A wafer of semiconductor material for fabricating integrated devices, including a stack of superimposed layers including first and second monocrystalline silicon layers separated by an intermediate insulating layer made of a material selected from the group comprising silicon carbide, silicon nitride and ceramic materials. An oxide bond layer is provided between the intermediate layer and the second silicon layer. The wafer is fabricated by forming the intermediate insulating layer on the first silicon layer in a heated vacuum chamber; depositing the oxide layer; and superimposing the second silicon layer. When the stack of silicon, insulating material, oxide and silicon layers is heat treated, the oxide reacts so as to bond the insulating layer to the second silicon layer. As a ceramic material beryllium oxide, aluminium nitride, boron nitride and alumina may be used.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wafer of semiconductor material for fabricating integrated devices, and to a process for its fabrication.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
As is known, in the microelectronics industry, the substrate of integrated devices is commonly formed from monocrystalline silicon wafers. In recent years, however, by way of an alternative to all-silicon wafers, so-called SOI (Silicon-on-Insulator) wafers have been proposed. SOI wafers include two layers of silicon, one thinner than the other, separated by a layer of silicon oxide (see, for example, the article entitled: "Silicon-on-Insulator Wafer Bonding-Wafer Thinning Technological Evaluations" by J. Hausman, G. A. Spierings, U. K .P. Bierman and J. A. Pals, Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 28, N. 8, Aug. 1989, p. 1426-1443).
FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a portion of a SOI wafer 1 presenting a first (thicker) layer of monocrystalline silicon 2, an intermediate silicon oxide layer 3, and a second (thinner) layer of monocrystalline silicon 4 on which an epitaxial layer (not shown) may subsequently be grown. The intermediate oxide layer preferably has a thickness L.sub.1 of 0.2 to 10 .mu.m.
SOI wafers have recently attracted a good deal of attention on account of the major advantages of integrated circuits with substrates formed from such wafers, as compared with the same circuits with conventional monocrystalline silicon substrates. The advantages may be summed up as follows:
a) higher switching speed; PA1 b) better immunity to noise; PA1 c) low loss currents; PA1 d) no latch-up; PA1 e) reduced stray capacitance; PA1 f) better resistance to radiation; and PA1 g) higher component packing density.
A typical SOI wafer fabrication process will now be described with reference to the FIG. 2 diagram.
The process commences with two normally fabricated monocrystalline silicon wafers 10 and 11. Wafer 10 is the one eventually constituting the bottom base layer, and is accurately sized; while wafer 11 is the one which will eventually be thinned and bonded (via the interposition of an oxide layer) to wafer 10. Wafer 11 (also known as the "bond wafer") is oxidized thermally to form an oxide layer 12 covering it entirely; and, after being cleaned, wafers 10 and 11 are superimposed and heat treated at 1100.degree. C. for roughly 2 hours to "bond" them together.
During bonding, the following chemical reaction takes place: EQU .tbd.SiOH+HOSi.tbd..fwdarw..tbd.Si--O--Si.tbd.+H.sub.2 O (1)
wherein the SiOH groups are present in oxide layer 12; at the heat treatment temperature shown, OH ions are present in oxide layer 12, to form a strong chemical bond between oxide layer 12 (and hence wafer 11) and wafer 10, and so form a semifinished wafer 13.
Semifinished wafer 13 is then surface ground to form a body 14, and finally lapped and polished to form wafer 1.
Despite the major advantages listed above, SOI wafers are of limited application in power circuits on account of the poor thermal conductivity of the silicon oxide layer. Silicon, in fact, is known to present a thermal conductivity of 150 W/(m.degree.C.), as compared with 1.4 W/(m.degree.C.) for silicon oxide (two orders of magnitude lower). As the total thermal resistance of the wafer equals the sum of the thermal resistances of the individual layers (in series with one another), wafer 1, for a given total thickness, presents a much greater thermal resistance as compared with a traditional monocrystalline silicon wafer. In other words, to achieve the same thermal resistance, silicon layer 2 would have to be thinned by a factor depending on the ratio between the conductivity of silicon oxide and monocrystalline silicon (as shown above, equal to roughly 100) and bearing in mind the thickness of the oxide layer. Such thinning, however, would impair the mechanical strength of the wafer, and is therefore unfeasible, at least for the great majority of applications.
In view of the continual reduction in component size and the need for operating at an increasingly high operating current density, SOI substrates therefore fail to provide for sufficient heat dissipation, thus resulting in excessively high junction temperatures, and impaired reliability of the components. In the case of power components, in particular, a limitation in current flow occurs. Such negative effects are especially damaging in the case of high-voltage integrated circuits requiring thicker intermediate oxide layers. Furthermore, in case of power pulses (e.g. in case of electrostatic discharges), heat cannot be dissipated and locally causes fast increases in temperature.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a wafer which exploits the inherent advantages of SOI technology, but which presents none of the above limitations of application.

Wafer of semiconductor material for fabricating integrated devices, and process for its fabrication


Delivery of media content ordered at a user terminal (20, 22) from a content provider (40) and to a media rendering device (12, 13, 14) present in a local network (2) is enabled. Media information relating to the media content is converted into converted media information by replacing media content links to converted links directed towards a device selecting module (120). Once the user clicks on a link using the user terminal (20, 22), the device selecting module (120) is activated and provides, based on a received user identifier, a device identifier associated with a selected media rendering device (12, 13, 14). The media content link together with the device identifier is transmitted in a media fetching command destined to the selected media rendering device (12, 13, 14) to thereby enable delivery of the media content to this media rendering device (12, 13, 14) instead of the user terminal (20, 22).

Media consumption has increased tremendously over the last few years. Today, users can download or stream media in various forms, such as video and audio data, to their computers and mobile telephones for consumption and rendering therein. The traditional approach of such media content delivery and rendering has been to visit a web page of a content provider by a web browser implemented in the computer or mobile telephone. The user selects a particular media content that is available at the content provider to download or stream the media content to the computer or mobile telephone for rendering therein.
If the user, however, would like to consume the selected media content on another user device or terminal than the one that was used to order the media content, he or she generally has to perform a number of manual steps which are cumbersome or sometimes difficult. In particular, the user has to download the media content using the computer or mobile telephone and then transfer it to the device he or she would like to use for conducting the actual play back or rendering of the media. Additional problems can also occur in terms of the need for transcoding the media content into a suitable format that is required by the selected media rendering device.
There is therefore a need for a solution of providing an efficient delivery of media content to a media rendering device that can be different from the user terminal used for selecting and ordering media. Such a solution is in particular desired in the light of the emerging trend of providing media consumption in local networks as standardized by the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), where DLNA compatible user equipment and devices are able to communicate with each other via Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) and share media between the devices.


Disclosed are an image encoding/decoding method and apparatus. The image decoding method includes decoding coding mode information of a current coding block, dividing the current coding block into at least one prediction block, and generating prediction samples of the at least one prediction block on the basis of the decoded coding mode, in which the coding mode information is information indicating any one mode among intra mode, inter mode, and hybrid mode.

In recent years, demand for multimedia data such as video has been rapidly increasing on the Internet. However, it is difficult for development of technology for improving channel bandwidths to keep up with the rapid changes in the demand for multimedia data. Therefore, Video Coding Expert Group (VCEG) of ITU-T and Moving Picture Expert Group (MPEG) of ISO/IEC which are international standardization organizations have agreed to establish High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) version 1.0 as a new moving picture compression standard.
HEVC defines techniques such as intra prediction, inter prediction, transformation, quantization, entropy coding, and in-loop filtering.
HEVC which is the current moving image compression standard has a problem that accuracy of prediction is relatively low. One of the causes is that only one prediction (intra prediction or inter prediction) can be performed for prediction of one coding block (or one coding unit).
Another cause is that the HEVC allows only AMVP mode, merge mode, and skip mode for inter prediction.
A further cause is that the HEVC allows only planar mode, DC mode, and angular mode for intra prediction.

Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding an image signal

Industry Academy Cooperation Foundation of Sejong University


A method and system for updating tuning parameters associated with a controller without repetitive compilation of a controller code. The controller code represents an algorithm associated with the controller and can be compiled separately from a data set representing a solution for an optimization problem and also from a data set representing parameters required for prediction. The algorithm can be implemented in a programming language code suitable for implementation on an embedded platform or other types of computer platforms. The data sets can be represented in a specified data structure and the variables associated with the data structure can be declared in the controller template code. The variables can be updated independently without varying the compiled code associated with the controller algorithm that is referring to the variables. The controller can also be updated while the controller actively performs online. Such an approach enables repetitive tuning of the controller without repetitive compilation of the code representing the controller algorithm.

A common approach utilized in advanced industrial control processes is Model-based Predictive Control, also known as "MPC". MPC involves the use of a controller that utilizes a mathematical model of a process to predict the future behavior of the control system and then formulates the control problem as a constrained optimization problem. The accuracy of the internal process model is crucial to the performance of a controller based on the solution of a constrained optimization problem.
MPC is thus a standard control and optimization technique utilized in process control such as, for example, power train control applications in diesel engines, turbocharger control solutions, and so forth. The acronym "MPC" therefore generally refers to a class of algorithms, which utilize an internal mathematical model of a controlled system and an optimization algorithm to compute optimal future control actions for system inputs and optimal trajectories at system outputs, for example, control actions for automotive system inputs.
Explicit MPC-based approaches require a large amount of data that is descriptive of a resulting control law. Consequently, a large amount of data is required to be transferred to and stored in an embedded system. Typically, for any change associated with plant models, weightings or other parameters in a cost function of an optimization problem, the solution must be recalculated and a set of data, which describe the solution, regenerated. The resulting set of data may then be redeployed to an embedded system or other types of computer platforms. Note that the term "platform" as utilized herein may also refer to a "real-time target platform" or a "real-time platform" or a "real-time target".
Currently, the procedure for updating control law information requires recompilation of a controller code along with a solution data set and redeployment of the compiled controller code. Frequent re-tuning of the controller during a development phase is always a necessity and presents a problem; hence, re-compilation and redeployment of the controller consumes a great deal of time during the development and test phases. For example, currently, if there are required ten tuning iterations, the controller needs to be recompiled ten times.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art update process diagram for an MPC-based controller or explicit MPC based controller 100 residing on a platform 145 in which tuning parameters of a controller (not shown in FIG. 1) are updated. FIG. 1 depicts the use of an application A1 107 associated with the update process for MPC based controller or explicit MPC-based controller 100. The application 107 (A1) can be employed to modify data sets for use in generating a controller data set 109 (DS1) that defines control laws, models, and parameters for the bank of observers. The newly generated data set(s) 109 can be embedded in association with a controller template code 110. The controller template code 110 can be compiled with specific data set(s) 109 via a compiler 120 and the resulting code compiled with data sets 125 may be further fed as input to an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 145 via a communications channel 135 by terminating the test at an engine associated with an engine test cell 147. The resulting code may be deployed in the context of a software application in the loop and/or actual hardware in the loop testing platforms.
Such a prior art approach provides a fixed structure of the source code and is referred to as a "template"; however, such an approach does not free a practitioner from recompiling the controller code for a controller residing on platform 145 at each change of the tuning parameters or modifications of plant models. This hinders the possibility of tuning the controller residing on platform 145 seamlessly in a manner that the practitioner can take advantage of simultaneously tune parameters and monitor the changed behavior of the closed loop system 140.
Based on the foregoing, it is believed that a need exists for an improved method and system for enabling seamless tuning of controllers such as, for example, an explicit MPC controller or a standard MPC controller. A need also exists for an improved method and system for updating the tuning parameters of controllers without repetitive compilation of the controller code, as described in greater detail herein.

Method and system for updating tuning parameters of a controller


Improved processes for making plastic articles, such as carbonated beverage bottles made from PET, are disclosed. The process includes the step of molding a preform which comprises thermoplastic resin and glass pellets that are substantially uniformly dispersed in the resin. By including the glass pellets, the preform can be more easily and efficiently reheated, if necessary during production. Because the glass pellets are retained in a substantially uniform dispersion in the blown article, the article is not subject to electrostatic adhesion to other articles following release from the blow mold.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to processing of plastic articles and, more particularly, to processes that provide enhanced reheating capability, as necessary, for article precursors such as preforms, and which form plastic articles that display enhanced handling characteristics.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Plastic articles, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers including bottles, are commonly formed in a one-step or two-step process. In the one-step method, a preform is typically injection molded and remains in a heated state as it is transferred to a blow mold where it is blown into the completed product. In the so-called two-step process, which is generally preferred for the manufacture of carbonated beverage bottles, the molded preform is first cooled and may be stored before it is transported to be reheated and blown into the final article at a later stage in the processing. As a result, in any two-step process, preforms must be reheated prior to blow mold processing. The requirement of reheating poses a problem in the two-step process.
Because PET is a notoriously poor heat conductor, the step of reheating preforms prior to blow molding is a lengthy and inefficient proposition which is compounded by the fact that preforms are relatively thick before they are stretched and blown into the formed article. A number of patents are directed to various apparatus for reheating preforms, most of which involve radiative heating, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,326,258; 4,605,839; 4,476,364; 4,423,312; 4,396,816; 3,975,618; and Re. 34,177.
Another significant problem encountered in processing plastic articles, whether made by the one-step or two-step process, is that the ultimately formed article suffers from a "tacky" outer surface due at least in part to electrostatic forces. In this regard, as the blown articles exit the blow mold, the articles are typically conveyed to an accumulator in advance of a palletizing operation. In the accumulator, the articles are susceptible to static electric adhesion upon article-to-article contact. Production efficiency is inhibited because the articles must be manually separated from each other.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that there still exists a need in the art for processing plastic articles in a one-step or two-step process in which the bottles do not adhere to each other in an accumulator following the blow molding operation. There further exists a need in a two-step process in which preforms can be more efficiently reheated prior to entry into the blow mold.


A seal retention plate for a torque converter, the plate comprising: an annular body portion having a first surface; a second surface opposite the first surface; an interior portion having at least one first hole; at least one radially outer tab extending from the interior portion and folded to contact the second surface so as to provide a thrust surface; and a center opening.

U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014/0346737, hereby incorporated by reference herein, describes a piston seal assembly including a piston, plate, and seal. The piston includes a recess, wherein the seal is disposed at least partially within the recess. The plate is fastened to the piston and extends at least partially adjacent to the recess. The seal is axially movable between the piston and the plate via hydraulic fluid pressure.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2012/0161400, hereby incorporated by reference herein, describes a bi-directional clip seal piston.
To retain a seal in a piston assembly for a torque converter, it is known to position the seal between the piston and a plate to prevent extrusion or displacement of the seal. Incorporating plates for this purpose in limited torus size torque converters is difficult.

Folded seal retention plate with thrust surface


A method comprising: providing a first client of an instant messaging service, the first client enabling a data service; receiving a request for the data service from a second client of the instant messaging service; and rendering client-controlled information regarding the first client available for persistent conveyance to the second client, the client-controlled information regarding the first client including data related to the data service. This allows a user associated with the second client to become aware of the data in a non-intrusive manner.

Instant messaging has become an important communications tool for millions of people worldwide. Instant messaging (or "IM") is a form of real-time communication between two or more users based originally on typed text but which has since been expanded to include other media such as audio and video. The data is conveyed via computers connected over a network such as the Internet. Instant messaging requires the use of a client program that connects to an instant messaging service and differs from e-mail in that "conversations" are then able to happen in real time.
In some cases, the power of instant messaging can be harnessed to deliver services to users. This is done by designing artificial intelligence applications (or "applets" or "bots") and registering these applets as clients of the instant messaging service. However, rather than functioning as conversational end users, the applets provide services to users at large. One example of such a service is a database search (e.g., Internet search) based on a user query. In this scenario, a user who wishes to engage a search engine applet first learns the identity of the instant messaging client associated with the search engine applet. The user then sends an instant message containing a query to the client associated with the search engine applet, thereby invoking a database search. When the database search is complete, the search engine applet (which is logged in to the instant messaging service as a client) sends an instant message containing the search results back to the user.
Similar applets can be designed to provide other services that employ instant messages to inform a user of various events. However, as can be appreciated, the user may find it annoying to receive updates via instant message whenever an event takes place, especially when such events are likely to occur often. Similarly, if the user receives an update via instant message but then forgets the information that it conveys, the user will have difficulty recalling this information, since the prior instant message conveying this information is not easily accessible and may even have been erased from memory.
Thus, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that there is a need for improving the "user experience" associated with the conveyance of information to users of an instant messaging service.

Systems and methods for conveying information to an instant messaging client


The invention relates to the use of diaryl urea derivatives in the treatment of protein kinase dependent diseases or for the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions for use in the treatment of said diseases, methods of use of diaryl urea derivatives in the treatment of said diseases, pharmaceutical preparations comprising diaryl urea derivatives for the treatment of said diseases, diaryl urea derivatives for use in the treatment of said diseases, novel diaryl urea derivatives, pharmaceutical preparations comprising these novel diaryl urea derivatives, processes for the manufacture of the novel diaryl urea derivatives, the use or methods of use of the novel diaryl urea derivatives as mentioned above, and/or these novel diaryl urea derivatives for use in the treatment of the animal or human body.

Protein kinases (PKs) are enzymes which catalyze the phosphorylation of specific serine, threonine or tyrosine residues in cellular proteins. These post-translational modifications of substrate proteins act as molecular switch regulating cell proliferation, activation and/or differentiation. Aberrant or excessive PK activity has been observed in many disease states including benign and malignant proliferative disorders. In many cases, it has been possible to treat diseases in vitro and in many cases in vivo, such as proliferative disorders, by making use of PK inhibitors.
In view of the large number of protein kinase inhibitors and the multitude of proliferative and other PK-related diseases, there is an ever-existing need to provide novel classes of compounds that are useful as PK inhibitors and thus in the treatment of these PTK related diseases. What is required are new classes of pharmaceutically advantageous PK inhibiting compounds.

Diaryl urea derivatives useful for the treatment of protein kinase dependent diseases


An apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes an imaging device; a stage movable relative to the imaging device; an isolation plate provided between the imaging device and the stage, including a horizontal glass plate; and a plurality of interferometers in electronic communication with a processor. The plurality of interferometers include three interferometers disposed on the imaging device, configured to direct a first beam set in a first direction toward the horizontal glass plate; and three interferometers disposed on the stage, configured to direct a second beam set in a second direction toward the horizontal glass plate, the second direction being opposite to the first direction. The processor is configured to measure distances between the imaging device and the isolation plate and distances between the stage and the isolation plate based on the first beam set and the second beam set reflected from the horizontal glass plate.

Evolution of the semiconductor manufacturing industry is placing greater demands on yield management and, in particular, on metrology and inspection systems. Critical dimensions continue to shrink, yet the industry needs to decrease time for achieving high-yield, high-value production. Minimizing the total time from detecting a yield problem to fixing it determines the return-on-investment for a semiconductor manufacturer.
Fabricating semiconductor devices, such as logic and memory devices, typically includes processing a semiconductor wafer using a large number of fabrication processes to form various features and multiple levels of the semiconductor devices. For example, lithography is a semiconductor fabrication process that involves transferring a pattern from a reticle to a photoresist arranged on a semiconductor wafer. Additional examples of semiconductor fabrication processes include, but are not limited to, chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP), etch, deposition, and ion implantation. Multiple semiconductor devices may be fabricated in an arrangement on a single semiconductor wafer that are separated into individual semiconductor devices.
Inspection processes are used at various steps during semiconductor manufacturing to detect defects on wafers to promote higher yield in the manufacturing process and, thus, higher profits. Inspection has always been an important part of fabricating semiconductor devices such as integrated circuits (ICs). However, as the dimensions of semiconductor devices decrease, inspection becomes even more important to the successful manufacture of acceptable semiconductor devices because smaller defects can cause the devices to fail. For instance, as the dimensions of semiconductor devices decrease, detection of defects of decreasing size has become necessary because even relatively small defects may cause unwanted aberrations in the semiconductor devices.
Certain inspection processes are performed using an imaging mirror assembly (IMA) directed at a target on a stage. The IMA is mounted to a passive vibration isolator assembly due to its high sensitivity to vibration. This causes the position of the IMA to be variable during the inspection process. However, it is important for the system to determine the position of the IMA relative to the stage for accurate inspection. Existing systems rely on measurements from six interferometers (corresponding to six degrees of freedom), which are mounted to the IMA and/or to the stage or mounted to a separate fixed location in the system. Beams from the interferometers must bounce off large horizontal mirrors fixed to the IMA and/or the stage, which may reduce the performance of the system.
The IMA must be contained in a vacuum region isolated from the vacuum region of the stage. Thus, an isolation plate is provided between the IMA and the stage. However, in order to accommodate interferometer measurements, 45-degree mirrors must be provided to change the horizontal direction of the beams to vertical in order to pass through the isolation plate. These vertical beams must pass through holes or windows of the isolation plate, thereby compromising its performance. Such a solution increases system complexity, and adds a degree of error to the measurements from signal loss.
Therefore, what is needed is system for accurate measurement of the distance between the IMA and the stage that is simple and provides high accuracy and with fewer penetrations in the isolation plate compared to existing methods.

Differential height measurement using interstitial mirror plate


The invention relates to an alloy comprising (in mass %) Ni 33-35%, Cr 26-28%, Mo 6-7%, Cu 0.5-1.5%, Mn 1.0-4%, Si max. 0.1%, Al 0.01-0.3%, C max. 0.01%, N 0.1-0.25%, B 0.001-0.004%, SE>0 to 1%, and Fe remainder, including unavoidable impurities.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an Ni—Fe—Cr—Mo alloy, especially a modified alloy in accordance with EN Material No. 1.4562 as well as its use.
2. The Prior Art
The alloy with Material No. 1.4562 has on the average the following chemical composition (standard values in mass %) Ni 31%, Mn 1.7%, Cr 27%, Mo 6.5%, Cu 1.3%, N 0.2%.
DE 32 23 457 A1 relates to an alloy, especially for the manufacture of highly loadable pipework of deep boreholes or the like with elevated resistance to stress corrosion cracking, consisting of C≦0.1%, Mn 3-20%, S≦0.005%, Al≦0.5%, Cr 22.5-35%, W 0-8%, Si≦1%, P≦0.03%, N 0-0.3%, Ni 25-60%, Mo 0-4%, Cu 0-2%, RE 0-0.1%, Mg 0-0.1%, Ca 0-0.1%, Co 0-2%, Y 0-0.2%, Ti 0-0.5%, whereinCr (%)+10Mo (%)+5W (%)≧50%½Mn (%)+Ni (%)≧35(%)1.5%≦Mo (%)+½W (%)<4.
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,841,046, a high-strength corrosion-resistant austenitic non-rusting steel, which contains an effect total (PREN)>55, can be inferred. An alloy of the following composition (in mass %) is presented: max. 0.08% C, 0.5-12.5% Mn, 20-29% Cr, 17-35% Ni, 3-10% Mo, >0.7% N, up to 1.0% Si, up to 0.02% B, up to 0.02% Mg, up to 0.05% Ce, remainder iron. For chromium contents between 24 and 28%, the nickel contents are indicated as between 21 and 23%, wherein the effect total (PREN) ranges between 49 and 65. In this state of the art, the extremely high nitrogen content is of significance.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,638, a corrosion-resistant alloy of the following chemical composition (in mass %) is described: 20.5-32% nickel, 23.5 to 27.5% chromium, 4 to 6.7% molybdenum, 0.7 to 3.6% copper, up to 0.09% carbon, up to 1.5% silicon, up to 5% cobalt, up to 0.45% nitrogen, up to 1% titanium, up to 0.8% niobium, up to 0.3% rare earths (Ce, La, mixed metal), up to 2% manganese, up to 1.6% tantalum, remainder iron, wherein the sum of the nickel and cobalt contents is between 25.5 and 32% and the chromium content is exceeded by 2 to 6.2%.
From EP 0 292 061 A1, an alloy has become known with (in mass %) 30-32Ni, 26-28Cr, 0.5-1.5% Cu, max. 2% Mn, max. 1% Si, max. 0.2% Al, max. 0.02% C, remainder Fe, including unavoidable admixtures, which furthermore also contain 6-7% Mo and 0.1-0.25% N.
The alloy in accordance with EP 0 292 061 A1 was developed in order to be able to make available a material that is suitable for the manufacture of structural parts that must have a good corrosion resistance, especially to pitting corrosion and/or stress corrosion cracking, in aqueous, neutral or acid media with high chloride ion concentration. It is also intended to be usable for the manufacture of structural parts that must have an erosion rate of less than 0.20 mm/year in technical phosphoric acid with a chloride ion concentration up to 1000 ppm at 100° C. At the same time, it should be suitable for the manufacture of structural parts that must have a pitting corrosion potential of at least 1000 mVH at 75° C. and of at least 800 mVH at 90° C. in aqueous neutral media with a chloride ion concentration on the order of magnitude of 20,000 ppm. It should further be suitable as material for the manufacture of structural parts that must have a critical pitting corrosion temperature of at least 80° C. and a critical stress corrosion cracking temperature of at least 50° C. in acid media with a chloride ion concentration of 50,000 ppm and higher, such as, e.g. in an FeCl3 solution.
Consequently, this alloy used heretofore has in practice more than satisfied the expectations placed on it. However, the very high solution annealing temperature for dissolution of the brittle sigma phase, which according to VdTÜV Material Sheet 509/1, December 2009 version, must lie at 1150 to 1180° C., together with the additional criterion of a subsequent rapid cooling by means of quenching in water or by means of compressed air (depending on the wall thickness), in such a way that the temperature range down to 650° C. is rapidly transited, has been found to be disadvantageous for this alloy. For the assurance of a flawless dissolution of the sigma phase even for thicker-walled structural parts, at least the upper temperature of 1180° C. must be used in the industrial practice. Cases are now known in which such a solution annealing treatment must be integrated into the manufacturing process, for example in the hot cladding of large sheet sizes in the sandwich package or in the hot pressing of thick-walled vessel bottoms. In this connection, it has been found that the solution annealing and cooling conditions mentioned in the foregoing then cannot be satisfied to the extent that the high pitting corrosion and stress corrosion cracking temperatures expected for this alloy are now not attained because of the separation of sigma phase.
For alloys (UNS 32654/654 SMO) with similar contents of chromium 24-26% and molybdenum 7-8%, the following empirical formula for the dependence of the sigma solvus temperature on the alloying components is found in the literature (Rechsteiner ETH Zurich Publ. No.: 10647):T sigma-solvus=24.6Cr+6.7Mn+50.9Mo+92.2Si−9.2Ni−17.9Cu−230.4C−238.4N+447 (element units: mass percent).
Accordingly, the elements chromium, molybdenum, silicon and manganese raise the sigma solvus temperature; the elements nickel, copper and especially nitrogen act to lower the sigma solvus temperature.


The present invention relates to a portable beverage assembly kit having a serving container and beverage ingredients, for fast distribution to an end user, the components necessary to construct a beverage and container for serving therein, comprising: a disassembled beverage container configured for drinking directly therefrom; and a shaker configured to store within the shaker the disassembled beverage container within a first compartment and the beverage ingredients within a second compartment, separate from the first compartment.

Many beverages require the selection and mixing of two or more liquid ingredients. For example, many alcoholic beverages call for several ingredients. One could serve pre-mixed drinks, but this would result in stale beverages. Thus, many venues opt to mix the beverages at the time of purchase. This creates a bottleneck when serving masses of people, for example, at a sporting event. It would therefore be advantageous to have to a device and system that relieves this bottleneck by eliminating the need for the server to the mix the beverages, and instead allow the end user to accomplish this task. The present invention address this need and others.

Portable beverage assembly and mixing kit


A method and device for processing a memory, and a computer-readable storage medium are provided. In the method, reclaimable memory pages occupied by an application to be processed are determined, a reclaiming proportion corresponding to the application to be processed is determined, a reclaiming number is determined according to the reclaimable memory pages and the reclaiming proportion, and the reclaiming number of memory pages from the reclaimable memory pages are selected and reclaimed.

When an application installed on an electronic device operates, a certain memory needs to be occupied. The memory is a main data storage medium of an application during operation. Since the memory capacity of the electronic device is limited, when the memory occupied by background applications is excessive, the operation efficiency of a foreground application may be affected. Therefore, it is necessary to reclaim the memory, so as to improve the operation efficiency of the foreground application.
A related method for processing a memory is to totally reclaim memories occupied by a single application operating in the background. However, it is necessary to reload almost all reclaimed memories during the next starting and execution process after the memories used by a single application are completely reclaimed, thereby resulting in the remarkable reduction of the operation speed of a memory-reclaimed application.

Method and device for processing reclaimable memory pages, and storage medium

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


Brake levers are molded in place through an opening in the base of a video cassette. The brake levers have first brake arms with outward extending reel grippers at distal ends, and second actuator arms with an actuator connected between distal ends of the actuator arms. Medial portions of the levers are supported on integrally formed living hinges with axes perpendicular to the base. Pressing outward on the actuator arms with the actuator rotates the levers about the hinges so that the brake arms and grippers are withdrawn from contact with the reels. The actuator has two legs which are joined centrally by a hinge and which extend angularly to living hinge interconnections with the actuator arms. As a pin or blade pushes on the central connection in a direction parallel to the hinge axes of the operating levers, the actuator legs spread forcing distal ends of the actuator arms apart and distal ends of the brake arms and the grippers together, releasing the reel brake.

Video cassettes have reel brakes to prevent unspooling of the video tape during handling of the cassette while the cassette is outside of a video cassette recorder player. When placed in the recorder, a pin releases the brake to allow rotation of the reels.
The standard VHS-type cassette hub braking system is designed to be activated by a round pin. The round pin is inserted into a hole in the base of the shell, and the height of the pin causes the brake retractor to pivot on two pins, which in turn pushes against two independent, spring-loaded brakes, causing them to rotate and to disengage the teeth on the two tape hubs. When the pin is removed from the shell, the spring, or springs, returns the brakes to a locking position. In addition, the brakes push against the brake retractor, returning it to its original position.
When the standard round pin is inserted into the shell described in copending applications, the width of the pin spreads the gap between the brake release arms, overcoming a brake return spring and causing the brakes to rotate on two living hinges, and in turn causing the opposite ends of the brakes to rotate away from the teeth on the tape hubs and to disengage. When the pin is removed from the shell, the brake return spring returns the brakes to a locking position.
Standard round brake release pins are used by most video cassette recorder manufacturers. A problem may be incurred with the current system when the standard round pins are not used by the VCR manufacturers. In some instances a rectangular blade is used which can be as thin as 0.030". These alternative designs do not meet major manufacturers' specifications, nonetheless they do work with most standard VHS cassettes. Using the width of the pin to spread brake levers does not work with all shapes and sizes of brake pins.
A need exists for a reel brake which may be molded integrally with a video cassette, which may be activated by a thin blade as well as by a pin.


A method for the post synthesis modification of molecular sieves with organometallic reagents. The method may be used for large pore molecular sieves and small pore molecular sieves, such as SAPO-34. SAPO-34 is a useful catalyst for the conversion of oxygenates, such as methanol, to olefins. Post synthesis organometallic modification improves catalyst performance and increases light olefin selectivity in the conversion of methanol to olefins.

Olefins, particularly light olefins, have been traditionally produced from petroleum feedstocks by either catalytic or steam cracking. Oxygenates, however, are becoming an alternative feedstock for making light olefins, particularly ethylene and propylene. Promising oxygenate feedstocks are alcohols, such as methanol and ethanol, dimethyl ether, methyl ethyl ether, diethyl ether, dimethyl carbonate, and methyl formate. Many of these oxygenates can be produced from a variety of sources including synthesis gas derived from natural gas; petroleum liquids; and carbonaceous materials, including coal. Because of the relatively low-cost of these sources, alcohol, alcohol derivatives, and other oxygenates have promise as an economical, non-petroleum source for light olefin production.
One way of producing olefins is by the catalytic conversion of methanol using a silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO) molecular sieve catalyst. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,327 to Kaiser, discloses making olefins from methanol using a variety of SAPO molecular sieve catalysts. The process can be carried out at a temperature between 300° C. and 500° C., a pressure between 0.1 atmosphere to 100 atmospheres, and a weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of between 0.1 and 40 hr−1.
Inui (J. Chemical Society Chem. Commun. p. 205, 1990) has shown that the selectivity to ethylene can be increased when methanol is contacted with a nickel-substituted SAPO-34 rather than an unsubstituted SAPO-34. In this case, nickel substitution occurred into the SAPO-34 framework.
In contrast to the work of Kaiser and Inui, metal incorporation may also take place post-synthesis, that is, following the synthesis of the molecular sieve framework. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,962,762 to Sun et al. teaches a process for converting methanol to light olefins using a metal-incorporated SAPO catalyst. An aqueous metal solution, preferably a nickel or cobalt containing solution, is adsorbed onto the SAPO molecular sieve by allowing the solution to remain in contact with the SAPO overnight at ambient conditions. The treated molecular sieve is then separated from the solution and dried. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,625,104 and 5,849,968 to Beck at al. teach a process of incorporating alkali earth and alkaline earth metals into a zeolitic catalyst by pretreating the zeolite with an organosilicon or poly-oxo silicon compound followed by the treatment of a metal solution. U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,424 to Le Van Mao teaches a process for the dry incorporation of manganese ions on the external reactive sites of ZSM catalysts by adding a minimum amount of an aqueous manganese solution to form a malleable paste and extruding the paste under pressure.
Post-synthesis metal incorporation of zeolite catalysts is used for other processes as well. U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,142 to Yao et al. teaches treating a zeolite catalyst with a zinc component in an aqueous solution followed by steam treatment for the conversion of hydrocarbons to lower olefins. There is no teaching of conversion of methanol to olefins.
Yamamoto et al. (Microporous and Mesoporous Materials 44–45, Organic Functionalization of Mesoporous Molecular Sieves with Grignard Reagents, p. 459–464, 2001) teach post-synthesis organic functionalization of MCM-41 in a two step procedure. MCM-41 is first modified by alcohols, which leads to the esterification of surface silanol groups (converting Si—OH to Si—OR) and then allowed to react with a Grignard reagent R′MgX which converts Si—OR to Si—R′. The two step procedure must be followed since Si—OH spoils Grignard reagent R′MgX to form Si—O—MgX and R′—H. There is no teaching of conversion of methanol to olefins.
PCT Application WO 97/26989 teaches adding a transition metal hydrogenation component in a non-aqueous solvent to a non-zeolitic molecular sieve after synthesis for hydrocracking and catalytic dewaxing. The hydrogenation component is in the form of a sulfide, halide, oxide, carboxylate, and the like. There is no teaching of conversion of methanol to olefins.
In spite of the prior efforts to modify molecular sieves, the need to modify the surface, in particular the interior surface, of small pore molecular sieves such as silicoaluminophosphates (SAPO) remains. Consequently, there is still a need to find an improved molecular sieve or molecular sieve catalyst that exhibits high ethylene and/or propylene selectivity in the conversion of methanol to light olefins.

Interior surface modifications of molecular sieves with organometallic reagents and the use thereof for the conversion of oxygenates to olefins


A voltage regulator for a bit line of a semiconductor memory cell is disclosed. In one embodiment, the voltage regulator includes an inverter, a feedback transistor, and a band gap reference voltage source. The inverter includes an inverter input connected to the bit line, and an inverter output. The feedback transistor includes a feedback source connected to the inverter input, and a feedback gate connected to the inverter output. The band gap reference voltage source predetermines the voltage to which the inverter input is regulated.

The present invention relates to semiconductor memories and a voltage regulator for a bit line of a semiconductor memory cell.
Semiconductor memories usually consist of a matrix of semiconductor memory cells. Each cell is adapted to be controlled separately via a word line and a bit line.
As memory cells, flash memory cells or EEPROM memory cells could be employed in particular. The term EEPROM is an English abbreviation of "Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory". It is a non-volatile memory, i.e. the memory information is maintained even if the memory is not supplied with energy. The memory content can be programmed by electric pulses.
The memory cell of an EEPROM consists of a field effect transistor having a floating gate. The floating gate is a conductor piece above the source drain channel of the EEPROM. The floating gate is electrically isolated from its surrounding, so that charges available on the floating gate cannot flow off readily. The programming of the memory cell is performed in that charges are applied on the floating gate or removed from the floating gate.
The charge available on the floating gate generates a threshold voltage shift of the memory transistor, i.e. the conductivity between the source and the drain is influenced by the floating gate. For reading out the memory information, the current flowing through the memory transistor is ultimately measured. To this end, a constant voltage is applied to the bit line of the memory cell which is connected with the drain. The source of the EEPROM is grounded. Subsequently, the current flowing from the drain to the source is measured. The current intensity measured is a measurement of the charge state of the memory cell.
Voltage regulators are used to charge, during the reading out of the EEPROM, the voltage on the bit line to a set point, and to keep the charge on the set point. FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional voltage regulator used for the reading out of semiconductor memory cells. First of all, the memory cell to be read out is chosen from the memory matrix and connected through to an input 10 of the voltage regulator. The circuit diagram of FIG. 1 illustrates a NOR gate 20. The NOR gate includes two inputs 30 and 40. The first input 30 of the NOR gate 20 is connected to the input of the voltage regulator. The bit line of the memory cell and the input 30 are connected with each other. The voltage regulator of FIG. 1 thus is to provide a predetermined potential on the line 10.
The second input 40 merely serves to switch the voltage regulator on or off. In the on-state, the input is on a low voltage level, so that the NOR gate 30 operates as an inverter with respect to the input 30 and the output 50. An inverter or not-gate is a gate with an input and an output, which fulfills the logic function "not" or "negation", respectively. A logic "One" at the input becomes a logic "Zero" at the output of the inverter, and vice versa. Two voltage levels correspond to the logic "One" and "Zero". The inverter supplies an increased output voltage (high level) if no voltage is present at the input. Vice versa, in the case of an increased voltage at the input 30, a low output voltage (low level) is provided by the inverter 20. The characteristic curve of the inverter thus corresponds to a process.
The output 50 of the NOR gate 20 is fed back to the input 30 via a feedback transistor 70. The transistor 70 includes a gate G that is connected with the output 50. The source S of the transistor 70 is connected with the input 30 of the NOR gate 20. The feedback finally provides for the voltage at the NOR gate 30 to be regulated to a particular value.
The NOR gate is connected through by means of the input 40, so that the input 30 and the output 50 act as inverters. FIG. 2a illustrates the section of FIG. 1 that will be discussed in the following. Instead of the NOR gate 20, an inverter 90 is illustrated. Otherwise, the circuit illustrated in FIG. 2a is equal to that of FIG. 1. FIG. 2b illustrates a coordinate system in which the input voltage Ue at the input 30 of the inverter 90 is plotted against the output voltage Ua at the output 50 of the inverter. The characteristic curve 100 of the inverter 90 has a cascaded progression. In the case of a low input voltage Ue, a high output voltage Ua is output. Vice versa, the output voltage Ua is low if the input voltage is high.
If the output 50 of the inverter 90 were directly connected with the input, the inverter 90 would have to exhibit at the operating point the same voltage at the input 30 and at the output 50.
FIG. 2b illustrates the bisecting line 110 of the ordinate and the abscissa of the coordinate system. Each point on the bisecting line 110 therefore has the same voltage Ua and Ue. The intersection of the bisecting line 110 with the characteristic curve 100 indicates the switch point 120 that materializes in the case of a direct feedback. At the input and at the output of the inverter the voltage Us would be present.
The fed-back inverter adjusts itself to its switching threshold. The progression of the characteristic curve in the region of the switch point 120 is substantially linear. As soon as the input voltage Ue is larger than the switch point Us, a voltage that is smaller than Us is generated at the output 50, and vice versa. Due to the negative feedback, the input 30 is thus again shifted in the direction of Us.
The transistor 70 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2a effects in balance a voltage difference between the output voltage Ua and the input voltage Ue. The operating point of the fed-back inverter circuit is thus shifted by the gate-source-voltage in the direction along the ordinate. Reference sign 115 illustrates a parallel line to the bisecting line which has been shifted along the ordinate by the voltage difference. Thus, there results the corresponding operating point 125 in FIG. 2b. The output voltage at the operating is Ue+Uth+ΔU. Uth is the threshold voltage of the transistor 70; ΔU is the overdrive voltage of the transistor 70. The overdrive voltage+ΔU is very small vis-à-vis the threshold voltage Uth, so that there applies approximately Uth≈Uth+ΔU. The gate current of the transistor 70 is negligible. The transistor 70 thus prevents current to be fed into the line 30 through the output 50 of the inverter. The current intensity on line 30 is to remain unaltered since it carries the bit line current that is ultimately to be measured. The feedback transistor has a voltage-stabilizing effect. If the voltage at the input 30 of the inverter 90 decreases, the voltage at the output 50 of the inverter increases. Thus, the gate-source-voltage at the transistor 70 increases, so that the source current is increased. Charge carriers are increasingly added to the input 30, so that the potential thereof increases. In the case of a voltage increase at the input 30, the voltage at the output 50 of the inverter decreases. Thus, the gate-source-voltage at the transistor 70 decreases, so that the source current is reduced. If the gate-source-voltage at the transistor 70 underruns the threshold voltage, no more current is supplied to the bit line.
The bit line is thus regulated by the feedback transistor 70 as a source follower to a voltage level that depends on the characteristic curve of the NOR gate 20 or of the corresponding inverter 90, respectively. The signal on line 85 is then further processed for evaluation of the current through the bit line. The evaluation of the memory state is performed by a voltage or current comparison.
The disadvantage of the prior art voltage regulator described is the strong dependency of the bit line voltage on the transistor dimensions in the NOR gate. It is in particular fluctuating process parameters that influence the characteristic curve progression of the NOR gate, so that the operating point is shifted. Furthermore, the bit line voltage depends on the operating voltage VDD since the switch point 120 of the NOR gate in FIG. 1 is also shifted. The higher the operating voltage VDD, the higher becomes the bit line voltage. Last but not least, temperature fluctuations have a strong influence on the input voltage at the input 30 of the NOR gate 20 or of the inverter 90, respectively.
For these and other reasons, there is a need for the present invention.

Voltage regulator for a bit line of a semiconductor memory cell


A powertrain comprising a transmission (2), a first electric motor (4a) and a second electric motor (4b), the transmission having an input shaft (1) to which a source of mechanical power may be connected, an output shaft (6) and a gear assembly providing at least two different gear ratios that may be selected for transfer of mechanical power from the input shaft (1) to the output shaft (6), the first electric motor (4a) is connected to the input shaft (1), such that torque and rotation may be transferred between the first electric motor and the input shaft, and the second electric motor (4b) is connected to the input shaft (1) via a first clutch (5a), such that torque and rotation may be transferred between the second electric motor (4b) and the input shaft (1), and connected to the output shaft (6) via a second clutch (5b), such that torque and rotation may be transferred between the second electric motor (4b) and the output shaft (6), wherein the first electric motor (4a) is connected to the second electric motor (4b) via the first clutch (5a).

The present invention provides a new and improved electric or hybrid transmission/powertrain system.
There are many types of hybrid and electric powertrain systems. The two main types of hybrid systems are commonly termed parallel and serial hybrid systems.
A simple version of the parallel hybrid system is a powertrain, wherein an electric motor is placed on one wheel-driving axle of a vehicle and an internal combustion engine (ICE) with transmission is placed on another wheel-driving axle of the vehicle. In another type of parallel hybrid powertrain an electric motor is attached to or integrated in the main gearbox.
For cars, buses and trucks, hybrid systems are commonly made by using a transmission type that is a variant of the automatic transmission already used in a purely ICE-driven version of that vehicle type.
For cars there are historically two main types of transmissions. Automatic and manual transmissions. Both types are combined with an internal combustion engine (ICE), typically a gasoline or diesel engine. The old technology used in the automatic transmission is a planetary gear with multiple clutches that make combinations of the planetary gear ratios for the wanted gear ratio. This is combined with a start-up clutch that is a hydraulic torque converter. Usually this transmission is the type which is referred to as an automatic transmission (AT). The manual transmission is a so called lay shaft transmissions where gear wheels are placed at two parallel shafts. The start-up clutch or main clutch 3 is typically a frictional type of clutch and the gear ratios (i1, i2 . . . ) are usually engaged mechanically and only one at the same time. The torque in the gearbox will have to be zero at every gearshift and this also make the gearshift slow. This is a huge disadvantage for comfort, performance, emission control and fuel economy.
A block diagram illustrating a typical powertrain featuring an ICE, a main friction type clutch 3 and a generic transmission 2 is illustrated in FIG. 1.
A schematic drawing of a powertrain featuring a generic transmission 2, having a layshaft 7, as commonly used in heavy duty commercial trucks is illustrated in FIG. 2. The powertrain features a friction type clutch 3 arranged between the transmission 2 and an ICE. The illustrated transmission has two split gears (2c), three forward gears and one reverse gear in the main section (2a) of the transmission 2 (or gearbox). At the output shaft (6) there is two range gears (2b). This gives a total number of gears 2×3×2=12 forward gears (and 4 reverse gears). A lot of variants of this type of transmissions exists with less or more gears. Further, different modules can be attached in both front and rear of these types of transmissions. Typical modules are additional creep gears at the input side and an additional brake for long downhill braking called a retarder (Voith brand) can be attached at the output side.
For trucks, the most common automatic transmission is a manual transmission, e.g. the transmission 2 in FIG. 2, that is made automatic by use of electronically controlled actuators to operate clutches and gears instead of a manual clutch pedal and manual gear levers. This provides a very energy efficient and cost optimal transmission. This type of transmission is usually termed an automated manual transmission (AMT), also in the cases where the transmission has been optimised for this use and the internal parts are not used for any manual operation any more. Presently, the AMT is the most common transmission in the market for the largest trucks. A disadvantage of the AMT is that the torque at the drive wheels will go to zero each time a change of gear is done. This is a major disadvantage for both comfort and acceleration performance (lost time for acceleration). Furthermore, the loss of torque is also a challenge for control of the ICE to meet emission standards during gear shift. A typical prior art AMT is disclosed in for instance U.S. Pat. No. 8,571,772 B2.
In the last 20 years a type of AT with two main clutches and gears on separate shafts (similar to the manual transmission) have also gained popularity, see FIG. 3. This type of AT is usually termed a twin clutch transmission, dual clutch transmission or Double Shift Gearbox (DSG). This transmission can alternatively shift between the two parallel gear sets to transfer the torque to the driven wheels (the wheels illustrated as a double circle). This gives the opportunity to have continuous torque transfer during gearshifts. To obtain what is essentially two gearboxes in one unit this transmission type is quite expensive and mechanically complex.
A typical prior art parallel hybrid system features an electric motor E attached to the main input shaft 1 of the transmission of any of the known AT, DSG or AMT systems, see FIG. 4. The addition of the electric motor E does not alleviate any of the disadvantages inherent in the respective type of transmission. In these prior art systems, the electric motor is designed to run with a similar rotational speed as the ICE. A prior art parallel hybrid system featuring an AMT is disclosed in WO 2007/102762 A1.
In some prior art hybrid powertrains, see FIG. 5, the electric motor E is attached in parallel with the transmission 2 and has the possibility of being geared by ratio ix to a more cost optimal design than the solution in FIG. 4. A prior art hybrid powertrain featuring such an arrangement is disclosed in US 2002/0082134 A1. In US 2002/0082134 A1 the electric motor may be operatively connected to either or both the input and output shaft of a transmission. The hybrid powertrain disclosed in US 2002/0082134 A1 is not optimal. For instance, it may not be run as a serial hybrid during gearshift and this reduces the overall efficiency as well as increases the clutch wear. Further, it is not possible to use the electric motor E actively to establish zero torque at the input shaft, as required to disengage/engage gear, nor may the electric motor accelerate the input shaft faster than the ICE.
A prior art transmission for reducing some of the torque interrupt in AMT transmissions is described in US 2004/0138800 A1. A variant of this transmission having an electric motor for a hybrid drive is described in US 2002/0082134 A1. These transmissions are known as feasible to make and control but have challenges in that the torque level transferred to the output shaft during gearshift is too low and/or that the wear in the clutch or clutches used during the gear shift is high.
Presently we see a large trend of electrification in the automotive industry. This is driven both by fuel economy, legislation, incentives, environmental motivation and the technological breakthrough in battery, fuel cell and other related technology.
The goal of the present invention is to provide an improved powertrain system in which at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art powertrain systems are avoided or alleviated.

Powertrain, vehicle and method of performing a gearshift in the powertrain


A technique allows a client computing system with a web browser to receive a web page in response to transmitting a request for content. The web page may include active content, html data and cascading style sheets (CSS). In embodiments, a gateway device may rewrite the web page dynamically by rewriting node identifiers and class names, removing and separating client-side scripts from html data and CSS data, and blocking or disabling execution of the client-side scripts if these scripts contain vulnerable code. A web page may be rewritten based on analysis information provided by a third-party or analyzed at the gateway device.

Today, when a user or client machine, e.g., a computer or a mobile device, requests a webpage on the Internet via a web browser, e.g., a resource name through a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) GET command to a web server, content is sent from the web server or other location on the Internet and is rendered at the web browser. Content can include both executable content and non-executable content that may be embedded in web pages that are received over the Internet. Executable content, including forms or other dynamic client-side scripts (e.g. inline scripts in JavaScript® scripting language or Asynchronous Javascript and XML (AJAX)) while non-executable content may include hypertext markup tags in HyperText Markup Language 5 (HTML5) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) (JAVASCRIPT is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation). JavaScript instructions that are embedded in web pages may be executed by a web browser when the web page is selected. As more and more users are interconnected over the Internet, computer security becomes increasingly more important as web pages may include malicious software (malware) that are inserted enroute to a user. In some cases, a user may forego security measures from certain websites and implicitly trust that the content being delivered will not harm the user's machine. However, third-parties can circumvent web server security and insert bad content or manipulate active content in web pages during transit from trusted web domains to the user. For example content that has the potential to steal information from the user machine may be inserted through cross-site scripting via a gateway or man-in-the middle (MITM) injection by using malicious internet bots that masquerade as a user (by trying to login) or that masquerade as user input (by changing user input clicks and input fields). The malicious internet bots may detect user input fields by using element identifiers or element classes in the HTML web page.
Prior art solutions for defending against script injection in HTML web pages have addressed rejecting bad data characters, limiting information in server responses, enforcing response lengths, limiting permissions in web browsers, or detecting bad scripts and blocking their execution or blocking execution of all scripts in a web browser. However, these solutions are not completely effective. For example, rejecting bad data requires that a web browser know all variations of malicious inputs in the data. However, an attacker may only need to find one vulnerability in a website or browser code in order to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, limiting information in server responses such as blocking script execution or limiting permissions in web browsers may impact a user's experience online. A way of providing web browser security for preventing exploitable or malware injected content in HTML web pages from executing at a web browser on a user client would be desirable.


The present invention relates to an oil-based drilling fluid, a continuous phase for an oil-based drilling fluid, and additives for an oil-based drilling fluid. The drilling fluid, the continuous phase of the drilling fluid, and the additives for the oil-based drilling fluid are characterized by non-fluorescence (defined as a fluorescence intensity of 800 or less) when exposed to ultraviolet light. The continuous phase of the drilling fluid is composed of synthetic hydrocarbons selected from the group consisting of oligomers synthesized from one or more alphaolefins containing a C.sub.2 to C.sub.14 chain length, wherein the oligomers have an average molecular weight of from 120 to 100, and additives. The additives of the continuous phase include surfactants, wetting agents and/or emulsifiers.

This invention relates to a non-fluorescing oil-based drilling fluid used in the drilling of subterranean oil and gas wells as well as other drilling fluid applications and drilling procedures. These non-fluorescing drilling fluids are composed of synthetic hydrocarbons, having molecular weights of from 120 to 1000, derived from alphaolefinic monomers and other additives such as surfactants and emulsifiers. The olefinic monomers are from the groups consisting of a carbon chain from C.sub.2 to C.sub.14 having at least one polymerizible double bond. The surfactants comprise monounsaturated fatty acids and saturated fatty acids. The emulsifiers comprise saturated fatty acids, saturated amido-amines, and saturated sulfonates. Additional materials that are common to the development and formulation of drilling fluids may also be included in the instant drilling fluids provided that the additional materials do not fluoresce in the presence of ultraviolet light. For purposes of this patent application the terms "fluoresce" or "fluorescence" will be understood to refer to a fluorescence intensity of greater than 800 when the fluid being measured is diluted with hexane at a ratio of 1 to 400.
In rotary drilling there are a variety of functions and characteristics that are expected of a drilling fluid ("drilling mud" or simply "mud"). The drilling fluid is expected to carry cuttings from beneath the bit, transport them up the annulus, and permit their separation at the surface while at the same time the rotary bit is cooled and cleaned. A drilling mud is also intended to reduce friction between the drill string and the sides of the hole while maintaining the stability of uncased sections of the borehole. Likewise the drilling fluid is formulated to prevent unwanted influxes of formation fluids from permeable rocks penetrated and likewise to form a thin, low permeability filter cake which seals pores and other openings and formations penetrated by the bit. Finally, the drilling fluid is used to collect and interpret information available from drill cuttings, cores and electrical logs.
Various advantages of using oil-based drilling mud in the rotary drilling of boreholes in the earth have been known for some time. In summary, it can be said that under certain conditions, one or more of the following advantages make oil-based muds more desirable than water-based muds. Lubricity characteristics are excellent. Drilling fluid weighing less than about 8 pounds per gallon can be prepared with an oil-based mud, and have proved advantageous in certain special drilling and coring situations. The penetration of the formation by water is avoided. Cores can be recovered in an in situ condition in the presence of hydrous clays and bentonites; no swelling or sloughing is experienced to reduce porosities or cause pipe sticking difficulties. There are fewer problems with hydrophilic shale formations drilled. Evaporite sections such as salt zones can be drilled with minimal leaching of the salt. Furthermore, oil-based muds can be formulated to withstand temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
On both offshore and inland drilling barges and rigs, drill cuttings are conveyed up the hole by a drilling fluid. With an oil-based drilling fluid, the cuttings, besides ordinarily containing moisture, are necessarily coated with an adherent film or layer of oily drilling fluid which may penetrate into the interior of each cutting. This is true despite the use of various vibrating screens, mechanical separation devices, and various chemical and washing techniques.
Mud logging is a process which involves the recording of information derived from the examination and analysis of formation cuttings. A portion of the drilling fluid is diverted through a gas-detecting device and examined under ultraviolet light to detect the presence of oil or gas. If the drilling fluid fluoresces this indicates that hydrocarbons are present and that the desired formation has been reached.
Unfortunately, in most oil-based drilling fluids either the oil used in the fluid or the surfactants that are present naturally fluoresce. This interferes with the results of the mud log because the mud logger cannot accurately ascertain whether formation hydrocarbons are present. This problem has hampered the use of fluoroscopy to determine the presence of hydrocarbon formations when either oil-based or oil-emulsion muds are used.
Graham et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,951,940, disclose a method of detecting the presence of crude oil in the earth's strata. This method entails contacting the surface of a rock chip that has been carried to the earth's surface by a drilling mud with a reverse-wetting agent. The rock chip is then contacted with ultraviolet light. By comparing the relative fluorescence of the surface of the chip before and after the contacting operation, a positive indication of the presence of the hydrocarbons may be obtained.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,050,141 discloses a drilling fluid emulsion which comprises an oil- and water-insoluble and immiscible liquid. This liquid is characterized by the fact that it either fails to fluoresce in the presence of ultraviolet light or it fluoresces a different color from typical unrefined hydrocarbons or crude oils. This liquid forms a third layer in the presence of oil and water because it is incompatible with both oil and water.
Boyd, U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,990 discloses a non-fluorescent oil-based drilling fluid which consists essentially of branched- and cyclic-paraffins having 11 to 17 carbon atoms per molecule and further having a low aromatic content of less than about 1% and a low normal-paraffin content of less than about 5%.
Mercer et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,883 teaches a hydrogenated synthetic polyalphaolefin having utility as a drilling fluid. The Mercer reference teaches various primary and secondary emulsifiers as useful for oil-based fluids. The primary emulsifiers taught by Mercer include fatty acid mixtures and modified sodium salts of higher organic acids. Secondary emulsifiers taught by Mercer include materials such as polyamides. The use of either a primary or secondary emulsifier as taught by Mercer, or a combination of primary and secondary emulsifiers, will inherently result in fluorescence characteristics greater than those permissible in the practice of this invention. In Example 1 of the Mercer patent Invermul NT (Baroid) is used as a primary emulsifier and EZ-Mul NT (Baroid) is used as a secondary emulsifier. Invermul NT is chemically equivalent to VERSAWET (M-I Drilling Fluids) and EZ-Mul NT is chemically equivalent to VERSACOAT (M-I Drilling Fluids). Referring to Table 8 of this application verifies that both VERSAWET and VERSACOAT and therefore Invermul NT and EZ-Mul NT, respectively, have fluorescence characteristics outside the scope of this invention, e.g., greater than 800. Likewise in Example 2 of the Mercer patent TRUMUL (International Drilling Fluids) and TRUPERSE (International Drilling Fluids) are identified as an emulsifier and wetting agent respectively. These materials are chemically equivalent to VERSACOAT and VERSAWET, respectively, and therefore are known to exceed the fluorescent intensity limits of this invention. Independent testing with TRUMUL (International Drilling Fluids) and TRUPERSE (International Drilling Fluids) have confirmed the fluorescent characteristics of these materials.
As can be seen from the above, the development of a drilling fluid that exhibits the desirable characteristics of an oil-based fluid and fails to fluoresce in the presence of UV light has long been an unachieved goal of the oil and gas exploration industry. With the practice of applicant's invention this goal has been realized.

Non-fluorescing oil-based drilling fluid


An electro-mechanical linear actuator including a drive motor, a capacitor, a die-cast gear box, and a drive nut system. The die-cast gear box is capable of receiving multiple drive motor diameters, and the drive motor may be staked to the gear box. A coverless-capacitor is fixed to the gearbox without fasteners, and knock-out plugs are die cast into the gearbox. Integral cord strain reliefs are provided to eliminate the need for plastic bushings. The assembly includes a metal drive key that mates with the drive shaft and an output gear for transmitting torque to the drive shaft. A plastic flange bearing provides bearing surfaces for the drive key and the drive shaft. A high efficiency reinforced self-guided ACME nut travels linearly along the drive shaft. A tight diameter is used on the ACME nut thread form, and a bearing section is provided on its outboard to maximize screw-to-nut alignment. Snap-fit adjustable cams allow easy adjustment of the travel of the drive nut along the shaft via limit switches. A satellite dish actuator assembly provided about the drive shaft includes an outer tube, an inner tube, and a three axis mounting stud. The outer tube may be fastened to cylindrical dust cover wall in the die cast gear box, or secured using a dust cover adaptor. The inner tube is secured to the drive nut using a replaceable tube/nut connector guide that keys the nut to the inner tube while centering them both in the outer tube. The three-axis mounting stud is secured to the end of the inner tube and allows three axis of freedom at low cost.

Linear actuators are commonly used in a wide variety of applications. These motors generally include an A.C. or D.C. drive motor, a gear assembly, and a drive shaft or lead screw. The gear assembly transmits the output torque of the drive motor to the drive shaft according to a predetermined gear ratio.
The drive shaft is threaded, and a threaded drive nut positioned on the shaft. Rotation of the shaft causes the drive nut to travel linearly along the shaft to generate linear motion in a connected assembly. Due to the interrelationship of intricate mechanical and electrical components of linear actuators, the manufacturing process is typically time consuming and inefficient. Accordingly, as with many industries, the linear actuator industry has constantly pursued new methods of assembly which would reduce the number of parts and manufacturing steps involved while maintaining the quality of the product. To date, however, the industry has failed to minimize the number of parts and manufacturing steps in a high quality linear actuator.


Apparatus and methods for cleaning and repairing a thermal barrier coating on a component designed for use in a hostile thermal environment, such as turbine, combustor and augmentor components of a gas turbine engine. The apparatus is a handheld tool that includes an applicator and a fluid dispensing unit. The method involves use of the apparatus to clean and repair a damaged coating such as a thermal barrier coating on a coated article. After cleaning the surface area of the component exposed by the localized spallation using a first apparatus, a second apparatus is used to apply and distribute a liquid mixture such as a primer or a coating repair composition the damaged area of the coating. The cleaning and repair methods can be performed while the component remains installed, e.g., in a gas turbine engine.

Higher operating temperatures for gas turbine engines are continuously sought in order to increase their efficiency. However, as operating temperatures increase, the high temperature durability of the components of the engine must correspondingly increase. Significant advances in high temperature capabilities have been achieved through the formulation of nickel and cobalt-base superalloys. Nonetheless, when used to form components of the turbine, combustor and augmentor sections of a gas turbine engine, such alloys alone are often susceptible to damage by oxidation and hot corrosion attack and may not retain adequate mechanical properties. For this reason, these components are often protected by an environmental and/or thermal-insulating coating, the latter of which is termed a thermal barrier coating (TBC) system. Ceramic materials, and particularly yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), are widely used as a thermal barrier coating (TBC), or topcoat, of TBC systems used on gas turbine engine components. These particular materials are widely employed because they can be readily deposited by plasma spray, flame spray and vapor deposition techniques. A commonly used type of TBC is a coating based on zirconia stabilized with yttria, for example about 93 wt. % zirconia stabilized with about 7 wt. % yttria. This general type of TBC has been reported in such United States patents as U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,705, U.S. Pat. No. 4,328,285, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,745, which are incorporated herein by reference.
During routine operation of the engine and aircraft, the coated surfaces, particularly those in or near the flowpath (intake, compression, combustion and exhaust) of the gas turbine engine, are subjected to heat, pressure and other forces can cause the coating to suffer localized damage such as spallation due to thermal fatigue and stress, defects, impact damage and other mechanical damage. For these reasons, the coated surfaces must be routinely inspected and meticulously repaired to avoid further damage to the coated surfaces and the underlying substrate. Maintenance personnel must inspect all visible surfaces, often requiring the use of flashlights, mirrors, and other inspection tools to access remote areas such as the small cooling holes and exhaust ports in a gas turbine engine. In the case of aircraft turbine engines and large power generation turbines, removing the turbine from service for repairs results in significant costs in terms of labor and downtime. For these reasons, removing components having TBCs that have suffered only localized damage such as spallation is not economically desirable. As a result, components identified as having only localized coating damage are often analyzed to determine whether the damage has occurred in a high stress area, and a judgment is then made as to the risk of damage to the turbine due to the reduced thermal protection of the component that could lead to catastrophic failure of the component.
Once a localized damaged coating area is located by inspection, and the decision is made to effect a field repair in situ, maintenance personnel must clean and prime the damaged area. Optionally, the field personnel may also apply a repair coating composition to the damaged surface, such as the compositions described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,578, for example. Current tools for cleaning, priming and optionally applying a repair coating are inadequate. Known tools are often too large, too small, or otherwise insufficient to perform the cleaning, priming and repairs. For example, maintenance personnel often use spray bottles and other containers for dispensing cleaning solutions such as solvents and detergents, beakers containing primers and coating repair compositions, and multiple brushes for cleaning and applying cleaning solutions, primers and repair compositions. In addition to the cumbersome use of so many different items, this situation creates a safety hazard to the personnel as well as a mechanical hazard to subsequent operation of the engine. While maintenance protocols require an accounting of each item used in the engine area, the use of a large number of tools makes the accounting process difficult, and more prone to errors that can have catastrophic results.
For all these reasons, there exists a continuing need for maintenance tools that can be effectively and efficiently used in limited access areas of engine and flowpath areas to clean, prime, and optionally repair damaged coated surfaces. There is additionally a need for maintenance tools and cleaning methods that can be used to perform one or more of the tasks of cleaning, priming, and repairing of coated surfaces in situ.
Accordingly, it would be desirable if a cleaning, priming and repair method were available that could be performed on localized damaged areas of TBC on turbine hardware in field and in situ, without necessitating that the component be removed from the turbine, so that downtime and scrappage are minimized.

Apparatus and methods for cleaning and priming of coated surfaces


A puncture-resistant glove includes a glove body having a hand portion with an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, a little finger and a thumb and a puncture-resistant area generally covering the hand portion, the thumb and the index finger.

Among many seafood lovers, oysters are a favorite and can be prepared in a variety of ways. Oysters are commonly prepared for consumption as oysters on the half shell (in which raw oysters are presented to a consumer with the bottom half of the oyster shell) or as Oysters Rockefeller or Oysters Bienville (in which oysters on the half shell are topped with various ingredients and then baked or broiled). Alternatively, oysters can be completely removed from the shell and eaten fried, baked, broiled or raw. Prior to consumption, oysters are partially or completely removed from the shell using a technique which is commonly known as "shucking".
A common oyster shucking technique involves holding an oyster firmly in one hand and a knife in the other hand. The blade of the knife is initially inserted between the top and bottom portions of the oyster shell next to the hinge which connects the top and bottom shell portions. The top shell portion is cut from the bottom shell portion as the inserted knife is moved from one side to the other side of the hinge. The top shell portion is then separated from the bottom shell portion and discarded, after which the oyster may then be cut free from the bottom shell portion. In preparation of oysters on the half shell, the oyster is typically placed back on the bottom shell portion and presented to a consumer in a raw or uncooked condition. In preparation of Oysters Rockefeller or Oysters Bienville, the oysters are typically placed back on the bottom shell portion and seasoned and baked. In other preparation methods, both the top and bottom shell portions may be discarded after the oyster is removed from the bottom shell portion.
Oyster shucking typically requires that a person apply sufficient force against the handle of the shucking knife to completely cut the top shell portion from the bottom shell portion of the oyster shell. One of the common drawbacks of shucking oysters is the tendency for the shucking knife to inadvertently slip out of place and cut, puncture or even impale the hand which holds the oyster as the shell portions are separated from each other. Moreover, a broken or fragmented oyster shell frequently has sharp edges which have a tendency to cut either hand of the person. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that persons who shuck oysters wear a puncture-resistant glove on the hand which holds the oyster as well as on the hand which holds the knife during shucking. Additionally, the oysters are typically maintained under ice cold conditions for serving to customers after they are shucked. Conventional puncture-resistant gloves typically do not thermally insulate the hands from the cold conditions which prevail during shucking. The coldness may numb the hands of the person, increasing the safety hazard of the shucking operation.
Accordingly, puncture-resistant and cut-resistant gloves which are particularly suitable for protecting the hands of a wearer from being inadvertently cut, punctured or impaled while shucking oysters are needed.


A rolling liquid herbicide applicator with an adjustable shield is attached to a hollow pole having an adjustable width protective shield mounted to one end weighted, textured wheels for rolling over most terrains are attached to the adjustable width protective shield. On the opposite end of the hollow pole handle is a trigger. When the trigger is activated, an internal trigger stick is moved down through the hollow pole, thereby causing a “C” piece to move upward. This upward movement pushes on a hard flat disk. The movement of the hard flat disk causes pliable cap center to move. The gravity flow of liquid herbicide from a liquid herbicide container causes the liquid herbicide to move through a tube and nozzle assembly. The adjustable width protective shield over the nozzle prevents overspray and accidental contact of the liquid herbicide on healthy desired vegetation.

Many herbicide agents presently available require that the operator bend over and then hand pump a sprayer to apply the chemical to the leaves or to the base of undesirable vegetation. This bending over and hand pumping can be painful to the back and to the hands of the operator as well as being very time consuming. Additionally, there is a risk of destroying healthy desired vegetation by accidental contact of the healthy desirable vegetation with the herbicide. Such accidental contact of herbicide with healthy desirable vegetation can occur from overspray, from the wind blowing the sprayed droplets of liquid herbicide, or from the leaves of desirable vegetation hanging downwardly near mulch beds. Thus, there is a need in the art for an apparatus that will spray liquid herbicide underneath an adjustable protective shield to prevent overspray of the liquid herbicide. By placing weighted textured wheels on each side of the adjustable width protective shield, the rolling herbicide applicator with an adjustable width protective shield of the present invention can be rolled over a variety of terrain. The disclosed apparatus can be easily rolled over brick walkways, fence lines, patios, and grass to create borders around flower beds, and to make swaths over a large area, in and about garden areas, and mulch beds. Flower bed perimeters may require the use of the narrower width adjustment of the adjustable width protective shield, while driveways, brick pavers and large areas may require the use the wider width adjustment of the adjustable width protective shield for effective application of liquid herbicide.
Other prior art devices for controlling undesirable vegetation include:
Gas weed trimmer
Electric weed trimmer
Weed scissors
Weed killer sprayers with hand pump
Liquid sprayers
Brick paver pick
Gas powered and electric weed trimmers are heavy and must be held up above the ground. In addition, gas powered and electric weed trimmers do not get into small cracks very well. It is time consuming for an operator to hit each weed or undesirable piece of vegetation with a gas powered or electric weed trimmer.
Weed scissors are exhausting to the hand of an operator.
Liquid sprayers do not provide protection from overspray of liquid weed killer.
The use of weed killer in hand-pumped sprayers is exhausting to the operator. In addition, the operator must bend over to apply the chemical to the weed leaf or the base of the undesired vegetation. Further, such hand-pumped sprayers also do not provide protection from overspray, or the wind blowing the droplets in the chemical mist on to healthy desired vegetation or into the eyes or onto the exposed skin of the user.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide an apparatus which enables precise application of liquid herbicide onto the undesired vegetation.
It would also be advantageous to provide an ergonomically friendly way to apply liquid herbicide onto undesired vegetation.
It would be still further advantageous to provide an apparatus for accurately applying liquid herbicide on undesired vegetation with prevention of overspray, splatter, or accidental contact of herbicide with surrounding healthy desired vegetation, the eyes of the operator, or the skin of the operator.

Rolling herbicide applicator with an adjustable shield


A switchable air intake system for a multicylinder internal combustion engine has at least one short and one long intake manifold whose cross sections are controllable by at least one regulating unit as a function of operating parameters (in particular the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine). The short intake manifold for a first cylinder bank row and the long intake manifold for a second cylinder bank row of the internal combustion engine, are controllable via a joint regulating unit (56, 58).

This application claims the priority of German patent document 10 2005 001 862.9, filed Jan. 14, 2005, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a switchable air intake system for a multicylinder internal combustion engine.
So-called switching intake systems for improving the dynamic boosting of an internal combustion engine are disclosed in German Patent Documents DE 198 41 810 A1 and DE 43 33 053 A1. In the latter, a two-step change in the intake manifold length is effected with the help of a rotary slide valve which closes the short intake manifold, depending on its rotational position, while the long intake manifold is opened or vice versa.
One object of the present invention is to develop a switchable air intake system for a multirow internal combustion engine, in particular for a V-type engine, that has a compact design and can be manufactured inexpensively.
This and other objects and advantages are achieved by the switchable air intake system for a multirow internal combustion engine according to the invention, in which only two regulating units are required to control the two intake manifold lengths. This arrangement yields a compact design of the switchable air intake system, which can also be manufactured inexpensively.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a rotary slide valve releases the short intake manifold as a function of its rotational position while the long intake manifold is sealed off by the rotary slide valve, or vice versa. In order to provide for effective switching of the air intake system, the short intake manifold assigned to the first cylinder bank row is arranged to intersect with the long intake manifold assigned to the second cylinder bank row, and the rotary slide valve is arranged in the intersection area, where there is a pipe section that is common to both the short intake manifold or the long intake manifold.
The air intake system is designed as a modular system, with a throttle valve provided in the flange area to the cylinder head for controlling the air supply to the individual cylinders.
The throttle valves of a cylinder bank row are jointly operable by one rod each. In addition, openings are provided in the flange area to the cylinder head in the module of the air intake system to accommodate fuel injectors.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Switchable air intake system for multi-cylinder internal combustion engine

Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft


A method comprises exposing the surface of an optical microcavity characterized by at least one resonance frequency to a sample such that a single particle or molecule from the sample adsorbs onto the surface of the microcavity; evanescently coupling a probe laser beam into the microcavity, the wavelength of the probe laser beam substantially matching the at least one resonance frequency; illuminating the surface of the microcavity with a free space pump light beam and moving the focal spot of the free space pump light beam such that the focal spot substantially overlaps with the single particle/molecule; and detecting light from the probe laser beam. The wavelength of the free space pump light beam generates sufficient heat via energy absorbed by the single particle/molecule to induce a shift in the at least one resonance frequency, thereby providing a change in an optical characteristic of the detected light.

Whispering-Gallery Mode (WGM) optical microresonators have emerged as rich experimental platforms for quantum optics, photonics, and sensing. In such systems, propagating light is confined to a microstructure and made to repeatedly probe the same volume. Scrupulous minimization of attenuation and scattering translates into tremendously high quality (Q) factors, exceeding 1010 for microsphere resonators. (See Gorodetsky, M. L.; Savchenkov, A. A.; Ilchenko, V. S.: Ultimate Q of optical microsphere resonators. Opt. Lett. 1996, 21, 453-455.) Simultaneously, the propagating mode may be evanescently coupled to the microstructure's immediate environment, leading to repeated interaction with this environment similar to cavity ring-down spectroscopy, though on a substantially smaller length scale. The result is a highly sensitive probe of local environment. Microresonators are also sensitive to the presence of absorbers, and even sensitive in a label-free capacity to the presence of non-absorbing analyte species through differences in the real part of the complex refractive index between the analyte and the surrounding medium (termed the "reactive mechanism"). In particular, toroidal microresonators possess the highest ratio of Q to propagating mode volume. (See Armani, D. K.; Kippenberg, T. J.; Spillane, S. M.; Vahala, K. J.: Ultra-high-Q toroid microcavity on a chip. Nature 2003, 421, 925-928 and Kippenberg, T. J.; Spillane, S. M.; Vahala, K. J.: Demonstration of ultra-high-Q small mode volume toroid microcavities on a chip. Appl. Phys. Lett. 2004, 85, 6113-6115.) This combination has made them particularly suited for applications in nonlinear optics.
In previous single-particle detection experiments, the reactive mechanism shifts the resonance position upon analyte binding. Though the shift is small, it is resolvable due to the narrowness of the linewidth itself. Various methods have been applied to stabilize the optical properties of the resonator, eliminate drift, or use internal standards to minimize spurious resonance position fluctuations in attempt to increase the resolution and decrease the minimum detectable object size. However, even with these improvements, typical detectable objects are in the ˜10-100 nm size range, such as nanoparticles and virus particles. (See Zhu, J. G.; Ozdemir, S. K.; Xiao, Y. F.; Li, L.; He, L. N.; Chen, D. R.; Yang, L.: On-chip single nanoparticle detection and sizing by mode splitting in an ultrahigh-Q microresonator. Nature Photon. 2010, 4, 122-122; Lu, T.; Lee, H.; Chen, T.; Herchak, S.; Kim, J. H.; Fraser, S. E.; Flagan, R. C.; Vahala, K.: High sensitivity nanoparticle detection using optical microcavities. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A 2011, 108, 5976-5979; He, L. N.; Ozdemir, K.; Zhu, J. G.; Kim, W.; Yang, L.: Detecting single viruses and nanoparticles using whispering gallery microlasers. Nature Nanotech. 2011, 6, 428-432; and Vollmer, F.; Arnold, S.; Keng, D.: Single virus detection from the reactive shift of a whispering-gallery mode. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A 2008, 105, 20701-20704.) Additionally, no chemical information regarding the identity of the adsorbed species is obtained.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Single molecule spectroscopy using photothermal tuning of optical microcavities