colloidal liquid (commonly referred to as a "nano-CIGS ink") with a suitable surfactant present on the surface of each nano-particle to prevent aggregation of the particles, and with other chemical additives being present that are required for the ink-printing process. The nano-CIGS ink is then be printed and a CIGS film is formed by heat treatment of the printed CIGS film to remove the solvent, surfactant, and other chemical additives, and to sinter the nano-CIGS particles into a coherent film.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,122,398 issued to Pichler discloses that after this thermal treatment step, "the film may optionally be exposed to selenium vapor at about 300-500° C. for about 30-45 minutes to ensure the proper stoichiometry of Se in the film". It is well known in the field that such a selenization thermal treatment also improves the grain properties and electrical properties of CIGS films (see, e.g., N. Naghavi et al., Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, 2009, 17, 1-9). Hence, the technology requirement of a low-cost and large-area deposition of stoichiometric CIGS films with no requirement of any post-deposition heat treatment has not yet been fulfilled.
While it is well known that many electrically conductive materials can be deposited in a large area at low cost using electrochemical processes, at present the electrodeposition of CIGS films is very problematic for several reasons. For example, the electrodeposition of stoichiometric CIGS requires the precise solubility control of all four precursor compounds of Cu, In, Ga and Se, together with the proper controls of the electrochemical potentials for the reduction of these compounds in one single pot, with no undesirable side-products arising from other possible electrochemical reactions in the solution medium. The present inventors have confirmed experimentally that the traditional electrodeposition of CIGS from an aqueous solution is accompanied by both undesirable electrochemical reactions on the electrode prior to the deposition of CIGS and the evolution of hydrogen bubbles at the CIGS film surface during the CIGS deposition.
Nevertheless, several research groups have claimed the electrodeposition of CIGS films with the aqueous solution approach in the literature. For example, Y. P. Fu et al. (Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 2009, 156, 9 E133-E138) reported the electrodeposition of CIGS films in an aqueous solution in the presence of LiCl as a supporting electrolyte. In this publication they disclosed that post-deposition thermal sintering was still required. Furthermore, they could not produce stoichiometric thin films, as the concentration of gallium was observed to be low in the deposited films. Adding more gallium compounds to the aqueous solution was not a viable method to increase the gallium content in the resultant CIGS films because with the increase in the gallium concentration in the aqueous solution, Fu et al. noticed that the gallium reduction potential became more negative which made gallium ion deposition on the electrode more difficult. Another problem with the aqueous solution approach is that molybdenum is commonly used the electrode-contact for CIGS but molybdenum and many other metals oxidize in the aqueous cyclic voltammetry process of CIGS electrodeposition.
Recently Lai et al. (Electrochimica Acta 2009, 54, 3004-3010) reported a one-step electrodeposition process of CIGS film formation in a water-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution. In this case, the co-electrodeposition of the four elements Cu, In, Ga, Se was still difficult due to the huge difference in their reduction potentials in this solution. To overcome this problem, Lai et al. added a complexing agent into the water-DMF bath. In this publication, Lai et al. also elaborated on the aforementioned problem of hydrogen evolution. In essence, Lai et al. were not able to demonstrate the preparation of stoichiometric CIGS films.
In another approach, Kois et al. (Thin Solid Films 2008, 516, 5948-5952) reported the fabrication on CIGS films from thiocyanate complex electrolytes. Once again, they reported the necessity of post-deposition thermal selenization. Their report also shows that their CIGS films were deficient in Ga.
In yet another approach, Long and coworkers (Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2009, 152, 012074) reported the preparation of CIGS films by a one-step electrodeposition in an alcohol solution. Again, a post-deposition thermal sintering process at 550° C. for 30 min was required. Moreover, the report shows that the resultant CIGS films were still observed to be deficient in copper.
A method of electrochemical deposition of CIGS in a non-aqueous solution such as an ionic liquid was recently disclosed by Peter and coworkers ("Electrochemical Deposition of CIGS by Means of Room Temperature Ionic Liquids", Thin Solid Films, 2007, 515, 5899-5903). This publication describes the deposition processes for the preparation of Cu—In—Se and Cu—In—Ga—Se precursor films, which were converted to stoichiometric CIS and CIGS films respectively with a post-deposition thermal selenization at 500° C. for 30 min. The present inventors have repeated the CIGS deposition process disclosed by Peter and coworkers, by following the same bath compositions and applied potential conditions, and found that the disclosed electrodeposition process alone did not produce stoichiometric CIGS films. Typically, the as-deposited CIGS films prepared by the disclosed process have very low selenium content, and show a very poor morphology homogeneity and weak adhesion to molybdenum substrates. The present inventors suspect that this is also the reason for adopting the post-deposition thermal selenization step required by Peter and coworkers to convert their Se-deficient films to stoichiometric CIGS films.
Thus, as discussed above, while there have been recent attempts by many researchers in the field to develop a methodology to electrodeposit CIGS films, there has not been any success in electrodeposition of stoichiometric CIGS films ready for solar cell fabrication with no requirement of post-deposition annealing or selenization.
What is therefore needed is an economical, reproducible electrodeposition method of producing stoichiometric CIGS films which is scalable for use in industries such as production of large surface area solar cells without the requirement of any post-deposition sintering or selenization.

Electrochemical method of producing copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar cells

CHENGDU ARK ETERNITY PHOTOVOLTAIC TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED


A data de-duplication system includes a storage device that includes multiple data sets, a fixed read-only storage area, and a processing device configured to perform certain functions. The system determines whether each of the multiple data sets has met a common pattern criteria, and if so, identifies the data set as a candidate data set for de-duplication. The common pattern criteria is indicative of whether a chunk data is frequently accessed among multiple users on a cloud. The system stores data in at least one candidate data sets in the fixed storage area. For each of the at least candidate data sets, the system generates a unique pointer that corresponds to a location of the at least one candidate data sets in the fixed storage area. The system further uses the pointers to de-duplicate the at least one candidate data sets.

This disclosure relates to methods and systems for data de-duplication, and in particular to storage optimization in a de-duplication system using fixed pattern chunk data.
Traditionally, de-duplication of storage has been optimized for individual storage systems that are separated by location and networks and that are controlled by separate owners. However, these systems will not operate at their optimal performance on a cloud or a large network, in which user chunk data can be accessed by all the storage users of the de-duplication system. In other words, it is still a challenge for one user to provide the de-duplication for multiple users on the network. Further, in existing de-duplication systems, when removing duplicate data patterns, a system typically replaces each duplicate chunk data with a pointer that points to a location containing a physical copy of the chunk data. Depending on the duplication algorithm being used, data collision may occur when two different pieces of information refer to the same pointer, which result in data corruption. Other issues of data integrity may also exist when a storage device needs to be replaced and data in the storage device need to be re-generated.

System and method for storage optimization in a de-duplication system

International Business Machines Corporation


A pump dispenser is described for dispensing a product through a pumping mechanism that draws product from a storage container upwards through a dip tube, across a check valve, into a collecting chamber from which it is dispensed through a one-way monitoring valve and exits a nozzle. Flow is initiated by compression of a domed elastomeric wall covering the collecting chamber. A vent system of conduits including a conical ring valve brings air into the container to equalize pressure upon release of compression against the elastomeric wall. The one-way monitoring valve, downstream from the collecting chamber, may be formed as a duckbill valve of elastomeric rubber having an exit slit at the dispensing end. This slit, normally closed, will open upon pressure from a product flow. Excellent control of dispensing amounts is achieved through the pumping mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a vented pump dispenser for delivery of liquid and semi-liquid products.
2. The Related Art
A variety of pumping devices are commercially available to deliver liquid and semi-liquid products, e.g. cosmetics. Commonly these devices feature a dip-tube with an activateable head as illustrated in U.S. Des. Pat. No. 351,991 (Bertolini et al.). Most prior art pumps involve the use of one-way ball valves, springs, sliding pistons, sealing elements and related engineering elements.
Various disadvantages are associated with known pump mechanisms. Those mechanisms involving a rectilinear reciprocable piston require a user to depress a plunger along a given direction. Lateral pressure causes binding of the piston. Consequently, this arrangement may at times be awkward to actuate. Certainly it is not ergonomically designed.
Another disadvantage is that only partial control is achieved over the amount of product dispensed. Traditional pumps require a user to complete a full stroke. A unit of product is thereby forced from the container even though the user may desire less than a unit dose.
Still a further disadvantage is that traditional pump heads are aesthetically displeasing. They are awkward and gangly in appearance. Moreover, the elongated gangly head generally rises to a height that sometimes renders it difficult to store within a medicine cabinet or shelf.
Some of these problems have been addressed in the patent literature. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,486,663 (Humphrey) describes a pump or check-valve consisting of an elastomeric member having a recessed portion adapted for sealing engagement with a supporting surface to define therewith a closed chamber. The supporting surface has two ports opening into the chamber; the elastomeric member has one or two partitions dividing the chamber into a respective number of compartments. These compartments are sloping in relation to the bottom surface of the dispenser.
A more ergonomically and aesthetically pleasing design is reported in U.S. Pat. No. 3,752,366 (Lawrence, Jr.) illustrating a dome-shaped section, siphon tube with seal and dispensing orifice.
Other pertinent devices are found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,562 (Hazard). The patent discloses a deformable container with a dispensing closure having a cap and a rotary spout adapted to be moved between open and closed positions. The spout serves as a pump to exhaust the contents of the container. Check valves may be mounted on a fitment within the cap to serve as a part of the closure itself.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,162,334 (Miller) reports a pumping member including a domed diaphragm defining a variable volume chamber. Valve means are formed in a collar surrounding the domed diaphragm to control fluid flow which may exit through a spout.
Although many improvements have been reported in the art, there still remains a need for improved functionality and ergonomics. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pump dispenser where product flow can be very precisely controlled to deliver even fractional portions of a full pumping stroke.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a pump dispenser of relatively low profile which can be more readily stored than those of the known art.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a pump dispenser with an actuating member which can be depressed by hand pressure from practically any angle.

Chesebrough-Pond's USA Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.