A low loss, fast switching, electronically tunable filter circuit which is microstrip compatible is obtained through the use of a resonant ring structure having two couplers, a low noise amplifier and a variable phase shifter. The tunable filter may advantageously be used in the receive channel of a transmit/receive module for phased arrays wherein the resonant frequency of the ring can be tuned anywhere in the operating frequency range so as to increase the dynamic range of the receiver.

Planar phased arrays of RF radiators wherein each radiator is capable of transmitting and receiving RF electromagnetic signals are generally well known. Such controllable radiators ideally have minimum size, weight, cost and complexity along with low insertion loss, temperature stability, phase accuracy, low drive power requirements, etc.
Proper spacing and control of the relative phasing and amplitude or attenuation of the radiator signals allows the production of a precisely defined overall radiation pattern whereby a well defined beam may be electronically pointed and shaped by way of digital control signals supplied by way of an array controller/computer.
Typical uses of such phased arrays may be found in airborne or land-based radar systems operable in the upper frequency ranges, such as the S, C, X- and K-bands. Such uses require high performance RF transmitter/receiver (T/R) or radiator modules wherein the aforementioned insertion loss, phase accuracy and switching time, as well as bandwidth, switching power and, of course, costs are critical.
As indicated in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/795,026 referenced above, conventional active T/R modules for use in phased arrays may be of many different types. FIG. 1 of the present application schematically illustrates a typical such module with separate transmit/receive feed ports 1 and 2, respectively. The transmit leg may typically include a phase shifter 3 and controllable attenuator 4 along with a relatively high power amplifier 5 connected to a standard microstrip circulator 6 by way of line 7 for communicating RF signals to antenna 8. As to the receive leg, microstrip line 9 communicates RF signals to transmit/receive limiter 10, low noise amplifier 11, controllable attenuator 12 and a phaser 13, which in turn is connected to the output port 2.
Appropriate phase and amplitude settings of the radiators of the phased array wherein there are typically 2000 such elements may be determined by an array controller/computer (not illustrated) for setting the phase shifters, for example, at desired relative phase shifts for both transmitting and receiving purposes. Moreover, the appropriate radiation pattern shape, pointing angle, etc., may be obtained without any mechanical movement of the array or movement of the radiator elements.
Although improvements continue to be obtained in the art, still further improvements are required for many applications. For example, problems continue to exist in T/R modules, such as power consumption, heat removal, receiver protection, receiver dynamic range and, of course, cost.
Of particular note is the limited dynamic range of existing transmit/receive modules which present a problem due to the third order intermodulation products produced by the low noise amplifier (LNA). Such third order intermodulation productions are considered to be the most troublesome since they fall within the bandpass of even moderate bandwidth amplifiers. That is to say, a typical T/R module circuit, as illustrated in FIG. 1, may have a respectable receiver dynamic range of 100 dB when operating in a spurious free environment. For the spurious free case the dynamic range of a receiver is usually defined as the range from the 1 dB gain compression point of the LNA to the system noise level. However, when operating in spurious environment, such as where aircraft are flying in formation or in a vicinity with radars operating in the same frequency band, the dynamic range of the receiver may be significantly reduced due to the noted third order intermodulation products produced by the low noise amplifier. The dynamic range in a spurious environment is usually defined as the range from the 1 dB gain compression point to the interfering spurious level of the receiver.
We have discovered a unique technique for obtaining a digital latching bandpass filter utilizing a resonant ring circuit which is low loss, fast switching and microstrip compatible. We have further discovered that such electronically tunable bandpass filters may be used in conjunction with the low noise amplifier (LNA) to increase the dynamic range of the receiver in active T/R modules for phased arrays.
In this regard our tunable bandpass filter may be implemented using a resonant ring structure including two couplers, an LNA and a phase shifter wherein the phase shifter may have up to 360.degree. of phase shift, and the resonant frequency of the ring can be tuned anywhere in the operating frequency range. In many applications less than 360.degree. of phase shift will be required because of the limited tuning bandwidth necessary. The ring structure disclosed in more detail below may be used to replace the LNA of FIG. 1. Moreover, the resonant ring filter functions so that the input signal coupled to the ring and the signal progressing around the ring constructively interfere at the input of the LNA when the ring is resonant. The second coupler is used to couple the output signal which has the bandpass characteristic of the ring, and a rejection of off-frequency spurious signals will occur due to the passband response of the filter. In this manner, the third order intermodulation products will be reduced by a factor of 3 times the filter rejection.
Additionally, if desired, our resonant ring structure may be used as a band rejection filter if the output port is selected to be the port loaded on the input coupler. In this regard, at resonance and with proper parameter selection the power would be reinforced in the ring and the power at the output port reduced.
Still further, although the herein disclosed tunable filter can easily obtain a single passband response over desired bands, multiple passband responses may occur depending upon the electrical length of the loop and the required operating bandwidth. We have discovered that if larger operating bandwidths are necessary and the electrical length or insertion phase of the ring structure cannot be reduced to eliminate the multiple responses, such responses may be eliminated through the use of an additional stage in which the electrical length of the loop is different than the first.
Receiver protection advantages may be also be obtained by our tunable filter since the T/R limiter and LNA are placed in the ring structure and are decoupled from the antenna. Thus, off resonance signals are terminated in a load. Additionally, reflection from the T/R limiter back to the antenna is significantly reduced and, therefore, reflection uniformity for low RCS (radar cross section) applications is considerably improved. The limiter and LNA are also less susceptible to burnout from spurious signals. Furthermore, if desired, the ring can be de-tuned either with the phase shifter or LNA to thus offer still further protection of the T/R limiter and LNA against the high powered amplifier during the transmit pulse.
As a still further application of our tunable filter, if desired, the receiver output port may be switchably connected to a path providing a filtered response from the active filter when in a spurious environment or connected to a path excluding the active filter when operating in a broad band, spurious free environment. As a still further variation of the latter alternative, if the filter remains energized and tuned to a single tone spurious signal, a band rejection within the broad band would exist.

Low loss, fast switching, tunable filter circuit


Described herein are systems and methods for predicting whether an entity associated with a profile in one network is the same entity that is associated with a profile in a second network, which networks may represent networks from different network services or may represent networks from the same network service. In embodiments, network graph features, including nodes and connections, may be used to predict a probability that the profiles in the two networks should be matched. In embodiments, additional or different factors may be included in the predicted probability, such as homophily, match probabilities of seed nodes, match probabilities of attribute-matched nodes, attribute-attribute co-occurrence probabilities, and the like.

The world has become ever more increasingly connected. These connections are being facilitated by vast meshes of internetworked computing devices and the ubiquity of computers, laptops, smart devices, mobile phones, and the like. These internetworked computing devices form ever-present private networks and/or public networks.
Using these networked computing devices, people, governments, non-profits, organizations, and businesses form connections between and among these various groups for myriad reasons. For example, applications, such as social networks, can be formed that link entities through the networked application. Or, business entities may be interconnected to provide services, such as business or financial services.
Each of these networks may contain useful information about entities that participate in the network and about interactions between entities. It would be beneficial to be able to identify that a profile/user account in one network is owned by or associated with the same entity of a profile/user account in another network. However, given that the networks can be vast (i.e., comprising millions of discrete users), matching profiles across networks can be very challenging. The size of the networks in only one of the challenges. Added to the complexity is the fact that the information across the networks may not be the same. Furthermore, even if the information is the same, ambiguities may still exist. Consider, for example, a name associated with a profile. In social network like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, because there are millions of users, it is not uncommon for there to be several user profiles that contain the same name. Thus, without a unique identifier that is common to both profiles in different networks, it is very difficult to ascertain, for example, which profile associated with the name John Smith in one network should be linked to one of a plurality of John Smith profiles in another network.
Accordingly, what is needed are systems and methods for help associate a profile of an entity in one network with the profile of that entity in one or more other networks.

Systems and methods for identifying entities between networks


The present invention provides a stretch film dispenser, which includes a base, a reel device, and a brake device. The reel device has a reel and a connecting member pivotally connected to the base, and the brake device is connected to the base and is fitted to the connecting member of the reel device. The base and the brake device form a holding member of the stretch film dispenser to be grasped by an operator. The present invention further provides a second reel to be fitted to the reel of the reel dispenser to dispense the stretch film rolls with different core diameter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a package tool, and more particularly to a stretch film dispenser.
2. Description of the Related Art
In package task, some will wrap stretch film around the products. Usually, operator will use two dispensers, so called "hand saver", mounted on opposite ends of the stretch film roll for the package task. Conventional stretch film dispensers include a base and a reel mounted on the base for free rotation. The reel may be inserted into the core of the stretch film roll that operator may hold the base to dispense the stretch film.
Such base has a cavity at a bottom thereof, which is a hollow portion of an axle for the reel. Operator inserts his/her fingers, except thumb, into the cavity to hold the dispenser. In Europe, the most common diameters of the cores of the stretch film roll are 1.5 inches and 2 inches. When aforesaid dispenser is made for such stretch film roll, the diameter of the cavity of the base may be is 1.5 inches or less that only allows one or two fingers inserted into the cavity. In other words, operator is unable to hold the conventional dispenser firmly when the dispenser is applied for 1.5 or 2 inches stretch film roll.


A firearm having a small trigger pull force, small trigger pull distance, and a large sear engagement is provided. The firearm of the present invention provides a safe firearm having a light and crisp trigger pull. Certain embodiments of the present invention may provide a firearm having a ratio of sear engagement to trigger pull distance that is greater than or equal to 1.0.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a trigger mechanism and a firearm containing the same. More particularly, the present invention is directed towards a trigger mechanism and a firearm that is safe and has a lightweight and short trigger pull.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of firearms can be categorized according to various different characteristics of the firearms. For example, firearms arms can be classified according to the different trigger designs.
Most military or competitive shooters appear to have adopted a trigger design called a two-stage trigger. A two-stage trigger is designed so that when the shooter "squeezes" the trigger (i.e. exert a force with his/her finger on a "trigger shoe"), there is an immediate and relatively large displacement of the trigger shoe (i.e. the first stage). This is followed by an abrupt and definitive stop and is referred to as a first stage. At this point, an additional force is gradually applied until (a sudden) discharge occurs (i.e. the second stage). Thus, a two-stage trigger is characterized by a light squeeze that takes up an initial slack, followed by an additional squeeze, which leads to a sudden release of the firing mechanism.
In contrast, most hunters or casual shooters appear to prefer a single stage trigger. A single stage trigger is designed so that upon squeezing the trigger, perceptible displacement of the trigger does not take place until the discharge of the firearm. Thus, the single stage trigger is characterized by a gradually applied squeeze followed by the sudden release of the firing mechanism.
Regardless of which trigger designs are employed, important functional goals of a high quality trigger mechanism design include, to name a few, safety, lightweight trigger pull, nearly imperceptible movement of the trigger shoe during discharge, and a "crisp" feel during discharge. For example, lightweight trigger pull is desired so that the position of the firearm will not be influenced during discharge of the firearm (i.e. for accuracy). Safety is a major concern so that accidental (unintentional) discharge of the firearm is prevented.
Obtaining a lightweight trigger while maintaining safety has been difficult. As such, trigger mechanism designs traditionally employed a trade-off strategy wherein heavy trigger pull was employed to prevent accidental discharge of the firearm.
Most trigger mechanisms incorporate a sear. A sear is typically characterized by two hardened steel components engaging (bearing upon) one another to maintain the trigger mechanism in a set configuration. Typically, the engagement of the two sear components is characterized by a slight overlap with each other to obstruct motion until a trigger is pulled. Upon pulling the trigger, these two components are designed to disengage in order to allow discharge of the firearm.
In the two-stage trigger design, a relatively large sear engagement of about 1.5 mm can be employed. (Sear engagement is the overlap of the two sear components, wherein in the present invention, the two sear components are a sear and a sear catch.) However, the relatively large displacement of the trigger in the first stage causes the sear to become almost completely disengaged, so that a nearly imperceptible movement of the trigger and a "crisp" feel can be obtained during the second stage.
In the single-stage trigger design, sear engagement is on the order of 0.25-0.38 mm, which is only about 3-5 times more than the diameter of human hair. Such small or slight sear engagement is provided so that a "crisp" feel can be provided during discharge. As such, these firearms rely heavily on their safety mechanisms and stiff springs to maintain sear engagement.
However, certain problems exist with such an approach. The surfaces and edges of the two hardened steel components of the sear can degrade over time by wear, corrosion, and additional factors. Therefore, accidental discharge of the firearm can suddenly occur without warning after prolonged use or storage, especially in a corrosive environment.
Even the presence of a safety mechanism may not be satisfactory. For example, if a safety mechanism functions so as to maintain sear engagement, sear degradation can result in an accidental discharge of the firearm regardless of whether the safety mechanism is in place or not. In addition, even if a safety mechanism of a firearm functions to obstruct the motion of the firing pin assembly independently of the sear mechanism, accidental discharge can nevertheless occur. For example, sear degradation may cause an accidental discharge to occur as soon as the safety mechanism is disengaged.
Therefore, a trigger exhibiting minimal movement, a lightweight trigger pull, and a large (and therefore safe) sear engagement before discharge would provide significant improvements.

Trigger mechanism and a firearm containing the same


Disclosed herein is a process for the production of polyester which involves heating a polymerizable monomer or oligomer in an inert liquid which does not dissolve or swell the monomer, oligomer, or polyester product, while boiling the inert liquid and codistilling the low molecular weight byproduct of the polymerization.

Polyesters are an important class of commercial polymers, being used as molding resins, fibers for industrial and textile use, and films. Therefore, improved processes for producing polyesters are continually sought.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,925,295 describes the preparation of polymer dispersions, including polyesters, by carrying out a condensation polymerization at a temperature of at least 150.degree. C. in an inert liquid medium containing a polymeric emulsifying agent which disperses both the starting material and final polymer, to produce a polymer dispersion in the inert liquid. The polymeric emulsifying agent is an "impurity" in the polyester produced.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,664 describes the preparation of polyesters by heating a polymerizable oligomer in a specified inert medium (which may swell the oligomer and/or final polyester). No mention is made of boiling the inert medium to remove the low boiling byproduct of the condensation polymerization.


A moon phase device for determining the moon phase of a particular date, BC or AD, new style date or old style date, has six tube members adapted to move relative to each other. The first tube member has a first side with indicia thereon for representing the moon phases and a second side with indicia for representing the thousands of the year. The second tube member has a third side with a first indicator for selecting the thousands year and a fourth side with indicia for representing the hundreds of the year. The third tube member has a fifth side with a second indicator for selecting the hundreds year and a sixth side with indicia for representing the tens of the year. The fourth tube member has a seventh side with a third indicator for selecting the tens year and a eighth side with indicia for representing the single digit of the year. The fifth tube member has a ninth side with a fourth indicator for selecting the single digit of the year and a tenth side with indicia for representing the month. The sixth tube member has an eleventh side with a fifth indicator for selecting the month year and a twelfth side having day indicia for aligning with the moon phase indicia.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to moon phase device for manually calculating the moon phase of a particular date.
2. Background of the Prior Art
Moon phase devices or astronomical clocks that determine the moon phase for a particular date are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,031 to Kaneko et al., U.S. Pat. No. D254,124 to Greenfield, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,260 to Jackle are examples of devices that are capable of such a task. However, the problem with these devices is that they are relatively complex machines that are complex in design and are relatively expensive to manufacture and maintain.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a device that can quickly and accurately determine the moon phase of a particular date, such that the device is not unduly complex and is relatively inexpensive to build. Such a device should be relatively simple to operate and should be able to calculate moon phases for dates past, present, and future.


A toothed belt includes a toothed profile made of a base material and defining a toothed profile drive side and a far side facing away from the drive side. A woven ply has a thickness and is applied to the far side of the toothed profile. The woven ply has a first side in contact with the far side causing the base material to penetrate the woven ply at least partly at the first side thereof. The woven ply has a second side facing away from the first side. A coating of plastic on the second side causes the plastic to penetrate the woven ply at least partly at the second side. The base material and the plastic each penetrate the woven ply to an extent to cause the woven ply to be free of the base material and the plastic in an inner lying thickness region thereof.

The toothed polyurethane belts addressed here are produced by extrusion of the base material. During the extrusion, in a specific corresponding exit die, strengthening elements or tensile elements that generally take the form of cords are incorporated into the still-warm, relatively viscous material being extruded. These cords essentially absorb the tensile forces in the finished hardened toothed belt.
The resultant still-viscous polyurethane material together with the tensile elements, as base material of the toothed belt, is formed between a belt and a forming wheel provided with an outer tooth pattern with removal of heat to give the finished toothed belt, where the belt wraps around the forming wheel over a wrap angle of about 200° under pressure. In the cases in which the toothed belt has been provided with a weave coating on its toothed side, shortly before the precursor enters the wrapping arc of the forming wheel, a weave runs onto the forming wheel and is then indented into the shapingly toothed outline of the forming wheel together with the precursor. Weave coatings of this kind are known and are customary, for example, for reduction of wear and abatement of noise.
Typically, in the case of such toothed PU belts produced from extruded precursors as weave cover/weave ply on the toothed side, a weave having good elongation properties in longitudinal direction is used. In belt production, in the above-described forming of the teeth on the forming wheel, this weave is then stretched out by the high-viscosity PU melt and pressed into the tooth pattern. What can happen here in a disadvantageous manner is that the stretching in the deformation makes the weave correspondingly thinner, such that the weave structure can open up and there is occasional penetration/seeping of PU. What can also happen is that the teeth are not fully formed when the melt pressure is too low. Specifically in the case of teeth that are not fully formed or in the event of penetration of polyurethane, there is also failure to attain the load-bearing capacity of the teeth of the toothed belt which is required in operation.

Toothed belt having a woven fabric layer and method for making the same


A wear plate for the conveyor of a paving machine has a bend at one axial end, an oblique flat surface at another axial end, a tab with an aperture extending from a side surface, or a tab extending from a side surface with a tapered configuration.

A paving machine, such as an asphalt paver, is generally a self-propelled machine designed to receive, convey, distribute, and partially compact paving materials such as asphalt. Typically, the paving machine receives the paving material in a hopper positioned at the front of the machine, conveys the paving material from the hopper to the rear of the machine with parallel slat conveyors (may be referred to as a feeder system), distributes the paving material along a desired width, and compacts the paving material into a mat with a screed. Each slat conveyor that moves the paving material from the receiving hopper to the rear of the paving machine generally consists of two parallel slat chains (may also be referred to as conveyor chains) with a multitude of transverse slats (may also be referred to as a feeder bar) connected there between. Each slat chain is pulled by one of two sprockets mounted on a common shaft, which, in turn, is driven by an appropriate power source.
The paving material is typically asphalt, and consists of a black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid. When used in road construction, asphalt usually functions as a binder for a gravel or rock base. The raw material mixture is referred to as a "bituminous aggregate" and the finished road surfacing material is usually called "asphalt concrete." The bituminous aggregate is typically stored and transported at temperatures around 150° Celsius to prevent hardening. Thus, the conveyor system used to channel the bituminous aggregate through a feeder area of the paving machine needs to withstand exposure to the high temperature and rough gravel or rock particles (abrasive) bound within the aggregate. The feeder floor, in particular, is subject to significant wear caused by the bituminous aggregate and, more specifically, conveyance of the aggregate through the feeder area. Consequently, wear plates are typically provided as part of a feeder protection system to protect the feeder bed from wear.
These wear plates are often held in place using fasteners or the like that may be exposed to the asphalt, making their removal problematic. Also, problems with "digging in" as a feeder bar passes over a seam of the wear plates or feeder bar wear as it rotates about the end drive sprocket that occurs with current feeder protection systems.
Chinese Patent No. CN20280944U discloses a wear plate having a bend that may guide the conveyor chain about an end drive sprocket. However, this patent is silent about easing the assembly or disassembly of the wear plate from the feeder protection system, preventing "digging in" as a feeder bar passes over the seam of the wear plates, etc.
Therefore, continuous improvement of feeder protection systems is still warranted.


A gas turbine engine is presented. The gas turbine engine includes a control unit having a first bypass channel that is coupled between an outlet of a first turbine and an inlet of a second turbine. Further, the control unit includes a second bypass channel coupled between a first outlet of a compressor unit and the inlet of the second turbine. Additionally, the control unit includes a first control valve coupled to the first bypass channel and configured to direct at least a first portion of exhaust gas from the first turbine to the inlet of the second turbine via the first bypass channel. Furthermore, the control unit includes a second control valve coupled to the second bypass channel and configured to direct at least a first portion of compressed air from the compressor unit to the inlet of the second turbine via the second bypass channel.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to a gas turbine engine, and more particularly to a system and method for improving efficiency of the gas turbine engine.
Typically, gas turbine engines are used for converting thermal or heat energy into mechanical energy, which may then be used for applications, such as power generation, marine propulsion, and gas compression. In general, a gas turbine engine includes a compressor for compressing air and a combustor for combining the compressed air with fuel to form a fuel mixture. Thereafter, the fuel mixture is combusted or ignited in the combustor to generate a post combustion gas or a working gas. Typically, the post combustion gas is a high pressure, high temperature gas stream that is expanded while being conveyed through a turbine to convert thermal energy of the post combustion gas into mechanical energy. Further, in one example, the converted mechanical energy may be used to rotate a turbine shaft that is coupled to machinery, such as an electrical generator for producing electrical energy.
In general, during the process of combustion, the oxygen content in the compressed air may not be fully consumed. As a result, the post combustion gas that exits from the turbine includes at least 15% mass of oxygen, which has the potential of oxidizing more fuel. Therefore, some gas turbine engines deploy a reheat combustor, where the post combustion gas is re-combusted after being mixed with additional fuel. Further, the re-combusted post combustion gas is expanded in another turbine section to generate additional power. Thus, the deployment of the reheat combustor and another turbine section utilizes the oxidizing potential of the post combustion gas, which in turn increases the performance of the engine.
However, in conventional gas turbine engines, the reheat combustor poses significant challenges due to high temperature of the post combustion gas, reduced oxygen concentration in the post combustion gas, and presence of one or more species in the post combustion gas. This in turn poses substantial limitations on the combustor operation due to issues related to auto-ignition, flame stabilization, and emissions in the reheat combustor.

System and method for improving efficiency of a gas turbine engine


The inventive IR camera is used to identify areas of a surface in which there is an increased risk of condensation, by                imaging the surface        determining, from humidity and temperature values, a condensation temperature at which there is a risk of condensation on the surface,        comparing the temperature in at least one image point registered by the camera to the condensation temperature        coloring any image points having a temperature lower than the condensation temperature in a particular color, or grey tone, selected to indicate an increased risk of condensation.

In many applications, in particular when inspecting buildings, there is a need to be able to determine the specific points or areas where there is an increased risk of condensation. Such condensation increases the risk of damage due to damp. Prior art methods for such inspections include conductivity measurements. Conductivity sensors usually measure the conductivity in one particular point and are therefore limited to rather small areas. To make a time-efficient inspection, therefore, areas that are assumed to have an increased risk are selected by the person carrying out the measurements. There is thus a risk that high-risk areas are missed, and/or the measurements may be time-consuming.
Further, such inspections often involve imaging in places that are hard to access, such as high up, underneath a machine or a piece of furniture, or around corners, so that the operator is forced to stretch or bend or assume another uncomfortable or risky position.


According to one embodiment, a display control system acquires a tilt of a detector with respect to a weld portion. The detector includes a plurality of detection elements arranged along a first arrangement direction and a second arrangement direction. The first arrangement direction and the second arrangement direction cross each other. The tilt is calculated based on a detection result of a reflected wave obtained by transmitting an ultrasonic wave from the plurality of detection elements. The system displays a user interface, displays a symbol and a tolerance range in a region included in the user interface, and updates the display of the symbol in the region according to the acquiring of the tilt. The region spreads two-dimensionally. The symbol indicates the tilt. The tolerance range is of a target value of the tilt.

In welding, portions of two or more members are joined to each other by melting. The welded members are inspected for whether or not the welded portion (hereinbelow, called the weld portion) is joined appropriately. For example, in a non-destructive inspection, a human (an inspector) that grips a probe causes the probe to contact the weld portion. An ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the probe toward the weld portion, and an inspection device verifies the existence or absence of the joint based on the reflected wave.
In the inspection, the tilt of the probe with respect to the weld portion affects the inspection result. Therefore, when inspecting, it is desirable for the inspector to be able to easily ascertain information relating to the inspection such as the tilt of the probe with respect to the weld portion, how the tilt should be changed, etc.

Display control system, inspection control system, display control method, and storage medium


A trap for condensable liquids, such as tantalum pentoxide, has a primary trapping chamber surrounding a secondary trapping chamber and a sump connected by a small enough opening to the primary or secondary chamber such that trapped liquid in the sump is effectively isolated from a gas flow through the primary and secondary chambers. Partitions and openings in the primary and secondary chambers enhance condensation while allowing condensed liquid flow that does not clog the primary and secondary chambers against the gas flow.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related generally to liquid-gas separating devices for catching and retaining condensable liquid materials from a flowing gas stream, and more particularly to a trap apparatus and method for removing tantalum pentaethoxide (TAETO) from the exhaust gas flowing out of a reaction/deposition chamber used for depositing thin films of tantalum pentoxide in the fabrication of electronic devices.
2. State of the Art
Tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) is a highly dielectric, electrically insulating, material, which is used extensively in integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices to increase charge storage density, thus to reduce cell areas required for capacitors without reducing capacitance. For example, tantalum pentoxide films are used as storage capacitor dielectric layers in high density integrated circuits, such as DRAM memory chips, and for gate dialectrics for CMOS devices.
Thin films of tantalum pentoxide are usually deposited on desired semiconductor integrated circuit substrates in chemical deposition chambers by well-known chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques. For example, tantalum pentaethoxide [Ta(OC2H5)5], also known as TAETO, is often used as a precursor material and reacted with oxygen or ozone in a low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) reaction chamber to deposit tantalum pentoxide films. Typically, the liquid TAETO is vaporized and delivered into the reaction chamber through a heated, upstream delivery system. The interior of the reaction chamber is also supplied with an atmosphere of oxygen (O2) or ozone (O3) and is often maintained at a relatively high temperature, such as about 450xc2x0 C., to assist the chemical reaction between the TAETO and the oxygen (O2) or ozone (O3) to produce the desired tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5), which deposits as a solid film on a substrate in a reaction chamber. The deposition of the tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) thin film is often followed by an annealing step at about 800xc2x0 C. in an oxygen atmosphere to enhance the quality of the tantalum pentoxide film.
The primary reaction of TAETO with oxygen (O2) in the reaction chamber to produce tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) is:                                           2                                                      Ta                                                  (                                                            OC                      2                                                                                H                      5                                                        )                                            5                                +                      30                                      O              2                                                        →                      450                        xc2x0                                      xe2x80x83                                                  C              .                                                                                Ta              2                                                  O              5                                +                      20                                      CO              2                                +                      25                                      H              2                                    O                                              (        1        )
The primary reaction of TAETO with ozone (O3) in the reaction chamber to produce tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) is:                                           2                                                      Ta                                                  (                                                            OC                      2                                                                                H                      5                                                        )                                            5                                +                      20                                      O              3                                                        →                      450                        xc2x0                                      xe2x80x83                                                  C              .                                                                                Ta              2                                                  O              5                                +                      20                                      CO              2                                +                      25                                      H              2                                    O                                              (        2        )
However, there are also secondary reactions involved in the deposition of Ta2O5 because of the generation of the water vapor (H2O) byproduct of the reaction in either equation (1) or equation (2) above. In fact, the rate of such secondary chemical reaction between TAETO and water is much higher than the primary chemical reaction (equation (1) or (2)) between TAETO and O2 or O3. Such secondary reaction forms tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) and alcohol, as follows:                                           2                                                      Ta                                                  (                                                            OC                      2                                                                                H                      3                                                        )                                            5                                +                      5                                      H              2                                    O                                            →                      450                        xc2x0                                      xe2x80x83                                                  C              .                                                                                Ta              2                                                  O              5                                +                      10                                      C              2                                                  H              5                                    OH                                              (        3        )
This secondary reaction of equation (3) in a 450xc2x0 C. reaction chamber proceeds orders of magnitude faster than the primary reaction of either equation (1) or (2), but it proceeds rapidly at ambient (room) temperature as well. Therefore, if any TAETO in the vacuum system downstream from the reaction/deposition chamber has an opportunity to react with water vapor, the resulting solid tantalum pentoxide can damage vacuum system components, such as pumps, valves, and the like.
Only about 10%-20% of the TAETO precursor is consumed in the reaction chamber to produce tantalum pentoxide in order to achieve acceptable, uniform film deposition across a wafer substrate surface. The remainder of the unused TAETO precursor passes along with the carbon dioxide (CO2) and alcohol (C2H5OH) byproducts out of the reaction chamber and into the pumping foreline, i.e., the pipe leading to the vacuum pump, of the evacuation system. Most, if not virtually all, of the water vapor byproduct of reaction (1) or (2) is consumed in reaction (3), as evidenced by there only being a very small, negligible amount of light, white coating of tantalum pentoxide on the interior wall of the foreline, close to the reaction/deposition chamber exit, in most conventional tantalum pentoxide deposition systems. Therefore, the initial problem from TAETO in the evacuation system is encountered when TAETO condenses, and then problems occur when TAETO reacts with water vapor that back streams into the vacuum system or gets into the vacuum system in another manner, such as during maintenance, to form solid tantalum pentoxide, as explained in more detail below.
First, TAETO will condense in an unheated pumping foreline (a temperature of about 125 to 150xc2x0 C. is typically required to keep the TAETO from condensing in the foreline), and liquid accumulation in the foreline will affect vacuum pump characteristics and interfere with maintenance of a desired vacuum pressure in the reaction/deposition chamber. Second, when liquid or vapor TAETO is carried into the vacuum pump, the lifetime of the pump can be reduced significantly, especially if solid tantalum pentoxide forms in the pump from reaction of TAETO and any water vapor that gets into the vacuum system. Since most, if not all of the water produced by the initial reaction (equation (1) or (2)) is consumed by the secondary reaction (equation (3)), as explained above, the problems of solid tantalum pentoxide formation and accumulation in the evacuation system, such as in the vacuum pump, valves, regulators, and the like, is usually the result of ambient moisture from the atmosphere, or from wet scrubber equipment that is often installed downstream from the vacuum pump, that back streams into the pump and other components of the vacuum system to combine with TAETO that is exhausted from the reaction/deposition chamber and thereby produces solid tantalum pentoxide in the vacuum system. Also, solid tantalum pentoxide can form very rapidly when either gaseous or liquid TAETO combines with water vapor in ambient air from the atmosphere, which makes maintenance and service of components in the vacuum system very difficult. Solid tantalum pentoxide has to be cleaned mechanically out of pipes and other components of the vacuum system. Further, TAETO is valuable and, if recovered, can be processed and purified, for re-use, e.g., as precursor for tantalum pentoxide deposition.
Conventional traps designed for universal application to remove a variety of solid CVD reaction byproducts are being used to remove TAETO in evacuation systems of tantalum pentoxide CVD reaction chambers. However, such conventional traps have very low trapping efficiency, because trapped liquid also has much higher mobility compared to trapped solid byproducts, or they require too much maintenance and down time when used to trap TAETO because of the rapid reaction with water vapor and resulting solids formation, as described above. Also, such maintenance and down time with such conventional traps is exacerbated, because, as mentioned above, solid tantalum pentoxide, which forms very rapidly when liquid TAETO in such conventional traps is exposed to water vapor in air, has to be cleaned out of such traps mechanically, or the traps would have to be replaced.
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a more efficient and more effective apparatus and method for trapping and removing condensable liquid products and byproducts from a flow of gas.
A more specific object of this invention is to provide a more efficient and more effective apparatus and method for trapping and removing TAETO from an evacuation system of a tantalum pentoxide CVD or LPCVD reaction chamber.
An even more specific object of this invention is to provide a trapping apparatus and method that is designed especially for the unique trapping and handling problems presented by TAETO, which is exhausted in gaseous form from a CVD or LPCVD reaction/deposition chamber and then condenses into liquid of varying viscosities that are very prone to react with water vapor to form solid tantalum pentoxide.
Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention are set forth in part in the description that follows and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following description and figures or may be learned by practicing the invention. Further, the objects and the advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and in combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the trapping method of this invention comprises routing a gas stream containing condensable material, such as TAETO, through a tortuous flow path in a vacuum to contact the gas stream with cooled surfaces, which enhance condensation and are configured to accommodate collection and flow of liquid condensate of varying viscosities to a reservoir in a manner that does not clog or interfere with the gas flow and that minimized re-evaporation of the collected liquid condensate back into the gas stream.
To further achieve the foregoing and other objects and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the trap apparatus of this invention comprises a primary trap chamber divided by a plurality of vertically spaced apart partitions into a plurality of portions or plenums disposed vertically, one over another, and that are connected together in fluid flow relationship by openings in the partitions. A secondary trap chamber is preferably surrounded by the primary trap chamber in a housing and is connected in fluid flow relationship with the last or lowest of the plurality of portions or plenums of the primary trap chamber. The primary trap chamber is preferably separated from the secondary trap chamber by an inner cylindrical wall, and it is preferably surrounded and enclosed by an outer cylindrical wall. A cooling system removes heat from surfaces in both the primary trap chamber and the secondary trap chamber. The openings in the partitions are preferably misaligned vertically to force a longer flow path and to thereby increase contact of gaseous flow with a surfaces in the primary trap chamber. A small drain opening in an end wall under the primary and secondary chambers is connected to a reservoir, which is separated from the gaseous flow path through the primary and secondary chambers, so that liquid condensate flowing off surfaces in the primary and secondary chambers and collected by the end wall can flow through the small drain opening and into the reservoir for storage remote from the gaseous flow. A valve between the small drain opening and the reservoir is provided to accommodate temporary removal of the reservoir for emptying and cleaning while maintaining the vacuum in the primary and secondary chambers and minimizing, if not preventing, any ambient water vapor from entering the primary and secondary chambers through the small drain opening.

Trap apparatus and method for condensable by-products of deposition reactions


A tube launched projectile having a shaft member at the aft section is slidably mounted on a boom extending aft from the body of the projectile. The boom has a cavity in its aft end which receives some combustion gas from the projectile propellant burn and retains this gas at elevated pressure until the projectile exits the tube. Upon reaching atmospheric pressure, the stored cavity gas expands and drives the slidable shaft aft, elongating the projectile to its flight configuration.

This invention relates in general to tube launched projectiles and in particular to tube launched projectiles which are fin stabilized or spin stabilized, where means are provided to elongate the projectile body when the projectile exits the launch tube.
Reduced length projectiles allow for reduced cost of transport and for increased launch tube propellant charge. In the case of fin stabilized projectiles the center of pressure of the fins can be relatively close to the projectile center of gravity. This configuration requires the fins be larger than for an elongated projectile to provide a restoring moment for control of the flight of the projectile. Since projectile fins typically contribute 30% to 50% of the total projectile aerodynamic drag, reductions in projectile drag would be desirable.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of fixed length projectiles detailed above by mounting the empennage or tail section on a hollow shaft which surrounds a portion of the projectile boom extending from the projectile body. The shaft is caused to slide along the boom in a constrained manner. The shaft is provided with axially extending splines spaced around its circumference which are assembled into matching grooves extending along the length of the boom. Thus, the projectile is assembled initially with the shaft in the most forward position. Means are provided for retaining the shaft in the forward position until the projectile exits the launch tube. The shaft is caused to slide to a rear, in-flight position after exiting the launch tube and is locked in the flight position during flight. The mechanism for extending the projectile to its flight length configuration utilizes the high pressure gas from the burning propellant to initially lock the shaft and boom in the pre-flight position during transit in the tube and to cause the shaft to slide to the flight position after exiting the launch tube. As an alternate or additional embodiment, a separate solid propellant or compressed gas cylinder may be provided in the projectile boom to cause the shaft to slide to the flight position.
A 10% to 25% reduction of projectile aerodynamic drag can be realized by the present invention whereby the projectile body elongates when the projectile has cleared the launching tube. This elongation occurs by causing the empennage containing the fin structure to slide rearward to a new flight position, effectively moving the fins rearward and achieving the advantages discussed above. Similarly, the rearward movement of the tail section and the accompanying shape change allows for significant changes in the stability characteristics and reduction of aerodynamic drag of spin-stabilized projectiles.
This invention is applicable forfin-and spin-stabilized tube launched projectiles. The empennage comprised of fins (fin-stabilized) or the aft body without fins (spin-stabilized) is mounted on a hollow shaft and at atmospheric ambient pressure is free to slide on a matching boom attached to the aft end of the projectile. At atmospheric ambient pressure, a small clearance between shaft and boom, say 0.001 inch, allows the shaft to move freely relative to the boom. Rotation between the shaft and boom is prevented by the following construction: axially extending slots or grooves provided in the boom, along with axially extending splines provided in the forward end of the shaft allow for the axial sliding of the shaft relative to the boom without rotation.
In my aforementioned patent 1 describe the shaft as deflecting onto the boom such that the two surfaces mechanically xe2x80x9clockxe2x80x9d onto one another at the high tube pressures accompanying propellant ignition, whereupon the shaft moves with the boom inside the tube. I describe this xe2x80x9clockingxe2x80x9d as being attained on deflection by providing each surface with intermeshing ridges running orthogonal to the projectile axis, and/or by matching engaging teeth, and/or the like, and/or by providing a high friction coefficient between the two surfaces. Thus, at the high tube pressures, the mechanical xe2x80x9clockxe2x80x9d is comprised of either of one or of a combination of intermeshing surfaces and friction shear stresses between the inner shaft and outer boom surfaces. Hence, following ignition of the projectile propellant, except possibly for an initial small insignificant movement until the tube pressure becomes sufficiently large, the shaft is xe2x80x9clockedxe2x80x9d onto and moves with the boom during the projectile transit in the tube.
I have now discovered an alternative means for locking the shaft onto the boom by using the axial or longitudinal force resulting from the differential pressure between the external and internal surfaces of the shaft vertical end wall (i.e., the aft end wall) created by the elevated tube pressure. This differential pressure acting on the shaft vertical end wall causes the shaft to travel with the boom during the shaft""s transit in the tube. The xe2x80x9clockingxe2x80x9d and conjoined travel ceases upon exposure of the shaft to the reduced ambient atmospheric pressure as the projectile egresses from the tube. In order for this type of xe2x80x9clockingxe2x80x9d to occur, the ratio of the axial acceleration of the shaft to the axial acceleration of the main body projectile must be equal to or greater than one. Stated mathematically:
aS/ap=(pS/pp)(AS/Ap)(mp/mS)xe2x89xa71,
where: xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d represents axial acceleration; xe2x80x9cpxe2x80x9d represents differential pressure; xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d represents area normal to the launch tube centerline; xe2x80x9cmxe2x80x9d represents mass; and the subscripts xe2x80x9cSxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cPxe2x80x9d represent the shaft and main body projectile, respectively. AS does not include the area of the orifice opening 22 and any other open area not developing the differential pressure pS. This formula applies for materials of any friction coefficient and dictates the accelerations required to xe2x80x9clockxe2x80x9d the boom and shaft during transit in the launch tube. Inherent in the formula is the launch tube pressure (p) developed after the propellant charge is ignited in the launch tube, and which is approximately equal to ps and pp.
This method of axial xe2x80x9clockingxe2x80x9d effected by the differential pressure on the shaft vertical end wall can be utilized by itself or in conjunction with the mechanical locking described in my aforementioned patent.
An orifice at the base of the shaft serves as the opening to a small cavity within the boom. Propellant gases enter the cavity and the cavity pressure rises as a consequence of the high tube pressures during the transit of the projectile in the tube. Upon the projectile exiting the tube and the accompanying reduction of ambient pressure, the differential pressure across the shaft vertical end wall drops so that the force on the end wall of the shaft is removed, causing the shaft to xe2x80x9cunlockxe2x80x9d and again be free to move relative to the boom. Furthermore, the high pressure of the gas trapped in the cavity relative to that of the ambient atmosphere acts on the vertical end wall of the shaft producing a rearward movement of the shaft relative to the boom and thereby a lengthening of the projectile. The shaft slides along the boom and the projectile continues to lengthen until the splines in the shaft reach a taper lock in the boom, where it becomes jammed and locked into place on the boom. The time required for the shaft deployment depends in part on the cavity volume, orifice diameter, and deployment length. The shaft deployment and thereby the projectile length can be increased by several calibers within a short distance of the tube exit.

Lock and slide mechanism for tube launched projectiles


A radio communication device, suitable for use in a portable computer, is capable of operating at any one of a set of common frequencies which are legally permissible in all countries (or a set of countries) and at any frequency on which it detects that a transmission of its own type is being used for a transmission from another device. Thus, users can legally operate the device in different countries, while manufacturers can obtain certification for use in those countries. If the user attempts to select a frequency which is not one of the common frequencies nor detected by transmission, an indication that such frequency is not available is provided to the user.

Currently, portable radio devices, such as portable computers having a radio communication capability and portable radio telephones, are coming into increasing use. By virtue of their portability, users may wish to take such devices across national boundaries. For example, a business person may wish to take a portable computer from his or her home country to another country on a business trip, and still maintain the possibility of communicating via radio transmissions with another computer or with a local area network ("LAN") in the country being visited. However, different countries may have differing regulations controlling the frequencies and transmission types which are permitted to be used for such radio communications. Consequently, manufacturers of such radio communication devices are faced with the need for obtaining official approval for their radio devices in a number of different countries which have differing allowable frequency ranges. It should be understood at this juncture that for a radio transmission, in addition to the frequency, the transmission type is important, by which is meant the modulation type and possibly other features, such as synchronization. For example, the transmission type may be direct-sequence spread-spectrum modulation.


Techniques are described for performing grouping and aggregation operations. In one embodiment, a request is received to aggregate data grouped by a first column. In response to receiving the request, a group value in a row of a first column is mapped to an address. A pointer is stored for a first group at a first location identified by the address. The pointer identifies a second location of a set of aggregation data for the first group. An aggregate value included in the set of aggregation data is updated based on a value in the row of a second column.

The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
A database comprises data and metadata that are stored on one or more storage devices, such as a set of hard disks. The data within a database may be logically organized according to a variety of data models, depending on the implementation. For example, relational database systems typically store data in a set of tables, where each table is organized into a set of rows and columns. In most cases, each row represents a distinct object, and each column represents a distinct attribute. However, other data models may also be used to organize the data.
In order access and manipulate data in a database, a database management system (DBMS) is generally configured to receive and process a variety of database commands, often referred to as queries. In many implementations, the DBMS supports queries that conform to a Data Manipulation Language (DML) such as structured query language (SQL). When the DBMS receives a query, the DBMS performs one or more database operations specified by the query and may output a query result. Example database operations include aggregation and grouping operations, which are described below.
Aggregation and Grouping Operations
Aggregation and grouping operations are database operations that provide summary statistics about data in specific columns. In SQL, grouping operations use the GROUP BY syntax to group results of aggregate functions by one or more columns. Table 1 below illustrates example aggregate functions that may be used in database queries.
TABLE 1Example aggregate functionsFUNCTION NAMEDESCRIPTIONAVGReturns the average value of a columnCOUNTReturns the number of rows in the columnFIRSTReturns the first value in the columnLASTReturns the last value in the columnMAXReturns the largest value in the columnMINReturns the smallest value in the columnSUMReturns the sum of all values in the column
Example aggregation and grouping queries are shown below in Table 2.
TABLE 2Example aggregation queriesQuery 1:SELECTsum(AMOUNT)FROMsalesQuery 2:SELECTSALESMAN, sum (AMOUNT)FROMsalesGROUP BYSALESMANQuery 3:SELECTSALESMAN, CUSTOMER, sum (AMOUNT)FROMsalesGROUP BYSALESMAN, CUSTOMER
Each of the above queries, when executed by the DBMS, aggregates data from values within the AMOUNT column of a sales table. For instance, Table 3 below illustrates an example sales table.
TABLE 3Example sales tableSALE_IDSALESMANCUSTOMERAMOUNT1PedroGainsley Corp.4002PedroLexau's Lexan2003AlexLexau's Lexan1504MichaelLexau's Lexan3505AlexGainsley Corp.6006AlexLexau's Lexan6507PedroGainsley Corp.470
Query 1 requests the total dollar amount of sales the company has made. When Query 1 is executed, the DBMS performs aggregation but no grouping. The DBMS unconditionally sums all amounts in the sales table to return a final result. Given the example sales table of Table 3, Table 4 below illustrates the expected output of executing Query 1.
TABLE 4Result table for Query 1sum (AMOUNT)2820
Query 2 requests the total dollar amount of sales grouped by the salesman who made the sale. When Query 2 is executed, the DBMS performs both grouping and aggregation. Specifically, the DBMS generates one aggregated result for each unique salesman in the sales table where the result is the total sales by the particular salesman. Given the example sales table of Table 3, Table 5 below illustrates the expected output of executing Query 2.
TABLE 5Result table for Query 2SALESMANsum (AMOUNT)Pedro1070Alex1400Michael350
Query 3 requests the total dollar amount of sales grouped by the salesman and the customer associated with the sale. When Query 3 is executed, the DBMS performs multi-column grouping and aggregation. In this case there will be one aggregated result for each unique salesman-customer pair, and the aggregated results are the total sales for that particular salesman-customer pair. Given the example sales table of Table 3, Table 6 below illustrates the expected output of executing Query 3.
TABLE 6Result table for Query 3SALESMANCUSTOMERsum (AMOUNT)PedroGainsley Corp.870PedroLexau's Lexan200AlexGainsley Corp.600AlexLexau's Lexan800MichaelLexau's Lexan350

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Hardware implementation of the aggregation/group by operation: hash-table method


The invention relates to a process for the carbonylation of acetylenically unsaturated compounds, whereby a feedstock comprising an acetylenically unsaturated compound and a relatively minor amount of an 1,2-alkadiene compound is contacted under carbonylation conditions with carbon monoxide and a co-reactant, in the presence of a catalyst system, based on: a) a source of cations of one or more metals of Group VIII of the Periodic Table; b) a phosphine having an aromatic substituent which contains an imino nitrogen atom separated by at least one bridging carbon atom from the phosphorus atom, and c) a protic acid, characterized in that the catalyst system is further based on d) a monodentate monophosphine or monophosphite.

In EP-A-0,271,144 a process is disclosed for the carbonylation of acetylenically unsaturated compounds in the presence of a catalyst system that can be formed from a palladium compound, a protic acid, and an organic monophosphine, e.g., diphenyl-2-pyridylphosphine.
A problem encountered with the processes for the carbonylation of acetylenically unsaturated compounds comprises poisoning of the catalyst by the isomeric 1,2-alkadiene compounds (so-called allenes) typically found therein. Small quantities of allenes, for example up to 0.4%, can often be tolerated, but the amounts commonly found in the acetylenic feed stocks present problems that need to be addressed before they can be used for the carbonylation process.
In EP-A-0,441,446 an improved carbonylation catalyst system is suggested that exhibits tolerance (e.g., up to 7%) under basic conditions, i.e., provided a tertiary amine is present (see comparative example G versus example 12). However, there is no suggestion in this reference that further improvements in respect of the carbonylation process, even carried out in the absence of the tertiary amine, could be achieved.
A further improvement in allene tolerance is disclosed in WO 95/05357. According to this document, the process should be conducted in the presence of a catalyst system based on a (di)phosphine having an aromatic substituent which contains an imino nitrogen atom and that is substituted with an electron-withdrawing group in a specified manner.

Process for the carbonylation of acetylenically unsaturated compounds


A refrigerant expansion device for a refrigeration cycle comprises a housing, a passage formed penetrating the housing, an expansion means for expanding the refrigerant passing through the passage and a flow rate control means for bypassing some of the refrigerant passing through the expansion means according to the pressure of the refrigerant, for supplying to the low pressure portion of the passage, and for controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant through the expansion means.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a refrigerant expansion device, and more particularly, to a refrigerant expansion device adaptable to a refrigeration cycle which controls the expansion valve of refrigerant flowing to a low pressure portion from a high pressure portion, and controls the flow rate of a refrigerant.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a refrigeration cycle is mainly comprised of a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, and a refrigerant expansion device. A refrigerant under low pressure is compressed in the compressor. The refrigerant under high pressure enters into the condenser where it condenses. The refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant expansion device is expanded in the refrigerant expansion device to create a low pressure situation. Subsequently, the refrigerant is heat exchanged in the evaporator with the surrounding air.
There is a modified refrigeration cycle which performs in either refrigerating mode or heating mode. In this cycle, a 4-way valve determines the refrigerant is directed into either the indoor heat-exchanger or the outdoor heat-exchanger. This accomplishes the various functions of the refrigeration cycle. Further, the flow rate of the refrigerant being discharged can be controlled by the variation of the frequency of the compressor.
In this refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant expansion device performs a major function. The refrigerant expansion device enables the entering refrigerant to expand as the low pressure refrigerant, and the entrance of liquid refrigerant into the compressor is avoided. Further, the expansion device performs such that evaporated refrigerant at excessive temperature is prevented from entering into the compressor. Furthermore, the expansion device also sends to control the flow rate of refrigerant such that the expansion of the refrigerant entering from the condenser can be controlled.
There are three main types of refrigerant expansion devices commonly used: an electronic expansion valve, a capillary tube, and an orifice. The electronic expansion valve is a device whereby the temperature of refrigerant in the evaporator is detected and the flow rate of the refrigerant entering into the evaporator is controlled. The operation of the electronic expansion valve is performed by a variable passage in a needle valve inside the valve body. This device exhibits the high effect in the expansion of the refrigerant and the control of the flow rate of the refrigerant. However, the cost of the device is very high, and its structure is very complex. Furthermore, If the point of the temperature detection is far enough away, accurate detection can not be obtained.
In a capillary tube type device, even though the cost is much lower and it is very easy to manufacture, the installation work is very inconvenient because it is made with a 1 meter length of small diameter tube. In addition, since the flow rate of the discharged refrigerant is controlled in accordance with the varied frequencies of the compressor, there is a limit in the control of the refrigerating capacity of the refrigeration cycle. Moreover, the refrigerant is accelerated at the outlet of the capillary tube almost to the speed of sound(maximum permissible speed). Thus, the flow rate of the refrigerant under a high pressure reaches a limit when passing through the capillary tube.
In other words, as the RPM of the compressor increases, the flow rate of the discharged refrigerant is increased. However, the flow rate of the refrigerant which expands through the capillary tube and flows to the condenser cannot be increased anymore. The refrigerant which is not discharged from the capillary tube, remains at the outlet of the condenser, and a lack of refrigerant occurs in the evaporator. This contributes to a poor refrigerating capacity and low electrical efficiency for this refrigeration cycle.
When the compressor is operating at low RPM, the flow rate of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is reduced. In the capillary tube, the flow rate of the refrigerant can not be controlled properly. Much more refrigerant than needed by the evaporator remains, thereby contributing poor capacity and low electrical efficiency for the refrigeration cycle.
For the above reasons, concentration on development of an inexpensive and simple refrigerant expansion device has been taking place.
One of the resulting devices is U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,860 issued on Aug. 4, 1992, and called `variable area refrigerant expansion device having a flexible orifice for heating mode of a heat pump`. This device is comprised of an expansion chamber having an orifice passage for expanding the refrigerant, an intake opening at the inlet portion of the expanding chamber operated when in heating mode, and a check valve at the inlet portion of the expanding chamber operated when in cooling mode. The check valve is for preventing the return of the refrigerant. The orifice passage is made of flexible material and this expands or contracts according to the pressure of the refrigerant, thus controlling the flow rate of refrigerant discharged. When in heating mode, the refrigerant is taken in through the inlet opening and the check valve is in an opened position. The non-changed refrigerant flows through the expansion device. The expansion device is situated facing each direction between the indoor heat-exchanger and the outdoor heat-exchanger. Using this system, the heating mode, cooling mode, and the flow rate control mode are all accomplished simultaneously. If need be, only the heating mode or the heating and cooling mode can be utilized.
However, the expansion device needs a durable orifice tube which is made from an expandable material even at high temperatures. Moreover, an additional check valve is provided, so its manufacture and assembly is too complex and its cost is very high relation to a conventional capillary tube. As the pressure of the refrigerant taken in is increased, the orifice tube expands to increase the flow rate of the discharged refrigerant. This creates a problem with the relative expansion of the orifice passage contributing to poor expansion efficiency of the refrigerant.


A unit is formed by a winding ratchet (1) and a barrel arbor (4) having an end which includes a non-circular driving formation (5) and a groove (6) adjacent thereto that defines a small-section portion whose shape and dimensions are such that they extend into the section of the driving formation, whereby a shoulder (18) of the barrel arbor limits the height of the groove. The ratchet includes a central opening (2) corresponding to the driving formation and at least one off-centered tapping (3) relative to the ratchet. It includes an attachment washer (8) having a central passage (9) corresponding to the driving formation and engaged therewith in an assembled position, and at least one off-centered piercing (10), at least one screw for screwing the attachment washer onto the ratchet in a position angularly offset so that in this assembled position, the central opening is not aligned with the central passage.

In top-quality timepieces, in particular in those where all or part of the movement is made visible, the winding ratchet comprises a square drive opening in which the end square of the barrel arbor is housed. This winding ratchet is then screwed in using three screws, generally into the terminal surface of the barrel arbor as it is depicted in FIG. 6.
This method is particularly aesthetic but involves the drawback of requiring a large-diameter barrel arbor that uselessly occupies a large volume of the inside space of the barrel cage, which makes it necessary to limit the length and the number of coils of the barrel spring for a barrel cage of a given diameter. The result is a reduction in the operating reserve or an increase in the diameter of the barrel cage and therefore the amount of space it requires. The result is also a weight increase of the barrel arbor.

Unit that comprises a winding ratchet that is attached to a barrel arbor and barrel arbor for this unit


Method of treating a food product in a container to reduce or inhibit a microbial population on the food product, involving applying to the container an antimicrobial solution (applied in an amount effective to reduce or inhibit the microbial population), and placing the food product in the container. Also a system for treating food products, involving a bagging system, a spray system, and a rotating assembly for returning a spray wand to a resting position.

The present invention relates to a method of treating a food product in a container to reduce or inhibit a microbial population on the food product, involving applying to the container an antimicrobial solution (applied in an amount effective to reduce or inhibit the microbial population), and placing the food product in the container. The present invention also relates to a system for treating food products, involving a bagging system, a spray system, and a rotating assembly for returning a spray wand to a resting position.
Microbial contamination of food remains a major problem in the food processing industry. For example, in recent years there have been at least three large outbreaks of listeriosis in the United States that were associated with ready-to-eat (RTE) frankfurters and/or delicatessen-type meats (Morbidity Mortality Weekly Report, 47: 1085-1086 (1998), 49: 1129-1130 (2000), 51: 950-951 (2002)). During this same time period there have also been several large recalls due to contamination of RTE meat and poultry products with Listeria monocytogenes. The economic loss due to recalls of meat and poultry products contaminated with this pathogen alone is estimated at $1.2 to $2.4 billion dollars per year in the United States (Thomsen, M. R., and A. M. McKenzie, American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 82: 526-538 (2001)). In addition, food surveys conducted in the United States between 1990 and 2003 involving ˜100,000 samples estimated the prevalence of L. monocytogenes at 1.6% to 7.6% in meat, fish, and vegetable products, most of which were RTE foods (Gombas, D. E., et al., Journal of Food Protection, 66: 559-569 (2001); Wallace, F. M., et al., Journal of Food Protection, 66: 584-591 (2003)).
In response to the frequency and magnitude of food recalls, as well as the number and severity of infections, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA/FSIS) established rules/guidelines for RTE meat and poultry manufacturers to better control microbial growth (Federal Register, 68:34207-34254 (2003)). This ruling provides manufacturers with three options for determining the degree to which regulatory testing would be implemented for their plant/product: (1) alternative 1—use of both a post-process lethality step and an antimicrobial to control outgrowth (lowest testing frequency); (2) alternative 2—use of either a post-processing lethality step or an antimicrobial to control outgrowth (moderate testing frequency); or (3) alternative 3—use of appropriate sanitation alone (most testing). These guidelines make it imperative to identify and implement post-process interventions for lethality and/or inhibition of microbes such as L. monocytogenes in food products (e.g., RTE meat and poultry products).
Various chemicals are antagonistic towards microbes such as L. monocytogenes in foods when used in bath, dip, or spray applications on the meat product and/or when added as an ingredient into the meat product (Crozier-Dodson, B. A., et al., Food Safety Magazine, Jan. 24-27, 2005, pages 75-76). For example, potassium lactate and sodium diacetate used alone or in combination are effective at controlling L. monocytogenes in RTE meats (Barmpalia, I. M., et al., International Journal of Food Microbiology, 67: 2456-2464 (2004); Bedie, G. K., et al., Journal of Food Protection, 64: 1949-1955 (2001); Buncic, S., et al., Journal of Food Safety, 15: 247-264 (1995); Mbandi, E., and L. A. Shelef, Journal of Food Protection, 64: 640-644 (2001); Porto, A. C. S., et al., Journal of Food Protection, 65: 308-315 (2002); Seman, D. L., et al., Journal of Food Protection, 65: 651-658 (2003)). Sodium, potassium, and calcium lactates have been approved for use as flavorants, shelf-life extenders, and/or antimicrobials. Acidifiers such as acidified sodium chlorite (ASC) are effective for controlling L. monocytogenes on beef carcasses (Castillo, A., et al., Journal of Food Protection 62: 580-584 (1999) and broiler carcasses (Kemp, G. K., et al., Journal of Food Protection, 63: 1087-1092 (2000), as well as on cook-in-bag turkey breast (Luchansky, J. B., and J. E. Call, Hot water post-process pasteurization of cook-in-bag turkey breast treated with and without potassium lactate and sodium diacetate and acidified sodium chlorite for control of Listeria monocytogenes, Journal of Food Protection, submitted). Moreover, ASC has been approved as an antimicrobial on processed, comminuted, or formed meat products. Other acidifiers (e.g., acidic calcium sulfate (ACS) which is formulated with organic acids and calcium sulfate) are effective in reducing the levels and controlling the outgrowth of L. monocytogenes on the surface of frankfurters during prolonged refrigerated storage (Nunez de Gonzalez, M. T., et al., Journal of Food Protection, 67: 915-921 (2004); Keeton J. T., et al., Antimicrobial effects of surface treatments and ingredients on cured RTE meat products, Final Report: American Meat Institute Foundation, Washington, D.C. (2002)). Currently, ACS is considered GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) and is approved for use in meat products. As a final example, in more limited studies, surfactants such as lauric arginate (LAE) were effective at inhibiting growth of L. monocytogenes in cooked meats during refrigerated storage (Bakal, G., and A. Diaz, Food Quality, 12(1): 54-61 (2005)). Although the ingredients in LAE have been self-affirmed as GRAS, at present it is not approved for use in meats.
Almost all vacuum packaged meats produce some amount/volume of purge after vacuum packaging. Purge is the fluid that forms while, for example, a RTE product is under vacuum conditions in the package. The fluid comes from internal moisture that is in the meat product which migrates to the area between the surface of the product and the inside of the package. Currently, antimicrobials are directed (e.g., injected) internally into the product prior to processing or applied to the surface of the product during processing. The antimicrobial effect is thus directed to the meat product itself. However, such treatments are not totally effective. Thus there is a need for improved methods for microbial control in packaged food products.

Method and apparatus for treatment of food products

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture


A solid-state image sensor includes a structure having a semiconductor layer in which a plurality of photoelectric converters are arranged, a light blocking member arranged above a face of the structure and including a plurality of circular openings each corresponding to at least one of the photoelectric converters, a first layer configured to cover the light blocking member, and exposed portions of the face of the structure, that are formed by the plurality of circular openings, and a second layer arranged to cover the first layer and having a refractive index higher than that of the first layer, wherein an interface between the first layer and the second layer includes lens faces protruding toward the exposed portions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid-state image sensor and a camera including it.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a solid-state image sensor disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-84815, protruded portions made of a light reflecting member are arranged at boundary portions between adjacent pixels on a semiconductor substrate in order to reduce mixture of colors, and an insulating film is formed to cover the protruded portions. In the insulating film, steps generated by the protruded portions are reflected to form concave lenses. The concave lens can condense incident light to a photoelectric converter. The protruded portions have a lattice shape in which rectangular openings are two-dimensionally arrayed.
In the solid-state image sensor disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-84815, the concave lens formed by the insulating film has a shape conforming to the rectangular opening at the protruded portion. The concave lens may actually have a shape in which a truncated pyramid-like hole is formed in the insulating film. For this reason, the light collection effect may change depending on the incident direction of a beam to the concave lens. For example, in FIG. 5, a light collection effect obtained when a beam enters the concave lens parallel to the side of the rectangular opening, as indicated by an arrow A, differs from a light collection effect obtained when a beam enters the concave lens in the diagonal direction of the rectangular opening, as indicated by an arrow B. This may cause nonuniformity of sensitivity in the image sensing region and nonuniformity of the effect of reducing mixture of colors.


An attachment device for attaching a sling to a hoist by engaging with an attachment formation on the hoist comprises first and second elements disposed in face to face relationship with one another and moveable relative to one another between first and second positions. The first element comprises a slot having a first portion through which the head of an attachment formation will pass and a second portion extending from the first portion and through which the body of the attachment portion can pass but through which the head will not pass. The second element has an opening through which the head of the attachment formation can pass and which aligns with the first portion of the slot in the first element when the first and second elements are in their first relative position and which aligns with the second portion of the slot when the first and second elements are in their second relative position, in which position the second element blocks the first portion of the slot in the first element.

This invention relates to an attachment device for attaching a lifting sling to a hoist. The lifting sling is used to lift and support a person, such as an invalid or patient.
A lifting sling is usually attached to a hoist by providing the sling with a number of elongate flexible connecting elements, which are each at one end secured to a flexible sheet material from which the sling is made, and at another end provided with an attachment device for engagement with an attachment formation on the hoist. The flexible connecting elements may be flexible strap elements made of a woven textile tape, or length of webbing, of sufficient strength to carry a load to which the sling is likely to be subjected in use. There may be two such connecting elements and attachment devices, one at each side of the sling in a region thereof which is in the vicinity of the shoulders of a person being supported by the sling in use, and further two such connecting elements and attachment devices may be provided at respective parts of the sling that lie in the lower torso or upper leg region of a person supported by the sling, in use.
It is known that each of the attachment formations on the hoist (usually on a load-carrying cradle carried by the hoist) can comprise a headed stud, and each attachment device engageable therewith can comprise a keyhole slot or the like, having a first portion through which the head of the stud can pass and a second portion which can be entered by a body part of the headed stud after the head has been passed through the first portion, but through which the head of the stud cannot pass. When a part of the weight of a person is being carried by such an attachment device, the body of the headed stud is held in the second portion of the opening so that the attachment device cannot come off the stud. It has also been proposed that various locking or latching devices cannot be provided in association with such an attachment device, to provide greater security against unintentional disengagement of the attachment device from the headed stud.
What is needed is an improved form of attachment device for engagement with an attachment formation in the form of a headed stud, which not only provides a high degree of resistance to unintentional disengagement but also provides a clearly-visible indication as to when it is correctly engaged and thus, offers the maximum resistance to unintentional disconnection.

Attachment device for attaching a lifting sling to a hoist


A preferred embodiment of a rotary tool reciprocating motion conversion attachment for a rotary power hand tool is described which is configured to be attached to a nose portion of the hand tool housing. The attachment has a rotary drive train in a housing that is connectable to the output shaft of the hand tool, the drive train driving a barrel cam having an exterior cam groove. A cam follower rides in the cam groove and produces reciprocating motion, with the cam follower being part of a cam follower assembly to which an implement holder is attached. The preferred embodiment has a cam groove configuration which causes the implement holder to move slower during a cutting stroke and faster during a return stroke, thereby tending to optimize the operation of the cutting implement. The preferred embodiment also includes a planetary gear set for reducing the rotational speed of the hand tool output shaft to reduce the speed of reciprocation of the attachment.

The present invention generally relates to power hand tools and more particularly to a rotary to reciprocating motion conversion attachment for the same.
Small rotary hand tools have been marketed for many years for use in carrying out woodworking and metal working tasks by hobbyists as well as commercial artisans. Such small rotary hand tools generally have a motor unit with a rotary output shaft that is adapted to be connected to a number of implements for doing such application work as grinding, polishing, drilling and sanding, among other tasks. Such hand tools are also configured to operate with accessories, such as, for example, a long sheathed cable to which a sanding implement or rotary cutting implement can be attached, a planing attachment as well as a right angle attachment that facilitates use of implements in special applications.
The drive unit of many recent models of such rotary hand tools is relatively small and lightweight and is capable of being easily used by a user. Such rotary hand tools may have a diameter less than about two inches and a length of only about six inches. The tool has a small but powerful electric motor that drives an output shaft at high speed and a rotary implement can be typically attached to the tool's output shaft which is axially aligned with the generally cylindrical hand tool.
While most of the applications that have been discussed above are directed to applications where rotary implements are used in various ways, there are other desirable uses for such rotary hand tools if an accessory were to be attached to the hand tool that would convert the rotary motion into reciprocating motion so that cutting, sawing sanding, filing, buffing and polishing implements that reciprocate could be used. Mechanisms which convert rotary motion to reciprocating motion are known in the art, but many have one or more disadvantages in that they may not provide a sufficiently large reciprocating stroke to be efficient and effective, or they may not be sufficiently robust to have a long useful life or exhibit sufficient cutting or sawing force during operation. The mechanisms for producing a reciprocating action for a saw blade or the like generally produce a sinusoidal movement in that the duration of a stroke in one direction is equal to the duration of the stroke in the reverse direction.
For many saw blades, such as commercially available saber saw blades, the actual cutting action that is made by the blade is in a particular direction, i.e., the cutting stroke and the other movement is a return stroke which to returns the blade to the position where the next cutting stroke begins. Since the cutting action only occurs during one-half of the total length of movement of the blade, cutting action may be optimized by having the cutting stroke be of longer duration than the return stroke. This asymmetrical timing of the two strokes does not exist in known prior art rotary to reciprocating motion conversion apparatus.

Rotary to reciprocating motion conversion attachment for a power rotary hand tool


A system and a method for printing a secure document that is difficult to forge and readily easy to visually verify are disclosed. The system includes a colorant for printing an image on a surface of a document, a dye for forming a latent version of the image underneath the surface, a substrate, and a migration agent for facilitating the migration of the dye through at least a portion of the substrate. The migration agent may be coated onto a portion of the substrate or embedded within the substrate. An ink may serve as the migration agent, in which case, the ink contains a solute for the dye.

Toner-based document imaging, such as electrophotographic, iongraphic, magnetographic, and similar imaging techniques, generally involves forming an electrostatic or magnetic image on a charged or magnetized photoconductive plate or drum, brushing the plate or drum with charged or magnetized toner, transferring the image onto a substrate such as paper, and fusing the toner onto the substrate using heat, pressure, and/or a solvent. Using this technique, relatively inexpensive images can be easily formed on a surface of the substrate.
Because toner-based imaging is a relatively quick and inexpensive technique for producing copies of images, the technique is often employed to produce documents that were traditionally formed using other forms of printing or imaging—e.g., impact printing or ink-jet printing. For example, in recent years, toner-based imaging has been employed to produce financial documents, such as personal checks, stocks, and bank notes; legal documents such as wills and deeds; medical documents such as drug prescriptions and doctors' orders; and the like. Unfortunately, because the image is formed on the surface of the substrate, documents produced using toner-based imaging techniques are relatively easy to forge and/or duplicate.
Various techniques for printing or forming secure documents have been developed over the years. Early secure printing techniques generally included improvements to paper onto which material was printed or written. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,727,912, issued to Snyder on Sep. 10, 1929 discloses a paper for producing a secure document that includes a coating with relatively low ink absorption properties and a paper body portion that readily absorbs the ink. A secure document is formed by slitting or rupturing the coating during a writing process, such that the ink penetrates the absorbent portion of the paper. U.S. Pat. No. 4,496,961, issued to Devrient on Jan. 29, 1985, discloses another paper-related secure printing technique. Devrient discloses a check paper that includes crushable micro capsules that contain leuco ink and a color acceptor. When an image is written onto a surface of the paper, the micro capsules are crushed and the leuco ink reacts with the color acceptor to produce an image within the body of the check paper, making the image difficult to forge. U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,607, issued to Brunea et al. on Jul. 26, 1990 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,773, issued to Brunea et al. on Jul. 21, 1991 both disclose another secure document printing technique that includes microcapsules containing a solvent and a colorant. Upon impact, the microcapsules burst to create a colored halo effect surrounding an image printed onto the surface of the document, making the image printed on the surface of the document more difficult to forge. Although these techniques work relatively well for impact-type printing or copying, the techniques would not work well in connection with toner-based printing methods.
Other techniques for producing secure images include providing special paper coatings to increase smudge resistance of an image created by an electrostatic process. U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,410, issued to Fitch et al. on Jul. 17, 1990 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,173, issued to Fitch et al. on Sep. 18, 1990 both disclose a toner-receptive substrate coating that includes polymer binders and mineral fillers above one micron in size. The coating purportedly exhibits high durability smudge resistance compared to otherwise conventional substrates and thus makes forgery by way of removing a portion of the printed image more difficult. However, the coating described in the Fitch et al. patents does not appear to affect an ability to add material to the document or authenticate the originality of the document.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,999, issued to Honnorat et al. on Jun. 23, 1992, discloses another type of forgery-resistant paper. The paper of Honnorat et al. includes an aromatic compound and a binder and/or activator. The aromatic compound and binder or activator react with reducing agents typically found in ink eraser felt to produce a coloring effect, indicating attempted erasure of a portion of an image printed on the paper. This technique does not affect an ability to form a copy of the document or to verify an original copy.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,523,167 discloses a technique for producing secure Magnetic Character Recognition (MICR) symbols using a film including an inert backing coated with a mixture of a resin, a filler, a magnetic pigment, a nondrying oil, and an oil soluble dye. Upon impact, a portion of a transfer layer transfers to a document surface to form a magnetically-readable character image. After the transfer, the non-drying oil contained in the transferred coating begins to diffuse into a substrate. The oil carries the visible oil-soluble dye through the substrate, such that the MICR image appears on the opposite side of the substrate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,217, issued to Gruber et al. on Jun. 23, 1992, discloses a secure printing toner for electrophotographic processing. This toner, when exposed to a solvent such as toluene, often used in document forgery, produces a color stain indicative of the attempted forgery. This toner is only useful to disclose an attempted forgery when a particular solvent is used to remove a portion of a printed image. Thus, the toner cannot be used to mitigate copying of the document or forgery by adding material to the document.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,291, issued to Marinello et al. on Feb. 3, 1998, discloses a toner that includes submicron ultraviolet sensitive particles. An authenticity of the document can be verified using an ultra-violet scanner. Requiring use of an ultra-violet scanner is generally undesirable because it adds cost to a forgery analysis and requires additional equipment.
For the foregoing reasons, improved methods and apparatus for forming secure documents using toner-based processing, which are relatively easy and inexpensive, are desired.

System and method for producing secure toner-based images