An etchable plate-shaped material is used as a vacuum suction pad 31. On one surface thereof, a large number of independent protruded portions and recessed portions are formed to provide a suction part 33b. Further, a periphery of the suction part is annularly formed to provide an airtight part 33a. When the vacuum suction pad 31 comes close to a substrate to be sucked, a skirt pad 32 with a slit 32d is integrally formed in the shape of a hemmed hat using an elastic member, in order to block outside air into a peripheral space of the vacuum suction pad 31. With this arrangement, it is possible to prevent the substrate from being locally deformed when the substrate is sucked by discharging air from a suction port 36 and to widen a clearance between the vacuum suction pad and the substrate such as a liquid crystal panel, at which the suction is possible.

A conveyor robot or the like is used for supplying and removing a material to and from a substrate processing device and the like. FIG. 1 shows a vacuum suction pad 1 of a first conventional example for conveying a substrate for use in a vacuum suction device of the conveyor robot, and a liquid crystal panel 2, which is a laminated substrate formed by bonding substrates to be sucked together. As is well known, the liquid crystal panel 2 is formed in such a manner that, after two glass substrates 3a and 3b are superposed with particulate spacers 4 interposed therebetween, peripheral edges of the glass substrates 3a and 3b are fixed by using an adhesive (sealant) 5, followed by injection of liquid crystal through a pore provided in a layer of the adhesive (sealant) 5. The vacuum suction pad 1 includes a rubber suction disk 1a formed like an upside down bowl and a suction tube 1b provided in a penetrating position through the top of the suction disk 1a.
FIG. 2 shows a state where a lower edge peripheral portion 1c of the suction disk 1a is brought into press-contact with an upper surface of the liquid crystal panel 2 to perform vacuum suction through the suction tube 1b. By this vacuum suction, a vacuum-sucked place of the upper glass substrate 3a might be locally deformed upward to cause an increase in a gap between the upper and lower glass substrates in this place, thereby temporally lowering pressure. In this case, the liquid crystal flows, as if concentrated, into this place. The spacers 4 with a diameter of, for example, 5 to 10 μm are inserted so as to have a uniform density of about 100 particles/mm2. However, being unfixed to the glass substrates 3a and 3b, the spacers 4 move along with the movement of the liquid crystal. When no liquid crystal has been injected into the liquid crystal panel 2, air flow into a place where pressure has been lowered. In this case, because the resistance to the movement of the spacers 4 is small, the movement of the spacers 4 is further contributed.
Consequently, after the suction by the vacuum suction pad 1, dispersion in the distribution of the spacers 4 has occurred, and corresponding to this dispersion, variations in the gap between the upper and lower glass substrates have occurred, as shown in FIG. 3. Further, although not shown in the figure, there recently exists a liquid crystal panel of the type obtained by bonding two glass substrates together without spacers, and this spacer-free type liquid crystal panel is configured in a state where the spacers 4 are not inserted into the liquid crystal panel 2 in FIGS. 1 to 3. Also in the case this spacer-free type liquid crystal panel is vacuum-sucked by the suction disk 1a, the upper glass substrate 3a is locally deformed upward, and once deformed, it does not changed back into the original form, thereby causing variations in the gap between the upper and lower glass substrates. If the gap between the upper and lower glass substrates of the liquid crystal panel varies by 0.04 mm or more, a color shading appears on the display surface, with which the liquid crystal panel becomes defective as a product.
As thus described, in the first conventional example, the deformation of the upper glass substrate occurs when the vacuum suction pad 1 vacuum-sucks the liquid crystal panel 2, caused by too large a diameter of the suction disk 1a as compared to the thickness of the glass substrate and the size of the spacer 4. The diameter of the suction disk 1a is several tens of mm while the thickness of the glass substrate is 0.5 to 1.1 mm, and a thin glass substrate tends to be selected.
In the vacuum suction pad 1 of FIG. 1, suction force becomes insufficient if the size of the suction disk 1a is reduced for the purpose of avoiding the problems of the local deformation of the suction surface of the glass substrate, the variations in the gap between the glass substrates due to the suction by the vacuum suction pad 1 and the problem of the dispersion in the distribution, which results from the local deformation and the variations in the gap, of the spacers 4. To this end, as shown in FIG. 4, there is a method for providing a plurality of vacuum suction pads 1 each having a small suction disk to suck the liquid crystal panel 2. In this case, it is necessary to attach all the vacuum suction pads 1 to the vacuum suction device such that the suction surface of each of the vacuum suction pads 1 is provided within a prescribed attachment tolerance range in order to prevent the vacuum suction pads 1 from pressing the glass substrate surface. Further, also in the case the liquid crystal panel 2 to be sucked is swollen or bent, it is necessary to set the suction surface of each of the vacuum suction pads 1 within a clearance at which the suction of the liquid crystal panel 2 is possible.
If the plurality of vacuum suction pads 1 are attached to the vacuum suction device with the suction surfaces thereof out of the above-mentioned attachment tolerance range, the liquid crystal panel 2 is conveyed while imperfectly sucked, whereby the liquid crystal panel 2 might drop when conveyed, or might be pressed by the vacuum suction pad 1 when sucked to cause occurrence of variations in the gap between the upper and lower glass substrates, leading to occurrence of product defect.
FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing a structure of a vacuum suction pad 21 in a second conventional example, shown in JP-A 11-019838. A suction disk 22 of the vacuum suction pad 21 is formed into a disk shape and is made of a photosensitive resin material, a central portion of which is provided with a vertically penetrating suction port 22c, and a suction surface of the suction disk 22 is provided with a large number of protruded portions and recessed portions, as described later. These large number of protruded portions and recessed portions are formed by etching the photosensitive resin material.
FIG. 6 shows the structure of the suction surface of the suction disk 22 in the vacuum suction pad 21, and FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the vacuum suction pad 21. The suction disk 22 has an airtight part 22a at a peripheral portion thereof with a flat surface, and a suction part 22b where a large number of protruded portions and recessed portions are formed. As shown in FIG. 7, a reinforcement layer 23 is a layer made of a large rigid plate material so as to prevent the photosensitive resin material from being deformed due to an external stress, and is bonded to the photosensitive resin material in the stage of manufacturing the photosensitive resin material into a plate-making material. A magnet sheet 24 is a sheet with the same diameter as that of the suction disk 22. A double-faced adhesive sheet 25 is an adhesive sheet for joining the magnet sheet 24 and the reinforcement sheet 23 together, and has the same diameter as that of the suction part 22b on the suction disk 22. A hole Q is formed in a position corresponding to the suction port 22c, in each of those members 23 to 25.
In the case of making the diameter of the double-faced adhesive sheet 25 equivalent to the diameter of the suction part 22b, as shown in FIG. 7, only the suction part 22b on the suction disk 22 is fixed to a supporting member 26 via the magnet sheet 24. Meanwhile, the airtight part 22a is not fixed and stays free. FIG. 8 shows an example where the diameter of the double-faced adhesive sheet 25 is made equivalent to that of the suction disk 22, and in this case, the whole surface of the suction disk 22 is fixed to the supporting member 26.
Turning back to FIG. 6, an expanded view X of the peripheral portion of the suction disk 22 is referred to. The airtight part 22a is a region where the photosensitive resin material is not etched. In the suction part 22b, a large number of small-circular regions are non-etching portions (protruded portions) and the regions other than the protruded portions are etching portions (recessed portions). As shown in the expanded view X in FIG. 6, the small circular places are left as protruded portions M and the other places become recessed portions N. Herein, the protruded portions M and the airtight part 22a are both non-etching portions and thus positioned on the same surface.
The supporting member 26 is an iron material having the same diameter as that of the magnet sheet 24, and a supporting part 26a is integrally formed at a central portion corresponding to the suction port 22c of the suction disk 22. A suction tube 27 is inserted through the supporting part 26a and is connected to a vacuum pump (not shown). The suction disk 22 is integrally joined with the reinforcement layer 23, the double-faced adhesive sheet 25 and the magnet sheet 24, and is made attachable to/detachable from the supporting member 26 by the action of the magnet sheet 24.
When the vacuum suction pad 21 as thus configured is brought into press-contact with the flat liquid crystal panel 2, the recessed portions N in the suction part 22b on the suction disk 22 form closed spaces with the airtight part 22a, and since the protruded portions M are independent of one another, the suction port 22c of the suction disk 22 is communicated with the closed spaces as shown in FIG. 5, whereby the vacuum suction is performed using the foregoing vacuum pump (not shown) through the suction port 22c, allowing the suction disk 22 to be sucked to the liquid crystal panel 2.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of sucking a liquid crystal panel 2 having a small outer shape with the use of the foregoing vacuum suction pad 21 of the second conventional example. In this case, in order to hold the substrate, one vacuum suction pad 21 is used for the vacuum suction device to be installed in a conveyor robot or the like, and the size of the liquid crystal panel 2 is in such a degree as to be slightly larger than that of the vacuum suction pad 21. When the liquid crystal panel 2 is made to be sucked by the vacuum suction pad 21, the large number of protruded portions M formed on the same surface as the airtight part 22a in the expanded view X of FIG. 6 are brought into contact with the upper surface of the upper glass substrate 3a in the liquid crystal panel 2, which can prevent local deformation of the upper glass substrate 3a in the liquid crystal panel 2, and hence variations in the gap between the upper glass substrate 3a and the lower glass substrate 3b does not occur. Moreover, also in the case of the liquid crystal panel of which the gap is formed without insertion of the spacers, no variations in the gap between the upper and lower glass substrates occur. It should be noted that, in the case the suction disk 22 itself is sufficiently flexible, the vacuum suction pad 21 may be a vacuum suction pad of the type obtained by fixing the whole surface of the suction disk 22 with the double-faced adhesive sheet 25, as shown in FIG. 8.
In the case the liquid crystal panel for use in individual display devices has a small shape, a mother liquid crystal panel is segmented to manufacture a plurality of liquid crystal panels of a prescribed size. An example of such a panel is a liquid crystal panel to be used for mobile phones, personal digital assistances (PDAs) and the like. On the other hand, in the case of a liquid crystal panel having a large outer shape, a plurality of vacuum suction pads are used as in the vacuum suction devices shown in FIG. 4.
In the case one vacuum suction device is provided with a plurality of vacuum suction pads, when the vacuum suction pad 1 of the first conventional example is used as shown in FIG. 4, as described above, in the liquid crystal panel, the local deformation of the upper glass substrate occurs and dispersion in the distribution of the foregoing spacers occurs caused by the local deformation, to bring about occurrence of product defect. For this reason, the vacuum suction pad 21 of the second conventional example is used.
There exists a distance (clearance) at which the vacuum suction pad can suck the liquid crystal panel. In the vacuum suction pad 21 having the structure shown in FIG. 5, air is discharged through the suction tube 27. At this time, the vacuum suction pad 21 sucks the air in front thereof so as to suck the liquid crystal panel. A distance from the surface of the upper glass substrate in the liquid crystal panel to the suction disk 22 of the vacuum suction pad 21 at this time is referred to as a clearance at which the suction is possible. The conventional clearance is 0.0 to 0.3 mm, and since the adequate range is very narrow, it has been very difficult to maintain the clearance and also to adjust the same.
As shown in FIGS. 10(a) and (b), with the liquid crystal panel 2 swollen or bent, even if a plurality of vacuum suction pads 21 are provided in the vacuum suction device within a prescribed attachment tolerance range, there have been cases where the clearance G between the upper surface of the liquid crystal panel 2 and the vacuum suction pad 21 exceed the clearance at which the suction of the vacuum suction pad 21 is possible. In such a case, any one of the plurality of vacuum suction pads 21 cannot suck the liquid crystal panel 2 in a regular state, and the liquid crystal panel 2 is conveyed while imperfectly sucked, which might result in that the liquid crystal panel 2 drops when conveyed, or since the vacuum suction pad 21 presses the liquid crystal panel 2 in sucking the liquid crystal panel 2, the upper glass substrate in the liquid crystal panel 2 is locally deformed to lead to occurrence of variations in the gap between the upper and lower glass substrates.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide a vacuum suction head, comprising a vacuum suction pad which can hold a substrate being swollen or bent without making the substrate defective, widen a clearance between the vacuum suction pad and the substrate at which the suction is possible during the suction, and prevent local deformation of the substrate due to the suction as well as preventing occurrence of variations in the gap between the upper and lower glass substrates caused by the local deformation in the case of the laminated substrate such as a liquid crystal panel.


A gear train for an ink jet printer includes an output gear of a motor, a first idle gear meshing with the output gear, a second idle gear rotatable with the first idle gear, and a driven gear which is mounted on a roller shaft so as to be rotatable therewith and which meshes with the second idle gear. A resin double helical gear is used as each of the output gear and the first idle gear, and a spur gear is used as each of the second idle gear and the driven gear. The resin double helical gear may have a meshing relief portion formed by cutting a chevron-shaped top portion in a central portion in face width directions, which is arranged in a butt portion between a first die and a second die, from a tooth crest to a portion near a bottom lane so as to decrease a tooth thickness.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a double helical gear (or a herringbone gear) formed from a resin, and a gear train using the same. More specifically, the invention relates to a resin double helical gear widely used for various image forming systems, such as copying machines, facsimile terminal equipment and printers, various automotive parts, such as wiper driving units, power window driving units and auto slide door driving units, various electronic equipment, and precision instruments, which are required to silently transmit power at a high rotational speed and at a high load and which are required to be lightened and inexpensively produced.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A typical ink jet printer is often connected to a personal computer to be used, and is arranged on or near a desk, on which the personal computer is operated. It is desirable to suppress the operation noises and vibrations of the ink jet printer.
Therefore, in conventional ink jet printers, a helical gear is used as each of an output gear of a motor and an idle gear meshing with the output gear, and the contact ratio of the output gear with the idle gear is increased to decrease noises. In addition, a spur gear is used as each of a driven gear of a roller shaft and an idle gear meshing therewith to prevent a thrust force from being applied to the roller shaft. Furthermore, if a thrust force is applied to the roller shaft, a transporting roller moves so as to be dislocated in the axial direction of the roller shaft. Then, a sheet (a sheet-like recording material, such as a copy paper or a post card), transported by the transporting roller, is transported so as to be dislocated in the axial directions of the roller shaft. Thus, the position at which printing starts is deviated so that the precision of printing is deteriorated.
However, if the helical gears are used as the output gear and the idle gear meshing therewith, like in conventional ink jet printers, the thrust force is applied to both of the gears. Thus there are some cases where vibrations are caused by the backlash of both of the gears and the mounting portion of the rotational shaft rotatably supporting thereon the gears.
Resin helical gears can smoothly mesh with another gear at a high rotational speed, and can silently transmit power. In addition, resin helical gears allow a load to be easily dispersed along the tooth trace, and can transmit power at a high load. Therefore, conventionally, resin helical gears have been widely used for the power transmission devices of business machines, such as copying machines, printers and facsimile terminal equipments, as well as power transmission devices of automotive parts, precision instruments and various electronic equipment.
However, in resin helical gears, there is a disadvantage in that an axial thrust load directly proportional to torque is caused since the teeth are helical. In order to eliminate such a disadvantage of resin helical gears, the thrust load caused during the transmission of power must be received by a thrust bearing. However, there are some cases where the thrust bearing can not be arranged due to constraints on space and the configuration of power transmission devices.
There has been developed a technique for forming a resin double helical gear, which can silently transmit power at a high speed and at a high load similar to a resin helical gear and which can prevent a thrust load from being caused during the transmission of power, by injection molding (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-315344).
As shown in FIG. 23, a resin double helical gear 130 disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-315344 is formed in large quantities in a short time by the steps of: causing a first die 133, which is designed to form a portion (a first gear portion 132) on one side in face width directions from a central portion 131 in the face width directions, to butt a second die 135, which is designed to form a portion (a second gear portion 134) on the other side in the face width directions from the central portion 131; injecting a molten resin into a cavity 136 defined by the first die 133 and the second die 135; separating the first die 133 and the second die 135 from each other after the resin in the cavity 136 is cooled and solidified; and removing the solidified resin from the cavity 136 defined by the first die 133 and second die 135.
When the separated dies (the first die 133 and the second die 135) are caused to butt each other to allow injection of the molten resin into the cavity 136 to mold the resin double helical gear 130, even if a butt surface 137 between both of the dies 133 and 135 is slightly dislocated, the butt surface 137 between the first gear portion 132 and second gear portion 134 of the injection molded resin double helical gear 130 is also dislocated as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B. As a result, there is a problem in that a stepped portion (dislocation) 117 is produced at the top portion 104 of a chevron-shaped tooth 138 and on the reverse 116 thereof. If such a stepped portion 117 is produced at the top portion 104 of the chevron-shaped tooth 138 and on the reverse 116 thereof, only a half tooth portion (the first gear portion 132 or the second gear portion 134) in face width directions transmits power, so that thrust is produced similar to helical gears.
In such a case, it is considered that a slit 140 extending along the butt surface 137 between the first gear portion 132 and the second gear portion 134, as shown in FIG. 24 is formed to prevent a discrepant meshing due to the interference with the stepped portion 117 at the top portion 104 of each tooth of a companion resin double helical gear 130 meshing therewith or on the reverse 116 thereof. However, there are problems in that the structure of the die is complicated and the effective facewidth relating to the flexural strength of the tooth is decreased.

Resin double helical gear and gear train using same


Detailed mapping of the magnetosphere is made possible by deploying hundreds of attitude-impervious microsatellites, in the form of small corner reflectors with piezoelectric mirror surfaces, from a single mother satellite at spacings of as little as 1 km in equatorial and elliptical orbits. The microsatellites carry magnetosensors whose output is transmitted to a ground station by modulating the reflection of a laser beam transmitted to the microsatellite by the ground station. Various refinements of the laser data link are also disclosed.

Magnetospheric sciences have, to date, relied on the study of isolated events, such as major magnetic storms. It is, however, highly desirable to synthesize the magnetosphere as a whole so that the relationship of such events to the entire geospace environment can be determined. Several large-scale computer models of the magnetosphere exist, but because of lack of sufficient observed data, they are based on assumptions which may or may not be correct.
Providing sufficient data to constrain the computer models in accordance with observed reality requires dense sampling of the magnetosphere on a global scale, as well as the transmission for analysis of huge quantities of digital data (on the order of 60 Gbytes per day). Such sampling presents a serious problem because the magnetosphere must be sampled at discrete locations by hundreds of satellites spaced, about 1 R.sub.E apart, but in critical regions, as little as 1-km from each other. The sampled data must then be transmitted to ground stations at a rate of 1 megabits per second. This is unfeasible both technically and economically with current satellite and telemetry technology.

Microsatellite system for high-volume orbital telemetry


The present invention relates to a method of forming a low dielectric constant insulating film. Its constitution has the steps of: (a) forming an insulating film containing Si—CH3 bond in the skeleton of Si—O—Si on a substrate; (b) irradiating ultraviolet ray to the insulating film in reduced-pressure atmosphere to break CH3 groups from Si—CH3 bond in the insulating film; and (c) ejecting the broken CH3 groups from the insulating film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a low dielectric constant insulating film and a method of forming the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, an insulating film having a low dielectric constant (hereinafter, referred to as a low dielectric constant insulating film) is used in a semiconductor integrated circuit in order to suppress the delay of signals communicating in wirings and to improve the processing speed of the entire circuit.
Although a semiconductor roadmap requires an interlayer insulating film having a relative dielectric constant of 2.5 or less in and after a generation when a design rule becomes. 65 nm, it has turned out after studying various insulating materials that it is difficult to realize the relative dielectric constant of 2.5 or less with raw (non-porous) material. For this reason, there has been used a way such as reducing the effective dielectric constant of the entire insulating film by reducing a film density while employing an insulating material having the relative dielectric constant of 2.5 or more. It is a method such that pores of nanometers to sub-nanometers are introduced in a formed insulating film to make it porous and thus reduce a film density.
For example, Patent Document 1 describes an example to make it porous by introducing dopant into the formed film and then removing it from the film by oxidation or the like.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-open 2000-273176 publication
However, when the pores are introduced in the insulating film to make it porous, there occurs a problem such that mechanical strength of the entire film is reduced significantly and thus the film cannot withstand a polishing process (CMP: chemical mechanical polishing) performed for planarization in process after deposition. To solve the problem, a pore size is made smaller or the porosity is reduced. With this, although the mechanical strength of the film is improved, a low relative dielectric constant so as to be required is not obtained.

Low dielectric constant insulating film and method of forming the same

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

Semiconductor Process Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A method for developing a library of compounds, the compound library, a method for identifying ligands for target molecules, and a method for identifying lead chemical templates, which, for example, can be used in drug discovery and design are provided. Certain embodiments of these methods include the use of NMR spectroscopy.

From an organic chemistry standpoint, the process of drug design can be considered to involve two steps. First, a lead chemical template (often one or more) is selected. Second, a synthetic chemistry effort is undertaken to create analogs of the lead chemical template to create a compound or compounds possessing the desired therapeutic and pharmacokinetic properties.
An important step in the drug discovery process is the selection of a suitable lead chemical template upon which to base a chemistry analog program. The process of identifying a lead chemical template for a given molecular target typically involves screening a large number of compounds (often more than 100,000) in a functional assay, selecting a subset based on some arbitrary activity threshold for testing in a secondary assay to confirm activity, and then assessing the remaining active compounds for suitability of chemical elaboration.
This process can be quite time- and resource-consuming, and has numerous disadvantages. It requires the development and implementation of a high-throughput functional assay, which by definition requires that the function of the molecular target be known. It requires the testing of large numbers of compounds, the vast majority of which will be inactive for a given molecular target. It leads to the depletion of chemical resources and requires the continual maintenance of large collections of compounds. Importantly, it often leads to a final pool of potential lead templates that for the most part, with the exception of affinity for a given molecular target, do not possess desirable drug-like qualities. In some cases, high-throughput functional assays do not identify any compounds from the large number (e.g., 100,000) of compounds screened that meet the criteria established for activity.
Thus, what is needed is a faster and better approach to identifying a lead chemical template.

Methods for creating a compound library and identifying lead chemical templates and ligands for target molecules


A position measuring arrangement for detecting a relative position is disclosed. The position measuring arrangement includes a reflection scale graduation and a scanning unit having a plurality of optical elements. The plurality of optical elements includes a combining grating, a retro-reflector element, a scanning grating and detector elements. The optical elements are arranged so that light beams and/or partial light beams of a scanning beam path act on the reflection scale graduation at least twice; a directional reversal of the incident partial light beams impinging on the reflection scale graduation perpendicularly with respect to the measuring direction takes place by the retro-reflector element; and a pair of partial light beams impinges in a non-parallel manner on the combining grating, and the combining grating brings the partial light beams impinging on the combining grating to interference, so that phase-shifted signals are detected by the plurality of detector elements.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a position measuring arrangement for detecting the relative position of a scanning unit, as well as to a reflection scale graduation, which can be moved in relation to the latter in at least one measuring direction, wherein the scanning unit includes a plurality of optical elements.
2. Discussion of Related Art
A high-resolution optical position-measuring arrangement is known from WO 02/23131 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,019,842, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Besides a reflection scale graduation embodied, for example, as a linear incident light scale, it includes a scanning unit, which can be displaced relative to it in at least one measuring direction. Besides a scanning grating and several optoelectronic detector elements, at least one optical deflection or reflector element in the form of a retro-reflector is arranged on the part of the scanning unit. A back-reflection of the partial light beams initially reflected at the reflection scale graduation in the direction of the reflection scale graduation takes place by the reflector element. There, the partial light beams are subsequently reflected a second time before interfering partial light beams then finally reach the detectors and there generate scanning signals, which are modulated as a function of their displacement. The reflector element of the position measuring arrangement in accordance with the species is designed as a ridge prism, having an optical retro-reflector functionality, and with a ridge has been aligned parallel with respect to the measuring direction. Here, the ridge prism acts as a retro-reflector in a direction which is aligned perpendicularly with respect to the measuring direction x. For creating phase-shifted scanning signals, optical polarization retardation elements in the form of small λ/4 plates are arranged in the scanning beam paths, as well as polarizers in front of the detector elements. However, such optical polarization elements basically increase the complexity, and therefore also the cost, of correspondingly constructed position measuring arrangements.
A further optical position measuring arrangement, in which a double action on the reflection scale graduation results with the aid of a retro-reflector element, is known from EP 0 387 520 A2 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,418, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In connection with this scanning configuration it is required that the partial light beams impinge slanted in the line direction on the reflection scale graduation. Because of this, relatively close tolerances regarding the scanning distance result in this position measuring arrangement.
Furthermore, reference is made to DE 42 01 511 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,225, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, in connection with such position measuring arrangements. The position measuring arrangement known from this also requires optical polarization components in the scanning beam path. It is therefore necessary to take the different diffraction efficiencies for the two polarization axes into consideration. Since the ratio of efficiency of these diffractions can greatly fluctuate over the scale graduation, it is therefore proposed in DE 42 01 511 A1 to insert two additional small λ/2 plates into the scanning beam paths. This again results in a considerable increase in the outlay, or the costs, of such systems. Furthermore, a signal improvement in this way is only possible if during both reflections the light beams are diffracted at the scale graduation with identical diffraction efficiencies for both polarization axes. However, this is not the case in actuality, since it is necessary to provide an offset of the light beams between the first reflection and the second reflection, and different diffraction conditions exist at the two reflection locations.


A triangularly shaped flexible bottle having a gusseted body section, and a neck section comprised of narrowed portions of the side panels and gusset of the body section, with a fitment in the neck section. The bottle has a flat bottom that may be created by tapering the webs forming the bottom at about 30 degrees. The body has a triangular cross section when filled, but may be contoured in the vertical direction. A process for fabricating the bottle is also disclosed which involves feeding webs, including a side gusset, creating perimeter seals around only the top portion of the bottle, inserting the fitment from the input end of the machine in the direction of web travel, forming the remainder of the perimeter seams, detaching the nascent bottle from the web, and sealing the neck section of the bottle to the fitment by clamping the neck section with a heated clamp, and preferably repeating the seal operation at a different radial angle. Sealing the fitment by application of ultrasonic energy is also disclosed.

"Stand-up" plastic pouches or bottles for holding liquids and other pourable products are becoming more popular, in part because of the desire to minimize solid waste, in part because of cost, and in part for other reasons. An early stand-up pouch design (U.S. Pat. No. 3,380,646) was devised by the Doyen Brothers in France. That pouch design, including many variants, is still in use today. It is, in fact, the dominant style. The basic Doyen design consists of two flat sheets seamed together along their sides, with a "W" fold running along the bottom. When the pouch is filled, the "W" opens and provides a base on which the pouch can stand. The original Doyen design showed the top being sealed straight across, but subsequent modifications include fitments to allow the pouch to be reclosed after opening.
One difficulty in adding a fitment to a Doyen pouch (and to many other pouch designs as well) is that, according to prior art fitment sealing methods, the fitment must be of the "canoe" style to create a joint that can be reliably sealed. The canoe type of fitment is an attempt to minimize the change in direction of pouch material as it comes into contact with the fitment, and in so doing, improve the integrity of the joint where the two sides of the pouch come together at the fitment. However, even the use of a canoe shaped fitment does not completely solve the difficulties in sealing a fitment into a pouch, and a more reliable sealing means is desirable. The present invention, in one of its aspects, provides such a means.
A "canoe" style fitment is characterized by having a sealing surface that includes relatively sharp changes in direction around the sealing periphery so as to permit the pieces of material being sealed to the fitment to approach the fitment sealing surface (laterally) at relatively shallow angles. Or, put another way, as two webs separate to go around the fitment in opposite directions, the angle of divergence is relatively small. Canoe style fitments are illustrated in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,477, U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,085, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,299.
There are at least two other shortcomings of Doyen style pouches with fitments, as compared with the present invention. One is that, because the Doyen body tapers from the bottom to the top, and the present invention has a body that approximates a rectangular parallelepiped, for a given volume contained, the bottle of the present invention requires substantially less material to fabricate. Since material cost is a large part of the cost of flexible packaging, this is a significant factor. Another shortcoming of the Doyen style (and other ungusseted styles), compared to the present invention is that, because the upper body is fabricated from two flat sheets, when the pouch is partly full, the weight of the fitment tends to cause the top of the pouch to fold over, rather than stand erect.
Gusseted bottles (but without fitment) have been made in the past (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,193,416, Kawamata et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,315, Ichikawa et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,984, LaFleur et al.) Obviously, without a fitment, these prior art containers do not have the utility of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,477, Ichikawa, discloses a gusseted pouch with a fitment. The fitment shown has flanges protruding from the central section; these create even more sealing problems than a conventional canoe style fitment. Additionally, because of the way the top of the pouch is configured, i.e., the gussets are closed at the top, the fitment weight tends to cause this pouch to fold over when partly full, in a manner very much like a Doyen pouch with fitment.

Triangularly shaped flexible bottle with fitment, and method of fabrication


A cart that can support and transport loads includes a platform, a number of wheels, a handle, and a wheel assembly. The wheels are mounted to the platform and can move the cart from place-to-place. The handle extends from the platform. And the wheel assembly extends from the platform and can move the cart from place-to-place when the cart is at an inclined position with respect to the ground upon which the cart is moved.

Material handling structures such as carts are often used to support and transport loads like beverage containers, boxes, and the like. The carts are commonly equipped with one or more handles to help support the loads and, in some cases, for manually pushing and pulling the carts. After use, it may sometimes be desirable to store the carts.


Detecting a spin probe in an oilfield fluid may indicate or determine the amount of the particular chemicals within an oilfield fluid. The detection of the spin probe may also indicate at least one property of the oilfield fluid, such as but not limited to pH, dielectric constant, rotational freedom of the spin probe, at least one chemical, the concentration of at least one chemical, residue of at least one chemical in the fluid, the speciation of coupled chemistry between the spin probe and the chemical, and combinations thereof. In one non-limiting embodiment, the spin probe may be attached to at least one chemical. The oilfield fluid may be or include, but is not limited to, a drilling fluid, a completion fluid, a production fluid, a servicing fluid, and combinations thereof.

The drilling and production of a hydrocarbon reservoir requires the use of several types of oilfield fluids, such as but not limited to drilling fluids, completion fluids, production fluids, servicing fluids, and combinations thereof.
Drilling fluids are used in operations to drill boreholes into the earth; 'drilling fluid' is typically synonymous with 'drilling mud'. One classification of drilling fluid is based on the composition of the fluid or mud. For example, water-based fluids, brine-based fluids, oil-based fluids and synthetic-based fluids, which are synthetically produced rather than refined from naturally-occurring materials.
Completion fluids are used to "complete" an oil or gas well for facilitating final operations prior to initiation of production, such as setting screens production liners, packers, downhole valves or shooting perforations into the producing zone. The fluid may help to control a well should downhole hardware fail, without damaging the producing formation or completion components. Completion fluids are typically brines (chlorides, bromides and formates), as long as the fluid is of proper density and flow characteristics. The fluid should be chemically compatible with the reservoir formation and fluids, and is typically filtered to a high degree to avoid introducing solids to the near-wellbore area. A regular drilling fluid is typically not suitable for completion operations because of their solids content, pH and ionic composition; however, drilling fluids may occasionally be suitable for both purposes.
Production fluid is the fluid that flows from a formation to the surface of an oil well. These fluids may include oil, gas, water, as well as any contaminants (e.g. H2S, asphaltenes, etc.). The consistency and composition of the production fluid may vary.
Servicing fluids, such as remediation fluids, workover fluids, and the like, have several functions and characteristics necessary for repairing a damaged well. Such fluids may be used for breaking emulsions already formed and for removing formation damage that may have occurred during the drilling, completion and/or production operations. The terms "remedial operations" and "remediate" are defined herein to include a lowering of the viscosity of gel damage and/or the partial or complete removal of damage of any type from a subterranean formation. Similarly, the term "remediation fluid" is defined herein to include any fluid that may be useful in remedial operations. These servicing fluids aid in balancing the pressure of the reservoir and prevent the influx of any reservoir fluids.
It is often beneficial to detect chemicals added to these fluids to monitor or determine a property of the oilfield fluid and/or the wellbore. These types of fluids may also be used to perform squeeze techniques where it is beneficial to force a treatment fluid or slurry into a planned treatment zone for further monitoring or detection of various properties. Such properties that may be monitored or detected may include, but are not limited to pH, dielectric constant, a chemical, an absorbance or emission at a given wavelength or integrals of wavelengths, magnetic property, and combinations thereof.
For example, determining the amount of the asphaltene inhibitors returning from a wellbore "squeeze" allows for determination of the "squeeze" lifetime and thus may act as a protection margin for the well against potential asphaltene deposition. The same is true for determining the use and/or amount of paraffin inhibitors, scale inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors, biocides, hydrogen sulfide scavengers, demulsifiers, reverse emulsion breakers, water clarifiers, drag reducers, and combinations thereof. Examples of suitable scale inhibitors may include, but are not limited to phosphinates, sulfonated polymers and copolymers, acrylic acid polymers and copolymers, phosphate esters, and the like.
Detecting these types of chemicals is often difficult because of the complexity of detecting such chemicals added to organic fluids or matrices with similar properties. That is, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between added oilfield fluids.
It would be desirable if methods and compositions could be devised to better detect the presence, amounts and/or properties of the oilfield fluids and/or added chemicals typically used within the aforementioned fluids.

Oilfield chemicals with attached spin probes


A video data conversion method is provided. The video data conversion method comprises the following steps. Video images currently played on a video source are captured, and are converted into dynamic texture data having a size and a format that meet requirements of a three-dimensional (3D) engine. The dynamic texture data is sent to the 3D engine, which then generates a map from the dynamic texture data. The map is mapped to a 3D user interface (UI) to generate a dynamic texture map.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a video data conversion method, associated device and a smart TV.
2. Description of the Related Art
With continual developments of video technologies, three-dimensional (3D) user interface (UI) smart TVs are becoming one mainstream that offers users with increasingly ideal TV operation experiences. However, although a common 3D UI smart TV appears to have a more sophisticated interface, it essentially utilizes a conventional static mapping method. Further, the playback of video and programs on the 3D UI smart TV also inherits a prior two-dimensional (2D) display method in a way that the static maps and the video data are not at all correlated.

Video data conversion method, device and smart TV


In various embodiments, a light-emitting diode arrangement is provided. The light-emitting diode arrangement includes a first substrate with a first light-emitting diode which is arranged on the first substrate such that light emitted by it radiates in a main emission direction of the light-emitting diode arrangement, and a second substrate with a second light-emitting diode which is arranged on the second substrate such that light emitted by it radiates in the main emission direction of the light-emitting diode arrangement. The second substrate is arranged above the first substrate, such that the second substrate at least partly covers the first substrate.

In a conventional light-emitting diode arrangement, a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are arranged on a substrate and are electrically connected to electrical lines formed on the substrate. The LEDs can be electrically connected in parallel and/or electrically connected in series. By way of example, the LEDs of one group of LEDs can be electrically connected in series, the LEDs of another group of LEDs can be electrically connected in series, and the two groups can be electrically connected in parallel. The LEDs can be embodied structurally identically or differently. By way of example, one group of LEDs may include surface emitting light-emitting diodes, which typically have an electrical contact on their top side and an electrical contact on their underside, and another group of LEDs may include volume emitting light-emitting diodes, which typically have both electrical contacts on their top side. Furthermore, one group of LEDs may include light-emitting diodes which emit light in one wavelength range, for example blue light. Another group of LEDs may include light-emitting diodes which emit light in another wavelength range, for example red light, and a further group of LEDs may include light-emitting diodes which emit light in a further wavelength range, for example green light.
The LEDs can be arranged on a substrate. The substrate can be a metal-core circuit board or include a ceramic main body, on which the electrical lines for electrically contacting the LEDs are formed.
One or a plurality of conversion layers can be formed above the LEDs. By way of example, a first conversion layer can be formed above a first group of LEDs and a second conversion layer can be formed above a second group of LEDs. The conversion layers can each include a carrier material, into which converter material is embedded. The converter material may include converter particles. As an alternative thereto, the conversion layers can be formed from the converter material. The converter material is suitable for converting light with respect to its wavelength. By way of example, the light-emitting diode chips of one group of LEDs emit blue light, and the converter material absorbs at least part of the blue light and emits yellow or mint-colored light. The yellow or mint-colored light mixes with the remaining, non-converted blue light, as a result of which white light can be generated. As an alternative thereto, the blue light can be converted into yellow light by means of the converter material and the blue light can be converted into blue-white light (blueish-white) by means of a different converter material, as a result of which adjustable or tunable white light can be generated.
Furthermore, with a first group of LEDs, green light can be generated, for example by means of LEDs that emit blue light and a conversion layer that absorbs the blue light and emits the green light. With a second group of LEDs, red light can be generated, for example directly or by means of a corresponding conversion layer. With a third group of LEDs, for example directly, blue light or, by means of a corresponding conversion layer, white light can be generated.
In the case of a light-emitting diode arrangement having a small basic area of the substrate, it may be desirable to achieve a high total luminous flux and a high luminance in combination with a good efficiency. In order to increase the luminance and the total luminance flux, it is possible to optimize the number and the arrangement of the LEDs on the surface of the substrate. On the one hand, the maximum number of LEDs is limited by the available arrangement area on the substrate; on the other hand, an excessively close arrangement of the LEDs leads to a decreasing efficiency, which can be explained by absorption losses. In order to increase the technical lighting parameters of the light-emitting diode arrangement, the LEDs can be operated with a higher electric current. However, the higher electrical loading leads to additional thermal losses within the LEDs, which causes a decrease in the efficiency of the light-emitting diode arrangement.


A method and apparatus for controlling data transmission via user-maintained modes is provided. A first audio data stream is recorded on a transmitting electronic apparatus. A second audio data stream is stored on the transmitting electronic apparatus. Transmission of one of the first and the second audio data streams is controlled via a first user-maintained mode when at least the other of the first and the second audio data streams is being transmitted to the electronic apparatus. The one of the first and the second audio data streams is transmitted to a receiving electronic apparatus and the other of the first and the second audio data streams is suspended.

Users of mobile and fixed computing devices have various forms and modes of communication to choose from to communicate. Forms of communication include one or more combinations of text, audio, and video, while modes of communication include full-duplex or half-duplex. Services that exist for offering the various forms and modes of communication include SMS (short message service), MMS (multimedia messaging service), IM (instant messaging, e.g., text messaging), and PTT (push-to-talk, e.g., Direct Connect® Walkie-Talkie offered by Nextel Communications Inc.). These different services may operate using fixed and/or radio communication networks employing one or more communications protocols (e.g., POTS, ISDN, CDMA, GSM and IP).
These different forms and modes of communication allow users to communicate using a variety and combination of styles that require different levels of commitment by the user. For example, full-duplex communication is more user-intrusive and requires greater attention than half-duplex communication. This intrusiveness affects communication more profoundly than simply reducing "privacy"; it affects how one manages the process of getting in and out of interactions. Accepting a connection, or allowing a connection to remain open (e.g., as in a conference call), means that it is socially difficult to deny the other parties' demands on attention. (For further background see: Nardi, B. A., Whittaker, S. and Bradner, E., "Interaction and Outeraction: Instant Messaging in Action," Proc. ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work, ACM, pp. 79-88, 2000 (hereinafter "Whittaker"), and Woodruff, A. and Aoki, P. M., "How Push-to-Talk Makes Talk Less Pushy," Proc. ACM SIGGROUP Conf. on Supporting Group Work, ACM, pp. 170-179, 2003 (hereinafter "Woodruff"), which are incorporated herein by reference.)
Much of the social difficulty to deny another party's demands on attention appears to result from the nature of a full-duplex communication channel, not from the real-time aspect of the channel or the fact that the channel is "always open" per se. For example, IM operates using "open," bidirectional channels. Studies of IM use by Whittaker indicate that a key reason why users like IM is that, although the "channel" is open and always available for messages to be sent, information is only passed when messages are actually being sent. Similar results have been seen in studies by Woodruff of the use of half-duplex, "push-to-talk" (PTT) cellular audio communication services. That is, even with an "always open" channel, a channel that limits information transmission to actual messages means that the parties on the other side of the channel cannot "see" back through the channel to determine if a party is present and/or available.
This affordance has come to be known as "plausible deniability". In IM or IM-like systems, it is more socially acceptable to ignore incoming messages, delay responses to incoming messages, or stop responding to messages in the middle of a conversation. Because of "plausible deniability," the other parties have no insight into why a response has not come and generally assume that something has come up" (e.g., an appointment, a co-present conversation, etc.) that has resulted in the lack of response. This means that communicative availability is more lightweight when using IM or PTT to communicate as opposed to using a telephone or videoconferencing.
While MMS, IM or PTT afford lightweight communication mechanism, solutions for sharing data that are used with these communication mechanisms are directed to their functionality (e.g., messaging, browsing, etc.) rather than to a user's desire to share an experience (e.g., interactive sharing). Further, such lightweight communication mechanisms do not provide the immediacy often desired in conversations with interactive sharing. To satisfy interactive sharing of data during conversations using such lightweight communication mechanisms, users need to be aware that that their information is being shared with the other users that are communicating through active control of data transmission during their conversation. To do so, sharing must be mutual rather than unidirectional. Further, such sharing must be done by allowing users to position data in an interaction so that their content is visibly relevant within a sequence of contributions. Doing so allows users in a conversation to mutually, rather than unidirectionally, share data, and to direct the focus of their attention throughout the conversation.
Accordingly, there continues to be a need for an improved lightweight communication mechanism for allowing users to have conversations that afford a lower level of commitment than always open systems while enabling users to share an experience while interacting with or referring to data. In accordance with the disclosure herein, there is provided an improved method, apparatus and article of manufacture therefore, for coordinating delivery of multiple streams of data, such as audio and video or combinations thereof, when communicating with another user using user-maintained modes.

System and method for coordinating data transmission via user-maintained modes


Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) troubleshooting of a passive optical network (PON) can be enhanced by deploying cascaded splitters, at least some of which have multiple inputs. That is, at least some of the splitters in the PON have not only a first input coupleable to the optical line terminator (OLT) or output of another splitter but also a second input directly coupleable to an Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer (OTDR). Optical time-delay reflectometry can be performed upon a selected portion or segment of the PON by selecting a splitter and transmitting an optical test signal from the OTDR directly to the input of the selected splitter and analyzing the reflected signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to passive optical networks (PONs) and, more specifically, to troubleshooting a PON using an Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) or other optical instrument.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most digital telecommunications networks (i.e., networks that facilitate the communication of data, voice, video, etc., between parties or between a content distribution service and subscribers) typically comprise active components, such as repeaters, relays and other such devices that consume power, in the path between a central office (or exchange, as its sometimes referred to) and a subscriber. In addition to requiring power, active components are subject to failure and performance degradation over time, and may require significant periodic maintenance. The passive optical network (PON) has been developed to overcome some of these deficiencies. The essence of a PON is that nothing but optical fiber and passive components are found in the path between the central office and subscribers. A single fiber can run from the central office to a passive splitter located near a group of subscribers, such as a neighborhood or office complex, and individual fibers can run from the splitter to individual subscribers or sub-groups of subscribers. Splitters can be cascaded to reach a greater number of subscribers.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) are two standards-making bodies currently developing PON standards. The ITU has adopted recommendations of the Full Service Access Networks (FSAN) organization, including G983.x, a specification sometimes referred to as "broadband PON" (BPON), and G984.x, a specification sometimes referred to as "gigabit PON" (GPON). The IEEE has also adopted IEEE 802.3-based PON standards referred to as "Ethernet PON" (EPON) and "gigabit EPON" (GEPON). These standards and recommendations are well-known to persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates and are therefore not described in further detail in this patent specification ("herein").
In accordance with these standards, a PON comprises an optical line termination (OLT), which is typically located at the central office, and a number of optical network termination (ONTs) (also known as optical network units), each located at the subscriber's premises (e.g., home, office building, etc.), with optical fiber and one or more splitters between the OLT and ONTs. In the downstream direction, i.e., data transmitted from the OLT (e.g., located at the central office) to an ONT (e.g., located at a subscriber's premises), the data units are broadcast from the OLT to all of the ONTs on the PON, and an ONT can select the data to receive by matching the address embedded in the data units to a previously provisioned or learned address. In other words, an ONT only "listens" to data units having a matching address. Thus, the OLT can transmit data to a particular or selected ONT by addressing it to that ONT. In the upstream direction, i.e., data transmitted from an ONT to the OLT, the data units are time-domain multiplexed.
An Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) is an instrument that is commonly used to analyze optical networks for troubleshooting or set-up purposes. An OTDR analyzes the light loss in an optical fiber by transmitting a (laser) light pulse into the optical fiber and measuring the backscatter and reflection of light as a function of time. The reflected light characteristics are analyzed to determine the location of any broken or damaged fibers, faulty connectors, splice losses, or other faults.
While an OTDR can successfully be used to troubleshoot many types of optical networks, signal losses from the passive splitters hamper its use in a typical PON of the type that provides video, voice, Internet service, etc., from a service provider to subscribers. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the conventional manner in which an OTDR 10 is used to troubleshoot a PON involves disconnecting the OLT 12 from the PON and temporarily substituting (indicated by dashed line) OTDR 10. The PON architecture shown in FIG. 1 is intended to be illustrative of a typical network. Note that each of the eight outputs of splitter 14 is coupled to the input of each of eight other 1:8 splitters 16. That is, splitters 16 are cascaded with splitter 14 to form a two-level cascaded arrangement or topology. The output of each of splitters 16 is coupled to an ONT 18. (The omission of some splitter outputs and ONTs 18 for purposes of clarity is indicated by an ellipsis (" . . . ") symbol.)
In use, light emitted by OTDR 10 travels through several spans of fiber as well as splitters 14 and 16 before reaching an ONT 18 and reflecting back through the same fiber and splitters 14 and 16 to OTDR 10. This arrangement does not work well because the fiber and splitters can contribute a total signal loss that can exceed the useful dynamic range of OTDR 10. For example, if the fiber contributes five decibels (dB) of loss, and each splitter contributes 10 dB, the total one-way loss is 25 dB, and the total two-way loss is 50 dB. It is generally not possible to take useful OTDR measurements where the signal loss is 50 dB. When OTDR measurements have been completed, OTDR 10 is disconnected from the PON and OLT 12 is re-connected.
Splitters having multiple inputs and multiple outputs are known in the art and have been used, for example, to couple a video overlay signal onto a PON in parallel with the OLT. In splitter nomenclature, a splitter having one input and eight outputs, for example, is commonly referred to as a "1:8" splitter, a splitter having two inputs and eight outputs, for example, is commonly referred to as a "2:8" splitter, etc.
It would be desirable to perform optical time-domain reflectometry in a PON in a manner that is not hampered by splitter and fiber losses. The present invention addresses these problems and deficiencies and others in the manner described below.

Passive optical network optical time-domain reflectometry


A bicycle control device is provided with a lever bracket and an electrical unit. The lever bracket is movably supporting the control lever. The electrical unit is coupled to the lever bracket. The lever bracket includes a bracket body and a bracket lid. The bracket body has a rearwardly located bicycle mounting portion, a control lever mounting portion and a forwardly located unit mounting portion containing the electrical unit. The bracket lid is releasably coupled to a forwardly face of the unit mounting portion of the bracket body to at least partially enclose the electrical unit in the unit mounting portion of the bracket body.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to control devices for bicycles. More specifically, the present invention relates to control devices for bicycles that include a display unit with a display screen being visible in normal use.
2. Background Information
Bicycling is becoming an increasingly more popular form of recreation as well as a means of transportation. Moreover, bicycling has become a very popular competitive sport for both amateurs and professionals. Whether the bicycle is used for recreation, transportation or competition, the bicycle industry is constantly improving the various components of the bicycle, especially the bicycle control devices for shifting and braking.
In the past, bicycle shifters were mechanically operated devices that were sometimes located near the brake levers of the bicycle. Thus, an operating force was typically applied by one of the rider's fingers to operate a shift control lever, which in turn transmitted the operating force to the drive component of a bicycle shifting mechanism by a cable that was fixed at one end to the control lever. More recently, electric switches have been used instead of mechanical control levers in order to operate the bicycle shifting mechanism. One example of an electrical shift control device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,730. This patent discloses a pair of electric switches may be provided in the side of the bracket body. Another example of this type of electrical shift control device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,580. Also, some electrical shift control devices have an existing lever bracket that is equipped with a LCD unit such as the ones disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,021 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,546,827. However, the electrical shift control devices of these patents do not include an easily removably electrical unit e.g. a display unit, a user operable control unit, or the like.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved bicycle control device. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.


Many media playback devices have a secure environment, with media decrypter and decoder components, and an insecure environment, with intermediate media processing components that are not suitable for secure implementation. In the secure environment, secure components decrypt encrypted media and store the clear-form media in secure memory that can only be accessed by secure components. Secure components also generate a media-data “proxy”, which corresponds structurally to the clear-form media, but which does not include actual clear-form media data. The media-data proxy is provided to insecure intermediate components, which manipulate the proxy to perform operations such as de-multiplexing, loss mitigation, and coded frame assembly. The manipulated proxy is returned to the secure environment, where secure components identify structural changes that were made to the proxy and make corresponding structural changes to the clear-form media before decoding the manipulated clear-form media.

Media play devices have enjoyed increasing popularity in recent years. Media play devices may include handheld computers, wireless telephones, portable media players, personal digital assistants ("PDAs"), and the like. Over time, media playback devices have acquired increasing functionality, and many such devices now provide their users with rich experiences not possible just a few years ago.
The advent of digital media and analog/digital conversion technologies, especially those that are usable on mass-market general-purpose personal computers, has vastly increased the concerns of copyright-dependent organizations, especially within the music and movie industries. While analog media inevitably loses quality with each copy generation, and in some cases even during normal use, digital media files may often be duplicated with no degradation in the quality of subsequent copies. The advent of personal computers as household appliances has made it convenient for consumers to convert media (which may or may not be copyrighted) originally in a physical/analog form or a broadcast form into a universal, digital form for location-shifting and/or time-shifting. The ease with which digital media may be obtained and copied, combined with increased use of the Internet and popular file sharing tools, has made unauthorized distribution of copies of copyrighted digital media (so-called digital piracy) increasingly common.


An electrical card connector is provided for accommodating various electrical cards. The electrical card connector comprises an integral housing (1) defining an inserting port (11), a plurality of terminals (2, 3, 4, 5) respectively received in the housing, a metal shell (7) assembled on the housing. The housing has a top bridge (16) around the inserting port thereof. The terminals (5) extend out of the housing through the inserting port. The metal shell is formed with a supporting arm on a front edge thereof, the supporting arm is disposed below the top bridge and support the top bridge upwardly to prevent the inserting port from distorting during soldering the terminals (5) to the print circuit board.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to an electrical card connector for connecting an electrical card with an electrical equipment.
2. Description of Related Art
To adapt to the development of communication and digital techniques, electrical cards are widely used in varied electrical equipments for saving information. Some card connectors, which are used for electrically connecting the electrical cards with equipments, are able to receive several different kinds of electrical cards, so that corresponding electrical equipment may engaging with varied electrical cards.
Such an electrical card connector comprises an integral housing, a plurality of contacts for different kinds of electrical cards, and a metal shell covering the housing. The housing has a top plate, a bottom plate and opposite sidewalls linking the top plate and bottom plate. The housing defines a space for the electrical cards and an inserting port in a front face thereof surrounded by the top plate, the bottom plate and the sidewalls. The contacts are received in the housing, and a part of them extend through the inserting port and out of the front face of the housing for soldering to a print circuit board. Since the housing is just formed by plastic, the top plate around the inserting port easily caves in when the contacts near the front-face of the housing are soldered to the print circuit board, and that will lead to a distortion of the inserting port of the housing, and the electrical cards can not insert into the housing normally.
Hence, an electrical card connector is required to overcome the disadvantages of the related art.


Disclosed is a lubrication device for a four-stroke engine, including three independent spaces which are crank room, cam room and lubricant room. A chamber is in communication with the three spaces respectively. A suction path assembly is located in the lubricant room and a plurality of suction holes are defined in the path assembly. An air inlet is defined in the suction path assembly. When the piston moves upward, the crank room is in a negative pressure status so as to suck air via the suction path assembly which is in communication with the crank room and the lubricant room by the chamber. The air flows fast in the suction path assembly and generates lower pressure so as to suck the lubrication oil which is then moisturized and sent into the crank room. When the piston moves downward, the crank room and the cam room are in communication with each other and the lubrication oil is sent into the cam room.

Four-stroke engines generate less pollution and use less fuel than two-stroke engines do so that more and more small power tools such as mowers, trimmers, chain saws, or even remote control model engines use four-stroke engine as the power supply. These power tools are operated at different angles so that all the parts of the engines have to well lubricated when operation. A special designed lubrication device is needed to provide proper lubrication. The conventional way is to moisturize the lubrication oil so that the moisturized lubrication oil can flow to every part of the engine.

Lubrication device for four-stroke engine


To improve processing efficiency of a SIMD processor that divides two-dimensional data into blocks, each having a width of PE number N, to store the data in a local memory of each of PEs by a lateral direction priority method.

The present invention relates to a Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) processor.
Various techniques have been proposed regarding a SIMD processor that is able to simultaneously execute the same processing on a plurality of pieces of data by one instruction (Published Japanese Translation of PCT International Publication for Patent Application, No. 2010-531502, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 07-219919, International Patent Publication No. WO 2006/049331, and Shorin Kyo "In-vehicle Video Recognition LSI including 128 4-Way VLIW-type RISC core" reported by The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, Committee on Integrated Circuits and Devices (ICD), May, 2003, Vol. 103, No. 89, pp. 19-24: hereinafter referred to as Non-patent literature 1).
FIG. 10 schematically shows a SIMD processor disclosed in Non-patent literature 1. A SIMD processor 10 includes a control processor 20 and a processor array 30. The processor array 30 is a one-dimensionally coupled distributed memory type processor array, and includes N (N: an integer of two or larger) pieces of processor elements. These processor elements are connected in a ring shape, and perform the same processing according to an instruction from the control processor 20. When the control processor 20 sends the instruction to the processor array 30, it is possible to designate processor elements that do not execute processing by a mask bit or a mask flag (hereinafter the term "master flag" is used). Thus, the plurality of processor elements included in the processor array 30 are in one of the states in which they perform the same processing and perform no processing.
In the following description, the control processor is denoted by "CP", the processor array and the processor element are denoted by "PE array" and "PE", respectively.
Each of PEs (PE1-PEN) included in the PE array 30 has the same configuration. Thus, the PE1 will be described as a representative example. As shown in FIG. 10, the PE1 includes a local memory 44, a memory controller (MEMCTL) 46, and a calculation unit 48.
The calculation unit 48 executes calculation, and is able to perform data communication with an adjacent PE. The MEMCTL 46 controls a local memory access and an external memory access.
The local memory access is a memory access generated inside the PE array 30, and specifically includes a write request and a read request output from the calculation unit 48. The MEMCTL 46 writes data from the calculation unit 48 according to the write request from the calculation unit 48 into the local memory 44, and reads data from the local memory 44 according to the read request from the calculation unit 48 to supply the data to the calculation unit 48.
Further, upon receiving a memory access from a device outside the PE array 30 (including the CP 20), the MEMCTL 46 writes data that is requested to be written into the local memory 44 when the memory access indicates a write access, and reads out data that is requested to be read to output the data that is read out from the local memory 44 when the memory access indicates a read access.
Such a SIMD processor 10 is especially effective for processing of a data group including a plurality of pieces of data arranged in two dimensions (hereinafter referred to as "two-dimensional data"). The two-dimensional data includes image data including data of pixels in one screen and aggregation of data input to respective cells of a two-dimensional table, and the like. In the following description, image data is used as an example of the two-dimensional data. However, it should be understood that all the description taking the image data as an example may be applied to other two-dimensional data. Further, unless otherwise stated, the terms "pixel" and the "pixel value" are used synonymously.
In typical, the width of an image (the number of pixels in the row direction) is larger than the PE number N. Thus, the SIMD processor 10 divides, as shown in FIG. 11, the image data stored in the external memory into blocks, each having a width of N and the number of rows of M (M: an integer of one or larger), stores the plurality of blocks in the local memory 44 of each of the PEs of the PE array 30, to cause each of the PEs to execute processing.
In typical, the total amount of the capacity of the local memories in the PE array 30 is greatly smaller than the capacity of the external memory. Thus, the number of blocks that may be stored in the local memories at the same time is limited. The methods for storing blocks in the local memories may include two methods of "vertical direction priority" and "lateral direction priority". Description will be made with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13.
FIG. 12 shows an example of the case of the "vertical direction priority". In FIG. 12, numbers encircled by small dotted rectangles indicate the block numbers. Further, small rectangles in the local memory 44 indicate pixels. In "A(B,C)" (A, B, C: numbers) in each of the small rectangles showing pixels, "A" indicates a block number, and "(B,C)" indicates the numbers of the column and the row in which the pixel is located in the block, respectively. For example, 1(1,1) indicates the pixel in the first column, the first row in the block 1. Note that (X,Y) coordinates of the pixel are (0,0). Further, the symbol W indicates the width of the image (the number of pixels in the X direction, i.e., the number of columns), and the symbol H indicates the height of the image (the number of pixels in the Y direction, i.e., the number of rows). The same explanation is applied also in each of the following drawings.
The storage method of the "vertical direction priority" shown in FIG. 12 is a method of simultaneously storing pixels in the same column as many as possible in the local memories of the PE array 30. In this case, blocks located on the left side are preferentially stored, and blocks located on an upper side are preferentially stored regarding each block in the same column.
In the example shown in FIG. 12, the image height H is five times larger than the number of rows M of the block. Thus, the number of rows of the block is 5. As shown in FIG. 12, the blocks 1-5 in the leftmost end (first column) in the image data in the external memory are first stored in the order of the blocks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and then the blocks 6-10 which are in the second column from the left are stored in the blocks 6, 7, . . . .
Note that, regarding data in the respective blocks, N pieces of pixels in each row are stored in the same address (hereinafter referred to as a "local address") of the local memories 44 of N pieces of PEs in the order of rows. For example, regarding the block 1, the pixels (1(1,1), 1(2,1), 1(3,1), . . . , 1(N,1)) in the first row are first stored in the same local address of the local memories 44 of the PE1 to the PEN, respectively. The pixels in the second row are stored in the next local address of the local memories 44 of the same PEs as the pixels subsequent to the pixels in the same column of the first row. For example, the pixel 1(1,2) (not shown) in the first column, the second row of the block 1 is stored in the next local address of the local address of the pixel 1(1,1) in the first column, the first row in the local memory 44 of the PE1.
For example, when the base address BASEADDRESS (the address in which the pixel 1(1,1) is stored) in the local memory 44 is denoted by 0, the local address of each pixel in the first row of the block 1 is "0", and the local address of each pixel in the M-th row is "M−1". Further, the local address of each pixel in the first row of the block 2 is "M", and the local address of each pixel in the M-th row of the block 2 is "2×M−1". In the similar way, the local address which is in the first row of the block 6 is "5×M", and the local address of each pixel in the M-th row of the block 6 is "6×M−1".
FIG. 13 shows an example of a case of the "lateral direction priority". The storage method of the "lateral direction priority" is a method of simultaneously storing pixels in the same row as many as possible in the local memory of the PE array 30. According to this method, blocks located on an upper side are preferentially stored, and regarding each block in the same row, blocks located on the left side are preferentially stored.
In the example shown in FIG. 13, the image width W is four times as large as the PE number N. Thus, the number of columns of the block is four. As shown in FIG. 13, the blocks 1-4 in the uppermost row (first row) in the image data in the external memory are first stored in the order of the blocks 1, 2, 3, and 4, and the blocks 5-8 that are in the second row from the top are stored in the order of the blocks 5, 6, . . . .
Regarding the data in each block, as is similar to the case of the vertical direction priority shown in FIG. 12, N pieces of pixels in each row are stored in the same local address of the local memories 44 of N pieces of PEs in the order of rows.
In such a case in which all the pixels in the same row in an image are preferably stored in the local memories of the PE array 30 simultaneously to easily assemble the processing procedures, the storage method of the lateral direction priority shown in FIG. 13 is used. In such a case, by adjusting the number of rows M of the pixels in the block in consideration of the capacity of the local memories, all the pixels in the same row of an image may be simultaneously stored in the local memories of the PE array 30.
Consider designation of local addresses when the CP 20 causes the PE array 30 to execute processing when the pixel data is stored in the local memories of the PE array 30 in the lateral direction priority method. The one shown in FIG. 13 is used as an example of image data.
For example, as shown in FIG. 14, when the PE array 30 processes each pixel (shown in thick lines in FIG. 14) of the first row of the block 1, the CP 20 broadcasts "0" to the PE array 30 as the local address of the pixels which are to be processed. Accordingly, all the PEs are able to specify the pixels which are to be accessed by one instruction.
In the similar way, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, when the PE array 30 processes each pixel in the M-th row of the block 6, the CP 20 broadcasts "6×M−1" to the PE array 30 as the local address of the pixels which are to be processed. Accordingly, all the PEs are able to acquire the pixels which are to be accessed by one instruction.

SIMD processor and control processor, and processing element with address calculating unit

Abstract: When designating a local address of N pieces of data arranged in a row direction from head data whose coordinate values in two-dimensional data are (X,Y) to a PE array 110, the N pieces of data being stored in local memories, a CP 150 broadcasts a local address A1, a local address A2, and a threshold number Z obtained by an address calculation unit. Each of the PEs compares a magnitude relation between the threshold number Z and its own number, and selects one of the local address A1 and the local address A2 according to the comparison result.


In one example of the disclosure, a first measurement of actual quantity of ink in a target cartridge is taken utilizing a scale. An incremental dosage quantity be deposited into the target cartridge in a dosing pass is determined based upon a desired quantity, the actual quantity, and an undershoot safety factor. A valve is opened to enable a pressure deposit of the incremental dosage quantity of ink to the target cartridge, and then closed. A residue cutter is utilized to scrape the valve and thereby make a scraper deposit of ink to the target cartridge. A second measurement of actual quantity of ink in the target cartridge is taken utilizing the scale. An additional dosage pass is performed if the second measurement is not within an accepted variance of the desired quantity. The making of dosing passes is discontinued if the second measurement is within the accepted variance.

Liquid electrophotography ("LEP") printing processes include creating an electrostatic pattern of a desired printed image on a charged photoconductor and developing the image by presenting a thin layer of electrostatic LEP ink to the photoconductor. The charged LEP ink may be presented to the charged photoconductor utilizing a developer roller. The charged toner particles in the LEP ink adhere to the pattern of the desired image on the oppositely charged photoconductor. The ink image is then transferred from the photoconductor to a paper or other print substrate. In examples, a combination of heat and pressure may be utilized to transfer the ink image as an ink film from the photoconductor to an intermediate transfer member ("ITM"), with the ink film being subsequently transferred from the ITM to the print substrate.


An exhaust system for a motorcycle includes exhaust pipes extending from exhaust ports of an engine, a first muffler chamber for receiving the exhaust pipes, a second muffler chamber arranged parallel to and operatively connected with the first muffler chamber, and a silencer disposed in the second muffler chamber. The exhaust system is distributively arranged in a vehicle width direction such that the first muffler chamber is situated on a left side of a center line of the motorcycle defined along longitudinal direction of the motorcycle, and the second muffler chamber is situated on a right side of the center line. The first and second muffler chambers are disposed at a position below the engine. The exhaust gas from the engine is emitted outside the engine via, in sequence, the exhaust pipes, the first and second muffler chambers and the silencer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exhaust system for a motorcycle, and to a motorcycle incorporating same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a distributive arrangement of components of the exhaust system in a motorcycle.
2. Description of the Background Art
There are several known exhaust systems for a motorcycle. The exhaust systems emit exhaust gas from an engine into the air via an exhaust pipe and a silencer. The engine is generally arranged between front and rear wheels of the motorcycle.
An example of such known exhaust system for a motorcycle is disclosed in the Japanese Patent document JP-A No. 2007-91180, in which a first muffler (54) and a second muffler (55) are arranged parallel to each other at a position below the engine, and in which an exhaust pipe extending from the engine is connected to the second muffler (see FIGS. 1 and 4 thereof).
According to the Japanese Patent document JP-A No. 2007-91180 (as shown in the FIG. 4 thereof), the exhaust system includes a plural (four) exhaust pipes (39A to 39D) extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body. The exhaust pipes (39A-39D) are connected to the second muffler (55) at rear portion thereof via a U-shaped bent second connecting pipe (52), and are operatively connected to the first muffler (54) via a front end portion of the second muffler (55). The second muffler (55) is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The first muffler (54) is arranged in series with the second muffler (55) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.
A downstream portion (a portion in front of the U-shaped portion of the bent second connecting pipe in the rear of the vehicle body) of the first muffler 54 communicates with an expansion chamber 69. The second connecting pipe (52) is connected to a third muffler 57 (see FIG. 1 of the Japanese Patent document JP-A No. 2007-91180) arranged in the rear of the vehicle body.
The exhaust system, as disclosed in the Japanese Patent document JP-A No. 2007-91180 (see FIG. 4 thereof), is configured such that the exhaust pipes 39A-39D and connecting pipe (52) are arranged on one side (right side) of the vehicle body in a vehicle width direction, whereas the first muffler and the second muffler, each respectively having large volume, are arranged in series on the other side (left side) of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction.
Since the exhaust pipes and connecting/collecting pipes are arranged on one side and the mufflers (having large volumes) are arranged on the other side, the length of the exhaust system in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle is disadvantageously lengthened (increased), particularly when the exhaust system is arranged below the engine of the motorcycle, the length of the exhaust system is further increased.
As a result of increasing a length of the exhaust system, arranged below the engine in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a wheelbase of the motorcycle is disadvantageously increased.
The present invention has been made to overcome such drawbacks of the existing exhaust system for the motorcycle. Accordingly, it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an exhaust system for a motorcycle, in which the exhaust system is arranged below the engine, and in which components of the exhaust system are arranged such that a length of the exhaust system is reduced in comparison to the existing systems so as to achieve a lateral balance of the exhaust system in a vehicle width direction, and to enable the concentration of the mass of the exhaust system at a desired position.

Exhaust system for a motorcycle, and motorcycle incorporating same


Articles of play for use with the game of catch include a ball covered with a hook and loop fastening material and a multi-layer catcher's mitt with a front layer also covered in a mating material. The multi-layer mitt includes a rigid rear layer, a flexible layer, and front layer of a hook and loop fastening material.

The game of catch has been played since antiquity, both as a form of play and, in more recent times, as part of a sport such as baseball, etc. As is well known, the game is played by tossing a ball (or any similar article) back and forth between two or more players, who may catch the ball with their bare hands, or with the aid of a baseball glove, or the like.
Although throwing and catching an object, such as a ball, is enjoyable and easily mastered by older children and adults, a surprising amount of coordination is required to successfully play the game. This coordination is often lacking in children in their early stages of physical development Although younger children are generally eager to attempt playing the game of catch or related sports activities, they often become frustrated in their efforts due to their inability to successfully catch the ball.
One object of the subject invention is to simplify the game of catch so that it may be easily played by younger children
Another object of the instant invention is to simplify the game of catch by providing play articles which permit a young child to easily catch a thrown object, such as a ball, through use of a unique catching aid.
In accordance with one aspect and feature of the subject invention, unique play articles are provided for playing the game of catch. These articles include a catcher's aid (typically glove type) with a front surface covered in a hook and loop type fastening material such as VELCRO (registered trademark of The Velcro Manufacturing Co.), along with a ball having a surface area covered in similar material to permit the ball to be easily caught by the catcher's glove by the attachment action of the hook and loop type fastening material.
Prior art patents exist in which mating sections of VELCRO, or similar material, are used to facilitate adherence of an object to the front surface of a play article.
One of the earliest of patents is U.S. Pat. No. 3,032,345, issued May 1, 1962 to Jerome H. Lemelson. This patent is directed to a dart game in which the front surface of a dart, and the front surface of a target, were covered with VELCRO material When the dart is thrown at the target, the dart attaches to the target, simulating play as with an actual game of darts, but without the danger of sharpened steel dart tips.
A second Lemelson patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,857,566, issued Dec. 31, 1974, is directed to solving the problem of a dart disengaging from the target area due to the inherent bounce of the dart upon impact on the target. The "bounce problem" was addressed in the '566 patent by stretching VELCRO material over a frame, which frame maintained a predetermined distance between the VELCRO material and the wall on which the frame was to be hung. During the initial impact stage of the head of the dart against the flexible VELCRO material, the dart decelerates, without bounce, thereby preventing disengagement of the dart from the target.
Although the '566 patent addressed the "bounce problem", it did so by providing a frame structure over which the VELCRO material was stretched. Such a solution is clearly unsatisfactory for play articles to be used in the game of catch or other baseball like games.
A similar patent directed specifically to the game of catch is U.S. Pat. No. 3,999,748, issued to William A. Clarke on Dec. 28, 1976. This patent is directed to play articles useful in the game of catch, comprising a ball coated with VELCRO like material, and a mitt or glove having an outer face also covered with a VELCRO like material. The mitt or glove is a multi-layer device, consisting of a facing layer of VELCRO material, a flexible textile backing layer, and an intermediate plastic foam layer sandwiched between the backing layer and the facing layer. The entire multi-layer device is flexible in nature and devoid of rigid parts, which construction (although not mentioned in the '748 patent), might tend to reduce the "bounce problem". However, the flimsy construction of the mitt described in the '748 patent would prohibit adherence of any "hard thrown" balls due to inadequate padding and, moreover, the flexible nature of the entire glove would result in constant movement on the hand, making the glove very difficult for young children to use.
It is, therefore, an object of the subject invention to provide somewhat rigid articles of play for use with the game of catch, which are easily used by young children, while at the same time being completely devoid of the "bounce problem".
It is a further object of the instant invention to provide articles of play for use by young children in the game of catch, which are capable of absorbing the high energy of hard thrown balls without bounce or injury to the hand.
Lastly, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a game of catch which is simple and economical to manufacture.

Articles of play for use in the game of catch


A centrifugal blower includes an impeller and a casing having an air intake portion. The air intake portion has a bell mouth lower end portion that includes a downstream end, and a bell mouth inner surface portion that includes a radially inner surface. The shroud has a shroud upper end portion that includes an upstream end, and a shroud inner surface portion that includes a radially inner surface. The bell mouth lower end portion and the shroud upper end portion face each other in the axial direction across a gap. A difference between a diameter smallest in the bell mouth inner surface portion and a diameter smallest in the shroud inner surface portion is equal to or smaller than a thickness of the shroud. A vertical vortex generating mechanism configured to generate a vertical vortex is provided on the bell mouth inner surface portion.

In a conventional centrifugal blower, a noise caused by a separation of air flow from a negative pressure surface of blades due to an interference of a main flow and a leakage flow is suppressed by limiting a leakage of airflow through a gap between a shroud and a bell mouth of a centrifugal fan. A conventional centrifugal blower may have a configuration in which a labyrinth seal portion extending along a rotation direction is provided at a part of an air intake side end of the shroud in a negative pressure surface area facing the bell mouth.


In order to lower the sulfuric content of the offgas from a smelter reactor in which iron oxide is reduced to molten iron, in the presence of sulfur contaminants, a sufficient amount of a source of zinc is included in the charge to the reactor that the combined weight of the zinc source and the iron oxide source contains at least about 0.6% Zn (calculated as elemental zinc), on a dry weight basis. The temperature of the offgas is maintained at or above approximately 700.degree. C. Vaporized zinc, present in the offgas, binds with sulfur in the offgas to precipitate solid ZnS. After removal of the ZnS, the offgas may have a sulfuric content below 50 ppm by volume of H.sub.2 S equivalent. Suitable sources of zinc include blast furnace dust, electric arc dust, basic oxygen furnace dust, zinc calcine, and zinc sinter.

The present invention relates generally to the smelting of iron oxides by processes that generate an offgas effluent that has a sulfuric content. More particularly, the invention concerns a method of reducing the sulfuric content in such an offgas. The method has particular utility in smelting processes using iron ores and iron-bearing oxides such as steel plant dusts and sludge. The Government of the United States of America has rights in this invention, pursuant to Cooperative Agreement No. DE-FC07-94ID13284, awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Methods of smelting iron using iron ore pellets and coal-based fuels are well known in the art. During the smelting process, however, a substantial amount of sulfur is released in the offgas effluent. The sulfur present within the offgas originates from the sulfur contained in the iron oxide and coal charged to the smelter reactor. The sulfur usually is present in the iron oxide or coal in one or more of the following chemical forms: calcium sulfide, calcium sulfate, manganese sulfide, manganese sulfate, iron sulfide, iron sulfate, and organic compounds containing sulfur. In the offgas the sulfur typically is present in one or more of the following chemical forms: hydrogen sulfide, carbon oxysulfide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon disulfide. Traditionally, the sulfuric level in the offgas has been reduced by incorporating conventional gas desulfurization equipment into the process. However, current gas desulfurization equipment involves the use of lime (CaO), or redox equilibria, which require expensive equipment. Moreover, the desulfurization equipment has high operating costs.
Generally, the high sulfur levels present in steel plant effluent must be lowered prior to reaching the environment. However, the use of conventional equipment to reduce sulfur levels deleteriously affects iron smelting process costs. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to produce an economical method of iron smelting that minimizes the environmental impact.

Method for reducing sulfuric content in the offgas of an iron smelting process