The present invention relates to processes including the step of electrochemically treating an iron mineral. The processes are for improving the grade of iron, producing a magnetic iron mineral, or producing an iron oxide. In one aspect, the process for improving the grade of iron includes electrochemically treating a slurry including at least one iron mineral to thereby improve the grade of the iron in the slurry.

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.
Global trade in iron ore in 2011 was of the order of 2,800 million metric tonnes. This included 1,200 Mt from China, followed by Australia (480 Mt), Brazil (390 Mt) and India (240 Mt). Some iron ores are of a high grade when mined and can be fed directly into blast furnaces (these are so-called direct shipping ores). However, many iron ores are of a significantly lower grade, and may be subjected to multiple processing or beneficiation steps to obtain a high grade of iron for bulk export. For example, an iron ore may be subjected to crushing and particle size separation as a component of several steps in the ore beneficiation process.
Both dry and wet iron ore beneficiation processes can be used, although wet beneficiation is increasingly used to circumvent challenges associated with dust emissions. In the wet process, some or all of the crushed iron ore is first treated with water to form a slurry which is then pumped through other process stages. The slurry may be further processed before being fed into a hydrocyclone to further separate the larger iron ore particles, and the overflow of the hydrocyclone typically is destined for disposal. The overflow is typically classified as slimes, thickener overflow, process reject or tailings waste. The amount of tailings waste can be significant, and one mine alone, for example, can easily produce 12 megalitres or more of iron containing waste water per day, carrying many thousands of tonnes of fine particulates of mixed iron oxides, hydroxides and carbonates.
In a typical wet beneficiation plant, the thickener overflow or slimes from the hydrocyclone often includes a significant proportion of iron and other solids, such as 90-100 g/L (10%) of iron oxyhydroxide particles and 90% water. However, removing the iron minerals from the waste water is complicated by a range of factors. First, the waste water often includes particles having a small to extremely small particle size and such very small particles may be very difficult to separate. Secondly, the waste water will usually include low grade iron which may be significantly oxidised, and whose crystal lattice may include hydroxyl and carbonate groups and/or water. Thirdly, the iron may be present in the waste water in agglomerations including non-iron substances (such as clays) resulting in levels of impurities such as attached silica and alumina which are unacceptable if present in significant quantity as well as being difficult or costly to separate.
Similarly, mineral treatment processes for other metals may also provide iron mineral-containing slurries which are generally disposed of as waste. For example, the major mineral used to produce aluminium is bauxite which typically includes iron minerals such as ferrihydrite, goethite and hematite. Bauxite is usually first converted to alumina (aluminium oxide, Al2O3), by the Bayer process and a by-product of this conversion is so-called "red-mud", which includes the iron minerals (at concentrations of up to 60% of the mass of the red-mud). Red mud cannot be disposed of easily and can be a significant disposal problem. However, the red mud may also be a potentially valuable source of iron minerals.
Consequently, a significant quantity of iron-containing minerals is currently disposed of, due to difficulties in processing iron ore-containing wastes. Furthermore, the nature of an iron mineral can be altered by thermal and chemical processing. However, this has not been adopted within the industry, principally because of the very high cost associated with heating an ore to a minimum temperature of 200 degrees Celsius. In fact, often significantly higher temperatures are required to alter the nature of the iron mineral.
Furthermore, apart from the obvious metallic products such as iron castings and more valuable steel alloys such as stainless steel, there are numerous other higher-value products that can be manufactured from iron containing minerals, particularly magnetic materials.
Specialised materials can also be manufactured from iron containing minerals. These products can be used as coagulants and ballast for clarification of water in wastewater treatment, magnetic recording media, heavy media for improving grades of metallurgical and thermal coal, photocatalytic oxidants and filter media for removing contaminants from water and wastewater, pigments for paints and plastic products. More recently there has been a rapid acceleration in the use of iron in biomedical applications with advanced magnetic nanoparticles now being designed for biocompatible drug delivery, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hyperthermia and cell separation since they can be targeted, located, activated and observed whilst retaining excellent biodegradability.
Many of the advanced applications requiring magnetic nanoparticles require custom manufacture of these particles and this comes at significant cost. Just as in many other areas of materials science and technology, there is need for an intermediate process to produce less specialised magnetic nano-particles for refinement by other specialist refiners.
The relatively high cost of such magnetic nanoparticles has also precluded the widespread uptake of applications where magnetic nanoparticles can be used advantageously to improve efficiency, for example in clarification processes or contaminant removal within wastewater treatment. For example, fine particulate iron hydroxides marketed as granular ferric hydroxides (GFH) have demonstrated capability in removing contaminants from both potable and wastewater sources and their broader use has been restricted to some extent by the high cost of preparing the materials. With the exponential growth in global demand for clean, potable water, there is a growing demand for new and emerging technologies to deliver the water as well as raw materials and inputs, such as granular ferric hydroxides, to the required water treatment processes.
There is therefore a need to provide a process for the production of iron-containing particles, especially magnetic particles.

Electrochemical process for improving the grade of iron


A shower rod mounting assembly for conveniently securing a shower rod between opposing walls of a bath while maintaining an appealing appearance. The assembly consists of a mounting bracket which can be secured to the wall and includes a pair of coaxial tubular flanges fo receiving a shower rod. A snap-on escutcheon conceals the mounting bracket. After mounting the brackets to the opposing walls of the bath, the ends of the shower rod are inserted into the brackets such that the inner flange is matingly received within the shower rod and the shower rod is matingly received within the outer flange of the bracket. The gap between the tubular flanges is configured to snugly receive the shower rod. The escutcheons can now be positioned over the brackets completing assembly of the shower rod.

I. Field of The Invention
This invention relates to a shower rod mounting assembly and, in particular, to mounting brackets having coaxial flanges for frictionally receiving the shower rod to prevent separation therefrom.
II. Description of the Prior Art
In order to support a shower curtain to selectively provide privacy within a bath or shower, a shower rod is typically mounted across the opening to the bath/shower. The shower rod is mounted horizontally across the opening and the shower curtain is hung from the rod using rings or hooks. As necessary the shower curtain can be opened or closed by sliding the rings or hooks along the shower rod.
While fixedly mounted shower rods are available, manufacturers have developed adjustable rods which can accommodate variances in the bath opening. Typically some type of telescopic adjustment allows the length to be varied to the desired dimension. In order to secure the rod to the opposing walls of the bath following adjustment, end brackets are provided. In some shower rod assemblies, the brackets are fixed to the shower rod requiring that they be fastened to the walls following adjustment of the rod. However, it is more convenient to mount the brackets independently without the rod in the way which requires that the rod be thereafter secured to the brackets. A wide variety of means have been used to secure the rod to the brackets but all require special fasteners or additional brackets thereby increasing the cost of manufacturing and the complexity of assembly.

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For securing a heavy wire rope (hawser), usually to the bow or stern of a large vessel but alternatively to an oil rig or jetty, a bollard comprises. (a) a base securable to a deck and having an upstanding cylinder around which is an angled skirt or a plurality of angled brackets; PA0 (b) an upper portion having a cylinder which fits rotatably within the base, and on top of which is a round plate on which is fixed a fin, usually a pear-shaped base and the upper portion of which extends at an acute angle to the horizontal and terminates in a narrow peak under which is a notch for retaining the rope, and PA0 (c) for retaining the two portions in a desired non-rotating position, corresponding lateral holes in the respective cylinders and at least one locking bar which can be inserted through both cylinders.. The upper portion can be rotated manually by inserting a bar in a hole beneath the peak of the fin; or by means of a small motor.. The two sections may have respective screw threads.. The bollard allows a heavy rope to be secured or released by one man.

This invention relates to a rotatable bollard used for securing and releasing heavy wire ropes.
Known bollards normally are of fixed construction, and are of generally cylindrical shape. For use on a ship it is usual to have a pair of cylinders quite close together.
The bollard of the invention is designed to be installed at the bow and stern of large vessels so as to secure and release the eye of a heavy wire-rope from a tug or another vessel; and to be installed on board floating terminals, oil rigs, barges and fixed oil field structures where heavy wire ropes are used and normally handled by gangs of men by appropriate equipment. It is also usuable on a jetty, set in concrete.
My invention provides the advantages that:
a) securing and releasing of a rope or hawser can be a one-man operation; PA0 b) power is no longer needed for releasing the rope; PA0 c) the heavy wire-ropes involved are untouched by man; and PA0 d) it avoids the use of "chain stoppers", with their inherent dangers. PA0 (a) a base portion comprising a flange which is securable to the deck of a vessel, oil rig, jetty or other structure and, upstanding from said flange a housing having a cylindrical interior and a tapered external skirt or tapered members fitted at an angle to the exterior of the housing and over which a rope or hawser can slide; PA0 (b) an upper portion having at its foot a cylinder which fits into the cylindrical interior of the base portion (a) so as to be manually rotatable therein, the upper end of this portion being a fin extended at an acute angle to the horizontal and terminating substantially in a narrow peak with a sharp upper edge, below which peak is formed a V-shaped notch whereunder the rope or hawser can be retained, the remaining upper surface of the fin being curved to allow the rope or hawser to slide thereover when it is being released, and PA0 (c) means for securing the portions (a) and (b) in a desired non-rotating position.

Rotatable bollard for use with wire ropes


A process for the preparation of cross-linked fluorinated polymers comprising sulfonic acid functional groups comprising the steps of: a) providing at least one fluorinated polymer (P) comprising at least one —SO3M functional group and less than 2% of —SO2F functional groups with respect to the total amount of —SO3M and —SO2F functional groups, wherein each M is selected from H and alkaline metals; and b) reacting said fluorinated polymer with at least one cross-linking agent of formula R(X)n under conditions that promote the formation of covalent bonds between the at least one functional group —SO3M of fluorinated polymer (P) and at least one functional group X of the cross-linking agent.

Fluorinated polymers containing sulfonic acid functional groups, due to their ion conducting properties, have found widespread use in the manufacture of electrolyte membranes for electrochemical devices such as electrolysis cells and fuel cells. Notable examples are for instance proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells which employ hydrogen as the fuel and oxygen or air as the oxidant.
Fluorinated polymers containing sulfonic acid functional groups have also been known to provide hydrophilic fluorinated surfaces due to the presence of the sulfonic acid groups.
To provide a high proton transport capability to an electrolyte membrane or to efficiently interact with water in a hydrophilic fluorinated surface polymers having a high number of sulfonic acid groups are required, which however are generally provided with reduced mechanical and physical resistance with consequent negative effects on the duration of the articles obtained therefrom.
The use of cross-linking to improve the physical resistance of membranes made from fluorinated polymers containing sulfonic acid functional groups has been previously disclosed. For instance, EP 1238999 A (SOLVAY SOLEXIS SPA) 11 Sep. 2002 and EP 1239000 A (SOLVAY SOLEXIS SPA) 11 Sep. 2002 disclose hydrophilic membranes comprising cross-linkable sulfonic fluorinated polymers comprising: monomeric units deriving from tetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated monomeric units containing sulfonyl groups —SO2F, and from 0.01% to 5% by moles of monomeric units deriving from a bis-olefin of formula (I): R1R2C═CH—(CF2)m—CH═CR5R6 (wherein m=2-10, R1, R2, R5, R6, equal to or different from each other, are H or C1-C5 alkyl groups). The membranes are obtained by cross-linking of the sulfonic fluorinated polymer, the cross-linking involving the backbone of the polymer. The membranes are suitable both for use as ion conducting membranes in electrochemical cells as well as filtration membranes.
Cross-linking of fluorinated polymers involving the sulfonyl fluoride functional group precursor to the sulfonic acid functional group has also been previously described. U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,914 (ION POWER, INC.) 11 May 2004 discloses ion exchange membranes comprising cross-linked polymers having the following structure:
obtained by treatment of the fluorinated polymer comprising —SO2F functional groups with ammonia, followed by hydrolysis of the residual —SO2F functional groups with a strong base and then by heat treatment. The resulting bridging group has however a limiting effect on the water absorption ability of the membrane.
WO 2007/142885 A (E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS) 13 Dec. 2007 and WO 2007/142886 A (E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS) 13 Dec. 2007 similarly disclose the cross-linking of fluorinated polymers involving the reaction of —SO2F functional groups. In particular these documents disclose the cross-linking of polymers comprising 95% to 5% of —SO2X functional groups (X=halogen) and 5% to 95% of —SO2X functional groups that have reacted with a nucleophilic compound Y with a cross-linkable compound having the potential to form cross-links with the —SO2X functional groups. The cross-linkable compound thus reacts with the residual —SO2X functional groups in the fluorinated polymer. It has to be noted that the cross-linking reaction between the —SO2F (or —SO2X) functional groups and the cross-linking compound may lead to the formation of hydrogen fluoride (or HX) which has to be properly removed from the resulting cross-linked polymer.
Additionally, the resulting membranes comprising the cross-linked fluorinated polymer have to be submitted to hydrolysis and acidification treatment to transform the —SO2X functional groups that have not reacted with the cross-linking compound and the —SO2X functional groups reacted with the nucleophilic compound Y in the ion conducting acid —SO3H form.
From the foregoing it becomes apparent that the need still exist for providing articles, in particular membranes, with improved physical and mechanical resistance by the cross-linking of fluorinated polymers comprising sulfonic acid functional groups without affecting the ion conducting capability and hydrophilicity of the polymer and with a process involving a reduced amount of steps.

Process for the preparation of cross-linked fluorinated polymers


A method and apparatus demodulate pre-formatted information embedded in an optical recording medium. The demodulation includes (a) receiving a wobble signal representing data symbols frequency-modulated on a carrier frequency, (b) generating a phase delta signal representing a phase difference between the wobble signal and a corresponding locked signal having the carrier frequency, (c) first sampling the phase delta signal at a data sampling interval to produce first values, (d) second sampling the phase delta signal at each halfway of the data sampling interval to generate second values, (e) determining, based on a difference between two successive second values, if the first sampling is performed at timing corresponding to an end of each data symbol, and (e) adjusting sampling timing of the first sampling towards the timing corresponding to each end of the data symbols, if the sampling timing does not corresponds to the end of each data symbol.

In a read-only optical recording medium, such as a compact disc (CD) read only memory (ROM) or digital versatile disc (DVD) ROM, user data is built into the disc and also provides position and timing information for reading the data. However, in a recordable CD or DVD, such position and timing information must be provided without user data. Thus, recordable CDs or DVDs are manufactured with preformatted land-groove patterns in order to encode position and timing information. Fine position information comes from the "push-pull" signal arising from the presence of the alternating land and groove patterns. Timing information, which is used to write the user data at a precise circumferential location of the groove, is provided by "wobbling" the grooves. Coarse position information is encoded in the wobble, or on the land adjacent to the groove, depending on the format. The optical disc driving system recovers the position and timing information from the preformatted patterns using a timing loop. The exact method of information recovery depends on the precise format of the recordable CD or DVD.
There are various types and formats of recordable optical discs, for example, CD-R (recordable), CD-RW (rewriteable), DVD−R (recordable), DVD+R, DVD−RW, DVD+RW, and the like. DVD−R and DVD—RW use preformatted pits on the land adjacent to the track to provide the position information, and the groove is wobbled at fixed frequency to provide the timing information. The timing information is used to generate a write clock. On the other hand, DVD+R and DVD+RW encode the position data using a single cycle Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) modulation on the wobble, so that a small set of the wobble cycles are opposite in phase to the rest. The remaining cycles form a constant frequency sinusoid similarly to DVD−R/RW, and provide timing information for the write clock. On the other hand, CD-R and CD-RW use frequency modulation (FM) to encode a bit stream containing sync information and data block number. Consequently, the wobble signal from a recordable CD takes two values centered on the desired wobble frequency (the carrier frequency).
In order to recover these preformatted timing and position information (also referred to as wobble data), a timing loop is conventionally used in CD-recordable and DVD-recordable chip sets. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a conventional timing loop 10. The timing loop 10 typically includes a phase detector 12, a loop filter 14, and a Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) 16. The timing loop 10 is commonly referred to as a phase lock loop (PLL). The recording system for either format is required to have an accurate timing loop to demodulate the encoded coarse position information and properly align the write data with the wobble. A DVD-recordable system only requires one timing loop because, in a DVD-recordable format, the timing information is provided by the wobble with a fixed frequency and thus the wobble data is synchronous with the timing wobble signal. However, in a CD-recordable format which uses frequency modulation of the carrier signal, the wobble data is modulated onto the wobble signal somewhat asynchronously. Thus, a CD-recordable system requires two different timing loops: one for the wobble signal; and the other to determine when to sample the wobble data. That is, in a CD-recordable system, after a timing loop (phase lock loop) is locked to the underlying wobble frequency and phase, it is still necessary to determine when to sample the resulting signal to obtain the wobble data. In addition, the Applicants have found that there is sometimes a frequency offset between the underlying wobble frequency and the wobble data due to manufacturing error or process deviation and the like, and the best time to sample the resulting signal would change with time. In this case there is an additional concern that the data should be placed on the disc with respect to the wobble data, rather than the wobble signal, in order to avoid an overwriting of the user data or a gap in the user data.
FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a conventional two-PLL system 20 for a CD-recordable format, including a first PLL 22 for a wobble signal, and a second PLL 24 for the wobble data. The output of the wobble signal PLL 22 reflects the underlying frequency modulation (wobble phase output), which is used as an input to the second PLL 24. For example, in the second PLL 24, the wobble phase output may be high-pass filtered to remove any DC content, and then squared to remove the effect of the sign of the signal. The output of the second PLL 24 will be used as a clock to sample the input signal, and from these samples, the signal can be demodulated. Thus, the arbitrary phase offset and any possible frequency offsets are eliminated by the second PLL 24.
However, compared with a DVD-recordable system, the conventional two-PLL CD-recordable system has disadvantages that it requires additional circuitry for the second PLL, which increases the size and cost of the device. In addition, the presence of multiple circuits with the same function increases the design complexity, as well as the pin count of the chip, the number of components required to support the chip, and the like.

Single PLL demodulation of pre-formatted information embedded in optical recording medium


A multiple coin actuation mechanism has a latch biased to an inward home position with its inner end extending through an upstream side of a first coin slot of a stationary front cover plate toward a rotatable carrier wheel and generally alongside an unobstructed path for insertion of a first coin through the first coin slot into a first coin recess of the carrier wheel. The latch is pivotally yieldably movable away from the carrier wheel due to engagement with a second coin in a second coin recess in the rotatable carrier wheel, as the second coin is brought into alignment with the first coin slot, to allow the second coin to pass under the latch while the latch remains in contact with the second coin, preventing its removal from the second coin recess outwardly through the first coin slot, as the carrier wheel rotates past the first coin slot.

The present invention generally relates to vending machines and, more particularly, is concerned with a multiple coin actuation mechanism having a pivotal latch preventing coin removal from a carrier wheel recess.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,657,848 and 5,924,542 to Schwarzli disclose a prior art multiple coin actuation mechanism for a vending machine. The coin actuation mechanism has a front cover plate with first and second coin slots, a rotatable coin carrier wheel with first and second coin recesses angularly spaced apart on one face of the carrier wheel and aligned with the first and second coin slots of the cover plate when the carrier wheel is in a home position for the user to deposit a coin into each of the coin recesses, a rear retainer plate overlying the carrier wheel and fixedly attached to the front cover plate, and a rocker bar fixedly mounted on the rear retainer plate and having an end stop which normally extends through a hole in the rear retainer plate to adjacent a slot on the cover plate but not extended from the slot so as to intersect with the path of any coin moved into or removed from the first coin slot of the front cover plate which blocks movement or removal of the coin. When the carrier wheel is turned a cam on a ratchet wheel, which rotates with the carrier wheel, engages the rocker bar and causes it to deflect so as to project its end stop through the slot on the cover plate and across the coin path thereby blocking removal of the coin from the second coin recess of the carrier wheel through the first coin slot of the front cover plate. This action of the rocker bar and its end stop is synchronized by the cam to only occur when the coin in the second coin recess is aligned with the first coin slot. At all other times the rocker bar is undeflected and thus its end stop is withdrawn from extension through the slot. However, a problem with this design in that the use of the rocker bar coin blocking device increases the complexity and cost of the design over that of the conventional prior art coin actuation mechanisms.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,222,711 to Chang, the inventor herein, seeks to avoid the problem of the cited Schwarzli patents by employing a multiple coin actuation mechanism design that introduces a minimum of additions or modifications thereto. This patent employs a pivotal coin removal blocking latch and provides an edge notch defined adjacent to one side of the first coin recess in the carrier wheel which allows initial insertion of the first coin through the first coin slot into the first coin recess while preventing removal of the second coin from the second coin recess through the first coin slot when the carrier wheel is turned sufficiently to align the second coin recess with the first coin slot. However, the latch is normally in an outer initial home position in which it extends across the path movement of first coin insertion into the first coin slot. Thus, the latch will be contacted by the first coin and must be deflected out of the way by the first coin in order to achieve insertion of the first coin through the first coin slot into the first coin recess. Frequently, users inserting the first coin will think the latch is an obstruction that needs to be dealt with and some users may damage the machine in attempting to force the coin against the latch.
Consequently, the approach of neither of these above cited patents seems to provide the optimum solution for the problem at hand with respect to the general type of vending machine multiple coin actuation mechanism described above. Therefore, a need still exists for an approach which will provide a solution to the aforementioned problem in the prior art without introducing any new problems in place thereof.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multiple coin actuation mechanism having pivotal latch preventing coin removal from carrier wheel recess


A bone fixation device such as a screw, pin, staple, cable or anchor has a microtextured contact surface to enhance installation or gripping characteristics, preferably by providing directional or anisotropic engagement. A surface texture comprised of patterned microfeatures imparts a roughness or actual mechanical engagement that prevents loosening. In different embodiments the features resemble an array of microbumps or pyramids, or anisotropic features such as rasp teeth, shingles, or slanted cantilevered fiber/rods. The use of microbumps present a smaller surface area when moving, while providing full area contact after the surfaces have relaxed or decompressed; installation may be effected with low force, while high static or resting friction prevents disengagement. Features with directional asymmetry or angled suspension allow the textured surface to slide or deflect when the fixation device moves in one direction, while presenting a high resistance to torque or linear motion when moved in the other direction. Manufacturing is achieved with ion beams or directional treatment with energetic radiation, and regular arrays of the microfeatures may be produced as stationary surface growth phenomena without the use of pattern masks or mechanical contact. One manufacturing apparatus rotates the fixation device about a longitudinal axis while it is irradiated along an oblique axis. A bone pin may have centrally-directed spurs that allow a multi-segment fracture to be securely pinned without threading. An elastic fastener body such as a screw or pin can be pre-tensioned to place the bone under a torsional or compressive load, or introduce strain at the healing site.

The present invention relates to mechanical fixation devices and hardware used in surgical applications to attach or anchor bone tissue or prosthetic devices to bone, or to secure pieces of bone together. Some examples of such devices are bone screws, bone pins, eye hooks and anchor assemblies. It is a common feature of these devices that they are fitted into a precisely drilled or reamed hole and they are intended to anchor firmly against one or more bone contacting surfaces. In particular, bone screws generally have extensive thread surfaces which cut or press against precut grooves in a hole drilled into a bone. Bone pins generally also similarly fit tightly against a hole wall, or have a bone engaging surface which allows them to fix at least one end of the pin. Fixation devices such as eye hooks may also be fastened to bone to allow suturing of soft tissue such as muscle, tendon or connective to a particular spot on the bone.
In general, these bone fixation devices have mechanical aspects analogous to those of the corresponding conventional fastening elements such as pins, screws, anchors and the like. In this regard, their functioning is dictated largely by a body or rod of high tensile, shear and bending strength, a plurality of screw threads with a sufficient lateral surface area for great load bearing ability, and in some instances self-tapping or wedging properties, and other mechanical structures which are substantially identical to those of the corresponding general purpose screw, pin or the like. Surface texture has figured relatively little, if at all, in the construction of bone fastener hardware.
In some areas of the bone prosthesis field, surface texture has been found to be quite important. Thus, when replacing acetabular joints or structural endings for major bones, e.g., artificial knees or hips, it has previously been realized that the surface texture of the metal prosthesis may be tailored to be more or less conducive to the ingrowth of bone material and thus the formation of a strong cement-free bond to existing bone. Textures for this purpose have been formed in a cast metal bone prosthesis, for example, by brazing on additional small surface features such as balls, wires, or screens which collectively define protrusions and indentations into and about which bone may grow to form a relatively strong and shear resistant coupling. In certain circumstances, the presence of suitably textured surfaces on such prostheses may allow the surgeon to dispense with cement or other bonding materials which otherwise had been generally required to form at least a temporary bond to the prosthesis during the process of bone healing. The scale of surface patterning which has been found useful in bone attachment extends from what might be described as a macro-roughness, with pores of approximately 100 microns and larger, to what might be described as a relatively jagged surface configuration with structures extending a millimeter or more outside the plane of the nominal prosthesis surface. As a rule, the utility of such features is related to their ability to support or encourage trabecular bone growth and the ultimate formation of a hard organic bond to the prosthesis.
On a different level, surface texturing such as knurling may be applied to symmetrical items such as bone pins to achieve an ultimate increase in the shear strength where they bond to a bone. Here, the relative feature size is again measured in fractions of a millimeter, and the bond-strengthening mechanism appears somewhat similar to that described for prosthetic bones in providing a network in which bone intergrowth may extend in a depth dimension to form a shear free interface. However, these designs for addressing the shear strength of the bone coupling layer address the relatively long term strength of the interface so formed; for such a design, the short term strength immediately following installation is not affected, and in fact, if installed without adhesive, the interface may be considerably more fragile due to the smaller direct and rigid contact area involved.
Also, items such as bone screws having a self-wedging taper may become loose quite quickly if they start to back off. Thus, care must always be exercised in fitting the bone fastener tightly enough without exerting such great force as to crack bone or risk subsequent loosening of the device.
Various structures have been developed for providing secure fixation, among which may be cited those of U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,381,050; 2,397,545; 2,490,364; 2,699,774; 3,678,925; 3,716,051; 3,782,374; 3,805,775; and 4,011,602; 4,355,428; 4,743,256; 4,745,913; 4,834,757 and 4,878,915. All of these structure address, to some extent, the provision of a mechanical gripping or biting mechanism that can be tightened sufficiently to provide a sure grip while limiting to some extent the magnitude of stresses created in the surrounding bone. This is generally done with protrusions that bite in localized regions, self-limiting wedging arrangements that distribute stress and provide only gradual expansion, porous or polymer mechanical contact faces, or combinations of these features. However, in general these fixation devices still rely on a screw-tightened wedging action, and often they provide a broad range of adjustment so that the correct feel or torque during installation to assure fixation without introducing destructive levels of strain is left to the mechanical skill, experience and judgment of the surgeon. Since the installation process itself necessarily generates debris that may create binding and provide a false sense of torquing into solid material, the success or longevity of installation may therefore involve some element of luck, even when performed by a highly experienced and meticulously careful surgeon.
Accordingly, there is a need for fixation devices that provide uniform and secure fixation characteristics.
There is also a need for bone fasteners having a mechanical design that offers improved tightening and holding ability, yet with less risk of creating high stresses in the bone to which they attach.


A process for preparing high detergency or surfactant alkyl polyglycoside compositions and a purified alkyl monoglycoside and to compositions employing the polyglycosides for various end use applications. The process involves removal of a substantial portion of the monoglycoside present in a reaction product mixture containing alkyl polyglycosides resulting from the reaction of an alcohol and saccharide at elevated temperatures in the presence of an acid catalyst. Separation of the monoglycoside from the reaction product mixture may be carried out by molecular distillation.

Since the practice of commercial scale processes for the production of alkylpolyglycoside products is governed chiefly by economic factors, it is not economically feasible to produce a wide variety of alkylpolyglycoside products for distribution in commerce. This is unfortunate since the applications or end use of these compositions is highly dependent on combinations of factors including carbon chain length, degree of polymerization, and additional factors such as the co-presence of impurities or minor amounts of residual surfactants. A wide variety of applications of alkylpolyglycoside products is known in the prior art. Illustrations of such uses include hard surface cleaner compositions, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,606,850, 4,627,931; polymerization aids, U.S. 4,657,999; liquid soaps and bubble baths, U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,422; carpet shampoo and cleaning uses, U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,595; corrosion inhibitors, U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,665; dishwashing detergents, U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,704; viscosity modifiers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,696; potentiating agents, U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,158; contact lens cleaning, U.S. 4,767,559; detergent and shampoos, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,780,234, 4,565,647, 4,663,069, 4,483,779, 4,396,520, 4,599,188, 4,493,773, 4,536,319, 4,154,706, 4,304,679; and cosmetics, 4,323,468, 4,196,201. This list is not intended to be all inclusive but merely to illustrate the wide variety of applications and end uses of alkylpolyglycoside compositions requiring specialized formulation considerations, which for the most part must be determined empirically.
Donald E. Koeltzow and Allen D. Urfer, in a paper, "Preparation and Properties of Pure Alkyl Glucosides, Maltosides and Maltotriosides", JAOCS, Vol. 61, No. 10, pp. 1651-1655, October, 1984, examine various physical and functional properties of relatively pure alkyl glycosides having from 4 to 18 carbon atoms. This paper in turn refers to other publications dealing with synthesis of alkyl glucosides and an article by Francis A. Hughes and Baak W. Lew, reports on the physical and functional properties which render them suitable for use on biodegradable, surfactants, emulsifiers and detergents, "Physical and Functional Properties of Some Higher Alkyl Polyglucosides", JAOCS, Vol. 47, pp. 162-167, 1970.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,422, noted earlier, dealing with liquid soaps and bubble baths, prepared formulations in examples 6, 7 and 11 in which mixtures of two different alkylpolyglycosides were mixed in substantially equal amounts by weight, a C.sub.9-11 alkylpolyglycoside having a DP of 1.3 and a C.sub.12-13 alkylpolyglycoside having a DP of 2.8. At this substantially equal weight mixture no improvement is shown for examples 6, 7, or 11 over examples 1, 2, or 12 employing only one of the alkylpolyglycosides.
Similarly, in German Application DE 4 005 959, directed to liquid, foaming, cleaning agents, more specifically dishwashing detergents, an approach is taken whereby the mean degree of glycosidation (glycoside units per fatty alcohol residue) is not too high. The degree of glycosidation is controlled or determined by mixing two different alkylglycosides of differing alkyl lengths and differing degrees of glycosidation, in which each alkylpolyglycoside has an alkyl group of only one chain length, i.e. all C.sub.10 and all C.sub.11, or two different alkylpolyglycosides of mixed alkyl groups, i.e. C.sub.8-10 and C.sub.11-18, in which 1-10 parts of the C.sub.11-18 is mixed with 1 part of C.sub.8-10. Specifically shown are mixtures of C.sub.8 C.sub.10 G.sub.1.8 with a C.sub.12 C.sub.14 G.sub.1.2 or C.sub.12 C.sub.13 G.sub.1.1.
More recently, however, Japanese Patent Application No. 63-298821 filed 25 Nov. 1988 and laid open Jun. 5, 1990 (Kokai No. 145696/90) describes a higher alkylglycoside composition said to possess foaming characteristics equivalent to general purpose anionic surfactants, such as sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate and sodium polyoxyethylene (3EO) dodecyl sulfate. The formulated compositions are described as a mixture of individual or pure higher alkylglycosides characterized in an essential component of at least 14% by weight of component (A) a decyl or/and (B) an undecyl polyglycoside with at least 14% by weight of component (C) a dodecyl or/and (D) a tridecyl polyglycoside in which (A) has an average degree of polymerization (DP) of 1.1 to about 4.1; (B) has an average DP of 1.4 to about 2.5; (C) has an average DP of 2.4 to about 3.8 and (D) has an average DP of 2.9 to about 4.6. Both the number of alkyl carbon atoms and the DP are described as (5) essential, particularly for component (A). Compositions are described comprising 28-92% by weight of (A) with the remainder being alkylglycosides having non-essential alkyl glycosides having alkyl groups of 11-14 and higher. Described are:
(1) mixtures of (A) with (i) n-hexadecylglycoside or (ii) n-tetradecylglycoside (as non-essential components); PA1 (2) a mixture of (A) with a dodecylglycloside having a DP of 1.8, outside the DP range for component (C) above as a non-essential component; and PA1 (3) mixtures of one or two of essential components (A) through (D) above with one non-essential component (either an alkyl group other than 10-13 carbon atoms or a DP outside the range for the essential components).
While the approach of the Japanese reference to mix glycosides of individual, single, alkyl groups could allow simulation of foaming surfactant properties, unfortunately, the use of mixtures of alkylpolyglycosides derived from readily available binary mixtures of fatty alcohols as described above are not encompassed within the teachings of the Japanese reference. The mixtures of alkylpolyglycosides derived from mono or relatively pure cut alcohols suggest a completely different approach than the unique, surprising and economically practicable approach hereinafter described with reference to the present invention.
In another approach, European Patent Application, EP 92355, published Oct. 26, 1983, describes the preparation of fatty glycoside mixtures by reaction of a saccharide-containing composition of the formula A--O--(G).sub.x, where A is hydrogen or an organo group of less than 8 carbon atoms, G is a saccharide and x is an integer of at least 1, with a lipophilic alcohol having at least 8 carbon atoms and a surfactant additive of the formula R.sub.f O(G).sub.n, where R.sub.f is a lipophilic organo group having at least 8 carbon atoms, G is a saccharide unit and n is an integer of at least 1. The reaction may be controlled to promote fatty glycoside mixtures of varying degrees of glycosidation. The applicants indicate generally that the mixture may be fractionated into divergent fatty glycoside fractions of differing HLB values, which may be recombined to make a fatty glycoside mixture of predetermined HLB values. No specific example of such a mixture is given. This approach, using individual divergent fractions, is similar to the Japanese approach of combining glycosides of individual, single, alkyl groups.
While these mixtures of monoglycosides and higher polyglycosides have properties permitting their function as detergents and surfactants, they have been typically formulated in the past with other anionic, nonionic or cationic surfactants to provide for enhanced surfactant properties, since standing alone they fell short of properties achieved by other surfactants, such as the ethoxylated surfactants.


Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and program product to provide to a user creating an electronic message one or more informational messages related to the content and addressees of the electronic message. A computer system identifies one or more addressees of the electronic message created by the user. The computer system identifies any informational messages associated with each of the addressees, and displays to the user the identified informational messages. Each step is performed prior to the computer system transmitting the electronic message for delivery to any addressee. The informational messages can be predefined by the addressees of the electronic message and include hyperlinks and other programmable elements for execution by the user. The electronic message can be an e-mail, instant message, or other form of electronic message.

Electronic messaging has been widely adopted for business-related communications. Electronic messaging technologies such as e-mail and instant messaging can enable an organization to operate globally, while remaining cohesive and coordinated. In the context of a large organization, internal electronic messaging can be a powerful tool for the rapid exchange of information among many employees and can help employees identify and access each other's expertise as well as other sources of information.
Typically, however, as the size of an organization grows, so does the complexity of the business relationships within and external to the organization. Employees' expertise, collaborations, business and research projects, and various other business functions are often constantly evolving. Consequently, electronic communications within an organization that pertain to particular subject matter may not be consistently directed to the appropriate recipients, which can result in wasted time and resources.
One such scenario involves an individual who begins work in a new job function. Colleagues may continue to send the individual messages pertaining to his or her prior job function, leaving the individual to inform them of his or her new job function and perhaps suggest an appropriate recipient of the messages or an alternative resource for the information sought. This exchange can place a considerable burden on the individual, especially if multiple colleagues make the same mistake. These miscommunications can also delay access to the appropriate individual or information originally sought.
Existing approaches to this and similar problems focus primarily on routing or rerouting an electronic message to an appropriate recipient. For example, a messaging system may correlate previously sent messages with their recipients to create delivery rules for future messages containing similar content, or a messaging system may automatically route a message to a particular recipient based on the recipient's expertise in the subject matter of the message. Such approaches may help avoid delivering messages to inappropriate recipients, but they are not well-suited for informing a message-sender of the recipients' preferences or suggestions, and they may still be subject to inaccuracies inherent in the systems' determinations of which individuals should receive the message. Further, when messaging systems route or reroute an electronic message after it has been transmitted by the message-sender, the message-sender may lose the ability to modify the message, learn that the original addressee is not the appropriate contact, choose an alternative addressee, or otherwise reconsider how to approach the issue at hand.
An efficient way to provide customizable information to a message-sender related to the content and addressees of an electronic message, prior to transmission of the message to any addressees, would be useful.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to overcome the deficiencies and limitations described hereinabove.

Pre-transmission contextual electronic message prompting

International Business Machines Corporation


An adjustable bowel treatment arm (110) features a telescoping shaft (112) having a proximal end and a distal end. A handle (118) is secured to the distal end of the telescoping shaft, while a pivot junction (122) positioned at the proximal end of the telescoping shaft. A stem has a proximal end and a distal end, where the distal end of the stem is attached to the pivot junction. A head (124) is attached to the proximal end of the stem.

Many individuals suffering from spinal cord injuries or other medical conditions (such as cauda equina syndrome, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida and chronic constipation) require bowel management programs or treatments. Various options are available and include pharmacological (laxatives such as those taken orally or by suppository), digital stimulation, diet control and others. The airy is to provide the user with a regular bowel management routine without constipation or fecal incontinence. The issues of independence, dignity, dexterity and ease of use are important needs to be addressed by a bowel management program and the associated systems and devices.
In a number of bowel management programs, the user must access the rectum using his or her gloved finger(s). For example, the user may need to manually stimulate the anus and rectum to evacuate stools. The user may also need to digitally remove a stool from the rectum using his or her fingers. An irrigation device, suppository or other object may also need to be inserted into the rectum by the user. Even when other bowel management treatments are used, the user may need to use a gloved finger to check for the presence of stool before and/or after the treatment.
While devices that assist patients in digital bowel stimulation and/or the insertion of irrigation heads, suppositories and the like into the rectum exist, they include a non-adjustable shaft with a handle at one end and a holder or other head or tool at the opposite end. A device that more readily and conveniently accommodates the limited dexterity of some users is desired.


A sliding module for a portable terminal which has a first housing and a second housing sliding on the first housing is disclosed, the sliding module slidably coupling the first and second housings. The sliding module includes a sliding plate mounted on a surface of the first housing; at least one guide rod mounted on a surface of the second housing and slidably coupled to the sliding plate, the guide rod being extended in the longitudinal direction of the second housing; at least one first guide rib formed on the sliding plate; and at least one second guide rib formed on the surface of the second housing, wherein the second guide rib is slidably engaged with the first guide rib, and maintains at least partial engagement with the first guide rib within a sliding range of the second housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable terminal, and in particular, to a sliding module for a portable terminal which comprises a first housing and a second housing, wherein the second housing slides in the longitudinal direction of the first housing, so that a part of the first housing is opened.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, portable terminals are classified into bar type, flip type, and folder type depending on their external appearance.
A bar type terminal has a body-shaped housing, on which a data input means, a data output means, a transmitter unit and a receiver unit are mounted. Such a bar type terminal has a disadvantage in that a key pad, which is the data input means, is apt to malfunction because it is always exposed, and there is a limitation in miniaturizing the bar type terminal due to the problem of maintaining a sufficient distance between the transmitter unit and the receiver unit.
A flip type terminal has a body, a flip portion, and a hinge module for interconnecting the body and the flip portion, in which the body is provided with the data input means, the data output means, the transmitter unit and the receiver unit, and the flip portion covers the key pad, which is the data input means, whereby the terminal can be prevented from malfunctioning. However, there is also a limitation in miniaturizing the flip type terminal due to the problem of maintaining the sufficient distance between the transmitter unit and the receiver unit.
A folder type terminal has a body, a folder portion, and a hinge module for pivotally interconnecting the body and the folder portion, so that the folder portion can be opened or closed by being pivoted. In the state in which the folder portion is folded onto the body and is in close contact with the body, the folder type terminal is in a call waiting mode, and the terminal can be prevented from malfunctioning. In the call mode, the folder portion is unfolded away from the body, whereby it is possible to secure a sufficient distance between the transmitter unit and the receiver unit, which is advantageous for reducing the size of the terminal. For this reason, folder type terminals presently make up the majority of portable terminals.
In the flip type terminal or the folder type terminal, if the flip portion or the folder portion is pivoted in the opening direction beyond a predetermined angle, the flip portion or the folder portion will be pushed by the hinge module in the opening direction so that the flip portion or folder portion can be opened even if a force is no longer exerted on them, while if the angle between the flip portion or the folder portion and the body is less than a predetermined range, the flip portion or folder portion will be pushed back in the direction for making the flip portion or folder portion come into close contact with the body.
Meanwhile, as the design of portable terminals are diversified, sliding type terminals also have been marketed, and have two housings, one of which slides on the other, so that the other housing can be opened or closed.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 379,551 filed on Mar. 6, 2003 and assigned to the assignee of this application, discloses a portable terminal having a pair of housings which are slidably coupled with each other, and a sliding module therefore. In the portable terminal disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 379,551, one housing slides on the other, thereby opening a part of the other housing, specifically, the key pad of the terminal. The one housing is provided with springs and the other housing is provided with sliding guides in the form of rails, so that the two housings are movably coupled by the springs and sliding guides. In addition to this type of sliding module, various types of other sliding modules are applied to sliding type terminals.
However, conventional sliding modules form an obstacle in reducing the size of terminals because movable members, such as a sliding plate, that is provided in one housing, and stationary members, such as sliding guides, that are provided in the other housing, are engaged with each other in the state of being opposite to each other and thus the sliding modules prevent a reduction in thickness.


The present invention provides methods of immunomodulation using placental stem cells and placental stem cell populations. The invention also provides methods of producing and selecting placental cells and cell populations on the basis of immunomodulation, and compositions comprising such cells and cell populations.

Human stem cells are totipotential or pluripotential precursor cells capable of generating a variety of mature human cell lineages. Evidence exists that demonstrates that stem cells can be employed to repopulate many, if not all, tissues and restore physiologic and anatomic functionality.
Many different types of mammalian stem cells have been characterized. See, e.g., Caplan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,359 (human mesenchymal stem cells); Boyse et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,681 (fetal and neonatal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells); Boyse et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,553 (same); Beltrami et al., Cell 114(6):763-766 (2003) (cardiac stem cells); Forbes et al., J. Pathol. 197(4):510-518 (2002) (hepatic stem cells). Umbilical cord blood, and total nucleated cells derived from cord blood, have been used in transplants to restore, partially or fully, hematopoietic function in patients who have undergone ablative therapy.
The placenta is a particularly attractive source of stem cells. Because mammalian placentas are plentiful and are normally discarded as medical waste, they represent a unique source of medically-useful stem cells. The present invention provides such isolated placental stem cells, populations of the placental stem cells, and methods of using the same.

Immunomodulation using placental stem cells


An improved device holds a skewer over a hot surface such as a grill or an open flame. The device preferably accommodates any type or size of skewer. It allows for skewered food to be rotated for even cooking or searing and prevents the skewered food from sticking to the grate of a grill while cooking.

Barbecue skewers receive food to be placed on or over a grill, fire, other heat source for cooking. A problem with prior skewers is that they must be placed directly on a grill, resulting in charred food or food that sticks to the grate of the grill. This results in a grill or grate that is very difficult to clean. Because of the difficulty in cleaning, many grills are re-used without cleaning, thus creating a risk of contaminating food during later cooking events, especially when the food comes in contact with the grill. In an attempt to avoid these problems, a person could hold the skewer over the flame or other heat source while cooking, but that creates a risk of injury from burning to the person.
The present invention is directed to an improved device for holding a skewer and preventing the skewered food from sticking to the grate of a grill while cooking. It also helps the user avoid the risk of injury that may result from manual holding of the skewer over the heat or flame.


A system, method, and device for analyzing a sample using spectroscopy. The system includes a spectroscope, a sample vial with a swab removably sealable within a transparent enclosure, the swab including an absorbent collection substrate. The system further includes a sample vial adaptor configured to affix to the spectroscope, and a sample vial receptacle that receives the sample vial. The adaptor is configured to position the sample vial such that the transparent portion of the enclosure is between the swab and the laser of the Raman instrument, and such that the swab is positioned at the focal distance of the laser.

There is an increasing demand for methods and systems capable of detection, quantitative characterization, and notification of the presence of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and/or explosive ("CBRNE") hazards across a broad range of disciplines, including defense, food safety, homeland security, and medical diagnostics, among many others. For example, rapid screening of unknown liquids and solids on surfaces for low levels of chemical warfare agents ("CWA"), toxic chemicals, narcotics, and explosives in the field is a critical capability need for assuring the safety of warfighters, law enforcement officials, emergency responders, and homeland security officials, among others. Rapid field detection and identification of CBRNE hazards enables an appropriate response and accurate decision making that facilitates time and cost savings as well as proper protective measures. In addition, mitigation of surfaces contaminated with CWAs, some toxic chemicals, and biological toxins is particularly imperative given that lethal doses can occur from dermal exposures of just a few milligrams or less.
While there is existing technology for the detection and identification of chemical and biological hazards on surfaces, these sensors often require a substantial quantity of target analyte to detect and identify the hazard directly on the surface due to interfering background signal from the surface itself. In addition, direct interrogation of chemical and biological materials on the surface may require risk of contamination of the sensor and or personnel. In the case of explosive residues, interrogating of large amounts of target analyte using laser-based spectroscopic methods such as Raman can risk detonation which could injure personnel and/or damage expensive sensors. Therefore, mechanisms to minimize the required amount of target analyte are advantageous to reduce exposures and protect personnel while still providing accurate and rapid characterization. Further, existing surface detection instruments are unable to achieve sufficiently sensitive results in a rapid manner with little or no sample preparation. Analyses requiring sample preparation are time consuming, can be error prone, and may effectively dilute the target analyte resulting in a lower concentration and reduced likelihood of achieving detection. Accordingly, there is a continued need for rapid, accurate, and reliable portable sensor systems capable of being deployed in the field.
One method used for the identification of biological or chemical threats is Raman spectroscopy. Raman is a form of vibrational spectroscopy proven to exhibit excellent selectivity for the purpose of material identification and has been the handheld liquid/solid analyzer of choice for defense and homeland security applications. Raman spectroscopy utilizes a monochromatic laser to interrogate unknown samples. Depending on the specific wavelength of light, the composition of the background material, and properties of the chemical being interrogated, the light can result in absorption, transmission, reflection, or scattering. Light that is scattered from the sample can result in either elastic collisions resulting in Raleigh scattering or inelastic collisions resulting in Raman scattering. Raman light scattering is the result of a photon exciting the molecule through vibration and rotation of its bonds from a ground state to a virtual energy state. Once the molecule relaxes, it emits a photon and returns to a rotational or vibrational state different from the original ground state. The energy delta between these levels results in a shift of the emitted photon's frequency away from the excitation wavelength. The result is a detection method based on the peak intensities at characteristic shifts measured in wavenumber (cm−1) or wavelength (nm) and attributed to specific molecules, thus generating a Raman spectral "fingerprint" by recording the intensity of light as a function of the energy difference between the laser and Raman scattered light. This output is reproducible and allows development of identification algorithms for the spectral fingerprints.
One difficulty with existing Raman detectors is that some background surfaces undergo a competing phenomenon, referred to as fluorescence, which can mask the signal of the target analyte since it is often several orders of magnitude more intense than Raman scattering. For example, highly colored surfaces, plastics, and surfaces with organic binders, paints, and adhesives can obscure a Raman signal and affect the sensitivity of analysis. Modulation of the wavelength of the incident light can alleviate some fluorescence effects, but most fielded instruments operate at a static incident laser wavelength chosen to balance these effects as well as to conserve power, weight, and complexity of the device. The sensor wavelength can be increased to minimize fluorescence but Raman signal diminishes as the 4th power of laser wavelength. Therefore, a Raman sensor at an excitation wavelength of 1064 nm has a signal approximately 3.4 times weaker than a corresponding sensor at a wavelength of 785 nm. Accordingly, for these and other reasons, existing Raman detectors are not sensitive enough to detect low levels of chemical and biological agents. Enabling a surface sampling method, device, and system capable of concentrating the target analyte to maximize the detector signal, while also reducing background interference can consequently dramatically improve sensor sensitivity and selectivity.
Accordingly, there is a continued need for surface sampling methods, devices, and systems to augment the sensitivity of existing detectors in order to provide detection of chemical and/or biological agents in a field-deployed setting in near real-time.

Surface sampling method, device, and system for enhanced detection of chemical and biological agents


A method of transferring a multi-variate process control model from one RF-powered plasma processing chamber (the reference chamber) to another nominally identical RF-powered plasma processing chamber (the target chamber) comprises first determining a multi-variate process control model on the reference tool based upon sensor data, 100. Then, a set of sensor data is taken for the reference chamber by running a designed experiment, 102, and a corresponding set of sensor data is taken for the target chamber using the same designed experiment, 104. The relationship between the reference and target chambers is determined by comparing the results of the designed experiments and calculating a transform matrix representing differences between the two chambers, 106. Finally, the process control model is transformed from the reference chamber to the target chamber using the transform matrix thus obtained, 108.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for transferring process control models between plasma processing chambers.
2. Prior Art
The manufacture of integrated circuits is a detailed process requiring many complex steps. A typical semiconductor manufacturing plant (or fab) can require several hundred highly complex plasma processing chambers to fabricate intricate devices such as microprocessors or memory chips. These fabs typically construct these devices on a substrate of silicon, known as a silicon wafer. A single wafer, containing many such similar integrated circuits, often requires over 200 individual steps to complete the manufacturing process. These steps include lithographic patterning of the silicon wafer to define each device, etching lines to create structures and filling gaps with metal or dielectric to create the electrical device of interest. From start to finish the process can take weeks to complete.
On each chamber the wafer is processed according to some recipe, which is controlled by the tool operator. This recipe includes input parameter settings such as process gas flow rates, chamber pressure, substrate/wall temperatures, RF power settings on one or more power generators, recipe time, inter-electrode spacing, etc. This is the case for all plasma processing tools, such as etch, deposition, etc. The wafer will undergo very many plasma process steps before completion. Each step contributes to the overall product yield; a fault at any one step may destroy potential product.
FIG. 1 shows a typical plasma process reactor. It includes a plasma chamber 1 containing a wafer or substrate 2 to be processed. A plasma is established and maintained within the chamber by an RF power source 3. This source generally has real impedance which must undergo a transformation to match that of the complex plasma load. This is done via match network 4. Power is coupled to the plasma chamber, typically by capacitive or inductive coupling, through an electrode 8. Process gases are admitted through gas inlet 7 and the chamber is maintained at a desirable pressure by a pump 11 pumping through gas exhaust line 10. A throttle valve 9 may be used to control pressure. The plasma permits effective manufacture of for example, semiconductor devices, by changing gas chemistry. Gases such as Cl2, used to etch silicon and metal, for example, are converted into reactive and ionized species. Etching of the very fine geometry used to fabricate semiconductor devices is made possible by the reactive gases, ions and electrons of the plasma.
Referring again to FIG. 1, an RF sensor 5 is used to measure the RF electrical power signal in the complex post-match electrical line. A Fourier Transform is performed in data collection electronics 6 using a sampling technique which extracts the Fourier components of the voltage and current and the phase angle between these vectors. This data sampling should have sufficiently high resolution to determine the Fourier components across a very large dynamic range. Suitable techniques for high resolution sampling and measurement of the Fourier components are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,808,415.
The output of the data collection electronics 6 is connected to a controller 12 which may be a computer or other system which uses the signals to yield information about and/or control the plasma process.
The Fourier components are very sensitive to plasma events. The wafer fabrication process involves running entire batches of wafers with similar plasma process recipes to ensure reliable volume production. If the plasma process on each wafer is the same, then the measured Fourier components will reflect this. Any change in the plasma process will be registered by change(s) in the Fourier components.
Key goals in a manufacturing plant are to maximise line yield (the percentage of wafers successfully processed) and die yield (the number of fully functioning devices on each wafer). Various process control mechanisms are used to optimise the performance of each tool to meet these objectives. One approach to process control is to apply a fault detection and classification (FDC) scheme to a fingerprint obtained from a sensor, such as the RF sensor described above.
An FDC scheme can be implemented as follows. First, the state of the process is measured using one or more sensors.
The sensor data can be multidimensional data from a single sensor (e.g., Fourier components of the RF source 3 obtained from the sensor 5, as in the embodiment to be described), or data from a set of sensors, but in either case the data must be sensitive to hardware and process changes. The important criterion is that the sensor data has sufficient dimensions to permit a plurality of different fingerprints to be defined for a respective plurality of different fault conditions. The RF sensor described above fulfils these requirements. As used herein, a "fingerprint" is a set of sensor data which defines a particular state of the equipment—thus a fault fingerprint means a set of sensor data defining the state of the equipment in a fault condition. As wafers are processed through the chamber, the fingerprint is analysed to determine if the process is in an abnormal state. If such a state is detected, wafer processing is halted until the problem is resolved. This is the fault detection step. The time taken to solve the problem and restore the tool to production can be reduced by further classifying the abnormal process state against a historical record of known fault conditions to determine if a similar fault has re-occurred. This is the fault classification step.
A method for learning the profile of sensor data associated with a specific type of fault is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,441,620 and is explained using the following simple example.
A designed experiment (DOE) is carried by varying three process inputs: power, pressure and electrode spacing. The DOE design is shown in FIG. 2. In addition, the experiment includes a fault condition whereby a process kit part of the wrong dimension is installed in the chamber. The process kit is a part of the chamber hardware that is replaced during preventive maintenance. Installing an incorrect part alters wafer processing conditions which can cause wafers to be scrapped. An RF impedance sensor is used to measure the subsequent changes in the plasma chamber.
FIG. 3 shows how three of the sensor outputs, A1 (RF voltage fundamental), A2 (first harmonic of RF voltage) and A3 (RF phase fundamental), respond to changes in power and electrode spacing on a given chamber. Sensor outputs Al and A2 respond in a similar fashion to changes in power and spacing, but sensor output A3 responds differently. Thus, especially when all sensor outputs are taken into account, a change in process power will be different and distinguishable from a change in electrode spacing. If many of the hardware conditions and process inputs are changed in a design of experiments then a comprehensive tool profile comprising a set of sensor responses for all hardware and process input changes can be established, with each fault condition having its own unique fingerprint. A collection of sets of sensor data defining respective different fault conditions is referred to hereafter as a "fault library". Each fault-defining set of sensor data in the fault library is preferably recorded as a set of differences from the relevant sensor outputs when the process is in a known good state.
To perform fault detection and classification, changes in sensor outputs are recorded for each wafer as it is processed. The difference between the current sensor outputs, and the sensor outputs when the process was in the known good state, is compared to the fault library. A match is considered to have been found if the fingerprint of the wafer is well correlated to a fault fingerprint in the fault library. Typically, the user is presented with a chart which shows how the current wafer correlates to all fingerprints in the library. An example of such a chart is shown in FIG. 4. This indicates that the current wafer is well correlated to the process kit fault fingerprint in the library, and the user can have good confidence that the FDC system has found an accurate match.
The magnitude of the change can be used to perform fault detection. If the change exceeds a user-specified threshold, a fault detection decision is reported to the user. FIG. 5 shows the magnitude of change for a sequence of wafers processed with the wrong process kit part installed. These wafers are above a fault detection threshold which has been set so as not to cause any false alarms on known good wafers.
A typical wafer fab has many plasma chambers dedicated to each step of the process and each chamber requires a fault library. In some cases, it may not be possible to copy the fault library learned on one chamber directly to all other nominally identical chambers, and use it for fault detection and classification. FIG. 6 shows what happens when an identical process kit fault to that induced in the chamber referred to in relation to FIGS. 3 to 5, Chamber A, is induced on a second chamber, Chamber B, nominally identical to Chamber A, where the fault library has been copied directly from Chamber A. The fault detection signal has been reduced by a factor of 5. The reason for the reduced sensitivity can be seen in FIG. 7 which shows the corresponding correlation information. Identical faults induced on Chamber A and Chamber B are not well correlated.
Thus, this approach to process control has two limitations.
Decreased sensitivity: The robustness of the FDC system depends on a large signal-to-noise ratio for each fault compared to the baseline of normal behaviour. Reducing the signal-to-noise ratio of the FDC system can lead to faults being missed, with a subsequent impact to line yield, die yield and cost.
Reduced accuracy of classification: The trustworthiness of fault classification information depends on achieving a good match to a previously learned pattern when a similar fault re-occurs. If the same fault re-occurs but does not trigger a reasonably close match to a pattern in the fault library, a user's confidence in the FDC system is diminished.
An alternative strategy would be to build a new copy of the fault library on each chamber. This method also has a major limitation. As each fault is required to be learned through a designed experiment carried out while the chamber is not running production material, this method would require significant downtime and is very costly. This is especially true for those experiments which require chamber hardware to be temporarily modified, as is the case with the process kit fault described above.
It is also possible to construct a fault library using only those sensor parameters which are known to respond similarly across different chambers. This approach would also lead to reduced sensitivity as other parameters that contain useful information about a fault condition are not used.
Therefore, there is a need for a method for manipulating a fault library in some fashion so that it can be used on multiple chambers without sacrificing sensitivity.

Method for transferring process control models between plasma processing chambers


The invention relates to a circular knitting machine comprising a stationary hollow cylinder, a rotor disposed within the stationary hollow cylinder and adapted to revolve in coaxial relation with the stationary hollow cylinder, a plurality of coils disposed on the internal circumferential surface of the stationary hollow cylinder, a plurality of sliders disposed in vertically slidable relation on the external circumferential surface of the rotor, needles mounted on top of the corresponding sliders, a coil energizing means for exciting the plurality of coils, and a driving means for driving the rotor.

Since the advent of a circular knitting machine, there has been no change in the basic mechanism used for driving its needles in which the needle cylinder is driven to move the needle up and down along the contour of a knitting cam disposed under the needle cylinder.
However, since the vertical motion of the needle is determined by the configuration of said cam, the following problems are inevitable.
(1) The motion of the needle is delimited by the shape of the knitting cam. For example, depending on the shape of the adjacent cam, the motion wanted by the operator may be physically impossible to obtain.
(2) In order to vary the motion of needles, it is necessary to exchange the cams. Since this exchange is a time-consuming job, much hesitancy must be overcome to set a new needle motion.
(3) In the trouble-shooting of a circular knitting machine, it is necessary to verify that the knitting cams have not been worn out of shape but the above mechanical complexity is a major drawback in the maintenance of the circular knitting machine.
The present invention provides a circular knitting machine which does not require knitting cams which lie at the base of the above-mentioned problems.

Circular knitting machine with magnetic actuated needle selection


The present invention discloses a cleaning brush structure having a replaceable brush hair plate, which comprises an accommodating groove being tapered in width from its front end to its rear end on a plate body of the cleaning brush and a baseboard being tapered in width from its front end to its rear end, such that the baseboard can be secured into the accommodating groove and will not fall out easily. Further, the accommodating groove has an opening disposed above the accommodating groove and slightly smaller than the bottom thereof, and its rear end is broader than its front end, such that when a user takes out the baseboard for replacement or cleaning, the baseboard will not come out uncontrollably due to the excessively applied force.

In the area of general cleaning accessories, a brush used for cleaning is very common to everyone, and one of these cleaning brushes will be described briefly below.
Please refer to FIG. 1. A cleaning brush 10 comprises a slender rod body 11, a plate member 12 extended from one end of the slender rod body 11, a brush hair plate 14 integrally coupled onto the plate member 12 to form a brush hair plate.
Further, the plate member 12 comprises a metal plate 15 protruded from the front of the plate member 12 for removing a tough dirt or stain. The brush hair plate 14 comprises a plurality of brush hairs or scrubbing cloths; and the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 adopts a plurality of brush hairs. Further, the slender rod body 11 has a handle 16 at the other end to facilitate a user to hold the handle for cleaning.
In the manufacturing process of the aforementioned cleaning brush 10, it is nothing more than simply making a cleaning brush for a particular application, such as manufacturing the cleaning brush 14 with a plurality of brush hairs or scrubbing cloths and then integrally coupling the plate member 12 of the cleaning brush 10 to form a finished goods of the cleaning brush for a single use. However, the mass production process for producing various different brush hair plates 14 according to the prior arts generally combines the brush hair plate 14 with a slender rod body 11 and a handle 16 together to fulfill the requirements for different applications of the brush hair plate 14, but such manufacturing method has the following shortcomings.
1. Since the brush hair plate 14 is integrally coupled with the plate member 12 of the cleaning brush 10, therefore the brush hair cannot be replaced after the brush hair plate 14 has been used for a long time or gets too dirty that causes problems to the cleaning, or the brush hair plate 14 is damaged. Users have to buy a brand new cleaning brush for the replacement and thus increasing the costs.
2. As to the manufacture of the cleaning brushes for various different applications, a particular type of the slender rod body 11 with a particular type of the brush hair plate 14 must be made for each model. Such method not only wastes time, labor and materials, but also wastes earth resources, and thus such method is a very inefficient one.
3. If a user needs to use a different cleaning brush for a different cleaning job, it generally requires the user to buy another kind of cleaning brushes to meet the need. However, buying all kinds of required brushes not only wastes money, but also takes up spaces for storing these brushes. It will cause problems for small family to find a place for storing a number of cleaning brushes. Therefore, the traditional cleaning brushes have not taken the space for storage into consideration and are definitely inefficient.
In view of the description above, the plate member 12 of a prior-art cleaning brush 10 is integrally coupled with the brush hair plate 14, which is an issue causing inconvenience to the application by user and requiring improvements on its design to overcome the existing shortcomings.

Cleaning brush structure with replaceable brush hair plate


A vehicle including a housing. The housing includes an outer portion, an inner portion, an air-flow channel, a plurality of air inlets, an air outlet, and a spoiler surface or a spoiler. The air-flow channel is disposed between the outer portion and the inner portion of the housing. The air inlets are disposed on the outer portion of the housing, and the air outlet is disposed at a rear of the outer portion of the housing. The air-flow channel communicates with the air inlets and the air outlet. The spoiler surface or the spoiler is disposed on a bottom of the outer portion of the housing, a top of the inner portion of the housing, or both the bottom of the outer portion and the top of the inner portion of the housing, for extending path of the air.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a vehicle, and more particularly to an energy-saving vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
During the travel of conventional vehicles, a lifting force is produced because the air-flow path on the upper portion is longer than the air-flow path on the lower portion, and thus, the tire-road adhesion is decreased, resulting in an unstable travelling of the vehicles. To solve the problem, a typical method is to increase the weight of the vehicle to overcome the lifting force. However, this method leads to a large amount of energy waste.


Disclosed herein is an optical modulator module package using a flip-chip mounting technology, in which an optical modulator device is hermetically mounted using the flip-chip mounting technology. The optical modulator device is protected from an external environment, it is easy to transmit an electrical signal to the exterior, and optical characteristics of the optical modulator device are desirably maintained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to an optical modulator module package and, more particularly, to an optical modulator module package using a flip-chip mounting technology, in which easy electrical signal transmission between an optical modulator device and driver integrated circuits and hermetic mounting to desirably maintain characteristics of the optical modulator device are simultaneously achieved using the flip-chip mounting technology.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, many applications and products have been developed using a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) technology, and are used in daily life.
Most MEMS products comprise movable components, and are affected by surface energy rather than energy caused by mass, due to a micrometer(μm)-sized fine structure.
Accordingly, in order to assure stable and reliable performance of the products, movement of movable structures must be shielded from mechanical and chemical external factors and be separated from factors capable of affecting surface energy. To satisfy the above-mentioned demand, a study has been made of hermetic packaging for a MEMS device.
Currently, in the case of a reflective diffraction type of optical modulator among MEMS devices, in comparison with integration of the optical modulator and driver integrated circuits on the same device, it is believed more preferable to form the driver integrated circuits on another device so as to form a hybrid-type structure by modularization, in terms of yield and cost. Thus, production of the hybrid type is common.
Since the optical modulator device uses light, unlike a conventional device, conventional modularized structures and modularization processes cannot be used and should be mostly modified. Particularly, an optical modulator device is susceptible to moisture due to movement of active devices, thus hermetic mounting is necessary. Additionally, it is preferable to integrate an integrated device for driving the optical modulator device on the same device or to mount the integrated device in the same housing so as to produce a compact module structure and to make signal connection to the exterior easy.
Hermetic packaging of the conventional optical modulator device is generally conducted through a soldering method using attachment of a metal by fusion.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional optical modulator device package, which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,303,986.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the optical modulator device package disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,303,986, solderable materials 120, 124 which are formed on a cover 122 and a passivation layer 114 are packaged using solders 126. This soldering method is capable of assuring excellent hermetic property and reliability of MEMS products.
However, in views of price competitiveness, yield, processability, and miniaturization, it is necessary to reduce the sizes of an optical modulator device and a module, thus there is growing a need to modify the structure and method of electrical signal connection between the optical modulator device and external driver integrated circuits, and a sealing structure.

Optical modulator module package using flip-chip mounting technology


In a process for manufacturing a master cylinder (23) wherein a piston (9) that carries a valve (37) is assembled within a cylinder to define a chamber (41). The piston (9) moving in the chamber (9) in such a way that initial forward travel in cylinder defines a dead stroke as the valve (37) moves from an opened position to a closed position and with further forward travel with the valve (37) in the closed position defines a useful stroke wherein a lessening of an inner volume of the chamber (41) occurs as fluid is pressurized to effect a brake application, characterized in that the process further comprises the steps of:

This invention mainly relates to a manufacturing process for a master cylinder, in particular a tandem master cylinder, such process including a dead-stroke adjusting step, and it also concerns a master cylinder manufactured using said process.
It is quite usual to implement, in braking systems, valved tandem master cylinders which supply, on actuation, a high-pressure brake fluid for the control of the brakes associated with the wheels of a motor vehicle.
When a control rod is moved by means of a brake pedal, advantageously with the help of a pneumatic servomotor, it drives a push rod which, in turn, moves at least one piston of the tandem master cylinder and reduces the inner volume of a least one chamber filled with the brake fluid, the pressure of which is increased.
Yet, the initial travel, called the dead stroke, of the control rod by a few mm does not increase the pressure at all. In consequence, the braking operation is delayed by the dead stroke.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a master cylinder, more particularly a valved master cylinder and, preferably, a tandem master cylinder which is reliable, rugged and capable of a fast response.
Another object of this invention consists in providing such as master cylinder, having a small dead stroke.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide batches of master cylinders exhibiting a very low dead-stroke dispersion.
Still another object of this invention consists in providing such a master cylinder, introducing only very little differences or modifications in comparison with the master cylinder of the well-known type, so as to facilitate its development.
And another object of the present invention consists in providing a tandem master cylinder at a moderate cost price.
These objects are achieved by a master cylinder, advantageously a tandem master cylinder according to this invention, comprising at least one translatably-mounted piston within a cylinder fitted with a valve, including a stroke-adjusting part in order to obtain a desired dead stroke, preferably a dead stroke falling within a range of values for the desired dead stroke.
A manufacturing process for such a master cylinder in accordance with the invention comprises a step of measuring the dead stroke of the valve, followed by a step of mounting, in the master cylinder, a stroke-adjusting part, ensuring a stroke compensation so as to obtain a dead stroke falling within a range of values for the desired dead stroke.
In an advantageous manner, a single measurement is carried out and a single selection of the adjusting parts is adopted, which are valid for a whole batch of master cylinders to be manufactured.
The main subject of the invention relates to a manufacturing process for a valved master cylinder, comprising the steps of assembling a master cylinder, having a piston moving in a chamber, and fitted with a valve, in such a way that the forward travel of the piston in the chamber corresponds, in the first instance, to a dead stroke, the valve being open, followed by a useful stroke accompanied by a lessening of the inner volume of the chamber, while the valve is closed, characterised in that if further comprises the steps of:
a) measuring the dead stroke;
b) determining, from the measurement of the dead stroke, the geometry of an adjusting part, ensuring the opening control of the valve during the forward travel of the piston, so as to obtain a desired dead stroke; and
c) mounting, in the master cylinder, the adjusting part for the opening control of the valve, in order to alter, in particular reduce, the dead stroke of the master cylinder.
According with another aspect of the present invention, the manufacturing process is characterised in that said adjusting part is selected from a group of similar parts, having a plurality of geometries, each of them being associated, for a given master cylinder, with a different dead stroke.
The invention also relates to a process, characterised in that, subsequently to said determining step b concerning the geometry of an adjusting part, it comprises a step of manufacturing said adjusting part, having the geometry as determined in step b.
Another subject matter still of the present invention is a process, characterised in that the manufacturing of the adjusting part comprises a step of forming said part.
A process according to another aspect of this invention is characterised in that the adjusting part is a pin for receiving the end of a stem of a valve, and in that the determination of the geometry of the pin consists in determining its diameter in the contact area with the valve stem.
The invention also deals with a process, characterised in that the adjusting part is a ring having a bearing shoulder for the pin and in that the determination of the geometry of said ring consists in determining the shoulder thickness.
Another subject matter of this invention is a process, characterised in that the master cylinder to be manufactured, and the dead stroke of which must be adjusted, is a tandem master cylinder comprising a primary circuit and a secondary circuit, and in that the adjustment of the dead strokes is carried out both at the primary circuit and at the secondary circuit.
In accordance with the present invention, a process is characterised in that said process is a manufacturing process for a batch of master cylinders, and in that it comprises a single determining step, on the basis of the measurement of the geometry of an adjusting part, followed by the mounting, in succession, in a plurality of valved master cylinders, of adjusting parts the geometries of which correspond to that determined in the course of said single determining step.
The invention also deals with a valved master cylinder with a reduced dead stroke, characterised in that it is manufactured using a process according to this invention.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a master cylinder comprises a piston moving in a chamber, and fitted with a valve, in such a way that the forward travel of the piston in the chamber corresponds, in the first instance, to a dead stroke, the valve being open, followed by a useful stroke accompanied by a lessening of the inner volume of the chamber, while the valve is closed, and the valve being fitted with a stem, an end of which rests on a pin, characterised in that it comprises a shouldered ring for the adjustment, at rest, of the position of the pin which determines the dead stroke of said master cylinder.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, by way of exempla and by no means as a limitation, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Method for making a master cylinder and master cylinder obtained by said method

Abstract: a) installing a first adjusting part (51,55,57) between the valve (37) and piston (9);

Abstract: b) measuring the dead stroke;

Abstract: c) determining from the measurment of the dead stroke an effect that the geometry of the first adjusting part (51,55,57) has on the closure of the valve (37) during the initial forward travel of said piston (9);

Abstract: d) comparing the measured dead stroke with a desired dead stroke for a master cylinder (23); and

Abstract: e) replacing the first adjusting part (51,55,57) with a second adjusting part (51,55,57) to modify the closure of the valve (37) and alter said dead stroke when the measured dead stroke exceeds a predetermined value such thah the resulting dead stroke matches the desired dead stroke.


A termination for an electrical power cable includes a load carrying conductor, the termination including an insulating outer member through which the load carrying conductor, or an extension of it, runs substantially longitudinally, and means for controlling electrical stress concentrations within the outer member. Residual space within the outer member is occupied by electrically insulating solid granules. Interstices between the granules are filled with electrically insulating fluid.

This invention relates to terminations for electrical power cables, for example, operating at voltages in the range from about 35 kilovolts to 500 kilovolts or above.
When an electrical power cable is connected to an overhead line, a transformer, switchgear, or other equipment, a suitable termination is required to manage the transition of the load-carrying conductor from the environment of the cable in which it is surrounded by high-quality, solid, insulating material of high electrical strength with electrical stress geometry strictly controlled by a concentric earth screen to one in which insulation is mainly provided by air at relatively low stress concentrations and uncontrolled geometry, while protecting the cable end from contamination, and, where applicable, from leakage of insulating fluids.
Typically, these terminations comprise tubular member, usually of ceramic insulating material, to provide adequate spacing from the high voltage at the end of to earth potential at the screen of the cable. The cable conductor, or an extension of it, runs down the central longitudinal axis of the tubular member, with a stress cone or other means provided in the annular space between the conductor and the tubular member for controlling electrical stress concentrations. Resilient mechanisms may also be provided to ensure that interfaces are under pressure.
While these components fill most of the space inside the tubular member, there are still residual spaces which need to be filled with a material having better electrical propertiesxe2x80x94primarily breakdown strength, that is the electrical stress concentration at which ionisation occurs leading ultimately to electrical breakdownxe2x80x94than air, to reduce the risk of electrical breakdown at exposed surfaces. Typically, a suitable insulating fluid such as silicone oil or a compressed gas (for example sulfur hexafluoride) are used, but this increases the cost of making the terminations. It has also been known to use large, moulded, polymer shapes to occupy most of the space.
According to the present invention, there is provided a termination for an electrical power cable including a load carrying conductor, the termination comprising an insulating outer member through which the load carrying conductor, or an extension of it, runs substantially longitudinally, and means for controlling electrical stress concentrations within the outer member, characterised in that residual space within the outer member is occupied by electrically insulating solid granules and interstices between the granules are filled with electrically insulating fluid.