An optical cable tracing system is constructed using an optical/electrical (hybrid) cable 10 containing both optical and electrical transmission media. This cable provides desirably high bandwidth via optical fibers 15 while connection accuracy is provided via electrical wires 13, which are used to operate indicator lights 941 at one or both ends of the cable. A hybrid plug connector 300 terminates the cable at each end and includes a dielectric housing 20, 30 that encloses the optical fiber (glass or plastic), which extends through a front opening 21 in the housing. A single cantilever latch 22 is mounted on a top-side of the housing that is adapted to engage a mating jack receptacle 440 in a locking relationship. A conductor-holding apparatus is molded into the bottom side of the housing where it holds a number of insulated electrical conductors and metallic blade terminals 36 that pierce the insulation and make electrical contact with each of the conductors. The mating jack receptacle includes a row of spaced wire springs 449 at the entrance of the optical connecting portion of the receptacle. The wire springs either extend to an opposite side of the receptacle to provide electrical interconnection between a pair of hybrid plug connectors, or the wire springs are arrayed to fit into a printed wiring board 710 for interconnection with electrical circuitry 730 thereon.

This invention relates to optical connectors and, more particularly, to optical plugs that include electrical connectors.
The growth in optical communications has been fueled by the extraordinary bandwidth that is available on optical fiber. Such bandwidth enables thousands of telephone conversations and television channels to be transmitted simultaneously over a hair-thin fiber that is made from a high-quality glass material. Nevertheless, bandwidth alone cannot satisfy some very simple needs that are easily handled by electrical cables. For example, electrical signals are the only practical way to interact with the existing communications infrastructure (e.g., standard telephone equipment) or even to operate a simple indicator lamp. And so it seems likely that the most desirable cables will combine electrical wires and optical fibers to enable designers to take maximum advantage of the strengths of each media. And while hybrid (i.e., electrical/optical) cables exist, hardware for connecting such cables to other communication equipment is presently too large, too costly or too cumbersome.
For example, patch panels are used to interconnect specific customers and equipment to other specific customers and equipment, and it is imperative that the interconnections be made accurately. One system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,503, which discloses an optical fiber patch cable having end connectors that are arranged to operatively connect with patch panel couplings. Each patch cable includes one or more optical fibers and one or more electrical conductors. However, these end connectors and couplings are relatively bulky with large cross-section areas, each having many individual parts that do not yield to machine assembly. Consequently, they are neither space nor cost effective. Space is at a premium in such patch panels and an optical/electrical connector arrangement having a small footprint (i.e., cross-section area) is desirable, as is the ability to easily insert and remove closely spaced connectors in the patch panel.
Other hybrid connectors are known in the art and shown in: U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,452; U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,651; U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,715, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,745,622. However, none of these connectors provides the desired cost and space effectiveness. Some connectors have multiple latches while others require twisting, which means that additional separation between connectors is required so that an installer""s fingers can be positioned on both sides of the connector during installation and removal.
Another deficiency associated with many known plug connectors is that it takes too much effort to align the connector during installation because both electrical and optical connections need to be simultaneously engaged. This is the natural result of attempting to align a large number of connections at the same time.
Accordingly, what is desired is an optical/electrical plug connector that can be easily installed into a receptacle without significant alignment effort. Additionally, it is desirable that the optical/electrical plug connector have a relatively small cross-section area, a reduced number of parts, and the ability to easily install or remove from a densely packed patch panel.
The above-described deficiencies are overcome by an optical/electrical plug connector for terminating g optical and electrical transmission media. The plug connector includes a dielectric housing that encloses a fiber-holding apparatus, which supports an optical fiber that extends through a front opening in the housing. The plug connector further includes a back opening in the housing for receiving the optical fiber. A single cantilever latch is mounted on a top-side of the housing with its fixed end positioned toward the front opening and its free end extending toward the back opening. The latch is adapted to engage an associated receptacle in a locking relationship. A conductor-holding apparatus is positioned on a bottom side of the housing that is adapted to receive a number of insulated electrical conductors. The conductor-holding apparatus includes an equal number of metallic blade terminals that extend into the bottom side of the housing, pierce the insulation of the electrical conductors, and make electrical contact therewith.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plug connector is designed to terminate one optical fiber and four insulated electrical conductors. Illustratively, the optical fiber may be glass or plastic. In the preferred embodiment, the optical fiber and the electrical conductors are contained within a single cable.
The optical/electrical plug connector of the present invention is suitable for high density panel mounting because the latch is positioned on the top side of the housing and the electrical connection apparatus is positioned on its bottom side. Such construction permits the left and right sides of the plug connector to be unencumbered by latching mechanisms. Indeed, because only minimum space is required on the lateral sides, jack structures having closely spaced (side-by-side) receptacles can be used in high-density applications.
Moreover, the plug connector of the present invention includes an optical plug portion that is designed to enter the associated jack receptacle before the electrical plug portion of the connector is engaged. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the metallic blade terminals of the electrical plug portion are located at about the midpoint of the housing, although satisfactory alignment is achieved with only about twenty (20) percent of housing inserted in the jack receptacle before electrical contact is made. At this point, the optical plug portion of the connector is already providing meaningful assistance in the alignment of the electrical plug portion.


When a lever driving section 43 that rotates integrally with a display 2 about a shaft 5a is pushed out by a concave portion 51, a switch operating section 44 on the other end side is rotated about a rotational central section 41 to turn off a switch 30. When the lever driving section 43 is drawn into a convex portion 53, the switch operating section 44 is rotated about the rotational central section 41 to turn on the switch 30.

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are perspective views each showing an arrangement of a display unit 1; FIG. 11 is a closed position thereof, and FIG. 12 is an opened position thereof. A display 2 and a housing case (main body) 3 for housing the display are openably and closably connected to each other through a left and a right hinge section 4, 5. The display 2 is composed of a front panel 7 in which an opening 6 for a screen display is open-provided, and a back panel 8.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of a conventional opening/closing detecting device incorporated in the display unit 1, and shows an internal structure of the display 2 with a back panel 8 removed. Disposed inside the display 2 are a holder 101 made of metal; a board 102 fixed to the holder 101; a switch 103, mounted on the board 102, for detecting the opened/closed position of the display 2; a lever 104 for turning on/off the switch 103 in cooperation with the opening/closing movement of the display 2; a lever holder 105 for holding the lever 104; a screw 105a for fixing the lever holder 105 to the holder 101; and a spring 106 for urging the lever 104. Further, a concave-convex section 107 for pushing the lever 104 against the energization of the spring 106 is disposed around the shaft 4a of the hinge section 4 that connects the housing case 3 to the display 2.
Provided on one end side of the lever 104 held by the lever holder 105 is a lever driving section 108 that comes into contact with the concave-convex section 107 and rotates about the shaft 5a integrally with the display 2 to travel along concave and convex portions thereof. A switch operating section 109 for turning on/off the switch 103 is provided on the other end side thereof. The lever driving section 108 is normally pushed in a direction of the concave-convex section 107 by the urging force of the spring 106; when the display 2 is in a closed position as shown in FIG. 13, the lever driving section 108 is pushed out by a convex portion 110 of the concave-convex section 107. When the lever driving section 108 on the one end side is pushed out by the convex portion 110, the switch operating section 109 on the other end side is also slid to come to a position that presses the switch 103.
On the other hand, when the display 2 is opened, the lever driving section 108 is also moved integrally to be drawn into a concave portion 111 of the concave-convex section 107. When the lever driving section 108 on the one end side is drawn into the concave portion 111, the switch operating section 109 on the other end side is also slid to come to a position that releases the switch 103.
Further, in an opening/closing detecting mechanism of Patent Document 1, for example, an opening/closing body is fixed to an end portion of a supporting shaft serving as a swinging shaft, wherein the mechanism is provided with: a cam member of which the outside face in an extending direction of the supporting shaft provides a cam face; a return spring of the cam member; and a detection switch having a movable section (lever) that moves between an ON position where it is determined that the opening/closing body is in an opened position and an OFF position where it is determined that the opening/closing body is in a closed position, wherein the cam face of the cam member is configured to have a shape such that the movable section of the detecting switch is moved between the ON position and the OFF position, when the cam member is rotated by the opening/closing of the opening/closing body.
As mentioned above, the conventional opening/closing detecting device turns on/off the screen of the display such that the members following the opening/closing movement of the display turn on/off the switch.

Switch lever device and open/close detection device


A catoptric projection optical system for projecting a pattern on an object surface onto an image surface and for serving as an imaging system that forms an intermediate image includes first, second, third and fourth mirrors serving substantially as a coaxial system so as to sequentially reflect light from an object side to an image side, and being arranged so that light from the object surface to the first mirror may intersect light from the second mirror to the third mirror.

The present invention relates generally to exposure apparatusses, and more particularly to a reflection type (catoptric) projection optical system, an exposure apparatus, and a device fabricating method using the same. The catoptric projection optical system use ultraviolet ("UV") and extreme ultraviolet ("EUV") light to project and expose an object, such as a single crystal substrate for a semiconductor wafer, and a glass plate for a liquid crystal display ("LCD").
Along with recent demands for smaller and lower profile electronic devices, finer semiconductor devices to be mounted onto these electronic devices have been increasingly demanded. For example, the design rule for mask patterns has required that an image with a size of a line and space ("L & S") of less than 0.1 μm be extensively formed and it is expected to require circuit patterns of less than 80 nm in the near future. The L & S denotes an image projected onto a wafer in exposure with equal line and space widths, and serves as an index of exposure resolution.
A projection exposure apparatus as a typical exposure apparatus for fabricating semiconductor devices includes a projection optical system for projecting and exposing a pattern on a mask or a reticle (these terms are used interchangeably in the present application), onto a wafer. The resolution R of the projection exposure apparatus (i.e., a minimum size for a precise image transfer) can be defined using a light-source wavelength λ and the numerical aperture ("NA") of the projection optical system as in the following equation:                     R        =                              k            1                    ×                      λ            NA                                              (        1        )
As the shorter the wavelength becomes and the higher the NA increases, the better the resolution becomes. The recent trend has required that the resolution be a smaller value; however it is difficult to meet this requirement using only the increased NA, and the improved resolution expects use of a shortened wavelength. Exposure light sources have currently been in transition from KrF excimer laser (with a wavelength of approximately 248 nm) and ArF excimer laser (with a wavelength of approximately 193 nm) to F2 excimer laser (with a wavelength of approximately 157 nm). Practical use of the EUV light is being promoted as a light source.
As a shorter wavelength of light limits usable glass materials for transmitting the light, it is advantageous for the projection optical system to use reflection elements, i.e., mirrors instead of using many refraction elements, i.e., lenses. No applicable glass materials have been proposed for the EUV light as exposure light, and a projection optical system could not include any lenses. It has thus been proposed to form a cataoptric reduction (demagnification) projection optical system only with mirrors.
A mirror in a catoptic reduction projection optical system forms a multilayer film to enhance reflected light and increase reflectance, but the smaller number of mirrors is desirable to increase reflectance of the entire optical system. In addition, the projection optical system preferably uses the even number of mirrors to avoid mechanical interference between the mask and the wafer by arranging the mask and the wafer at opposite sides with respect to a pupil. Apparently, a two-mirror system is the minimum number, but it is difficult to maintain a high NA and good imaging performance only with two mirrors due to its limited freedom of design. Accordingly, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2000-98228 has proposed a projection optical system including four mirrors.
The catoptric projection optical system as the four-mirror system proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2000-98228 considers an increase of the reflectance in the entire optical system, but disadvantageously has a large span of the optical system and a large maximum effective diameter of the mirror. More specifically, the catoptric projection optical system of a first embodiment has a span of 1451 mm and a maximum effective diameter Φ of 542 mm, while the catoptric projection optical system of a second embodiment has a span of 1279 mm and a maximum effective diameter Φ of 306 mm.
This problem would result in a larger apparatus, lower the transmittance because of the insufficient purge space and vacuum space, and cause manufacture errors due to the manufacture difficulty of a mirror surface, consequently lowering the imaging performance.

Catoptric projection optical system, exposure apparatus and device fabrication method using same


A district heat supply plant controller for efficiently and flexibly obtaining operation plans of a district heat supply plant includes a plant operation planning device responsive to a predicted thermal load value for a current day predicted by a thermal load prediction device to determine an operation plan of the district heat supply plant. The plant operation planning device has a genetic algorithm executing device applying genetic algorithms onto an individual having rows of genes representing ON/OFF states in each time unit by 1/0 for each of the heat source devices. In the plant operation planning device, a mathematical programming executing device 4 uses an operation plan obtained by the genetic algorithm executing device 3 as its initial value to determine the operation plan of the district heat supply plant 20.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a district heat supply plant controller for controlling operation of a district heat supply plant having a plurality of heat source devices and, more particularly, to a district heat supply plant controller capable of efficiently driving each of heat sources of a district heat supply plant.
2. Description of the Related Art
A large-scaled building or a block of buildings usually has a district heat supply plant for air conditioning of the entirety of the district. District heat supply plants are configured to prepare hot water and cold water by using heat pumps or other appropriate heat source devices, store them in heat storage tanks, and supply them to air conditioners or other thermal load devices whenever demanded. District heat supply plants using electric power as their power sources are configured to use night-time electric power or peak-cut driving for efficient operation, by generating and storing heat in the night, generating hot water and cold water and discharging the stored heat in the day time.
For efficiently driving a district supply plant in the aforementioned manner, one or more professional operators (plant operators) are indispensable. However, these professional operators are difficult to acquire and hold stably, and the personnel expenses for them are great. Therefore, unmanned driving is desired at least in the night, for example. Currently, a method for determining an operation plan of a district heat supply plant based on mathematical programming is typically used as a method for automatic operation reflecting operator's professional knowledge.
As explained above, district heat supply plants are automatically operated by obtaining their operation plans on the basis of a mathematical programming and by reflecting operator's professional knowledge. Mathematical programming, however, tries to strictly obtain an optimum solution, and often results in finding no practical solution or determining an inappropriate solution due to an inappropriate modeling. Therefore, it is difficult to realize completely unmanned operation by mathematical programming. Additionally, when a district heat supply plant is enlarged in scale, the amount of calculations for determining an operation plan increases, and it is difficult to determine the operation plan within a service time.
To overcome these defects of mathematical programming, researches and studies have been started recently on an approach for obtaining operation plans of various kinds of plants by using genetic algorithms to obtain quasi-optimum solutions in a short time.


A weatherstrip retainer unit and a roof construction using the weatherstrip retainer unit are disclosed. The weatherstrip retainer unit comprises a retainer section and an integral molding section. The roof construction is designed to accommodate well to the installation of a roof rack in which a gutter strip has a flange overlying on the inside surface of a downwardly extending roof edge portion of a roof so as to reinforce the latter. The roof rack is placed with each leg engaging the outside surface of the reinforced roof edge. A plurality of generally U-shaped fasteners are used, each having its longer arm fixedly screwed to the roof rack and its shorter arm engaging the flange of the gutter strip.

The present invention relates to a weatherstrip retainer unit for automobiles and a roof construction of an automobile, including the weatherstrip retainer, which readily accommodates the installation of a roof rack.
In hard-tops, a weatherstrip retainer is attached to a roof rail at a downwardly facing portion of an outer channel member or outer panel which is secured to an inner wall member or inner panel to form the roof rail. A gutter strip with a rain gutter has a flange secured to the outer channel member and is secured to an outwardly extending roof edge portion. A molding has a flange secured to the retainer and extends upwardly and along the roof edge portion in a manner as to conceal the rain gutter.
This roof construction has the following disadvantages.
One of them is that a seal strip adapted to be disposed between a weatherstrip retainer and the roof rail and a molding to be secured to the retainer must be manufactured independently of the retainer, thus causing an increase, in number, of parts so that arrangement and attachment of the weatherstrip retainer to the roof rail are complicated.
Another of them is that a space g (see FIGS. 2 and 3) provided between the flange of the molding and the rain gutter, which space is provided for allowing tolerance of the rain gutter from the proper location upon securing the flange of the rain gutter to the outer wall member, causes the deformation of the molding if a roof rack is mounted on the roof by a plurality of fasteners, each having arms engaging the rain gutter and the under side of the molding, respectively, tending to urge the molding upwardly toward the rain gutter, as is well shown in FIG. 3.
Still another disadvantage is that the flange of the molding extends horizontally outwardly from the upper surface of the retainer, so that the outer flange of the retainer is not concealed, thus detracting from the external appearance.

Weatherstrip retainer unit for automobiles and roof construction which accommodates well to installation of roof rack


A battery embodying this invention comprises:. an anode including an anode-active material formed of one metal selected from the Group Ia metals or preferably lithium metal; PA1 a cathode including a cathode-active material formed of metal or metal-free organic compounds having a phthalocyanine function or organic compounds having a porphin function; and PA1 an electrolyte prepared from a material which is chemically stable to the cathode and anode materials and permits the migration of the ion of the anode metal to the cathode for electrochemical reaction with the cathode-active material.

This invention relates to a battery, and more particularly to a battery whose anode contains as the anode active material a metal selected from the metals of Group Ia, whose cathode contains as the cathode active material a compound selected from the group consisting of organic compounds having a phthalocyanine function and organic compounds having a porphin function, and whose electrolyte is formed of a material which does not chemically react with the cathode and anode materials, and permits the migration of ions from the anode material to the cathode for electrochemical reactions with the cathode active material.
Hitherto known are numerous types of high energy density battery, in which lithium is used as an anode-active material. A lithium battery is already commercially available in which a cathode-active material is formed of, for example, fluorocarbon, Ag.sub.2 CrO.sub.4, MnO.sub.2 or SOCl.sub.2. However, the prior art lithium batteries have the drawback that their capacity and energy density are not always quite satisfactory, and that these batteries are not capable of being recharged.
Among the secondary batteries using lithium as an anode-active material, a chalcogenide battery (refer to the U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,052) has the most excellent property in which a cathode-active material is formed of the sulfides, selenides or tellurides of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, tantalum or vanadium. Among the lithium batteries, the type in which titanium disulfide TiS.sub.2 is used as a cathode-active material is already on the market. However, all the batteries known to date cannot be regarded as fully satisfactory in respect of property and economies. An attempt to use an organic compound as a cathode-active material is set forth in the British Pat. No. 1,216,549, in which a polymeric organic semiconductor such as polyaniline is used as a cathode. Also described in said British patent is a battery in which a copper phthalocyanine polymer is used as a cathode. However, the property of this battery is not clearly indicated. Further proposed are the following batteries:
(a) U.S. Pat. No. Re 27,835 in which a non-aqueous solvent type battery is formed by dissolving SO.sub.2 in electrolyte to use a cathode-active material such as N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl benzidine which is soluble in a non-aqueous solvent type electrolyte. PA1 (b) A lithium battery (U.S. Pat. No. 3,185,590) in which a cathode-active material is formed of a polymer of quinones, for example para-quinone; PA1 (c) A lithium battery (Chemical Abstract 1,270,135 S, 1976, Vol 85) in which a cathode-active material is formed of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone; PA1 (d) A battery (Chemical Abstract 127,012 r, 1976, Vol 85) in which a cathode-active material is formed of bipyridine; and PA1 (e) A battery (U.S. Pat. No. 3,352,720) in which a cathode-active material formed of a complex compound of a halogen such as bromine with the nitrogen atoms of polymeric amine such as polyvinyl pyridine.
The above-listed proposed batteries have not yet proved quite satisfactory in respect of capacity and energy density. This invention has been proposed by way of eliminating the drawbacks of said batteries.
The primary object of this invention is to provide primary and secondary batteries, whose cathode-active material is composed of an organic compound having a phthalocyanine function.
Another object of the invention is to provide compact, light-weight primary batteries having large energy density.
Still another object of the invention is to provide secondary batteries which are capable of being discharged and charged over many cycles.

Nonaqueous battery with organic compound cathode

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation


A method and apparatus are disclosed for separating components from a flog medium by means of centrifugal force. The flowing medium travels through two stages. In the first stage a spin is generated and in the second stage the actual material separation is accomplished in one or several separating devices by means of one or several whirling or eddy sources. The apparatus includes a spin generator housing and separator chambers, whereby spin conduits extend into the separator chambers toward exhaust pipes to such an extent that a spacing is provided between the spin conduit and the exhaust pipe. At least one exhaust suction is tangentially effective in the area of this spacing.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating components from a flowing medium by means of centrifugal forces which are effective on the flowing medium.
The separation of material components from a flowing medium by means of centrifugal forces is well known and many solutions to this type of separation are available in the art. Especially German Patent Publication (DOS) No. 2,160,415, discloses a method for separating and precipitating or removing of material components suspended in a medium, said separating or removing being accomplished by means of centrifugal force. In the known method the medium to be cleaned or worked is guided into a bent main flow. A stationary eddy is produced on the concave side at a flow off edge of the main flow. The stationary eddy flows along the entire width of the flowing medium, whereby a portion of the circumferentially outer area of the eddy flow contacts the main flow or overlaps the main flow. In this manner it is possible to generate an orderly flow field subject to a high centrifugal force effect which, in addition, is self-stabilizing and clean in an aerodynamic sense. The proportion to be separated or removed from the flowing medium is collected in the center of the eddy chamber and removed from the eddy zone through axially extending exit conduits.
The separated particles leave the eddy zone under the influence of the centrifugal force and return into the main stream which carries the particles past the eddy chamber. The separation or removal even of the finest particles is very efficient in the just described prior art method. However, there is room for improvement with regard to the ratio between the separated clean volume flow and the initial total or raw volume flow. In the prior art this ratio is relatively low.

Method and apparatus for separating components from a flowing medium by means of centrifugal force

Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung


A system and method for object classification based upon the fusion of a radar system and a natural imaging device using sparse code representation. The radar system provides a means of detecting the presence of an object within a predetermined path of a vehicle. Detected objects are then fused with the image gathered by the camera and then isolated in an attention window. The attention window is then transformed into a sparse code representation of the object. The sparse code representation is then compared with known sparse code representation of various objects. Each known sparse code representation is given a predetermined variance and subsequent sparse code represented objects falling within said variance will be classified as such. The system and method also includes an associative learning algorithm wherein classified sparse code representations are stored and used to help classifying subsequent sparse code representation.

1. Field of the Invention
A system and method for object classification based upon the fusion of a radar system and a natural imaging device, and a sparse code representation of an identified object.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Sensor fusion object classification systems are known and well documented. Such systems will gather information from an active and passive sensor and associate the two data to provide the user with information relating to the data, such as whether the object is a vehicle or a non-vehicle. Such an association is commonly referred to as fusion and is referred to as such herein. In operation, fusion relates to return of a natural image captured by the passive sensor with respect to the detection of an object by the active sensor. Specifically, an active sensor such as a radar system will be paired to a passive sensor such as a video camera, and the objects detected by the radar will be mapped to the video image taken by the video camera. The fusion of such data may be done using algorithms which map the radar return to the video image. The fused data may then be further processed for relevant information such as object detection and classification using some form of visual graphic imaging interpretation. However, visual graphic imaging interpretation requires sufficient memory to store the visual graphic data, and sufficient processing speed to interpret the visual data in a timely manner. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,232 to Malhotra teaches the use of multiple sensor data fusion architecture to reduce the amount of image processing by processing only selected areas of an image frame as determined in response to information from electromagnetic sensors. Each selected area is given a centroid and the center of reflection for each detected object is identified. A set of vectors are determined between the centers of reflection and the centroid. The difference between the centers of reflection and the centroids are used to classify objects. However, Malhotra does not teach the use of orientation selective filters for object classification.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,889,171 to Skrbina et al. discloses a system fusing radar returns with visual camera imaging to obtain environmental information associated with the vehicle such as object classification. Specifically, a radar is paired with a camera and the information received from each are time tagged and fused to provide the user with data relating to object classification, relative velocity, and the like. This system requires the data to be processed through an elaborate and complicated algorithm and thus requires a processor with that ability to process a tremendous amount of data in a relatively short period of time in order to provide the user with usable data.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,209,221 to Breed et al. discloses a method of obtaining information regarding a vehicle blind spot using an infrared emitting device. Specifically, the method uses a trained pattern recognition technique or a neural network to identify a detected object. However, Breed et al. is dependent upon the trained pattern recognition technique whereby the amount of patterns and processes may place a huge burden on the system.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have a system for object classification which does not require the amount of processing capabilities as the prior art, and which can refine and improve its classification over time. One form of object recognition and classification is known as sparse code representation. It is understood that sparse coding is how the human visual system efficiently codes images. This form of object recognition produces a limited response to any given stimulus thereby reducing the processing requirements of the prior art systems. Furthermore, the use of sparse code recognition allows the system to be integrated with current systems having embedded radar and camera fusion capabilities.

Method and system of sparse code based object classification with sensor fusion

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.


Apparatus for installing rivet-type electrical connectors onto flat conductor cables wherein the connectors are fed to the machine from a magazine, transferred to a press and then pressed onto and through the cable over an anvil which holds the rivet-type connector to form a secure connection with the cable. The resulting profile of the connector is such that it extends through the conductor of the cable and is held thereon by a flange on one side of the cable and an eyelet-type crimp on the opposite side of the cable.

This invention relates generally to electrical connectors and, more particularly, to an apparatus for installing electrical connectors onto flat conductor cables.
Flat conductor cable has come in to general use in such areas as under-carpet wiring systems. This type of cable carries out the same function as a conventional round wire in distributing electricity to work stations, however, its use does not require underfloor channels, raceways or floor passage holes as does the conventional round wire system. The flat conductor cable is simply laid out on a flat surface, such as the floor, and then carpeting placed over it. The cable is very thin and its presence is not perceivable after the carpeting has been placed over it. The cable itself has a series of parallel flat conductors individually sealed with an insulating jacket which resists moisture, chemicals, object penetration, heat, etc. The cable can have any desired number of conductors, three, four and five parallel strips being common.
Although installation layout flexibility is maximized with the use of such cables since they can be flexed and folded without delaminating, there has not been any easy and quick method of installing connectors to the cable. The tasks of making cable splices and cable taps are particularly laborious with prior art technology. These types of connections generally require unique and complicated kinds of connectors and, in some cases, a number of other special components.
For instance, in one prior art system, splicing of flat conductor cables is accomplished as follows. First, each conductor run in the cable must be torn back along perforations. Then, a special splice connector must be placed over the conductors. This component has an adhesive thereon and a protective covering must be removed from it. An adhesive ridge is then folded over and placed on the cable. The installer then slides a hand tool under the splice ends to crimp a series of individual connector components on the connector assembly in series fashion. In this type of system, a similarly multistep process is carried out in order to make a cable tap. However, the special connectors that are used for cable splicing cannot be used for cable tapping. Another special connector has to be used for this purpose. Still another special connector must be used for transition fittings. As a result, to install a system having a normal range of requirements, an entire inventory of special connectors having widely different configurations must be used.
A second prior art connector system for splicing flat cables is also known. In this second system, a stripper plate is placed over the tap/main junction. The stripper plate has a number of notations where holes should be punched depending upon the job to be done. After the installer determines which holes are appropriate for his job, he then must punch selected holes on the stripper plate with a punch and hammer. The stripper plate is then removed and connectors are installed by hand into the punched holes. The connectors have a hood portion on one side of the junction and a nail portion on the other side. The punch is then used again to bend the hood onto the nail and, then, finally a tool is inserted onto the connector to carry out final crimping.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for installing connectors onto flat conductor cable.
It is another object of the invention to provide a portable installation machine for flat cable connectors.
It is another object of the invention to provide an installation method for flat cable connectors which carries out the complete connection process within one machine.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus and method for rapidly installing connectors on flat conductor cables.
It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus and method for installing connectors on flat conductor cables which are universal to all types of connections including terminal fittings, tap connections, and splice connections.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus and method for installing mechanically strong connections to flat conductor cables.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine for installing connectors to flat conductor cable which has full cycle insurance.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus and method for installing connectors to flat conductor cable which form a reliable, repeatable connection every time.

Apparatus for installing electrical on flat conductor cable


Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus. The semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes a chamber, a support and a liner. The chamber is configured for plasma processes and includes a chamber wall. The support is configured to hold a wafer in the chamber. The liner is configured to surround the support and includes a top side and a bottom side. The top side is detachably hung on the chamber wait. The bottom side includes gas passages for plasma particles to pass through the liner.

Plasma is commonly used in a semiconductor manufacturing process TO deposit layers of materials in the fabrication of semiconductor integrated circuits and is also used for etching of materials on a wafer.
In a deposition or etching operation, plasma is formed in a chamber of an apparatus. Various conditions in the chamber would affect the quality of a semiconductor device under fabrication.

Apparatus for plasma treatment and method of operating the apparatus

BEIJING NAURA MICROELECTRONICS EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.


An apparatus for calibrating the DC voltage level of measurement equipment supplies a calibration voltage through a DC voltage superposition means to the measurement equipment, detects the voltage level supplied to the measurement equipment, and adjusts the calibration voltage. Therefore, in the high-frequency range, the calibration apparatus can reduce the effect on the measurement accuracy of the measurement equipment and supply a highly accurate calibration voltage to the measurement equipment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus provided in measurement equipment for calibrating the DC voltage level of the measurement equipment and, more particularly, to a calibration apparatus that reduces the effect on the measurement accuracy when the measurement equipment measures a high-frequency signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A semiconductor tester provides a calibration apparatus at the input thereof for stabilizing and accurately measuring the signal to be measured. FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a conventional semiconductor tester. The calibration apparatus provided therein is explained.
In FIG. 1, the semiconductor tester 100 is comprised of an input terminal 110 for receiving the signal to be measured, measurement equipment 120 for measuring the signal to be measured, and a calibration apparatus 130 for calibrating the DC voltage level of the measurement equipment. The calibration apparatus 130 is comprised of a switch 131 and a reference voltage source 132. The switch 131 is provided between the output of the reference voltage source 132 and the input of the measurement equipment 120 and connects or disconnects the reference voltage source 132 and the measurement equipment 120. The reference voltage source 132 outputs a DC voltage for calibration.
In this specification, the voltage for calibration is also referred to as the calibration voltage.
When the semiconductor tester 100 measures a signal, the switch 131 enters the open state. Then the measurement equipment 120 measures the signal received at the input terminal 110. When the semiconductor tester 100 self calibrates, the switch 131 enters the conducting state. The measurement equipment 120 reads in a specified reference voltage output from the reference voltage source 132. Furthermore, the measured voltage and the output voltage of the reference voltage source 132 are compared. If a difference arises between the two voltages, the measurement equipment 120 is calibrated so that the difference disappears, and the calibration ends.
Problems related to the measurement accuracy are produced when a high-frequency signal is measured in a semiconductor tester configured as described above. In general, a switch has a signal line between the terminal for connecting to an external circuit and the actual switch mechanism, and the connecting side in the switch mechanism also becomes a signal line. This kind of signal line forms an open stub when the switch is in the open state. The open stub behaves as a capacitive load or an inductive load and has an effect on the frequency characteristics of a circuit or equipment connected by the open stub.
Usually, measurement equipment that handles high-frequency signals is adjusted so that the input impedance thereof is 50 ohms. Since the resistance of the signal line from the reference voltage source 132 to the measurement equipment 120 has a value that cannot be ignored compared to the input impedance (50 ohms), the voltage applied to the measurement equipment 120 cannot be controlled with high accuracy.
To solve the above-mentioned problems, for example, the switch 131 can be changed to a single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) switch. FIG. 2 shows a semiconductor tester including a calibration apparatus using an SPDT switch. The semiconductor tester 200 in FIG. 2 comprises an input terminal 210 for receiving the signal to be measured, measurement equipment 220 for measuring the signal to be measured, and a calibration apparatus 230 for calibrating the DC voltage level of the measurement equipment. The calibration apparatus 230 comprises a switch 231 that is a high-frequency SPDT switch and a reference voltage source 232. When the semiconductor tester 200 measures a signal, the switch 231 enables conduction between the input terminal 210 and the measurement equipment 220. When the semiconductor tester 200 is self calibrating, the switch 231 enables conduction between the reference voltage source 232 and the measurement equipment 220. The SPDT switch, for example, can be an RF switch 8762A from Agilent Technologies.
If a high-frequency SPDT switch as described above is used, the open stub problem is eliminated. However, this kind of switch is large and expensive, and has a short lifetime. It is desirable that the semiconductor tester be able to operate continuously for a long time period. Furthermore, since a smaller sized and less expensive switch has been demanded in recent years, new solution techniques are desired.

Apparatus for calibrating high frequency signal measurement equipment


An integrated high speed robotic mechanism is disclosed for improving transport equipment, integrating an object movement with other functionalities such as alignment or identification. The disclosed integrated robot assembly typically comprises an end effector for moving the object in and out of a chamber, a rotation chuck incorporated on the robot body to provide centering and theta alignment capability, and an optional identification subsystem for identifying the object during transport. The present invention also discloses a transfer robot system, employing a plurality of integrated robot assemblies; a transfer system where a transfer robot system can service a plurality of connected chambers such as FOUP or FOSB; a front end module (FEM); or a sorter system. Through the use of these incorporated capabilities into the moving robot, single object transfer operations can exceed 500 parts per hour.

Robot assemblies are an important component in automation, especially in manufacturing facilities and manufacturing equipments. For example, in the semiconductor industry, robot arms are used to handle semiconductor wafers, flat panel display, LCD, reticles, masks, or carrier boxes.
In the semiconductor fabrication facility, robot can be used to transport work pieces, typically stored in carrier boxes, from one location to another location, from one equipment type to another piece of equipment. In a process system, a robot is typically used to remove the work pieces from the carrier boxes, and then load them into a load lock. Another robot can be used to move the work piece from the load lock into a processing chamber and from one processing chamber to another processing chamber. Thus within a processing system, there might be a plurality of robots, each one is designed for a particular task. The processing system could be a deposition system, an etch system, a lithography system, a metrology system, an inspection system, an implantation system, a treatment system, or any work piece processing system.
Another type of equipment is supplemental equipment such as a stocker, designed for storing the work pieces until needed, or a sorter, designed for sorting the work pieces into certain desirable order. In a typical bare stocker system, a robot is typically used to remove the work pieces from the carrier boxes, and then load these pieces into a load lock. Another robot can be used to move the work piece from the load lock into a storage chamber, where the work pieces are stored without the original carrier boxes. For a box stocker system, the work pieces are stored together with the carrier boxes, without the need for removing them out of the carrier boxes.
Robot handling can be considered overhead operation, since the purpose of robot handling is to transport the work pieces between locations. Thus to improve the efficiency of the fabrication facility and to improve the throughput of the equipment, faster movement of robots, and multiple robot assemblies can be used. Thus some equipment provides a robot assembly with multiple carrier arms, to allow the transfer of multiple work pieces. The multiple carrier arms are typically not independent, and thus maximum efficiency cannot be realized. Another robot configuration includes multiple independent robot arms which can move independently, and thus can essentially double the throughput with one robot. Still another robot configuration includes two separate robots to transport the wafers for processing.
With advancements in fabrication processes comes the demand for higher throughput, smaller footprint and better functionality. Integrated robot assembly, combining the transfer mechanism with other functions such as object identification and object alignment, can better address this need.


Method and apparatus for a correction of photosite offset and gain in the analog domain. Correction of offset and gain in the analog domain, prior to conversion of the analog signals to digital signals, allows the use of the maximum dynamic range of the system for pixel information, once the image is converted.

In electronic input scanners for document scanning, image information is acquired by sensing light from an image at an array of photosites arranged across a path of relative movement of the array and the image. The photosites, typically photodiodes or amorphous silicon sensors, are formed on a semiconductor substrate or chip, with a number of chips butted or otherwise arranged closely together to form the array. The photosite array may provide a 1:1 correspondence of photosites to the width of the actual image (a full width array), or may rely on optics to reduce the apparent image size to correspond to a smaller array. This array is usually a single chip. In use, a photosite produces an output signal proportional to light intensity detected at the photosite.
Responsivity at the photosites is measured against a standard value. Gain is a measure of sensitivity of the photosite to light and is the slope of the curve of light intensity (x-axis) versus output voltage (y-axis). Offset indicates the voltage output of the photosite at zero light intensity, or constitutes the y-axis intercept of the light intensity curve. These values have a tendency to vary somewhat from photosite to photosite within a range of values. Uniformity is desirable to avoid a streaking response.
A typical output signal from an array of photosites is offset from correct values by two types of offsets. The first type of offset is an output or line level offset, where the entire scan line of pixels is shifted with respect to a reference by some D.C. voltage level. There are numerous methods for correcting this offset, all of which apply the same D.C. correction factor to each pixel.
The second type of offset is a pixel-to-pixel variation in response, caused by several factors, the most important of which is photodiode leakage current. Typically, this offset value is small, e.g., a CCD photodiode having an integration time of 1 msec. may have an offset voltage of a maximum of 1 millivolt. However, if the maximum output signal is also low, e.g., under 300 millivolts, then this offset starts to become noticeable. This is particularly true if the CCD is operated under a wide range of temperature variations, since leakage current increases with increasing temperatures.
Pixel to pixel gain correction corrects for differences in pixel to pixel response due to non-uniformities in illumination profile, lens fall off, variations in CCD pixel to pixel response, etc. By correcting for these non-uniformities in the analog domain, the dynamic range of the system can be preserved, because each pixel will have the same dynamic range before being converted to a digital signal. Looking at the problem in another way, the closer that the zero value for the range of pixel values can be brought to the reference value (in this case, black), the finer the resolution to cover the range of possible pixel values to the maximum value (white).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,685 to Beaverson shows an arrangement which provides a gain correction for each pixel in an array. Gain values are stored for each pixel in an electronic storage device. As data is acquired by the array and directed to an image processor, each incoming pixel value is multiplied by a selected gain correction value to produce a gain corrected output. U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,781 to Rucci et al. shows that distortions in a video signal may be corrected by applying a continuous gain adjustment to the video information generated at the pixels and dynamically changing the gain factors on a line by line basis. U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,082 to Tomohisa et al., teaches that calibration and shading correction of image data may be corrected in synchronism with input scanning by comparison to a density reference value. U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,503 to Wiggins shows deriving offset and gain values from the sensor, storing those values and subsequently using those values for signal correction. U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,281 to Wiggins et al. teaches providing a compensation signal compensating for variations in light to which the sensors are subjected and deriving the compensation signal over a group of pixels, by taking an average response from the group as the group is exposed to a test pattern. U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,291 to Temes teaches a multimode pixel correction scheme which includes correction for pixel offset and gain. U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,428 to Lin et al. teaches the use of an attribute value in conjunction with a gain or offset correction to determine a shift of the correction values, thereby increasing the effective range of correction.

Pixel by pixel offset and gain correction in analog data from scanning arrays


A printer which comprises a buffer memory for temporarily storing therein new print data, a full dot memory for holding therein a dot-developed print data in a dot pattern on a page basis, a buffer memory management table for managing the state of the print data of the buffer memory on the page basis, and a control means. The control means, when it is desired to store the new print data in the buffer memory, judges whether or not a page of the new print data is the same as a page of print data whose printing is not completed or being discharged. When the control means determines that the page of the new print data is the same as that of the print data being discharged, the control means stores the new print data in the buffer memory immediately after the dot development of the print data of the buffer memory on the full dot memory is completed. When the control means determines that the page of the new print data is not same as that of the print data being discharged, the control means waits until the print data of the buffer memory is printed and the discharging of the printed sheet is completed, after which the control means stores the new print data in the buffer memory. When a paper jam is detected and the above decision is the same page, the recovery of the paper jam is carried out from the print data of the full dot memory; while when the above decision is not the same page, the recovery is carried out from the print data of the buffer memory.

The present invention relates to a printer and more particularly, to a technique for enabling printing operation of print data with use of suitable sizes of buffer memory and full dot memory even when the amount of print data corresponding to one page becomes large.
The present invention further relates to a technique which can effectively applied to a cut-sheet printer which, when a printing cut sheet jam occurs and it is desired to again start its printing operation from the jam occurrence page, can ensure the printing from the jam occurrence page.
In a conventional printer of the type referred to above, when a paper jam (abnormal paper feed) takes place during continuous printing operation, the jam occurrence page print data and the subsequent page print data fail to be printed out. This is recovered usually by again printing these data after the jam fault has been removed.
For example, a printer disclosed in JP-A-64-47566 comprises a data memory which has a capacity of being able to store more than one page print data and thus can reprint a paper jam occurrence page on the basis of the print data stored in the data memory.
Another printer disclosed in JP-A-3-26561 is provided with a means for storing therein page positions on a data memory for storing print data in a data output order, so that when it became necessary to return the current page number due to the occurrence of a paper jam, the contents of the storage means are referred to and necessary print data is extracted from the data memory for its reprinting operation.
Further, in a paper jam recovery system of a printer disclosed in JP-A-1-202467, there are provided a bit map memory for storing bit data to be written in a drum of the printer and a backup memory for saving the bit data written in the bit map memory as associated with its page number, so that, in case of a paper jam, reprinting operation is carried out over the jam occurrence page with use of the data from the backup memory.
In this way, in order to ensure the printed result of the print data including the jam occurrence page data even when a paper jam occurs, such means and memories as mentioned above are provided.
The aforementioned prior art techniques, however, cannot recently cope with such a paper jam problem, because one page of print data requires various sorts of data such as not only letter data but also graphics data and image data and also requires a page description language. In this way, the prior art techniques cannot cope with the needs of a recent tendency of an increasingly large amount of data to be handled.
For example, when the amount of data corresponding to one page is increased, the data memory or print data memory in the printer of the JP-A-64-47566 or JP-A-3-26561 must have a much larger memory capacity.
Further, in these prior art systems, an upper data limit per page is not determined, that is, when print data exceeding the memory capacity are handled, the print data memory cannot store all the print data therein. Thus, even when a paper jam occurs, reprinting for the jam occurrence page cannot be attained and the printed result cannot be ensured.
Meanwhile, a cut sheet, double-side printer enabling high speed printing generally has a plurality of bit map memories for the double sides. For this reason, when the paper jam recovery system of the printer of JP-A-1-202467 is applied to the double-side printer, the double-side printer must have a plurality of backup memories.
Accordingly, the prior art technique has a problem that, when it is desired to handle a mixed media data of letters, graphics and image data, a variation in the amount of print data per page, in some cases, becomes as large as to reach megabyte, so that the capacity of the page buffer as its upper limit cannot be determined.
In addition, the prior art technique is also defective in that a plurality of full dot memories are necessary for printing control and the capacity of each memory is usually about 2 megabytes, so that, when a backup memory is provided for the full dot memories to save pages, the capacity of the backup memory must be several megabytes, which leads to an increased cost.

Printer, a printer control system and method


A cooling system cools one or more electrical components on a printed circuit board. A piece of bilayer tubing made of an electrically conductive outer layer and an insulating inner layer. The insulating inner layer separates an electrically conductive coolant fluid from the electrically conductive outer layer. A signal generator is configured to inject an electrical signal into the electrically conductive coolant fluid. A sensor circuit electrically connected to the conductive outer layer is configured to detect the signal in the electrically conductive outer layer.

The present disclosure relates to detecting coolant leaks to prevent damage associated with coolant making contact with electrical components. Electrical components may be susceptible to damage when they overheat. Cooling systems may be configured to remove waste heat generated by electrical components to help them operate more efficiently and to increase their functional lifespan. Electrical components may be susceptible to damage when directly exposed to coolant that leaks from coolant systems. Such damage may include arcing, short circuits, and corrosion.

International Business Machines Corporation


A dispersion of a polytetrafluoroethylene resin having a particle size between about 0.05 and 0.5 microns, a suspending agent and a viscosity less than 15 centipoise. The dispersion has long shelf life, a reduced tendency to fibrillate and is comparatively stable when acted upon by shear forces and elevated temperatures. The dispersion is well adapted to be sprayed onto surfaces to form a dried film upon which insects can not climb, alight or affix nests or webs. The dispersion can be sprayed without fibrillation dispersion and the dried coatings are adherent, may be washed and remain effective over long periods of time.

1. Field of the Invention.
This invention relates coated surfaces upon which insects can neither climb nor alight and methods and means for applying the coatings. More particularly, the invention relates to surfaces coated with non-toxic, non-debilitating fluorocarbon resin films which are effective to discourage crawling insects from infesting a site where they are not wanted, to cause crawling insects to abandon a site they have infested, to confine crawling insects within a given enclosure and to prevent insects from alighting, climbing or building nests or webs on selected surfaces.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
The crawling insects with which this invention is concerned are those which are pests or nuisances to man. These include, for example, gypsy moths that crawl from the ground up into trees and devour the leaves of the trees; cockroaches, spiders, scales and palm aphids which are often offensive in appearance and may carry and spread disease; and, perhaps the most widespread and annoying of the general group, the ubiquitous ant. The ant exists in many forms including the leaf eater, Argentine, carpenter and pharaoh ants, the termites and, of course, the militant and destructive fire ant. It is the primary concern of this invention to restrict the movement and colonization of these insects.
Many pesticides and insecticides are available which will kill or disrupt the life cycle of crawling insects, but essentially all of them are environmentally objectionable because of their toxicity. The toxicity of pesticides can endanger the health of animals and humans and curtail their use when food is present as in dinning rooms, kitchens, picnic tables, pet food dishes and the like. It is also well recognized that insects develop strains which are resistent to the effect of a given insecticide over a period of time.
As an alternative to insecticides, it has been proposed to control insects with traps. One common type of trap is built with downwardly and inwardly sloping side walls that are covered with a loosely adhering powdered material, such as talcum powder. The loosely adhering particles are dislodged when an insect attempts to crawl over them and the insect falls with the powder into a trap. This technique is relied on in U.S. Pat. No. 4,263,740 which teaches the application of particulate organic and inorganic materials to a vertical or sloping surface. The particulate materials are applied by coating a surface with a liquid dispersion of polytetrafluoroethylene, sand, clay, ground pyrophyllite-aluminum silicate, cellulosics, talc, sand, and flour. When the liquid content of the dispersion is evaporated, a dry, loosely adherent layer of powder remains on the surface. The size of the particles is not critical since patentee teaches that the particulate material of the dispersions may vary from less than 1 micron to more that 1000 microns in diameter, although his preferred range is from 100 to 300 microns.
In use, patentee relates, when an insect first crawls over a coated surface at the entrance to a trap, its sticky pads (pulvilli) are coated with the loosely adhered powders and the ability of the pulvilli to adhere to a smooth surface is rendered ineffective. If and when the insect reverses its direction in an attempt to crawl up a smooth slanting sidewall and escape from the trap, its pulvilli are no longer "sticky" and the insect must grip the particulate material with its tarsal claws to gain a purchase. At this point, the weight of the insect grasping the particulate matter dislodges the powder and causes an "avalanche" of the loosely held particles carrying the insect down with them into the trap.
The powdery coatings taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,263,740 have a limited useful life. They are consumed in use when one or more "avalanche" occurs and they will break loose and flake away if the coated surface is impacted as by bumping or shaking or is exposed to the elements such as wind and rain. A less obvious defect in the powdery coatings is that loose powder can suffocate the insects and destroy their value to a hobbyist or an entomologist.
Entomologists have discovered that they can nondestructively confine crawling insects in tub shaped containers by painting circumferential, horizontal bands of a water dispersion of finely divided polytetrafluoroethylene, generally about 0.05 to 0.5 microns in diameter, on the inside walls of the container. Perhaps because of their extremely small size, the particles making up the dried coating, unlike the coatings of U.S. Pat. No. 4,263,740, adhere sufficiently well to the side walls of the container to prevent them from being pulled loose when traversed by an insect.
It was discovered that the insects could not climb these dried films of sub micron resin polytetrafluoroethylene particles. Since the insects appear to slide down the coated surfaces when they try to climb them, it seemed reasonable to assume, even though it has now been proven false, that the phenomenum was due to the slippery surface characteristics (low coefficient of friction) of polytetrafluoroethylene.
The dispersions that the entomologists have used are commercial formulations that typically contain about 60%, by total weight, of 0.05 to 0.5 micron sized polytetrafluoroethylene particles suspended in water along with from about 5% to 8%, by weight of polytetrafluoroethylene, of a wetting agent and stabilizer. At room temperatures (20.degree.-25.degree. C.) the dispersions have viscosities of from about 20 to 27 centipoise.
An example of the method used by entomologists, can be found in a trap for flying insects disclosed in European patent application 0 160 712 A1 to Montedison S.p.A. Here flying insects are prevented from crawling out of a trap having a funnel shaped (30.degree.-60.degree. cone angle) entrance by coating the interior surface of the funnel with dispersions of polytetrafluoroethylene. The dispersions are the same as those described above as used by entomologists which are commercially available formulations of aqueous dispersions of polytetrafluoroethylene. They are described in the patent application as being comprised of a granulometric dispersion of between 0.2 and 0.4 microns of 50-61% by weight polytetrafluoroethylene and 2.5-4% by weight of a non-ionic dispersant, the rest being water. It is further taught that the coatings of these dispersions can be applied by spraying or brushing. The European patent application acknowledges that the prior art has made use of sticky substances to entrap insects and powdered substances, such as kaolin or talc, to reduce an insects ability to cling to a surface. The patent application states that the powdered substances of the prior art are not useful over prolonged periods since the powders are easily removed by the mechanical action of wind, rain and humidity.
The coatings of the entomologists and those disclosed in the European patent application improved over the prior powdered coatings, but they too have their deficiencies both with respect to the methods by which they are applied and to the characteristics of the applied coatings. Considering the coatings themselves the following is a listing of some of their failings.
1. While the coatings adhere to their substrates somewhat better than do the powdered coatings, the polytetrafluoroethylene coatings are so loosely bound to their substrates that they can be removed by running tap water over the surface, by lightly brushing the surface, by flexing the substrate or by applying and removing ordinary transparent adhesive tape. PA1 2. The coatings are effective only for relatively short periods of time. In discussions with entomologists who use these coatings, it has been uniformly reported that the effective life of the coatings range from as short as several weeks to a maximum of about two, or, at most, three months. The mechanisms of the failures are not understood as often there is no apparent or observable change in the appearance of the coating. PA1 3. The effectiveness of the coating is adversely effected if more than a single layer is applied to a surface. Care is required to avoid overcoating when the dispersion is applied for, otherwise, multiple coating layers will crack or flake off rendering the coating ineffective to prevent insects from crawling on a surface. It follows that it is necessary to remove all of an old coating which has lost its effectiveness before a new coating is applied. The difficulty of thoroughly removing all of an old coating is enough of a chore to make it common practice among entomologists to discard used insect containers after they have lost their effectiveness rather than to clean and recoat the old containers. PA1 4. The effectiveness of the coatings are temperature sensitive. When exposed to ambient temperatures over about 30.degree.-35.degree. C., insects begin climbing over surfaces that they could not climb at lower ambient temperatures. PA1 5. Depending on the dispersing agent used in making up the polytetrafluoroethylene dispersions, most coatings loose their effectiveness when they become damp or wet. This limits the utility of the coatings to protected environments where they can be sheltered from the effects of rain, snow, dew and other surface moisture. PA1 6. The relatively poor adhesion of the coatings makes it impractical to clean the coated surfaces. For example, if a coating is applied to a dog dish, the coating will not survive even one dish washer cycle. PA1 1. The effectiveness of the coating is influenced by the thickness of the coating. It has now been discovered that better coatings are obtained if the thickness of the dried coating is preferably 1 mil or less. This desired thickness has not been obtained in the prior art for a number of reasons including the viscosity of the available polytetrafluoroethylene dispersions, the means by which the coatings are applied as by brushing or dipping, and the dependency of the thickness on the angle the substrate makes to the horizontal as it dries. In this latter regard it may be understood that if a freshly coated surface is allowed to dry while in a vertical position, the dispersion will flow by gravity down the plate, run-off will be maximized and the coating thickness will be minimized. If, on the other hand, the surface is oriented horizontally, the run-off will be minimized and the thickness of the coating maximized. PA1 2. The viscosity of commercially available polytetrafluoroethylene dispersions increases rapidly at higher temperatures. As a result, the coating thickness is a function of the ambient temperatures at the time the coating is applied. PA1 3. Polytetrafluoroethylene resins are soft and subject to fibrillation when exposed to shear forces. The effect is so pronounced that fibrillation occurs when polytetrafluoroethylene dispersions are forced through an orifice as in spraying. For this reason the dispersions are difficult to handle and, for practical reasons, cannot be sprayed unto a substrate. They can not be pumped through feed lines and care must be taken to avoid fibrillation if the dispersions are shaken, stirred or pumped. PA1 4. The high viscosity (about 20 centipoise and over) of the polytetrafluoroethylene dispersions of the prior art make it difficult to form a smooth coating because of the relatively high viscosity and poor flow-out. PA1 5. The polytetrafluoroethylene dispersions of the prior art are unstable and coagulate during prolonged storage. Temperatures above 25.degree. C. accelerate the coagulation of the dispersions and temperatures below the freezing point of the liquids destroy the dispersion.
The method of application of coatings from polytetrafluoroethylene dispersions as taught by the prior art, also raises a number of problems.

Surfaces coated with fluorocarbon resins upon which insects cannot climb or alight and methods and means for their establishment


A method for reducing dye stain of an exposed photographic element, said element comprising a support having thereon at least one image-forming layer containing a photobleachable dye, the method comprising processing the element, and exposing the processed element, in presence of a N-oxyazinium, to radiation that can be absorbed either by the photobleachable dye or by the N-oxyazinium.

Sensitizing dyes are added to photographic emulsions in order to impart spectral sensitivity beyond the intrinsic absorption range of silver halide. Sensitizing dyes are compounds that absorb light at wavelengths ranging from the near UV (ca. 400 nm) to the infrared (ca. 850 nm). Light that is absorbed by said sensitizing dyes results in electron injection into the conduction band of the silver halide, and ultimately in the formation of a latent image. In this way, the spectral response of photographic emulsions is extended to the spectral region covered by the absorption of the dye.
When used to impart spectral sensitivity to a photographic silver halide grains, the sensitizing dyes are usually removed during the processing steps (developing, fixing, and washing). The current trend is towards decreasing these processing times, since this has the advantage of reducing the amount of effluents. However, removal of the sensitizing dyes is often less efficient with shorter processing times. Residual sensitizing dyes, which remain in the emulsions after processing, cause unwanted coloration (dye stain) of the photographic material. In addition, some sensitizing dyes have a high propensity towards aggregation and/or have poor water solubility and as a result would require excessive processing times for complete removal.

Method for reducing the dye stain in photographic elements


A method of electrolytically producing an organic compound is disclosed, wherein an organic solvent and an electrolyte which is dissolved therein is placed in an anodic or cathodic chamber. The chambers are separated by a semi-permeable membrane. At least one of the electrodes is a gas permeable electrode which includes a reaction layer joined together with the gas permeable layer. The reaction layer is composed of minute hydrophilic and hydrophobic carbon black, and the gas permeable layer is composed of minute hydrophobic carbon black.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrolysis apparatus for effecting electrolysis of an organic electrolytic solution comprising an organic solvent and an electrolyte dissolved therein to obtain an organic compound.
2. Description of the Background Art
In a conventional electrolysis apparatus, in order to obtain an organic compound by electrolysis of an organic electrolytic solution comprising an organic solvent and an electrolyte dissolved therein, an anode and a cathode are inserted in the organic electrolytic solution contained in an electrolytic cell, and electric power is suppled to the two electrodes. In another conventional electrolysis apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1, a diaphragm 2 such as an ion exchange membrane is provided in an electrolytic cell 1 to separate the cell 1 into cathode and anode compartments 3 and 5, and an organic electrolytic solution 4 comprising an organic solvent and an electrolyte dissolved therein, and an electrolytic aqueous solution 6 are contained in the cathode and anode compartments 3 and 5, respectively. Electric power (not shown) is supplied to a cathode 7 and an anode 8 inserted in the organic electrolytic solution 4 and the electrolytic aqueous solution 6 of the cathode and anode compartments 3 and 5 to perform the electrolysis of the organic electrolytic solution to obtain an organic compound, for example, adiponitrile or the like.
In such conventional electrolysis apparatuses, since a lead plate is usually used for the anode, the organic compound adsorbs over the surface of the anode without question in the cell with no diaphragm, and the organic compound passing through the diaphragm also adsorbs over the surface of the anode even in the cell having the diaphragm. Thus, the surface area where the current flows is decreased to reduce the electric current density, resulting in that the production efficiency or productivity of the organic compound is largely reduced.
In this case, considering the productivity, the voltage is to be increased to invite the acceleration of the electrode elution. Further, on the surface of the lead (Pb) anode, a .beta.-PbO.sub.2 film grows to thicken during the operation and a peeling of the .beta.-PbO.sub.2 film off the anode is caused. Accordingly, the anode becomes more slender, and the distance between the electrodes is enlarged to further cause the reduction of the electric current density.
Relating to the cathode, even when the cathode is prepared by a porous material in order to increase the reaction speed, the pores of the cathode are occupied by the gas such as hydrogen generated from the cathode, and hence, the reaction speed is not so increased and becomes equal to that of the flat plate cathode. Furthermore, the reaction gas such as carbon monoxide (CO) or the like is hard to dissolve in the electrolytic solution, and pressurization is sometimes required.

Electrolytic method of preparing compounds with a gas permeable electrode


Mobile mixing devices, mobile mixing systems, and related methods are provided. A mobile mixing device can include a frame and a mixing drum securable to the frame. The mixing drum can include a body that forms an internal cavity and can have a forward end and a bottom end. The mixing drum can also include a mouth at the forward end of the body that provides access to the internal cavity of the mixing drum. The mobile mixing device can include a heater support arm having a heater secured to an end of the heater support arm that is distal from the mixing drum. The mixing drum can be used to process cement material when the heater support arm is in a stow-away position or asphalt when the heater support arm is in a heating position with the heater facing into the mouth of the mixing drum.

For nearly a century, roads, driveways, walkways, runways, and other such surfaces over which vehicles travel have often been constructed using various types of asphalt or concrete. The viscous nature of the bitumen binder generally used with most types of asphalt allows the asphalt (sometimes referred to as asphalt concrete) to sustain significant plastic deformation. To increase strength and durable ability, roads, driveways, runways, and other such surfaces over which vehicles travel are often constructed with a gravel, a cement or concrete subgrade surface to add strength and an asphalt top, sometimes referred to as blacktop, which can provide a better elasticity to the surfaces, can better withstand weather changes, can reduce road noises, can wear better for increased longevity and can wear less on vehicle tires. Although asphalt provides a fair longevity to such road surfaces, fatigue from repeated loading over time is a common failure mechanism along with erosion or changes to the subgrade. Additionally, concrete, which can also have a fair longevity as a subgrade, can also succumb to fatigue, erosion and changes to the ground beneath the subgrade over time.
When repairing such roads, walkways, driveways, runways, and other such surfaces over which vehicles travel, the repair crew often needs to use both of some type of cement or concrete to provide, strengthen, or repair the subgrade and some form of asphalt to bring the damaged portion of the road surface to a more acceptably usable standard. In other instances, a repair site may require concrete repair at one location and asphalt repair at another location. Thus, to currently perform such repairs no matter how large or small, repair crews need to bring multiple pieces of equipment to each jobsite just to mix and process the materials used to repair the road. For example, a cement mixer will be needed to mix and process materials such as cement, concrete or flowable fill used to perform a concrete repair or to repair the subgrade. The repair crew will also need to haul asphalt from an asphalt plant or to bring along a separate and additional asphalt mixer, to mix the asphalt to be used to cover the repair subgrade. Due to the processing needs of each type of material, asphalt cannot be processed in a traditional cement mixer and cement, concrete or flowable fill generally cannot be processed in an asphalt mixer.
As such, a need exists for multiple purpose mobile mixing devices that can be used to quickly and easily process different types of materials used in repairing, road surfaces such as roadways, walkways, driveways, pathways, runways or other types of construction surfaces to reduce costs and processing times associated with extra equipment.

Mobile mixing devices, systems and related methods


A ditchless drainlayer comprising a frame mounting a cutter-type working element for laying drainpipes. It is provided with a hydraulic cylinder for changing its angular position and a transmitter of its angular position with an amplifier-converter. Also, a device for controlling the height of the working element made as a support connected to said working element, swivels around the horizontal transverse axis and is provided with a cylinder for turning said support. The swivelling support is connected by its turning cylinder and by an additional amplifier-converter with a transmitter of the height of the working element installed on said element. The support is shaped as blades diverging in both directions from the working element, and said blades are rigidly attached to the connecting link which is articulated to the working element by two rods arranged one above the other, whose extensions converge in front of the machine as it goes, while the transmitter of the angular position of the working element is connected by its own amplifier-converter with the hydraulic cylinder intended to change the angular position of the working element.

The present invention relates to earth-moving machines, mainly to machines for laying horizontal drainpipes. In particular, the present invention relates to machines for laying drainpipes by the ditchless method.
The ditchless drainlayers of the present invention can be employed predominantly for constructing drainage systems in drainage and irrigation zones. They also prove useful for laying flexible pipelines or cables into the ground, particularly when it is required to ensure either a predetermined depth or gradient, or both.
It is common knowledge that drainpipes can be laid by means of drainlayers made as a chain ditch excavator working in conjunction with the drainlaying equipment. The active working element of such a drainlayer digs a more or less narrow ditch; the drainpipe is laid on the bottom of said ditch and the latter is then backfilled. Such a method of drainlaying inevitably calls for excavating and moving considerable masses of soil which causes relatively low drainlaying speeds and a low output, even with considerable powerful prime movers. Besides, this method of laying disturbs the integrity of the fertile layer of soil because clay, sand and other infertile materials are lifted to the surface and remain thereon.
These disadvantages have led to the advent of the ditchless method of drainlaying which finds an evergrowing application in the world's practice of land-reclamation and irrigation.
The essence of this method consists in that a passive working element made as a narrow pointed plow or cutter coupled to a sufficiently powerful prime mover penetrates into the ground to the required depth and cuts a narrow slit in the ground which is continuously filled with a drainpipe in the course of movement of the prime mover with the working element. The slit formed in the ground closes directly behind the cutter. This rules out the vertical movement of the soil almost completely, does not call for backfilling, does not interfere with the structure of the fertile layer of the soil and significantly increases the drainlaying speed several times.
These indisputable advantages as well as the manufacture of more and more powerful prime movers have resulted in the widespread employment of the machines for laying drains, cables, flexible pipelines, etc., by the ditchless method. The provision of such machines raises a number of problems caused by the specific features of this method of laying.
The most specific requirement for the drainage line consists in the accurate maintenance both of its depth at each point of the line and of the total preset gradient. If in the ditch-digging method these requirements can be checked (by instruments and even visually) and the impermissible errors can be timely corrected, the ditchless laying requires the provision of a system (preferably automatic) of controlling the height of the working element which would ensure the requisite accuracy of laying depth and gradient since no corrections or alterations are possible in ditchless laying of pipes.
In the course of drainlaying the prime mover, the working element is subjected to adverse effects, such as irregularities of the soil traversed by the prime mover, variations in the force of resistance to the movement of the cutter-type working element due to variations in the properties of the soil, unexpected obstacles, etc., also due to changes in the angular position of the working element.
The control elements and their operating systems are adapted to counter these adverse effects so as to minimize their influence on the laying accuracy. This problem involves, for one, speedy operation of the control system, i.e. prompt execution of the commands eliminating the effect of the encountered obstacles, preferably without delay or with a minimum delay.
Hence, the ditchless drainlayer must be coupled to a prime mover and controlled in such a manner that its working element or, more specifically, the cutting edge of the latter, would move along a required trajectory, forming the bottom of the slit to receive the drainpipe. At the same time it is necessary to retain a constant angular orientation of the working element.
Known in the prior art are machines of this type wherein the working element is mounted on a prime mover and, in the course of its positional control, rests wholly on the prime mover alone. Such a mounting of the working element hinders considerably the control of its angular position and height. The control, as has already been stated above, is intended to rule out the influence of chance changes in the position of the prime mover on the position of the working element. In this case the control system is excessively loaded, and the requirements for its high operational speed and protection against obstacles can be met only by making it highly complicated and, as a consequence, more expensive, less reliable and difficult to handle.
Therefore, the layout wherein the working element rests on the prime mover alone is used only in the machines which are not intended to ensure accurate maintenance of the depth and gradient, for example in rippers, stump pullers, cable layers, etc.
More profitable and promising are the ditchless drainlayers articulated to the prime mover and resting during the positional control of their working element not only on the prime mover but also on the ground, usually in the rear end of the working element.
Known in the prior art is a drainlayer wherein the cutter-type working element is articulated by a frame and a hydraulic cylinder with a prime mover while the height of the working element is controlled by an element in the form of an adjustable front edge of the working element. This adjustable element is connected with a hydraulic cylinder which, in turn, is controlled by the transmitter of the angular position of the working element via an amplifier-converter.
Such a drainlayer has only one control circuit and is vulnerable to the hindrances resulting from the irregularities of the ground surface traversed by the prime mover. The vertical motions of the prime mover disturb the angular position of the working element and restoring of this position by the angular position control system is not equivalent to maintaining the required digging depth at each particular point. In addition, the shifting of the working element to a new depth caused by the change in its angular position would be rather slow and takes place on a considerably long path which means that the system does not feature the required operational speed. This disadvantage is attributable to the presence of the adjustable element in the form of an adjustable front edge which, changing its angular position in the process of control, exerts no direct influence on the height of the working element, but only produces forces which turn it in the ground. Moreover, when the working element is inclined either directly or due to the turning of the front edge, this changes the ground cutting angle and thus disturbs the optimum working conditions of the working element, changes the cutting resistance and introduces new disturbances into the motion of the prime mover. Furthermore, in the process of control the working element may turn counterclockwise through such an angle at which the back angle disappears (the back angle is the angle between the rear edge of the cutter and the bottom of the slit); in this case the foot and the heel of the cutter-type working element will damage and distort the profile of the slit bottom which is unacceptable for drainlaying.
In other known drainlayers, the cutter-type working element rests on the bottom of the slit through a runner or shoe movably connected to the lower rear part of the cutter. The runner slides over the bottom of the slit being connected with the working element by a hydraulic cylinder and functions as a support for controlling the height of the working element. This support is independent of the prime mover which means that it receives the changes in its angle and height in motion. The use of the supporting runner ensures the required speed of action because the height of the cutter element is changed directly, without any intermediate elements which are responsible for the delay.
However, the use of the supporting runner brings about two new disadvantages. Firstly, resting on the slit bottom, the runner distorts it, especially so in case of loose soils, and thus diminishes the accuracy of laying the drainpipes. Secondly, being a one-sided support, the runner creates asymmetry of the "up-and-down" control of the working element. On the "down" command the runner may break away from the supporting surface and rise above it. When the working element penetrates into the ground the runner is inoperative and this penetration must take place under the weight of the working element and under the forces acting on the front edge of the cutter and other factors which are of an extremely irregular nature. An attempt to take these factors into account complicates considerably the layout of the control system and its optimum functioning.
In another type of prior art drainlayers, the cutter-type working element connected rigidly or movably to the frame is provided with carrying blades which can swivel relative to the working element, stick out on both sides from the cutter and cut into the slit walls during operation.
These blades are free from the disadvantages of the runner described above, since they constitute a two-sided support; however, being rotatably secured to the cutter with the turning axis located near the center of pressure (the fulcrum of the resultant force) they function as an integrating link and do not, therefore, feature the requisite speed of action which, as stated above, is a serious disadvantage of the system for controlling the position of the working element of the ditchless drainlayer.
Moreover, the blades of the known design prevent the cutter from being lifted when the prime mover is stopped which is extremely awkward in emergency situations or when the process of laying is completed close to an obstacle, such as a wall or the like.
Finally, the prior art devices prevent the possibility of regulating the dynamic characteristics of the system by changing the distance between the pivot of the control elements (e.g. blades) and the fulcrum of the resultant of the forces acting on the swivelling support. An increase in this distance could bring the properties of the swivelling blades close to those of the runner in respect of the speed of action while the adjustment of this distance is highly desirable for adapting the drain-layer to operation in various soils.

ulitsa Budapeshtskaya, 17, korpus 5, kv. 62

Belgradskaya ulitsa, 36, korpus 2, kv. 17


An axial compressor of a fluid-flow machine includes a flow path disposed between a rotor shaft and a relatively stationary housing wall. The flow path extends in an axial direction of the rotor shaft concentrically with the rotor shaft and the housing wall. A plurality of compressor stages are axially arranged in sequence along the flow path in the axial direction. Each of the compressor stages includes a rotor blades row and a guide vane row disposed after the rotor blades row in the axial direction. The flow path and the compressor stages operating therein are penetrable by a mass flow of a fluid to be compressed in a flow direction during operation of the compressor. A return is configured to return a part of the mass flow from a compressor discharge.

Gas turbines and comparable fluid-flow machines as a rule comprise axial compressors in order to make available a compressed-air flow for a combustion process. Compared with other compressor types, axial compressors are characterized by a high efficiency, wherein on the pressure side of the compressor, high pressures can be achieved when the axial compressor has a sufficient multiplicity of compressor stages. However, the design effort when increasing the number of compressor stages increases greatly. The aim therefore is to make possible a high pressure on the pressure side of the compressor even with a comparatively low number of stages. This is synonymous to each compressor stage having to be able to generate or maintain a comparatively large pressure differential between suction and pressure side of the respective compressor stage. With today's axial compressors, this is guaranteed with high reliability.
At the same time it remains difficult to guarantee a stable operating behaviour under changing operating conditions. There is always the risk of a compressor stall, particularly on the suction side of the rotor blades. In such an event, the mass flow of the fluid to be compressed generated by the axial compressor suddenly drops, wherein in the worst case even a back stroke of the fluid to be compressed can occur.
For this reason, a large stability range of the compressor stages is regularly aimed at when designing an axial compressor.

Axial compressor for fluid-flow machines


A light emitting device includes a semiconductor laser element; a cap defining a through-hole allowing light from the semiconductor laser element to pass therethrough; and a wavelength converting member disposed in the through-hole defined in the cap, the wavelength converting member being configured to emit light that has a wavelength different from a wavelength of light from the semiconductor laser element. The cap includes a first member made of a ceramic, and a second member made of a metal material. The through-hole includes a first through-hole penetrating the first member, and a second through-hole penetrating the second member. The wavelength converting member is disposed on the second member.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a light emitting device.
Description of Related Art
There has been proposed a semiconductor light emitting device in which a light-transmissive body that contains a wavelength converting material is disposed in a through-hole defined in a cap body which covers a semiconductor light emitting element, for example, in JP 2008-153617A.
A light emitting device that is superior in the stability of its optical characteristics and in heat dissipation performance compared to those described above can be provided.