A chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarizing method for forming a planarized organo-functional siloxane polymer dielectric layer within a microelectronics fabrication. There is first provided a substrate employed within a microelectronics fabrication. There is then formed over the substrate an organo-functional siloxane polymer dielectric layer. The organo-functional siloxane polymer dielectric layer is then partially treated with an oxygen containing plasma to form from the organo-functional siloxane polymer dielectric layer an oxygen containing plasma treated organo-functional siloxane polymer dielectric upper layer and an organo-functional siloxane polymer dielectric lower residue layer. Finally, the oxygen containing plasma treated organo-functional siloxane polymer dielectric upper layer is planarized through a chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarizing method to form a planarized oxygen containing plasma treated organo-functional siloxane polymer dielectric upper layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to methods for forming dielectric layers within integrated circuits. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for forming planarized low dielectric constant dielectric layers within integrated circuits.
2. Description of the Related Art
Integrated circuits are formed from semiconductor substrates within and upon whose surfaces are formed resistors, transistors, diodes and other electrical circuit elements. The electrical circuit elements are connected internally and externally to the semiconductor substrate upon which they are formed through patterned conductor layers which are separated by dielectric layers.
As integrated circuit device dimensions have decreased and integrated circuit device densities have increased, it has become increasingly important to form within advanced integrated circuits patterned interconnecting conductor layers which exhibit reduced delay times. Patterned interconnecting conductor layers which exhibit reduced delay times are desirable within advanced integrated circuits since reduced delay times within advanced integrated circuits typically provide: (1) apparent reductions in advanced integrated circuit operating speed; (2) deceases in patterned interconnecting conductor layer cross-talk; and (3) decreases in advanced integrated circuit power dissipation.
In order to reduce patterned interconnecting conductor layer delay time within advanced integrated circuits, it is known in the art of advanced integrated circuit fabrication to employ when forming inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layers between adjoining or successive patterned conductor layers within advanced integrated circuits dielectric materials which have a comparatively low dielectric constant. Within the general categories of dielectric materials which may be employed when forming inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layers within integrated circuits, organo-functional siloxane polymer dielectric materials are, in general, known to possess comparatively lower dielectric constants (ie: typically in the range of from about 1.8 to about 3.9) in comparison with purely inorganic dielectric materials such as silicon oxide dielectric materials, silicon nitride dielectric materials silicon oxynitride dielectric materials (ie: which typically have dielectric constants in the range of from about 2.8 to about 5.0). Such organo-functional siloxane polymer dielectric materials are known in the art of integrated circuit fabrication as a sub-group of gap-filling spin-on-glass (SOG) dielectric materials. They may be formed into inter-metal dielectric (IMD)) layers within advanced integrated circuits through spin-on-glass (SOG) coating and curing methods. In contrast, dielectric layers which are formed from purely inorganic dielectric materials are typically, although not exclusively, formed within advanced integrated circuits through activated deposition methods such as but not limited to thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods, plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) methods and physical vapor deposition (PVD) sputtering methods.
Although organo-functional siloxane polymer dielectric materials are thus desirable as low dielectric constant dielectric materials when forming inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layers within advanced integrated circuits, organo-functional siloxane polymer dielectric materials are not entirely without problems in forming inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layers within advanced integrated circuits. In particular, it is known in the art of integrated circuit fabrication that intermetal dielectric (IMD) layers formed from organo-functional siloxane polymer dielectric materials are generally more difficult to reproducibly planarize through conventional chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarizing methods than are otherwise equivalent inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layers formed from purely inorganic silicon oxide dielectric materials, silicon nitride dielectric materials or silicon oxynitride dielectric materials, since organo-functional siloxane polymer dielectric materials typically have relatively lower chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarizing rates in comparison with purely inorganic silicon oxide dielectric materials, silicon nitride dielectric materials and silicon oxynitride dielectric materials. In addition, inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layers formed from organo-functional siloxane polymer dielectric materials when planarized through conventional chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarizing methods typically also provide planarized organo-functional siloxane polymer inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layers with less uniformly planar surfaces than analogous inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layers formed from purely inorganic silicon oxide dielectric materials, silicon nitride dielectric materials and silicon oxynitride dielectric materials.
It is thus desirable within the art of microelectronics fabrication, such as but not limited to advanced integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication, to provide chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarizing methods through which low dielectric constant organo-functional siloxane polymer dielectric materials may be formed and planarized to provide planarized organo-functional siloxane polymer dielectric layers, such as but not limited to planarized organo-functional siloxane polymer inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layers, with increased chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarizing rates and with enhanced chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarizing uniformity. It is towards these goals that the present invention is directed.

Sequential oxygen plasma treatment and chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarizing method for forming planarized low dielectric constant dielectric layer

Industrial Technology Research Institute


An electronic device includes a content display for presenting content. The electronic device also includes a control display for enabling selection of a portion of the content. The content includes a plurality of items. The control display also enables a plurality of respective batch operations to be performed on the items.

Electronic distribution of information has gained in importance with the proliferation of personal computers and has undergone a tremendous upsurge in popularity as the Internet has become widely available. With the widespread use of the Internet, it has become possible to distribute large, coherent units of information, such as books, using electronic technologies. Books distributed using electronic technologies are commonly referred to as electronic books ("eBooks"). Various entities make eBooks available for download over ordinary Internet connections, such as broadband and dialup connections.
EBook reader devices attempt to mimic the experience of reading a conventional paper book through the display of electronic information on one or more electronic displays. A typical eBook reader device is a handheld digital device having a liquid crystal display panel and enough memory and processing capability to store several eBooks. Such a device is capable of retrieving and displaying an eBook or portion of an eBook for reading.
There are some advantages to using an eBook reader device over conventional paper books. An eBook reader device is often capable of storing a number of complete unabridged eBooks. Therefore, an eBook reader containing a number of stored eBooks weighs significantly less than the same number of paper books. This makes an eBook reader a particularly attractive alternative to paper books for travel, educational purposes, and professional business use. Also, because eBooks do not require the use of paper products, they may be offered at a lower price than their paper book counterparts. Furthermore, the use of eBook reader devices in conjunction with eBooks may be beneficial to the ecosystem, by reducing a number of books produced using paper products.
To date, however, eBook readers and the use of eBooks in general have not achieved widespread consumer acceptance. This is most likely attributable to the design and implementation particulars of conventional eBook reader devices. Additionally, such readers may have limited means for selection, input, and control. For example, these readers may not enable users to select particular words on a per-item basis, owing to the design of their user interfaces. Thus, if a user sees an interesting item in the text, and wishes to learn more about it, he or she may need to access another device to obtain more information about the item. For example, the user may access a personal computer (PC) to obtain this information.
As such eBook readers continue to evolve, there remains a need for improving a reader's ability to obtain additional information about items of interest using the reader itself, and without accessing other devices.

Content selection and aggregated search results presentation on a handheld electronic device


An adjustable high torque damper device is provided which can be easily and rapidly adjusted so as to produce variable amounts of torque over a predetermined range. The damper device includes a plurality of co-mating concentric rings formed on a stator housing and a rotor. As a cap is screwed into or out of the housing, the distances between the rotor concentric rings and the stator concentric rings are selectively and gradually increased and decreased to thereby decrease or increase the amount of torque.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to rotary oil-type dampening devices and more particularly, it relates to an improved high torque damper device which can be easily adjusted so as to produce variable amounts of torque over a predetermined range.
2. Description of the prior art
A prior art search directed to the subject matter of this application in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office revealed the following U.S. Pat. Nos.:
______________________________________ 4,426,752 4,638,528 4,527,675 4,694,530 4,618,039 4,938,322 ______________________________________
It is generally known in the art that an oil-type damper device can be incorporated as a mechanism for controlling the opening and closing of doors and drawers in order to absorb the shock imparted by an external force. Such oil-type damper devices find convenient application, for example, in automotive vehicles where the opening of a door of a glove compartment mounted in a dashboard is prevented from occurring with a snap action, thus avoiding the contents thereof from being scattered. Since the glove compartment may be filled with objects of relatively heavier weight as compared to those in an ashtray, such a damper device is normally required to be designed to have a high-torque strength against the external forces. As a result, this causes the disadvantage that these damper devices become very large in their overall size and are quite bulky.
Further, the doors of the glove compartments in the automotive vehicles are known to come in various sizes and weights. Accordingly, there is encountered another drawback if a damper device having a different dampening effect is required. This is because a completely new damper device would be needed so as to accommodate the various weights of the doors. Heretofore, these prior art damper devices were only capable of altering their dampening effect by varying the viscosity of the oil used. Therefore, this made the conventional damper devices generally unusable for different types of doors and involved the use of expensive manufacturing of alternate components and time-consuming labor costs.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,527,675 to N. Omata et al. issued on Jul. 9, 1985, there is disclosed an oil type damper which includes a cylindrical housing formed of a base 1 and a cap 2, a rotator 10 having a hollow shaft 12 and a braking disk 11, and a flexible membrane 16 fitted around the shaft. A toothed wheel 13 has a pin 13a which is adapted to be forced into the hollow part of the shaft 12. The oil is injected through the hollow part of the hollow shaft after the rotator and the flexible membrane have been set inside of the housing but before the toothed wheel is secured to the hollow shaft. The flexible membrane is used to absorb thermal expansion of the oil and prevents leakage thereof along the hollow shaft and out of the housing.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,528 to N. Omata issued on Jan. 27, 1987, there is disclosed an oil type damper which is somewhat similar to the '675 patent. In particular, the '528 patent teaches an oil damper which is comprised of a housing formed of a basic member 1 and a cap 2, a rotating member 10 having a disc 11 and two shafts 12, 13, and a braking disc 15 adapted to rotate jointly and accommodated within the housing. The first shaft 12 has an end protruding through the boss 7 in the cap 2 for receiving a toothed wheel 14. A flexible member 17 is secured to the second shaft 13, with the flexible member being disposed between the disc 11 and the disc 15. Viscous oil is applied to the braking disc. When the oil expands in volume due to rising temperatures, the flexible membrane 17 is deformed under pressure so as to absorb the voluminal expansion of the oil and thus prevents leakage of the oil from the housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,530 to P. Foggini issued on Sep. 22, 1987, discloses a device for controlling the opening and closing of moving objects, such as doors and drawers in motor vehicles. The device 15 is comprised of a rotor 18 and a stator 17. The rotor 18 has a central pin 183, a plurality of concentrically arranged cylinders 180-182, a sprocket wheel 14 adapted for meshed engagement with a rack 13 fixed to the sidewall of a drawer compartment 12. The stator 17 is adapted to be attached to a drawer 10 and is rotatably mounted on the central pin 183. The stator is further comprised of a plurality of concentrically arranged cylinders 170-172 interposed between those of the rotor. The relative movement between the rotor 18 and the stator 17 is controlled by an arrangement of co-operating grooves 20,21, a cam 22, and a ball 23, and a high density fluid LS is interposed between the cylinders of the rotor and stator for slowing down the relative rotary motion therebetween.
The remaining patents uncovered from the search but not specifically discussed are merely cited to generally show the state of the art and are directed to various types of dampening devices for braking and absorbing abrupt motions encountered during the opening and closing of movable objects such as doors, drawers, and the like.
It will be noted that none of the prior art uncovered in the search disclosed a high torque damper device like that of the present invention which can be easily adjusted so as to produce variable amounts of torque over a predetermined range. This is accomplished in the present invention by simply rotating the cap so as to increase or decrease the distance between a plurality of co-mating concentric rings formed on a rotor and a stator housing in order to vary the frictional load.


A new and distinct Salvia cultivar named ‘CATHEDRAL SKY BLUE’ is disclosed, characterized by having distinctive light lavender flowers, a compact, very well-branched plant habit, shortened panicle and early, flowering. The new variety is a Salvia, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

The new cultivar was discovered as a spontaneous whole plant mutation by the inventor, Steve Jones. The parent variety is the unpatented, variety Salvia farinacea 'Signum'. The new variety was discovered as a naturally occurring, whole plant mutation January 2000, by the inventor in a commercial planting of approximately 100,000 plants of Salvia farinacea 'Signum' in Quillota, Chile.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar 'CATHEDRAL SKY BLUE' by vegetative cuttings was first performed January 2000, at a commercial greenhouse in Quillota, Chile and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.


A dishwasher appliance is provided with a silverware basket. The silverware basket is configured for mounting to a rack assembly of the dishwasher appliance. With the silverware basket mounted to the rack assembly, a handle of the silverware basket permits a user to selectively remove the rack assembly from a wash chamber of the dishwasher appliance or selectively dismount the silverware basket from the rack assembly.

Dishwasher appliances generally include a cabinet that defines a wash chamber. A rack assembly configured for receipt of articles (e.g., plates, cups, and/or bowls) for washing can be slidably received within the wash chamber. For example, the rack assembly can slide into and out of the wash chamber. A spray arm assembly configured for applying wash fluid to the articles in the rack assembly can also be mounted within the wash chamber.
Certain dishwasher appliances also include a silverware basket configured for receipt of articles (e.g., forks, knives, spoons, and/or other utensils) for washing. The silverware basket can be mounted within the wash chamber in various configurations. For example, the silverware basket can be mounted within the rack assembly, on a front of the rack assembly, and/or on a door of the appliance.
For dishwasher appliances where the silverware basket is mounted to the rack assembly, typically the rack assembly slides out of the wash chamber, e.g., when a user pulls on the rack assembly. However, when the silverware basket is mounted to a front of the rack assembly, it can be difficult for a user to determine a proper place to grab or grasp the rack assembly in order to pull it out of the wash chamber. In particular, the silverware basket can interfere with the user as he or she tries to pull on the rack assembly.
In such dishwasher appliances, the user can pull on the silverware basket in order to remove the rack assembly from the wash chamber. However, this can place an undesirable amount of stress on the mounting assembly that attaches the silverware basket to the rack assembly. Similarly, the portion of the silverware basket upon which the user pulls can be subjected to undesirable stresses. More particularly, because the silverware basket is not designed to be pulled upon to remove the rack assembly, such stress can break or in some other manner damage the mounting assembly or the silverware basket.
Accordingly, a silverware basket with features for assisting a user in moving a rack assembly in and out of the wash chamber of the dish washer would be useful.

Silverware basket for a dishwasher appliance


A protractor comprising an angle scale provided with a dial gauge with a circle center, one end of the bottom edge being connected with a first side edge, and the first side edge and the bottom edge forming an included angle, and the angle of the included angle being 135 degrees; a right angle rocker arm, comprising a reading arm part and a tail arm part forming a right angle with the reading arm part, the right angle rocker arm rotating relative to the angel scale such that a first edge of the tail arm part and the bottom edge form a first change included angle, the value of the first change included angle being read by means of the reading arm part and the dial gauge; and a locking structure for rotationally connecting the angle scale and the right angle rocker arm.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to angle measuring tools, in particular to a tool capable of measuring full angles of an external corner and an internal corner.
Description of Related Art
In current industries of equipment manufacturing, teaching and scientific research and the like, angle measurement of product members is a common operation, but the full angle of an external corner (external protruding corner of a product) and an internal corner (internal corner inside a product) cannot be measured by adopting an existing protractor. Even when this can be achieved, the manufacturing process and assisting tooling structure of the protractor are very complex, leading to relatively high manufacturing cost and use cost. Existing full angle measuring tools, such as a full circle protractor disclosed in Chinese Patent Application (Publication Number CN204142117U), comprise a front scaleplate, a back scaleplate, a radius ruler and a semicircle ruler, wherein the semicircular ruler is smaller than the scaleplates in radius; the semicircle ruler is clamped between the two scaleplates; and the radius ruler is fixed between the scaleplates by a rivet. The semicircle ruler is provided with a chute which is provided with a slider having a pen hole. The semicircle ruler is provided with patterned modules, certain number of corresponding patterned modules with specified size need to be made first, and sample plates of different angles can be used for only once, so that a considerable amount of manpower and material resources are wasted; and such full circle protractor is more suitable for planar drawing and cannot be used for measuring full angles of the external corner and internal corner of a physical product.
Therefore, the invention develops a protractor capable of measuring full angles of the external corner and the internal corner.


The invention pertains to mechanisms for protecting surfaces of optical components of an optical inspection system. One aspect of the invention relates to a gas purge system that produces a gas stream that blocks contaminants from reaching the optical surfaces of the optical components and that transports contaminants away from the optical surfaces of the optical components. Another aspect of the invention relates to a transparent cover that physically blocks contaminants from reaching the optical surfaces of the optical components. Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a combination of the gas purge system and the transparent cover.

Integrated circuits are made by photolithographic processes, which use photomasks or reticles and an associated light source to project a circuit image onto a wafer. The presence of defects on the surfaces of the photomasks, reticles, or wafers are highly undesirable and adversely affect the operation of the resulting circuits. The defects can be due to, but not limited to, a portion of the pattern being absent from an area where it is intended to be present, a portion of the pattern being present in an area where it is not intended to be, chemical deposition or residues from the photomask manufacturing processes which cause an unintended localized modification of the light transmission property of the photomask, artifacts in the photomask substrate such as pits, scratches, and striations, and localized light transmission errors in the substrate or pattern layer.
Defects may also be caused by particulate contaminates such as dust, resist flakes, skin flakes, and erosion of the photolithographic pattern. Conventionally, masks have been protected from such contaminants via a pellicle that is interposed between the light source and the wafer. In most cases, the pellicle is disposed in relatively close proximity to the surface of the mask between the source of light and the mask. Unfortunately, however, the optical components used to distribute the light from the light source are left unprotected.
Although certain types of defects may be prevented, there are many other types of defects that still tend to occur (as described above). These defects have to be found and repaired prior to use in order to maintain a high yield. Methods and apparatus for detecting defects have been around for some time. For example, inspection systems and methods utilizing light have been introduced and employed to various degrees to inspect the surface of substrates such as photomasks, reticles and wafers. These inspection systems and methods generally include a light source for emitting a light beam, optics for focussing the light beam on the surface of the substrate, a stage for providing translational travel, collection optics for collecting either transmitted and/or reflected light, detectors for detecting either the transmitted and/or reflected light, and a means for constructing a virtual image of the substrate being inspected.
Although such inspection systems work well, there are continuing efforts to improve their designs, as for example, to protect the optical surfaces of the optical components used therein. As should be appreciated, particle contamination that adheres to the optical surfaces may adversely effect the optical quality of the inspection system thereby producing undesirable and/or unpredictable results.

Method and apparatus for protecting surfaces of optical components


A procedure for calibration of at least one scanning system of a laser sinter or laser melt facility can be carried out in a short time, can take place automatically, and thereby can be carried out before each individual construction process. The procedure may include generation of at least one line pattern through at least one scanning system on a surface at the level of a construction field.

Laser sinter or laser melt systems are provided to manufacture three-dimensional objects by means of a rapid manufacturing process especially through solidification of powdered construction material. In the process, the beam of a light source, usually a laser, is directed by a scanning system onto a construction surface on which there is a thin layer of the construction material. The focused laser beam is suitable for melting and fusing the construction material. The construction material solidifies after the formed melt pool or melt site cools in this location and forms the three-dimensional object by successive adhesion and selective solidification of further layers.
It is of highest importance for the precision and reproducibility of the construction process that the scanning system(s) of a such laser sinter or laser melt facility exactly reproduce what is stored in a construction program that guides the construction process, in other words the alignment of the laser beam in the area of the construction field level does not deviate from a stored specified line that is mapped by the scanning system(s).
It is recognized as the state of the art that the scanner must be exactly aligned manually and this manual alignment then technically checked by software. This is time-consuming, so such an adjustment of the scanning systems is usually done at most only once or twice annually. Besides the high expenditure of time for a manual adjustment, it is also subject to error.

Method for calibrating at least one scanning system of an SLS or SLM installation


A system includes an application TEE and a first cloud service of a trusted cloud provider. The first cloud service is configured to receive an encrypted disk image and to launch the application TEE. The system also includes a second cloud service of a first alternate cloud provider, which is configured to launch a first attestation service instance from an attestation disk image that includes a secret and to provide the secret to the application TEE instance. Additionally, the system includes a third cloud service of a second alternate cloud provider, which is configured to launch a second attestation service instance and to provide the secret to the application TEE instance when the second cloud service is unavailable.

Trusted execution environments, such as trusted virtual machines may be used to emulate all or a portion of a computer system. The trusted execution environments allow running various software modules, for example, multiple operating systems, concurrently and in isolation from other software modules, on one or more interconnected physical computer systems. Additionally, trusted execution environments may, for example, allow for consolidating multiple physical servers into one physical server running multiple guest virtual machines in order to improve the hardware utilization rate.
Trusted execution environments may include containers, enclaves and virtual machines. Virtualization may be achieved by running a software layer, often referred to as a hypervisor, above the hardware and below the trusted execution environment, such as guest virtual machines or containers. A hypervisor may run directly on the server hardware without an operating system beneath it or as an application running on a traditional operating system. A hypervisor may virtualize the physical layer and provide interfaces between the underlying hardware and trusted execution environments. In some cases, the trusted execution environments may be encrypted for security purposes. Additionally, validation or attestation of launched trusted execution environments may occur for security purposes.

Secure reliable trusted execution environments


Systems, methods, and apparatuses for determining pore volume and pore volume compressibility of secondary porosity in rock samples is disclosed. In some implementations, determining a pore volume of a secondary porosity in a rock core sample may include saturating the rock sample with deuterium oxide (D2O) by applying a vacuum to the core sample covered by D2O; centrifuging the saturated rock sample at a selected rotational speed in the presence of a second fluid to displace a portion of the D2O from the rock sample with the second fluid; measuring the rock sample with low-field 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to determine a volume of the second fluid within the rock sample; and determining a pore volume associated with a secondary porosity based on the volume of the second fluid within the rock sample.

Pore volume compressibility can be measured using different tests such as uniaxial strain compressibility (USC) testing using pore pressure depletion (PPD) or constant pore pressure (CPP) protocols and hydrostatic pore volume compressibility tests. These methods are effective for homogenous and isotropic samples but provide reduced accuracy in inhomogeneous, fractured, and vuggy rocks.

Methods and systems for measuring pore volume compressibility with low field nuclear magnetic resonance techniques


A subsea storage tank for the storage of bulk fluids is adapted for being set on the sea floor, and is adapted for supplying to local subsea oil and gas production facilities a wide variety of production support fluids. The subsea storage tank includes an inner and outer shell, the shells being adapted so that a barrier fluid can be inserted into and between the shells. An interior barrier separates the interior stored fluid from sea water that is free to enter into the tank, on the opposite side of the barrier, to compensate to the varying volume of stored fluid. An identical tandem barrier is formed nearly identical to the first barrier, and is formed and positioned so that the two barriers act together, and so that the space between them can contain fluid as well, and acts like a bladder.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a tank for the storage of fluids and chemicals subsea.
(2) Description of Related Art
Tanks that are placed subsea must have certain features to ensure their survivability in the environment. They must contain the working fluids, be compensated to the outside environment and related hydrostatic pressure, and remain intact and in service for the length of their intended mission.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,424,917, which is incorporated herein by this reference, discloses a subsea pressure compensation system which includes a chamber with a piston therein acted on an exposed side by sea water, to provide operational hydraulic fluid for operating a subsea device, with a piston rod having an end in a separate chamber acted on by a fluid to compensate for a pressure differential between the pressure of the water on one piston side and the pressure of the operational hydraulic fluid on the other piston side. However, this reference does not teach, nor suggest, using any of the compensator system or system of pumps to act upon the compensator itself as a self-contained method to test or measure the integrity of the compensator itself, or of any of the barriers that separate the internal fluid from the surrounding outside fluid.
U.S. patent application No. 20080210434A1, which is incorporated herein by this reference, discloses a subsea and modular tanker-based hydrocarbon production system comprising a plurality of interlinked individual tank units which is wholly submersible. However, this reference does not teach, nor suggest, utilizing a pump to generate either a fluid pressure or vacuum to measure the integrity of the walls of the tank.
U.S. patent application No. 20130167962A1, which is incorporated herein by this reference, describes a pressure compensator for a subsea device that embodies the ability of the subsea tank to remain pressure compensated. However, this reference does not teach, nor suggest, using the fluid that is contained between the walls of the compensator to be used in a test protocol to assure the integrity of the wall, or barrier, of the compensator or vessel.
U.S. patent application No. 20150246770A1, which is incorporated herein by this reference, discloses a subsea storage tank, including a body having a storage space therein and formed of light weight concrete inner and outer sides of which are watertight coated or plated. However, this reference does not teach or suggest provisions that allow for the pressurization or vacuum of fluid between the tank inner and outer sides, nor could the fluid in this location be used to test the integrity of either wall of the storage tank or the integrity of the seals of the separation unit.
In light of the foregoing, a need remains for a modular subsea tanker hydrocarbon system, having a dual wall tank, and a barrier bladder, and utilizing a pump to generate either a fluid pressure or vacuum to measure the integrity of both the walls of the tank, and the barrier bladder, to sea water or working fluid.

Subsea storage tank for bulk storage of fluids subsea


A down hole hydroconversion process improves the viscosity, API gravity, and distillate proportions of heavy crude oils by employing a hydrogen donor, methane and steam down hole wherein the mineral formation down hole acts as a catalyst for the hydroconversion process.

The present invention is drawn to a process for improving the viscosity of a crude oil down hole in a well and, more particularly, a down hole hydroconversion process employing the mineral formation of the well as a catalyst for the hydroconversion process. Upon distillation of the improved crude oil, an increase in distillate proportion is realized.
It is highly desirable to improve the properties of heavy crude oil, especially to substantially reduce their viscosity and increase their distillate proportion, in light of the large availability of heavy crude oils, for example, in the Orinoco Belt of Venezuela. It is highly desirable to improve the properties of heavy crude oil down hole in situ in the well formation as same will lead to not only improve the crude oil properties but assist in increasing crude oil production from the well formation.
There are known in the prior art various processes for treating hydrocarbon materials using hydrogen, methane and nitrogen in order to improve the properties thereof. Most of these processes are not entirely satisfactory on a commercial scale. One such process is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,570 which deals with the liquification of coal in the presence of a methane atmosphere. A superior process for treating heavy crude oils is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,909 assigned to the assignee of the instant application. A process is disclosed therein which improves viscosity and the distillate proportion of the hydrocarbons.
It is highly desirable to provide a process for improving the properties of crude oil down hole in the well formation. By providing a process down hole, crude oil production is increased along with the quality of the crude oil product.
Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a down hole hydroconversion process.
It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a down hole conversion process for improving the viscosity of crude oils.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hydroconversion process for improving crude oil viscosity down hole which employs mineral content of the well formation as a catalyst for the hydroconversion a process.
It is further object of the present invention to provide a process as aforesaid which is relatively inexpensive to carry out when compared to above ground hydroconversion processes.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.

Process for the downhole upgrading of extra heavy crude oil


A thermosensitive recording material is provided which includes a substrate, a thermosensitive recording layer formed on the substrate and including a binder resin, a coloring agent and a coloring developer inducing color formation in the coloring agent upon application of heat thereto, and a protective layer formed on the thermosensitive recording layer and including a resin, wherein the protective layer includes a particulate organic filler (A) whose average particle diameter is from about 1.2 to about 3.0 times the thickness of the protective layer and a particulate organic filler (B) having an average particle diameter of from about 0.05 to about 0.7 .mu.m. The thermosensitive recording material has good image qualities without undesired white streaks and good ability to be used with thermal printheads without sticking to and wearing out the thermal printheads.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermosensitive recording material, and more particularly to a thermosensitive recording material which forms a colored image as a result of a chemical coloring reaction of an electron donating coloring agent with an electron accepting coloring developer.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A thermosensitive recording material is well known in which a colored image is formed by a chemical coloring reaction of a colorless or a pale colored coloring agent, such as an electron donor, e.g., a leuco dye having a lactone, a lactam or a spiropyran ring, with a coloring developer, such as an electron acceptor, e.g., an organic acid or a phenolic compound, wherein color formation is induced when the coloring agent and the coloring developer are subjected to heat or the like.
The thermosensitive recording material has the following advantages over other conventional recording media:
(1) color images can rapidly be recorded by a relatively simple apparatus without using such complicated steps as developing and fixing; PA1 (2) color images can be recorded without producing noise and environmental pollution; PA1 (3) various color images, e.g., red, blue, violet and black, can easily be obtained; PA1 (4) image density and background whiteness are high; and PA1 (5) the manufacturing cost is low. PA1 (1) sticking occurs in which the surface of the recording layer sticks to the thermal printhead because of the good contact of the recording layer and the thermal printhead, thereby deteriorating image qualities or feeding properties of the thermosensitive recording materials; PA1 (2) the thermal printhead easily wears out when an inorganic filler is added to the recording layer in order to decrease the sticking; and PA1 (3)a part or a component of the recording layer is melted or softened and toughly adhered to the thermal printhead due to the heat applied for recording images, resulting in occurrence of undesired white streaks in the recorded images because the part of the thermal printhead to which the extraneous substance is adhered has insufficient heat conduction. PA1 (1) adding a wax to the protective layer; PA1 (2) employing a silicone modified resin as a resin of the protective layer, if desired, together with other resin; PA1 (3) adjusting the mixing ratio of the resin to the total amount of the organic fillers; and/or PA1 (4) changing the composition of the organic fillers. PA1 (1) dispersing each organic filler in a solvent or a resin solution using, for example, a ball mill to prepare organic filler dispersing liquids; PA1 (2) mixing the organic filler dispersing liquids, if desired, together with an additional resin solution to prepare a protective layer coating liquid; PA1 (3) coating the protective layer coating liquid on a recording layer using a conventionally known coating method; and PA1 (4) drying the coated liquid to form a protective layer. PA1 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-diethylaminofluoran, PA1 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(di-n-butylamino)fluoran, PA1 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-n-propyl-N-methylamino)fluoran, PA1 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-isopropyl-N-methylamino)fluoran, PA1 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-isobutyl-N-methylamino)fluoran, PA1 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-n-amyl-N-methylamino)fluoran, PA1 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-sec-butyl-N-ethylamino)fluoran, PA1 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-n-amyl-N-ethylamino)fluoran, PA1 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-n-isoamyl-N-ethylamino)fluoran, PA1 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-n-propyl-N-isopropylamino)- fluoran, PA1 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-cyclohexyl-N-methylamino)-fluoran, PA1 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, PA1 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-methyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, PA1 2-(m-trichloromethylanilino)-3-methyl-6-diethylamino-fluoran, PA1 2-(m-trifluoromethylanilino)-3-methyl-6-diethylamino-fluoran, PA1 2-(m-trifluoromethylanilino)-3-methyl-6-(N-cyclohexyl-N-methylamino)fluoran PA1 2-(2, 4-dimethylanilino)-3-methyl-6-diethylaminofluoran, PA1 2-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)-3-methyl-6-(N-ethylanilino)-fluoran, PA1 2-(N-methyl-p-toluidino)-3-methyl-6-(N-propyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, PA1 2-anilino-6-(N-n-hexyl-N-ethylamino)fluoran, PA1 2-(o-chloroanilino)-6-diethylaminofluoran, PA1 2-(o-bromoanilino)-6-diethylaminofluoran, PA1 2-(o-chloroanilino)-6-dibutylaminofluoran, PA1 2-(o-fluoroanilino)-6-dibutylaminofluoran, PA1 2-(m-trifluoromethylanilino)-6-diethylaminofluoran, PA1 2-(p-acetylanilino)-6-(N-n-amyl-N-n-butylamino)fluoran, PA1 2-benzylamino-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, PA1 2-benzylamino-6-(N-methyl-2, 4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-benzylamino-6-(N-ethyl-2, 4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-benzylamino-6-(N-methyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, PA1 2-benzylamino-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, PA1 2-(di-p-methylbenzylamino)-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)-fluoran, PA1 2-(.alpha.-phenylethylamino)-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, PA1 2-methylamino-6-(N-methylanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-methylamino-6-(N-ethylanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-methylamino-6-(N-propylanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-ethylamino-6-(N-methyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, PA1 2-methylamino-6-(N-methyl-2, 4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-ethylamino-6-(N-methyl-2, 4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-dimethylamino-6-(N-methylanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-dimethylamino-6-(N-ethylanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-diethylamino-6-(N-methyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, PA1 2-diethylamino-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, PA1 2-dipropylamino-6-(N-methylanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-dipropylamino-6-(N-ethylanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-amino-6-(N-methylanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-amino-6-(N-ethylanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-amino-6-(N-propylanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-amino-6-(N-methyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, PA1 2-amino-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, PA1 2-amino-6-(N-propyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, PA1 2-amino-6-(N-methyl-p-ethylanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-amino-6-(N-ethyl-p-ethylanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-amino-6-(N-propyl-p-ethylanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-amino-6-(N-methyl-2, 4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-amino-6-(N-ethyl-2, 4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-amino-6-(N-propyl-2, 4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-amino-6-(N-methyl-p-chloroanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-amino-6-(N-ethyl-p-chloroanilino)fluoran, PA1 2-amino-6-(N-propyl-p-chloroanilino)fluoran, PA1 2, 3-dimethyl-6-dimethylaminofluoran, PA1 3-methyl-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, PA1 2-chloro-6-diethylaminofluoran, PA1 2-bromo-6-diethylaminofluoran, PA1 2-chloro-6-dipropylaminofluoran, PA1 3-chloro-6-cyclohexylaminofluoran, PA1 3-bromo-6-cyclohexylaminofluoran, PA1 2-chloro-6-(N-ethyl-N-isoamylamino)fluoran, PA1 2-chloro-3-methyl-6-diethylaminofluoran, PA1 2-anilino-3-chloro-6-diethylaminofluoran, PA1 2-(o-chloroanilino)-3-chloro-6-cyclohexylaminofluoran, PA1 2-(m-trifluoromethylanilino)-3-chloro-6-diethylamino-fluoran, PA1 2-(2, 3-dichloroanilino)-3-chloro-6-diethylaminofluoran, PA1 1, 2-benzo-6-diethylaminofluoran, PA1 1, 2-benzo-6-(N-ethyl-N-isoamylamino)fluoran, PA1 1, 2-benzo-6-dibutylaminofluoran, PA1 1, 2-benzo-6-(N-ethyl-N-cyclohexylamino)fluoran, and PA1 1, 2-benzo-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, PA1 dodecyl phosphonate, PA1 tetradecyl phosphonate, PA1 hexadecyl phosphonate, PA1 octadecyl phosphonate, PA1 eicosyl phosphonate, PA1 docosyl phosphonate, PA1 tetracosyl phosphonate, PA1 hexacosyl phosphonate, and PA1 octacosyl phosphonate. PA1 .alpha.-hydroxydodecyl phosphonate, PA1 .alpha.-hydroxytetradecyl phosphonate, PA1 .alpha.-hydroxyhexadecyl phosphonate, PA1 .alpha.-hydroxyoctadecyl phosphonate, PA1 .alpha.-hydroxyeicosyl phosphonate, PA1 .alpha.-hydroxydocosyl phosphonate, and PA1 .alpha.-hydroxytetracosyl phosphonate. PA1 dihexadecyl phosphate, PA1 dioctadecyl phosphate, PA1 dieicosyl phosphate, PA1 didocosyl phosphate, PA1 monohexadecyl phosphate, PA1 monooctadecyl phosphate, PA1 monoeicosyl phosphate, PA1 monodocosyl phosphate, PA1 methyl hexadecyl phosphate, PA1 methyl octadecyl phosphate, PA1 methyl eicosyl phosphate, PA1 methyl docosyl phosphate, PA1 amyl hexadecyl phosphate, PA1 octyl hexadecyl phosphate, and PA1 lauryl hexadecyl phosphate. PA1 .alpha.-hydroxydecanoic acid, PA1 .alpha.-hydroxytetradecanoic acid, PA1 .alpha.-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid, PA1 .alpha.-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid, PA1 .alpha.-hydroxypentadecanoic acid, PA1 .alpha.-hydroxyeicosanoic acid, PA1 .alpha.-hydroxydocosanoic acid, PA1 .alpha.-hydroxytetracosanoic acid, PA1 .alpha.-hydroxyhexacosanoic acid, and PA1 .alpha.-hydroxyoctacosanoic acid. PA1 2-bromohexadecanoic acid, PA1 2-bromoheptadecanoic acid, PA1 2-bromooctadecanoic acid, PA1 2-bromoeicosanoic acid, PA1 2-bromodocosanoic acid, PA1 2-bromotetracosanoic acid, PA1 3-bromooctadecanoic acid, PA1 3-bromoeicosanoic acid, PA1 2, 3-dibromooctadecanoic acid, PA1 2-fluorododecanoic acid, PA1 2-fluorotetradecanoic acid, PA1 2-fluorohexadecanoic acid, PA1 2-fluorooctadecanoic acid, PA1 2-fluoroeicosanoic acid, PA1 2-fluorodocosanoic acid, PA1 2-iodohexadecanoic acid, PA1 2-iodooctadecanoic acid, PA1 3-iodohexadecanoic acid, PA1 3-iodooctadecanoic acid, and PA1 perfluorooctadecanoic acid. PA1 2-oxododecanoic acid, PA1 2-oxotetradecanoic acid, PA1 2-oxohexadecanoic acid, PA1 2-oxooctadecanoic acid, PA1 2-oxoeicosanoic acid, PA1 2-oxotetracosanoic acid, PA1 3-oxododecanoic acid, PA1 3-oxotetradecanoic acid, PA1 3-oxohexadecanoic acid, PA1 3-oxooctadecanoic acid, PA1 3-oxoeicosanoic acid, PA1 3-oxotetracosanoic acid, PA1 4-oxohexadecanoic acid, PA1 4-oxooctadecanoic acid, and PA1 4-oxodocosanoic acid. PA1 dodecylmalic acid, PA1 tetradecylmalic acid, PA1 hexadecylmalic acid, PA1 octadecylmalic acid, PA1 eicosylmalic acid, PA1 docosylmalic acid, PA1 tetracosylmalic acid, PA1 dodecylthiomalic acid, PA1 tetradecylthiomalic acid, PA1 hexadecylthiomalic acid, PA1 octadecylthiomalic acid, PA1 eicosylthiomalic acid, PA1 docosylthiomalic acid, PA1 tetracosylthiomalic acid, PA1 dodecyldithiomalic acid, PA1 tetradecyldithiomalic acid, PA1 eicosyldithiomalic acid, PA1 docosyldithiomalic acid, and PA1 tetracosyldithiomalic acid. PA1 dodecylbutanedioic acid, PA1 tridecylbutanedioic acid, PA1 tetradecylbutanedioic acid, PA1 pentadecylbutanedioic acid, PA1 octadecylbutanedioic acid, PA1 eicosylbutanedioic acid, PA1 docosylbutanedioic acid, PA1 2, 3-dihexadecylbutanedioic acid, PA1 2, 3-dioctadecylbutanedioic acid, PA1 2-methyl-3-dodecylbutanedioic acid, PA1 2-methyl-3-tetradecylbutanedioic acid, PA1 2-methyl-3-hexadecylbutanedioic acid, PA1 2-ethyl-3-dodecylbutanedioic acid, PA1 2-propyl-3-dodecylbutanedioic acid, PA1 2-octyl-3-hexadecylbutanedioic acid, and PA1 2-tetradecyl-3-octadecylbutanedioic acid. PA1 dodecylmalonic acid, PA1 tetradecylmalonic acid, PA1 hexadecylmalonic acid, PA1 octadecylmalonic acid, PA1 eicosylmalonic acid, PA1 docosylmalonic acid, PA1 tetracosylmalonic acid, PA1 didodecylmalonic acid, PA1 ditetradecylmalonic acid, PA1 dihexadecylmalonic acid, PA1 dioctadecylmalonic acid, PA1 dieicosylmalonic acid, PA1 didocosylmalonic acid, PA1 methyloctadecylmalonic acid, PA1 methyldocosylmalonic acid, PA1 methyltetracosylmalonic acid, PA1 ethyloctadecylmalonic acid, PA1 ethyleicosylmalonic acid, PA1 ethyldocosylmalonic acid, and PA1 ethyltetracosylmalonic acid. PA1 2-dodecyl-pentanedioic acid, PA1 2-hexadecyl-pentanedioic acid, PA1 2-octadecyl-pentanedioic acid, PA1 2-eicosyl-pentanedioic acid, PA1 2-docosyl-pentanedioic acid, PA1 2-dodecyl-hexanedioic acid, PA1 2-pentadecyl-hexanedioic acid, PA1 2-octadecyl-hexanedioic acid, PA1 2-eicosyl-hexanedioic acid, and PA1 2-docosyl-hexanedioic acid. PA1 o-palmitylcitric acid ##STR9## o-stearylcitric acid ##STR10## o-eicosylcitric acid ##STR11## PA1 p-(dodecylthio)phenol, PA1 p-(tetradecylthio)phenol, PA1 P-(hexadecylthio)phenol, PA1 P-(octadecylthio)phenol, PA1 p-(eicosylthio)phenol, PA1 p-(docosylthio)phenol, PA1 p-(tetracosylthio)phenol, PA1 p-(dodecyloxy)phenol, PA1 p-(tetradecyloxy)phenol, PA1 p-(hexadecyloxy)phenol, PA1 p-(octadecyloxy)phenol, PA1 p-(eicosyloxy)phenol, PA1 p-(docosyloxy)phenol, PA1 p-(tetracosyloxy)phenol, PA1 p-dodecylcarbamoylphenol, PA1 p-tetradecylcarbamoylphenol, PA1 p-hexadecylcarbamoylphenol, PA1 p-octadecylcarbamoylphenol, PA1 p-eicosylcarbamoylphenol, PA1 p-docosylcarbamoylphenol, PA1 p-tetracosylcarbamoylphenol, PA1 hexadecyl gallate, PA1 octadecyl gallate, PA1 eicosyl gallate, PA1 docosyl gallate, and PA1 tetracosyl gallate. PA1 caffeic acid n-pentyl ester, PA1 caffeic acid n-hexyl ester, and PA1 caffeic acid n-octyl ester. PA1 Sn salt of decylmercaptoacetic acid, PA1 Sn salt of dodecylmercaptoacetic acid, PA1 Sn salt of tetradecylmercaptoacetic acid, PA1 Sn salt of hexadecylmercaptoacetic acid, PA1 Sn salt of octadecylmercaptoacetic acid, PA1 Mg salt of decylmercaptoacetic acid, PA1 Mg salt of dodecylmercaptoacetic acid, PA1 Mg salt of tetradecylmercaptoacetic acid, PA1 Mg salt of hexadecylmercaptoacetic acid, PA1 Mg salt of octadecylmercaptoacetic acid, PA1 Zn salt of decylmercaptoacetic acid, PA1 Zn salt of dodecylmercaptoacetic acid, PA1 Zn salt of tetradecylmercaptoacetic acid, PA1 Zn salt of hexadecylmercaptoacetic acid, PA1 Zn salt of octadecylmercaptoacetic acid, PA1 Cu salt of decylmercaptoacetic acid, PA1 Cu salt of dodecylmercaptoacetic acid, PA1 Cu salt of tetradecylmercaptoacetic acid, PA1 Cu salt of hexadecylmercaptoacetic acid, and PA1 Cu salt of octadecylmercaptoacetic acid. PA1 (1) using a coloring agent and a coloring developer, at least one of which does not dissolve or hardly dissolves in the solvent used for the protective layer coating liquid; PA1 (2) microencapsulating at least one of a coloring agent and a coloring developer to prevent the coloring agent from contacting the coloring developer; and/or PA1 (3) forming a resin layer between a recording layer and a protective layer to prevent the recording layer from contacting a protective layer coating liquid. PA1 (1) dispersing or dissolving a coloring agent, a coloring developer and a binder resin in water and/or an organic solvent to prepare a recording layer coating liquid; PA1 (2) coating the recording layer coating liquid on a substrate by a conventionally known coating method; and PA1 (3) drying the coated liquid to form a recording layer. PA1 polyester films such as polyethyleneterephthalate and polybutyleneterephthalate, PA1 cellulose films such as cellulose triacetate, PA1 polyolefin films such as polyethylene and polypropylene, PA1 polystyrene films, PA1 paper, and PA1 synthetic paper.
Because of these advantages, the above-described thermosensitive recording material can be widely used, not only as a recording material for price labels in stores, but also as recording materials for copiers, printers for computers, facsimiles, automatic vending machines of labels and tickets, video printers and measuring instruments.
These thermosensitive recording materials generally include a thermosensitive recording layer (hereinafter referred to as recording layer) which is formed on a paper substrate and includes a coloring agent and a coloring developer. Recently, since the thermosensitive recording material is required to have good image qualities such as high resolution, the surface of the thermosensitive recording material tends to be enhanced in smoothness, for example, by forming an undercoat layer between a substrate and a recording layer. In addition, as the uses of the thermosensitive recording material grow, it is required to be used for document sheets for over head projection (OHP) or print output sheets for video printers. These thermosensitive recording materials are required to have a plastic film substrate and a smooth recording layer in order to produce an image having good image qualities.
When such a smooth recording layer including materials used for conventional recording layers is formed on a smooth surface of a plastic film substrate, the recording layer exhibits good image density because the contact between the recording layer and a thermal printhead is fairly good; however, the following problems tend to occur:
In attempting to solve these problems, i.e., sticking and white streaks, thermosensitive recording materials having a protective layer which includes a filler and which is formed on the surface of the recording material are disclosed. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 61-225095 discloses a thermosensitive recording material having a protective layer including an inorganic filler. As mentioned above, this thermosensitive recording material has the drawback that it easily wears out a thermal printhead. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications No. 58-025988 and 05-278334 disclose thermosensitive recording materials having a protective layer including an organic filler. These thermosensitive recording materials do not easily wear out a thermal printhead; however, they cannot prevent the occurrence of the sticking and the white streaks.
Because of these reasons, a need exists for a thermosensitive recording material having good image qualities without white streaks and good ability to be used with thermal printheads without shortening the life of the thermal printheads, i.e., without sticking to and wearing out the thermal printheads.


A method of making an integrated circuit includes providing a semiconductor wafer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, at least one of the first surface and the second surface including a metallization layer deposited onto the surface. The method additionally includes forming a first trench in the semiconductor wafer extending from one of the first surface and the second surface toward an other of the first surface and the second surface. The method further includes sawing a second trench in the other surface until the second trench communicates with the first trench, thus singulating the integrated circuit from the semiconductor wafer.

Market demand for smaller and more functional electronic devices has driven the development of semiconductor devices, packages, and highly functional chips. Multiples of these functional chips are formed on a surface of a semiconductor wafer and include specific, desired chip properties. The semiconductor wafer includes a semiconductor substrate having a metal layer on one side and an active surface opposite the metal layer. The metal layer is configured to provide electrical connection for each chip after the chip is separated from the wafer. The active surface is fabricated to include contact pads that provide electrical access to the chip. After fabrication, the chips are cut or singulated from the semiconductor substrate and suited for individual use in electronic devices.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional semiconductor substrate 20. The known semiconductor substrate 20 includes a silicon portion 22 defining an active surface 24, a back side 26 opposite active surface 24, and a metal layer 28 deposited on back side 26. Semiconductor substrate 20 is fabricated to include a plurality of chips (not shown) deposed in the plane of active surface 24. After fabrication of semiconductor substrate 20, it is desired to separate, or singulate, the individual chips by sawing semiconductor substrate 20 from active surface 24 down to back side 26 and through metal layer 28.
It is known that sawing through metal layer 28 is likely to produce burrs 30, and/or cracks 32. Burrs 30 and cracks 32 are highly undesirable. Burrs 30 extend from metal layer 28 and deleteriously affect electrical performance/contact of the chip when coupled to another electronic device. Cracks 32 can potentially interrupt the electrical contact between the silicon layer 22 and metal layer 28. In addition, cracks 32 in silicon portion 22 are known to propagate when the chip is thermally cycled, thus possibly interrupting electrical connection for the chip.
Dicing or cutting semiconductor substrate 20 from metal layer 28 through silicon layer 22 is problematic because the chip pattern (or kerf) on active surface 24 is not visible from the metal layer 28 side. Thus, blindly sawing semiconductor substrate 20 from metal layer 28 toward active surface 24 has the potential of damaging the unseen chips on active surface 24.
For these and other reasons there is a need for the present invention.

Method of making an integrated circuit including singulating a semiconductor wafer


A particle sizing and separating apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a base and a frame that is movably connected to the base. A motor assembly is provided to vibrate the frame and at least two screens are connected to the frame. Means also are provided for feeding particles to each screen from two opposing sides of each screen and for evenly distributing the particles onto the screens. A pan is disposed beneath each screen to receive sized particles that pass through the screens and an outlet receives oversize particles that pass over the screens.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the art of sizing and separating solids from a liquid or slurry. More particularly, the invention relates to the art of screening particulate materials by utilizing motorized means to cause a screening apparatus to vibrate and lead to greater efficiency of separation.
2. Description of Related Art
Wet fine particle sizing and separating apparatus have been used to size and separate particles having a size of from about 8 mesh (3 mm) to about 400 mesh (38 microns). These apparatus have been utilized in grinding mills in the separation of gangue from heavy minerals such as iron ore, tin, and the like, and also in residue removal from kaolin slurry.
Most prior art wet fine sizing and separating apparatus have utilized only one or two screens disposed horizontally or at a slight incline, with the screens being housed in a relatively large apparatus. The large apparatus take up valuable processing space, while the use of only one or two screens limits the capacity of material that can be processed.
Attempts have been made to solve the longstanding problems of large apparatus size and limited capacity by vertically stacking several screens within a single apparatus. In this configuration, each screen independently sized and separated material. However, the prior art apparatus fed the material onto each screen through only a single inlet. Deflectors were used adjacent to and above the screens in an attempt to evenly distribute the material on the screens. Since the fine particles being processed were wet, feeding the material onto the screen via a single inlet failed to result in optimal spreading of the material over the screen, reducing the efficiency and effectiveness of the sizing and separating operation.
Accordingly, it is desirable to develop an apparatus for wet fine particle sizing and separating, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and exhibits increased capacity in a compact assembly.


According to certain embodiments of the present invention, methods for modulating the production of sialic acid in a system are provided, which comprise providing the system with a wild-type GNE-encoding nucleic acid sequence. According to such embodiments, the system may comprise a cell, muscular tissue, or other desirable targets. Similarly, the present invention encompasses methods for producing wild-type GNE in a system that comprises a mutated endogenous GNE-encoding sequence. In other words, the present invention includes providing, for example, a cell or muscular tissue that harbors a mutated (defective) GNE-encoding sequence with a functional wild-type GNE encoding sequence.

Hereditary Inclusion Body Myopathy (HIBM2) is a chronic progressive skeletal muscle wasting disorder, which generally leads to complete disability before the age of 50 years. There is currently no effective therapeutic treatment for HIBM2. Development of this disease is related to expression in family members of an autosomal recessive mutation of the GNE gene, which encodes the bifunctional enzyme UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase/ManNAc kinase (GNE/MNK). This is the rate-limiting bifunctional enzyme that catalyzes the first 2 steps of sialic acid biosynthesis. Decreased sialic acid production consequently leads to decreased sialyation of a variety of glycoproteins, including the critical muscle protein alpha-dystroglycan (α-DG). This in turn severely cripples muscle function and leads to the onset of the syndrome.

Methods and compositions for modulating sialic acid production and treating hereditary inclusion body myopathy


Machinery and process for continuously making a compound filter rod include a tow transport for continuously delivering an expanded fiber tow while compressing the tow as it travels in a downstream direction. At least one rotating pocket wheel has a plurality of spaced apart pockets therein, and a filter media supply delivers media to the pockets. A vacuum source applied to the pockets of the rotating wheel operates to draw filter media into the pockets from the filter media supply. An air transport tube in alignment with the pockets of the rotating pocket wheel discharges the filter media from the pockets as they rotate past the transport tube. The discharged filter media is delivered to the tow transport into interior portions of the fiber tow. Subsequently, the rod is wrapped with filter paper.

The present invention relates to compound filter making apparatus and processes, and more particularly to apparatus and processes for continuously making in a single operation a compound cigarette filter rod having spaced apart measured amounts of filter media on the inside thereof and an outside sheath of tow material.
Specialty cigarette filters containing particular filter media, such as granulated filtration or flavor media, for example, are typically made by combining filter segments, each individually made and subsequently combined in a separate filter combining machine. Some are created by combining two filter plugs of cellulose acetate tow or similar material with a space between the plugs, and then filling the space with granular material. Other arrangements include combining plugs of one composition with plugs of a different composition. In each instance, the individual filter components are initially made in separate operations and then combined together in another operation to produce the finished product.

Compound filter rod making apparatus and process


Methods and systems for assigning a plurality of print jobs in a transaction printing environment are disclosed. A print job workflow management system receives a plurality of print jobs each having a job size and selects a first threshold based on at least the job sizes for the plurality of print jobs. A print job is assigned to a first autonomous cell if the job size for the print job is greater than the first threshold. The print job is assigned to a second autonomous cell if the job size for the print job is less than a second threshold. Otherwise, the print job is assigned to a third autonomous cell.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to printing systems and methods, and especially methods and systems for improving the performance of workflow in a production environment, such as a transaction printing environment. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for jointly assigning structural parameters and scheduling parameters to a workflow, such as a print job, in order to improve the performance of the workflow production environment.
2. Background
A transaction printing environment is typically a high-volume document production entity that produces documents associated with financial transactions such as checks, invoices, statements and the like from a data stream for businesses. Typically, the data printed on each document (or set of documents) in a transaction printing environment varies significantly. For example, the data on a first document might pertain to a first credit card user for a credit institution, while the data on a second document might pertain to a second credit card user for the credit institution. This is in contrast to a printing environment, such as for book printing, where several identical documents are produced and finished consecutively.
Typically, transaction printing environments are organized into departments. For example, a transaction printing environment could include a data processing department (including computers and associated peripherals) for processing data and creating production jobs; a printing department including continuous feed printers and/or cut-sheet printers; an inserting department including a variety of inserters, such as check inserters, multiple tower inserters and flat inserters; a rework and/or hand-inserting department to sort mail pieces eligible for postal discounts; a shipping department for mailing completed documents; and a warehouse department that stores and replenishes forms, paper and the like. The warehouse department may also prepare and deliver paper, rolls, inserts and/or other materials to the production floor. Additional support departments may include a technical services department, a customer service department and the like.
A conventional transaction print workflow is depicted in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, incoming data pertaining to a job is processed 105 to determine the operations to be performed. The data is then printed 110 using, for example, a continuous feed printer. A continuous feed printer includes a roll of paper including pre-printed forms. As such, paper is continuously fed into the printer resulting in high speed printing. In a typical transaction print operation, data corresponding to a plurality of recipients is printed 110 on the forms.
One or more of folding 115, inserting 100 and sorting 125 operations can be performed based on the requirements of the transaction print job. For a folding operation 115, each printed form can be folded according to the transaction print job requirements. Ancillary documents can be inserted 120 into the print job. For example an advertisement for a service provided by a bank might be inserted into a bank statement print job, A sorting operation 125 could be used to sort the documents into individual document groups for each recipient. Each document group can then be nailed 130 to the appropriate recipient.
Job types in a transaction printing environment typically include one of the following, production flows:
Simplex Print→(Hand/Machine) Insert→Sort→Mail
Duplex Print→(Hand/Machine) Insert→Sort→Mail
Micr-Duplex Print→(Hand/Machine) Insert→Sort→Mail
While print volume (number of forms printed) often varies substantially between print jobs, all jobs typically go through approximately the same production work flow. However, very small jobs, such as jobs requiring less than 100 forms, would likely be printed on a cut-sheet desktop printer and hand-inserted because the time to perform the set up for such jobs on large continuous feed printers and inserters would not be economical.
Methods exist for improving the operation of a traditional transaction printing environment. One method involves re-conceptualizing a traditional transaction printing environment as a type of factory process. In such a method, the transaction printing environment is considered to be synonymous with a factory plant, and each print job is considered to be synonymous with a manufactured product. In this manner, commonly known factory flow processes can be adapted to the transaction printing environment and used to improve the flow of print jobs through the transaction printing environment.
In accordance with another method, a transaction printing environment may be reorganized into autonomous cells as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,079,266 to Rai et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. An autonomous cell is a group of resources used to process jobs of at least one type. A resource is a device configured to process at least a portion of one or more jobs. In a transaction printing environment, a resource can include a printer, a copier, a binder, a hole-punch, a collator, a scaler, an inserter or other equipment used to perform an operation on a document. Autonomous cells group equipment ova together according to different job types commonly encountered within a specific transaction printing environment. The jobs can then be sub-divided into smaller sub-jobs and processed through the autonomous cells.
Another method to improve operation is to cross-train operators on multiple pieces of equipment. Operators can then be allocated more flexibly as needed throughout the shop. Opportunities also exist to improve scheduling of jobs so as to reduce the amount of inventory and to more fully utilize equipment.
An additional option is to improve the layout of equipment in the transaction printing environment in order to decrease the amount of excess movement required within the environment. These methods have been shown to reduce the cost of operating all classes of transaction printing environments by up to twenty percent within six months of initial implementation.
Although such methods for operational improvement exist, print shop owners are understandably slow to change their methods of operations. The resistance of print shop owners to change might occur because implementing such change can be quite invasive. For example, implementing operational improvements can require retraining operators, moving heavy equipment, and learning new processes, each of which equates to down time and lost productivity for the shop during transition. This lost productivity is problematic for a shop owner who must keep the shop operating smoothly throughout a transition period. As such, a print shop owner has little incentive to make operational changes without having quantitative data showing a positive benefit to bottom-line profits. It is therefore problematic that print shop owners typically have insufficient data to quantify the extent of possible gains available to them by implementing, improved operational methods.

System and method for assigning print jobs to autonomous cells in a transaction printing environment


A concealed door closer includes a housing, an input shaft and an output shaft, the input shaft being connected to a motor, wherein a joining member is arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft, and two ends of the joining member are respectively provided with an upper connection piece and a lower connection piece, which are connected to a roller via vertical rotation shaft, and wherein both the input shaft and the output shaft are provided with a left connection piece and a right connection piece, which are horizontally connected to the roller via a horizontal rotation shaft. The components in the door closer have a simple structure and may be easily processed and assembled. The size of the joint after assembly is equivalent to that of the joining member, so the overall size is small.

1. Technical Field
The present application relates to door closer, and in particular a concealed door closer.
2. Background Art
At present, door closers and especially some concealed door closers are more and more widely used. These concealed door closers may be hidden in doors or door frames and drive the doors to rotate via a concealed slide rail and a rock arm, thereby maintaining intrinsic aesthetic qualities of the doors. The existing door closers are usually mounted externally and employ gear mesh transmission to realize a 90-degree transmission connection between the input shaft and the output shaft. However, such a structure has many disadvantages. Firstly, such a structure has a large size. In order to conveniently mount a concealed door closer in a door or door frame and to maintain aesthetic qualities of the door, it is preferable to use a door closer of a small size, so the size of the door closer is very important. Secondly, such a structure achieves a low transmission efficiency. An externally mounted door closer needs a large rotation force, and a low transmission efficiency of the bevel, gear leads to a large drive load for the motor in the door closer, thereby greatly reducing the life span of the motor. Thirdly, such a structure requires high precision in the mounting position. Due to the manner of gear mesh connection, the output shaft and the input shaft must form an angle of 90 degrees; otherwise the gear mesh connection will be affected.
When a door closer and especially an electric door closer is used, the motor of the door closer drives the input shaft to rotate, and the input shaft then drives the output shaft to rotate. Sometimes, the door may not be opened or closed in a normal automatic mode, or some malicious or accidental man-made damage may occur, causing the output shaft to be suddenly jammed. In this case, the transmission mechanism and the drive motor of the door closer may be severely damaged. After multiple damages, the operation of the door closer may be easily affected, and the door closer may be even broken.
Moreover, an instrument for measuring the rotation angle of the output shaft is often mounted on the door closer. In the prior art, a contact portion is arranged between the output shaft and the instrument for measuring the rotation angle of the output shaft. After the measurement is done many times, the contact portion may have a positional shift, and measurement errors may be increased, thereby shifting the door closer at the door closing position and even making it impossible to close the door.


The present invention relates to an air bag that has a gas-introducing hole and is folded and housed in a container and that includes a pair of first zigzag folded portions, the first zigzag folded portions being formed by respectively folding both side portions and collecting them at a center in a lateral direction; and a second zigzag folded portion that is formed by folding zigzag the first zigzag folded portions in a direction that intersects with a folding direction of the first zigzag folded portions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an air bag for an air bag device that is to be mounted in a vehicle and more particularly to an air bag for protecting a seat occupant in the case of collision or the like and to a folding method therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
The air bag device is required to be compact such that it is preferably mounted in a vehicle and that it does not occupy a large space. Furthermore, various contrivances are carried out for more preferable deployment characteristics and, for example, for making it have a deployment characteristic that is directed obliquely downwardly. Due to them, there were a tendency toward the increase of the folding operation steps and a tendency toward the increase in difficulty for an operator since the operation steps themselves are complicated.
Furthermore, there is a contrivance to obtain preferable deployment characteristics to a seat occupant having a different seating posture by adding parts such as tether belt, for the above-mentioned more preferable deployment characteristics.
Thus, there was caused a result of increasing the price of the air bag device, due to much labor in the folding operation and the cost of the parts to be added and the cost for attaching them.
One example of known air bag folding methods is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication 5-305852. The air bag device disclosed in the publication is equipped with a folded bag, an inflator for supplying gas into the bag, and a case for accommodating the bag and the inflator, and a hinged door on the opening side of the case. The folding steps of the bag include the steps of folding the bag flat so that exhaust holes on side portions of the bag are on imaginary folding lines; folding the bag in a rectangular form to have a width corresponding to the width of the opening portion of the case by folding back the both end portions of the bag folded flat; folding the bag zigzag toward the opening portion side in a manner to set as a tip an end peripheral portion of the bag that is opposite to the opening portion of the case; storing the entirety of the bag in the case in a condition in which the zigzag folded portion is positioned on an inner side and its periphery is surrounded.
In the above-mentioned folding steps, however, the bag is folded zigzag, and at last a roll folding is conducted to cover the zigzag folded bag portion. Such roll folded portion follows a rewinding process upon the deployment. Therefore, there is a tendency to have some deployment time. To suppress the tendency, for example, there is a method of increasing the output of the inflator. This, however, rapidly increases the inner pressure of the bag upon the start of the deployment. Thus, it may be necessary to provide the bag with a sufficient reinforced structure. Such reinforced structure makes the packing size of the bag larger, resulting in the increase of the cost. This causes a dilemma.


A clear picture of who is speaking in a setting where there are multiple input sources (e.g., a conference room with multiple microphones) can be obtained by comparing input channels against each other. The data from each channel can not only be compared, but can also be organized into portions which logically correspond to statements by a user. These statements, along with information regarding who is speaking, can be presented in a user friendly format via an interactive timeline which can be updated in real time as new audio input data is received.

There are many contexts, such as during legal proceedings or business meetings, in which it is necessary to record and/or transcribe statements of multiple participants. While there exists technology (e.g., audio recording software) which can be used to facilitate these processes, there are many problems with existing technology. For example, while existing technology can make audio recordings of a multi-party interaction, when multiple parties are speaking simultaneously, it can be difficult to determine which party is saying what. To some extent, this difficulty can be addressed by using multiple input devices for multiple parties (e.g., different microphones for a witness, a judge, and an examining attorney). However, using multiple input devices can introduce further complications when (as is often the case in multi-party interactions) a statement by one individual is picked up by two or more input devices. Accordingly, there is a need for technology which can address one or more of the issues currently associated with the recording and/or transcription of multi-party interactions.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Organizing qualified audio of a plurality of audio streams by duration thresholds


A vacuum cleaner has a suction nozzle, a housing connected to the suction nozzle and a suction fan and motor assembly mounted to the housing. A dirt collecting receptacle is mounted to the housing and is in communication with the suction nozzle and suction fan and motor assembly. A support plate is pivotally mounted to the housing and selectively holds a cleaning sheet for collecting dust and debris from a surface to be cleaned.

Stick vacuum cleaners are well known in the art. These vacuum cleaners are typically more lightweight than traditional upright cleaners and lack the driven brushrolls of traditional cleaners. The lighter weight and lack of a brushroll allows these cleaners to be more easily manipulated by a user. They can also be employed on a wider variety of surfaces than traditional upright cleaners.
For example, stick vacuum cleaners are often used on non-carpeted floor surfaces where a brushroll may damage the floor surface. The stick vacuum cleaner is also often used for surfaces with hard-to-reach areas or elevated surfaces. The lighter weight and more compact design of a stick vacuum compared to a traditional upright vacuum leads to greater maneuverability and ease of lifting.
As with any other vacuum cleaner, dirt-laden air is drawn into a stick vacuum cleaner through a nozzle by a suction that is created by a suction motor driving a suction fan or impeller. The dirt-laden air passes into a dirt collection receptacle such as a dirt cup or filter bag. The dirt is held in the receptacle and the air is exhausted.
An alternative to stick vacuum is the hand-held vacuum cleaner. Some hand held vacuum cleaners employ a powered rotary brush while others merely use a nozzle for suctioning dirt and debris from carpets, floors, and above floor surfaces.
Hand-held vacuum cleaners have become extremely popular for cleaning a variety of surfaces in homes, offices, cars or the like. They are utilized particularly for small pick up jobs or for cleaning in hard to reach places. By their nature, hand-held vacuum cleaner units are lightweight in order to enable a user to readily utilize them in places where canister, upright, stick or shop-type vacuum cleaners cannot be used or are inconvenient to use.
Of course, non-powered cleaning implements are also widely known. They are used for removing dust, dirt and/or liquids from hard surfaces. Brooms are one example. More recently, a cleaning implement which comprises a handle and a cleaning pad with a removable cleaning sheet has become popular for cleaning dry surfaces. The cleaning sheets exhibit the ability to pick up dust and debris from the surface to be cleaned. Once dirty, the sheet is discarded and replaced with a clean one. One such product is sold by Procter & Gamble under the trademark SWIFFER™.
This product uses non-woven sheets for dry dust-type cleaning. Such sheets typically utilize a composite of fibers where the fibers are bonded by adhesive, or are entangled in other ways. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,629,047 and 5,144,729. To provide durable wiping sheets, reinforcement means are combined with staple fibers in the form of continuous filament or network structure. Such cleaning sheets maximize the surface of the sheet and have electrostatic properties for collecting and/or attracting particulate dirt.
However, cleaning implements that comprise a removable cleaning sheet are not able to successfully remove larger debris or particles from the surface to be cleaned. Such debris may include animal hair or fur, dirt, sand or small pebbles brought in from outdoors, food crumbs or other larger particles of debris.
Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a cleaning product which combines the features of a vacuum cleaner such as a stick-type vacuum cleaner or a hand-held vacuum cleaner with a cleaning pad that comprises a removable cleaning sheet. Accordingly, it is desirable to develop a new and improved cleaning product which would overcome the foregoing difficulties and others and provide a cleaning pad in combination with a vacuum cleaner.


Indication objects are displayed on a television monitor at the intervals in agreement with the rhythm of music, such that the player can generate musical tones in synchronization with music by striking the strike surface of a music game console in the appropriate timing as indicated by indication objects. In this case, the tone quality of the strike sound changes in the progress of music on the basis of strike sound indicating information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a music game console, a music game system and an entertainment music system with which musical tones are produced by hitting back on a screen an object appearing at intervals in rhythm of music with another object.
2. Description of the Related Art
A ball paddle game machine of the present applicant is described in JP-A-2001-104635. This will be briefly explained.
FIG. 36 is a view showing the overall configuration of the ball paddle game machine described in JP-A-2001-104635. As shown in FIG. 36, this ball paddle game machine includes a game console 501, which can be connected to a television monitor 500. This game console 501 is provided with four paddle keys 502 to 505.
FIG. 37 is a view showing an example of the game screen of the ball paddle game machine of FIG. 36. Four paddle images 602 to 605 are displayed in the game screen of the television monitor 500 corresponding to the four paddle keys 502 to 505. Also, balls 510 are displayed to move along four ball motion lanes "A" to "D" corresponding to the four paddle images 602 to 605. If the operation timing of the paddle keys 502 to 505 coincides with the motion timing of the balls 510, the player succeeds, otherwise fails.
If the balls 510 are displayed to fall in synchronization with music, the player can enjoy the game together with music. Accordingly, this ball paddle game machine can be said also as a music game machine.
However, generally speaking, users tend to have a desire for a more enjoyable game machine than existing products.

Music game with strike sounds changing in quality in the progress of music and entertainment music system


In an outboard engine system, a throttle grip position maintaining device includes a retained portion integrally formed on a throttle grip, a friction member axially superposed on the retained portion, a support member mounted to a steering bar handle to abut against an inner end face of the retained portion, a regulating member threadedly fitted over the support member and having an urging portion abutting against an outer end face of the friction member, and an anti-loosening means provided between the support member and the regulating member for inhibiting the disorderly movement of the regulating member. With such arrangement, even when a retaining force on the throttle grip is regulated, a thrust load is not applied to the throttle grip, and the retaining force can be maintained stably after the regulation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement in a throttle grip position maintaining device in an outboard engine system, which is mounted between a bar handle for steering the outboard engine system and a throttle grip rotatably but axially non-movably fitted over the bar handle for controlling the opening degree of a throttle valve of an engine, thereby providing a frictional resistance to the throttle grip to retain the throttle grip at any opening degree of the throttle valve.
2. Description of the Related Art
In such a throttle grip position maintaining device in an outboard engine system, if the frictional resistance provided to the throttle grip is too large, an operating load on the throttle grip is also too large, thereby deteriorating the lightness of the throttle control. On the other hand, if the frictional resistance is too small, a retaining force applied to the throttle grip is also too small and for this reason, the throttle grip is liable to be moved from the position corresponding to a desired opening degree of the throttle valve. Therefore, a throttle grip opening degree maintaining device has been proposed, which is designed so that the frictional resistance is made variable to enable the regulation of the retaining force for a throttle grip, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.6-144379.
In the device disclosed in the above Patent, a ring nut is threadedly fitted over the throttle grip, and a friction member is interposed between the ring nut and a step of a bar handle opposed. to an end face of the ring nut, whereby the retaining force for the throttle grip is regulated by regulating the amount of tightening of the ring nut relative to the friction member.
In such throttle grip position maintaining device, however, when the ring nut is, for example, tightened to press the friction member, a thrust load directed to an outer end of the bar handle is applied to the throttle grip due to a reaction of the pressure. When the throttle grip is displaced axially by the thrust load, a variation in opening degree of a throttle valve of an engine is undesirably generated.
The present invention has been achieved with the above circumstances in view, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a throttle grip position maintaining device of the above-described type in an outboard engine system, wherein even when the retaining force for the throttle grip is regulated, the thrust load is not applied to the throttle grip and moreover, the retaining force can be maintained stably after the regulation.
To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect and feature of the present invention, there is provided a throttle grip position maintaining device in an outboard engine system, which is mounted between a bar handle for steering the outboard engine system and a throttle grip rotatably but axially non-movably fitted over the bar handle for controlling the opening degree of a throttle valve of an engine, thereby providing a frictional resistance to the throttle grip to retain the throttle grip at a position corresponding to any opening degree of the throttle valve. The throttle grip position maintaining device comprises a retained portion which is integrally formed on the throttle grip, a friction member axially superposed on the retained portion, a support member disposed on axially one side of the retained portion and the friction member and axially slidably but non-rotatably mounted to the bar handle, a regulating member threadedly fitted over the support member and having an urging portion disposed on the axially other side of the retained portion and the friction member, and an anti-loosening means provided between the support member and the regulating member for inhibiting the disorderly movement of the regulating member, the friction member being non-rotatably connected relative to one of the retained portion and the support member, but being rotatably connected relative to the other of the retained portion and the support member.
The retained portion and the urging portion correspond to an outward-facing flange 31 and an inward-facing flange 34 respectively in an embodiment of the present invention, which will be described hereinafter.
With the first feature, when the regulating member is tightened relative to the support member, both the support member and the regulating member are displaced axially, to axially clamp the friction member and the retained portion of the throttle grip, thereby providing a desired frictional resistance to the retained portion between the support member and the regulating member. Thus, the throttle grip can be retained at a position corresponding to any opening degree of the throttle valve, while avoiding that a thrust load is applied to the throttle grip.
Moreover, the disorderly movement of the regulating member is inhibited by the anti-loosening means and hence, the regulated retaining force for the throttle grip can be maintained stably, to contribute to an enhancement in steerability of the outboard engine system.
According to a second aspect and feature of the present invention, in addition to the first feature, the anti-loosing means comprises a click stop mechanism designed to provide a sense of moderation to a user, whenever the regulating member is rotated through a given angle.
With the second feature, it is possible for the user to accurately sense an angle of rotation of the regulating means, i.e., the retaining force for the throttle grip.
According to a third aspect and feature of the present invention, in addition to the second feature, the click stop mechanism comprises a plurality of first protrusions projectingly provided on an outer peripheral surface of the support member and arranged at circumferentially equal distances, and a plurality of second protrusions projectingly provided on an inner peripheral surface of the regulating member surrounding the plurality of the first protrusions and arranged at circumferentially equal distances, whereby some of the second protrusions are elastically brought into or out of engagement with some of the first protrusions, whenever the regulating member is rotated through a given angle.
With the third feature, the click stop mechanism comprises the plurality of first protrusions and the plurality of second projections and hence, is extremely simple in construction and can be provided at a low cost.
According to a fourth aspect and feature of the present invention, in addition to the third feature, the numbers of the first and second protrusions are different from each other, and the circumferential widths of the first and second protrusions are also different from each other, whereby some of the first protrusions and some of the second protrusions are in elastic engagement with each other in any rotated position of the regulating member.
With the fourth feature, it is possible to easily set a given angle of the regulating member, thereby providing a sense of moderation to a user.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Throttle grip position maintaining device in outboard engine system