An improved process is provided for the production of a partial oxidation product by the vapor phase reaction of a hydrocarbon with substantially pure oxygen in the presence of a suitable catalyst. In the improved process, the partial oxidation product is removed, carbon dioxide and excess carbon monoxide, present in the reactor effluent as by-products, are also removed and the remaining gaseous effluent, comprised mainly of carbon monoxide and unreacted hydrocarbon, is recycled to the reactor. The concentration of carbon monoxide throughout the system is maintained sufficiently high to prevent the formation of a flammable mixture in the reactor or associated equipment.

Certain partial oxidation products are produced commercially by the oxidation of an appropriate hydrocarbon in the vapor phase over a suitable catalyst. For example, cyclic anhydrides are produced commercially by the vapor phase catalytic partial oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons, such as o-xylene or benzene, or straight-chain hydrocarbons, such as n-butane or butene, in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas, over a vanadium-containing catalyst. Similarly, nitriles, alkylene oxides, aldehydes and halogenated hydrocarbons are produced by the partial oxidation of appropriate alkanes and alkenes in the presence of selected catalysts. Air is generally used as the oxygen-containing gas, because of its low cost and ready availability. The reaction can be carried out in any suitable reactor, such as a fixed bed, fluidized bed, moving bed, trickle bed or transport bed, and it produces the partial oxidation product, and generally carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), water, and smaller amounts of other partially oxidized by-products. The reaction equipment train generally consists of a reactor, in which the partial oxidation product is produced, a scrubber, in which the partial oxidation product is scrubbed from the reactor effluent gases by means of water or other solvent for the partial oxidation product, and means for further treating the scrubbed effluent gases.
In the past it was common to practice the above-described process on a single pass basis with the conversion of hydrocarbon to the desired product being maximized. This resulted in a low overall efficiency, since the selectivity to partial oxidation product was below the maximum. Consequently, the scrubber effluent gas contained, in addition to unreacted hydrocarbon, considerable amounts of CO and CO.sub.2. These products were usually incinerated, so that the only return realized from them was heat value. In later processes a portion of the scrubber effluent gas was recycled, the conversion of the hydrocarbon feedstock was lowered and the selectivity of hydrocarbon conversion to the desired partial oxidation product was maximized. The remainder of the effluent was purged from the system to prevent the build-up of CO, CO.sub.2 and nitrogen (introduced into the system when air is used as the source of oxygen). These improvements resulted in a reduced "per pass" conversion but the overall efficiency of the process was increased.
Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) Patent Application Disclosure 25 44 972 discloses a maleic anhydride manufacturing process in which the reactor feed comprises C.sub.4 hydrocarbons, air, CO and CO.sub.2. In the process of this patent, maleic anhydride is recovered from the reactor effluent gas stream and a portion of the remaining stream is recycled. This patent also teaches recovering butane by temperature swing adsorption from the non-recycled gas stream and recycling the recovered butane to the reactor.
A major problem associated with the gas phase production of partial oxidation products by the oxidation of hydrocarbons with an oxygen-containing gas is that since the reaction is carried out at elevated temperatures, there is an ever-present danger of a fire or an explosion in the reactor, or the equipment or pipelines associated with the reactor, as a result of the decomposition of unreacted hydrocarbons. The propensity of the hydrocarbons to decompose is enhanced by the presence of catalyst, and the tendency toward decomposition is particularly enhanced in fluidized bed or transport bed reactors. Accordingly, the concentrations of the reactants in the system are maintained such that the mixture is kept outside of the flammability range. Although nitrogen serves to reduce the flammable mixture range when air is used as the source of oxygen for the reaction, the flammable mixture range for hydrocarbon-air mixtures is still quite broad. Consequently, it has been customary to operate gas phase partial oxidation product reactors at low hydrocarbon levels, so that the reaction mixture will remain outside of the flammable range.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,904,652 teaches a gas phase maleic anhydride manufacturing process in which oxygen is used as the oxidizing gas and an inert gas, such as nitrogen, argon, helium or a lower hydrocarbon is fed into a fixed bed reactor with the n-butane and oxygen, the inert gas serving as a diluent to reduce the concentrations of oxygen and butane in the reactor to below the point at which they form a flammable mixture. In the disclosed process, a portion of the gaseous effluent, which contains, in addition to butane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and the inert gas, is recycled. One of the disadvantages of the process of this patent is that recycling carbon monoxide with the other gases increases the fire and explosion hazard at the reactor inlet because carbon monoxide itself is highly flammable.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,755 discloses a recycle process for the vapor phase manufacture of maleic anhydride by reacting a straight-chain C.sub.4 hydrocarbon with oxygen in the presence of CO.sub.2. In the process disclosed in this patent the gaseous mixture may contain up to 30 volume percent of carbon dioxide as the inert diluent and contains at least 25 volume percent C.sub.4 hydrocarbon This patent states that at most 2% v/v and more preferably at most 1% v/v of carbon monoxide is present in the oxidation stage. In the process of this patent, the presence of large amounts of C.sub.4 hydrocarbon can render the gas mixture in the system flammable, especially in the region of the reactor outlet.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,868,400, issued to Norton, discloses that in the vapor phase ammoxidation of alkyl-substituted organic compounds the yield of nitrile product can be increased and ammonia and hydrocarbon burn mitigated by incorporating carbon monoxide into the reactant stream to the ammoxidation reaction system.
As is well known, under a given set of conditions of temperature and pressure the flammability of a gaseous hydrocarbon-oxygen mixture is dependent upon the ratio of the gaseous components in the mixture. At very low hydrocarbon concentrations the gas mixture is nonflammable, but at a certain hydrocarbon concentration threshhold level, usually referred to as the lower explosive limit (LEL), the mixture becomes flammable and remains flammable with increasing hydrocarbon concentrations until the hydrocarbon level reaches a certain level, often referred to as the upper explosive limit (UEL) of the gas mixture. The explosive range of a gaseous fuel-oxygen mixture rapidly expands as the temperature of the system increases. Even though it might otherwise be desirable to operate a gaseous partial oxidation product manufacturing process at hydrocarbon concentrations in the explosive range, it is dangerous to do so because of the hazard of fire or explosion in the reactor or associated equipment. The present invention permits optimization of the selectivity and yield of the process, even while operating the process at hydrocarbon concentrations normally falling within the flammable mixture range. In the past, this was not considered possible.

Process for the production of hydrocarbon partial oxidation products


The invention relates to a method for managing data transmissions via an internet network (RI) between calling (Aa) and called (Ab) subscribers and also an associated smart card. A card (2a) cooperates with a terminal (1a) and has client/webserver (SWEB), CGI and proxy (27a) functions. The proxy function is used for the signaling channels (CS) and data channels (CD). The terminal (1a) and the card (2a) include specific communication protocol layers that make it possible to establish sessions for bidirectional transmission between them and/or with the internet network (RI). The smart card (2a) stores applications associated with protocols for listing (900a) and for locating subscribers (901a), as well as subscriber profiles (903a). It plays the role of a proxy in the signaling channel (CS) and/or data channel (CD).

To define the concepts, and without in any way limiting the scope of the invention, the method will be described in the context of the preferred application, that is, telephone calling via an internet network.
Within the scope of the invention, the term "internet network" must be understood in its most general sense. Besides the internet itself, it pertains to private business networks or the like of the type known as "intranet", and networks extending them to the outside, of the type known as "extranet", and in general any network in which data exchanges are done in accordance with an internet-type protocol. In the following description, such a network will be generically called an "internet network".
The term "terminal" must also be understood in a general sense. The aforementioned terminal can in particular comprise a personal computer operating under various operating systems, such as Windows or UNIX (both of these being registered trademarks). It can also comprise a workstation, portable computer, or dedicated card terminal.
Given the spectacular development of the internet network in the last five years, an increasing number of terminals are connected to this network, especially for the sake of being linked to remote servers of the web type. There are limitations in terms of the data traveling over these links that make up the web of the internet network. However, these limitations are not primarily linked to the nature of the data but instead to the speed that these links allow. The recent installation of high-speed links (cable, ASDL, satellite links, ISDN, etc.) nevertheless make it possible to carry data of the multimedia type and to process these data in real time.
It is also of particular interest to have telephone communications, even videophone communications, travel over the internet network. Transmitting the data themselves does not present any particular problems. They can be processed by the protocols typically used on this type of network. The management of the communications, however, does present specific problems, especially problems associated with what in conventional telephony is called "signaling". In general, this concept designates such operations as calling a correspondent, accepting a call, beginning and ending a conversation, ringing, disconnection, etc.
In the 1990s, a great many systems and types of software for making telephone calls via the internet network have been proposed.
The first telephone for the internet, called "Internet Phone" (registered trademark), was developed by the company known as Vocaltec in 1995. By now, dozens of products are known: "WebPhone", "NetMeeting" put out by Microsoft (both of these are registered trademarks), and so forth.
The resultant state of the art is accordingly distinguished by great diversity and a lack of standards, or at least de facto standards. It follows that these products are not interoperable.
However, the following current trends can be observed:
a) use of a port of the TCP type to achieve pseudo-signaling (notification of a call, identification of the caller for the sake of accepting or rejecting the call, etc.);
b) compression of the audio signal, for instance using the method known as UIT-T G723 (Union Internationale des Télécommunications) from 5.3 kbps to 6.3 kbps;
c) broadcasting sound using the RTP protocol (Real Time Protocol), meeting the specification RFC 1889, which it in turn uses the UDP transmission protocol (for User Datagram Protocol) and dated pdus (for Protocol Data Units), and which is associated with RTCP control protocol (for Real Time Transport Control Protocol); and
d) identifying the called party by its IP address, where numerous servers make it possible to assign, to a fixed mail address, an IP address issued by a PPP server of a service provider (ISP, for Internet Service Provider), such as a server known by the symbol ICQ for example.
When communications must leave the internet network, internet telephony gateways or ITGs make it possible to connect a public switched telephone network or RTC, known in English as PSTN. The H323 protocol which defines the format of packets used in local networks and in an ISDN network seems to be becoming the dominant standard for call control protocols or CCPs.
Internet telephony presents three main types of problems:
a) locating the subscriber in the network, that is, establishing a relationship between an IP address (of an information processing machine) and the subscriber;
b) managing the signaling of a telephone call (calling the correspondent, acceptance of the call, beginning of a conversation, end of a conversation): this function is performed by what is called a proprietary protocol (generally called a proprietary signaling protocol or PSP) for calls of the internet/internet type, or by a particular protocol (the aforementioned CCP) that is coming to be the standard for calls of the internet/PSTN type, the signaling being done by means of a TCP connection which will hereinafter be called the signaling channel or CS; and
c) the exchange of a multimedia data stream: The protocol adopted is generally the protocol known as RTP (for real time protocol, corresponding to the aforementioned specification RFC 1889), and the exchange of multimedia data is done through a data channel, while the information is transported by the aforementioned UDP protocol.
To make a telephone conversation on the internet, the caller and the called party must both use the same software. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the main modules that make up telephony software (LT), such as the "NetMeeting" software mentioned above. Schematically, a conventional telephony software and the architecture of the associated transmission system include the following subassemblies:
a) a subscriber profile (PA), which contains a set of information making it possible to identify a subscriber;
b) a listing protocol (PE) which performs the listing of a subscriber in a directory server (SA-identified by a particular port number or TCP, such as port No. 389);
c) a locating protocol (PL), which performs the function of looking up a subscriber on the basis of this identifier (in general, e-mail), this function being implemented by means of a connection to the directory server (SA);
d) a signaling channel (CS), which employs a proprietary signaling protocol (PSP), which manages a telephone call through a TCP connection to a particular port (No. 1503 for NetMeeting); and
e) a data channel (CD), which manages the exchange of data in real time (sound and/or images) with the aid of a data exchange protocol, such as RTP.
Optionally, the internet telephony software can send a call to a subscriber of the standard telephone network, using a call control protocol (CCP), by means of a TCP connection (to port No. 1731, in the case of the "NetMeeting" software).
FIG. 1 accompanying the present description schematically illustrates the architecture of a telephony system 9 via the internet network RI, according to the prior art, and using telephony software of the type that has just been described.
In this figure, two terminals 9a and 9b have been shown schematically, reduced only to the telephony software with which they are equipped, 90a and 90b, respectively.
The components of these types of software include one listing protocol PE 900a and 900b for each terminal 9a and 9b, respectively, associated with a respective subscriber profile (PA) 903a and 903b and a locating protocol PL, 901a and 901b, respectively. A subscriber profile PA includes a basic identifier of a subscriber, Aa or Ab, generally known as a "UserID", and various data which will be specified hereinafter that identify this subscriber more completely.
The listing protocol PE, 900a or 900b, enables the subscribers Aa and Ab associated with the terminals 9a and 9b, respectively, to list themselves in a directory server 91 connected to the internet network RI . The listings are done using identification data contained in the aforementioned subscriber profiles PA, 903A and 903B, respectively.
When one wishes to make a communication between two subscribers, one must first proceed to a phase of locating the called subscriber. For instance, if the terminal 9a is to be put into communication with the terminal 9b, then the IP address of the terminal 9b in the internet network RI must be known.
These processes per se are common to conventional telephony in a purely switched network. A call number is assigned to each subscriber, and this number is listed in one or more directories.
However, using an internet network to telephone transmissions between subscribers, or even between terminals, imposes specific constraints.
First, it would appear useful to briefly recall the main characteristics of the protocols for communication over networks.
The architecture of communication networks is described by various layers. By way of example, the OSI standard (for Open System Interconnection) defined by the ISO includes seven layers, which range from what are known as lower layers (such as the "physical" layer, which involves the physical transmission substrate) to what are known as high, or upper, layers (such as the "application" layer), passing through intermediate layers, especially the "transport" layer. A given layer offers its services to the layer that is immediately above it, and requests other services, via suitable interfaces, from the layer that is immediately below it. The layers communicate with the aid of primitives. They can also communicate with layers of the same level. In certain architectures, various layers may not be present.
In an environment of the internet type, the layers are five in number, and more precisely, ranging from the highest to the lowest layer, they are: the application layer ("http", "ftp", "e-mail", etc.), the transport layer ("TCP"), the network addressing layer ("IP"), the data link layer ("PPP", "Slip", etc.), and the physical layer.
In the prior art, the subscribers Aa and Ab use internet terminals 9a or 9b, which have a fixed IP address or a variable one when an internet service provider or ISP is used.
A first disadvantage is the fact that an IP address is not associated with a subscriber but rather with an information processing system connected to the internet network. Even in the case where the information processing system is provided with a fixed address, there is no correspondence a priori between an IP address and a physical person. In a practical sense, to establish such a relationship, the subscriber makes a connection with the directory server SA 91 (which can for example be of the IRC type, for Internet Relay Chat). This server associates the IP address of the subscriber to the subscriber identifier or UserID. The identifier is generally his e-mail address, but an arbitrary pseudonym can also be used.
This association is generally not authenticated, so that the service (typically free) can be used as conveniently as possible. However, this arrangement is not exempt from disadvantages, especially for what called "sensitive" applications.
One of the first constraints encountered is accordingly to locate a subscriber in the internet network RI, that is, to establish a correspondence between a fixed identifier and an IP address.
Locating a subscriber on the internet network RI, that is, establishing the aforementioned correspondence, presupposes that the subscriber was already listed in the directory server SA.
The address of the subscriber in the internet network accordingly comprises a pair: address SA and UserID. In the usual way, the term "subscriber" means a "physical" entity. By extension, it can be a function. However, hereinafter, "subscriber" will be used in its common sense, without in any way limiting the scope of the invention.
In practical terms, a subscriber indicates his location in the internet network RI by a voluntary act, by furnishing the (directory) server his current IP address, using the aforementioned listing protocol PE.
This operation requires that the terminal 9a or 9b have a specific (or applications) software, issued by the service provider, in this case the software PE, 900a or 900b, and personalized with a particular subscriber profile PA, 903a or 903b.
As has been indicated, besides the basic identifier for the subscriber (UserID), the subscriber profile PA, 103a or 103b, includes a set of information furnished to the directory server SA 91 at the time the subscriber was listed, for example:                the address of the directory server (SA);        the subscribers (identified by their UserIDs) with which the user is willing to enter into communication, or to whom he wants to notify his location in the network; and        the information that he is willing to make public in the directory server (such as name, nationality, contacts sought, and so forth). To contact a correspondent through the internet network RI, this correspondent being duly listed, it is necessary to know his IP address. This information is obtained using the directory server SA 91 and the locating protocol PL, 901a or 901b, respectively.
It should be noted that the subscriber profile PA is by its nature specific to the subscriber, but it can also depend on characteristics of the directory server SA, especially the type and nature of the information that must be furnished to him or that he can accept.
It should finally be noted that the PL protocol 901a or 901b, like the PE protocol 900a or 900b, is proprietary, since it addresses a directory server SA 91 that is a priori non-standardized or does not meet universally recognized standards. The PE and PL protocols of terminals must be compatible with the corresponding protocols in the directory server SA 91, 910 and 911, respectively.
These two characteristics represent additional disadvantages.
To summarize the above review, if a calling subscriber PA is to be able to locate a called subscriber Ab and be located by the latter in turn, the terminal he uses, such as 9a, must store specific software 900a or 900b, 901a or 901b, which make it possible to use the PE and PL protocols. It must also be necessary for the terminal to store data pertaining to its subscriber profile PA 903a. This comment applies similarly to the terminals of other subscribers, such as the terminal 9b.
In other words, the terminal 9a or 9b used by an arbitrary subscriber Aa or Ab is also specific, in the sense that if this subscriber wishes to change terminals he must, in the new terminal used, retrieve at least the software or programs associated with the PL protocol, by acknowledging that he had performed a preliminary listing phase in the first terminal by calling the protocol PE and by furnishing his profile PA to the directory server SA. In fact, the presence of the protocol PL is necessary in order to address the directory server SA 91 and to have access to the data recorded in it, in particular the IP addresses of the correspondence sought and their profiles PA.
The terminals 9a or 9b must also be provided each with two additional programs, also of proprietary type: the signaling protocol PSP, 902a or 902b, and the data exchange protocol RTP mentioned above (or a similar protocol), 905a or 905b. The modules associated with the PSP protocol correspond with one another by way of the signaling channel CS, through the internet network RI. In the same way, the modules associated with the RTP protocol correspond with one another by way of the data channel CD, through the internet network RI.
Finally, if the telephone communications must depart from the internet network RI to the standard switched network 93, it is necessary to provide the aforementioned call control protocol or CCP mentioned above (or a similar protocol), 904a or 904b, which is also proprietary. It is also necessary to provide one or more gateways of the ITG type mentioned above, represented by the unique reference numeral 92, between the module 904a associated with the CCP protocol, and the PSTN network 93. A subscriber telephone 95 communicates with the PSTN via a central conventional PBX 94,or any similar system. The communications between the gateway ITG 92 and the subscriber terminal, 9a in example shown in FIG. 1, employ a TCP type of connection. This communications in the switched telephone network portion are done in the conventional way and there is no need to describe them again here.
It would accordingly be valuable to use non-standardized terminals to perform the phases of listing and especially of locating subscribers on the internet network RI, as well as signaling (calling the subscriber located, and so forth) and exchanging data, which would make it conveniently possible to achieve the concept called "nomadism".
It would also be valuable to be able, in the signaling phase, to use a procedure for simple or mutual secure identification between the called party and the caller. Various negotiations, such as negotiations of encryption keys or operations called "reservation" or routing paths, would also have to be capable of being done at the time of this signaling phase. In addition, in the data exchange phase, it would be valuable to be able to assure robust encryption/decryption of information, based for instance on the encryption keys negotiated beforehand. Finally, it would be valuable to be able to use pricing based on the quantity (rate) of data exchanged and/or on the quality of the routing paths put at one's disposal, these paths having been negotiated for instance in the preceding signaling phase.
The programs associated with the aforementioned protocols PE and PL do not typically require having a large amount of memory available. The same is true for the profile data PA. Hence it is possible to conceive of recording them entirely or in part in the memory circuits of a smart card, which current technology does allow.
However, this involves a dual technical difficulty, as will be shown hereinafter, which prevents any direct communication between the internet network RI and a smart card.
First, the general architecture of a smart card-based applications system will be reviewed briefly, with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B.
A smart card-based applications system can generally include the following main elements:                a smart card;        a host system comprising the aforementioned terminal;        a communications network, that is, the internet in the preferred application;        and an applications server connected to the internet.
FIG. 2A schematically illustrates one example of this type of architecture. The terminal 1, such as an individual computer, includes a reader 3 for a smart card 2. This reader 3 may or may not be physically integrated with the terminal 1. In the context of the invention, the terminal 1 plays the role of the terminals 9a or 9b of the system of FIG. 1. The smart card 2 includes an integrated circuit 20 whose input/output connections are flush with the surface of its substrate, to allow a supply of electrical energy and communications with the terminal 1. This terminal includes circuits 11 for access to the internet RI. These circuits can be constituted by a modem for connection to a switched telephone line or a higher-speed communication path, such as the Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN), cable, or satellite links. The circuits 11 enable connection to the internet RI, either directly or via an internet service provider (ISP). Recourse can also be had to an intermediate system such as a proxy or an insulation system known as a firewall (or guard barrier).
The terminal 1 naturally includes all the circuits and devices necessary for its proper functioning, which have not been shown for the sake of simplifying the drawing: a CPU, random access and read-only memories, magnetic disk mass memory, disk drive and/or CD-ROM drive, and so forth.
Typically, the terminal 1 is also connected to conventional peripherals, either integrated or not, such as a display screen 5, a keyboard 6a and a mouse 6b, and so forth.
The terminal 1 can be put into communication with servers or any information processing systems connected to the network RI, of which a single server 4 is shown in FIG. 2A. In the context of the invention, the server 4 comprises a directory server 91 (FIG. 1) and the terminal 1 comprises on of the systems 9a or 9b associated with a subscriber Aa or Ab. The access circuits 11 put the terminal 1 into communication with the servers 4 using a particular software 10, called a web navigator or browser. This enables access to various applications or data files that are distributed over the entire network RI, generally by a client-server mode, and in particular enables access to multimedia files.
The communication protocol for the internet network RI is selected as a function of the particular application contemplated, such as looking up web pages, transferring files, electronic mail (or e-mail), forums, news, etc.
The software architecture of the system including a terminal, a smart card reader and a smart card, is shown schematically in FIG. 2B. It is described by ISO standard 7816, which in turn includes several subsets:                ISO 7816-1 and 7816-2, pertaining to the dimensions and marking of cards;        ISO 7816-3, pertaining to the transfer of data between the terminal and the smart card; and        ISO 7816-4, pertaining to the structure of the set of orders and the format of commands.
In FIG. 2B, for terminal 1, only the layers meeting ISO standard 7816-3, identified by reference numeral 101, and an APDU order manager (ISO 7816-4), reference numeral 102 are shown. For the smart card 2, the layers meeting ISO 7816-3 are identified by reference numeral 200, and the ADPU order manager (ISO 7816-4) has reference numeral 201. The applications carry reference symbols A1, . . . Ai, . . . An, where n is the maximum number of applications present in the smart card 2.
An application Ai in the smart card 2 (FIG. 1A) conducts a dialog with the terminal 1 by means of a set of orders. This set typically has writing and reading orders. The order format is known by the abbreviation APDU ("Application Protocol Data Unit"). It is defined by the aforementioned ISO standard 7816-4. A command APDU is written as "APDU.command", and a response APDU is written "APDU.response". The APDUs are exchanged between the card reader and the smart card by means of a protocol specified by the aforementioned ISO standard 7816-3 (for example, in the character mode: T=0; or in the block mode: T=1).
When the smart card 2 includes a plurality of distinct applications, as illustrated by FIG. 2B, it is called a multi-application card. However, the terminal 1 is in a dialog with only one application at a time.
The selection of a particular application Ai is obtained with the aid of an APDU of the selection type ("SELECT"). Once this choice has been made, the APDUs that follow are routed through this application. A new "APDU SELECT" causes the current application to be abandoned so that another one is then chosen. The software manager subset of the APDUs 201 makes it possible to choose a particular application Ai in the smart card 2, to memorize the application thus chosen, and to transmit and/or receive APDUs to and from this application.
To summarize what has just been described, the selection of an application Ai and dialog with it are done by exchanges of APDU orders. Let it be assumed that the applications Ai are conventional applications, hereinafter called GCAs (for Generic Card Application).
Given the above review, it should be noted that the smart card 2 cannot communicate directly with standard commercial navigators except by modifying their code.
Furthermore and above all, current smart cards, which moreover meet the standards described above, have a hardware and software configuration that no longer allows them to communicate directly with the internet. In particular, they cannot receive and transmit data packets by one or the other of the protocols used in this type of network. Hence it is necessary to provide an additional item of software, implanted in the terminal 1, generally in the form known as a "plug-in".
This item of software, which is identified by reference numeral 12 in FIG. 2A, acts as the interface between the navigator 10 and the card 2, and more specifically the electronic circuits 20 in this card 2.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for managing transmissions of multimedia data via an internet-type network, in particular telephone or videophone data, and smart card for implementing the method


An evaluating method of an HSG silicon film using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The characteristics of the HSG silicon film are measured and expressed with quantitative values using AFM. The above values are compared to values written in the working specification, to thereby evaluate the HSG silicon film and control the conditions of forming the HSG silicon film. Also, the capacitor where the HSG silicon film is interposed is formed, and then the capacitance of the capacitor is measured to determine the HSG height of the HSG silicon film for ensuring desired capacitance and conditions of forming the HSG silicon film. Accordingly, the characteristics of the HSG silicon film may be analyzed without damaging the semiconductor substrate and a preferred working specification for forming the HSG silicon film may be realized, to thereby increase the reproducibility of the HSG silicon film. Also, when the conditions of forming the HSG silicon film are determined, it is checked whether the apparatus for forming the HSG silicon film operates normally.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of evaluating a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a method of evaluating a hemispherical grain (HSG) silicon film.
2. Description of the Related Art
An HSG silicon film, which has been developed for increasing the capacitance of a capacitor, is formed on a storage node of the capacitor to increase a surface area of the storage node. The HSG silicon film is formed by seeding an HSG seed on the storage node and then annealing the resulting structure. When the HSG silicon film is formed on the storage node, the surface area of the note increases to twice that of the note when the HSG silicon film is not formed.
A method for evaluating a process and for monitoring an apparatus state and process conditions is necessary for forming the HSG silicon film on the storage node of the capacitor. However, the HSG silicon film cannot be evaluated according to the conventional art. It has therefore been difficult to accurately control conditions for forming the HSG silicon films with the desired capacitance. As a result, consistency in manufacturing HSG silicon films has been hampered.
What the industry needs therefore is an improved method for evaluating an HSG silicon films, and for controlling processing conditions in the manufacture of HSG films.

Method for evaluating HSG silicon film of semiconductor device by atomic force microscopy


A method for generatig a fault tolerant sensor signal for a motor control system in a vehicle steering system. The method includes receiving at least three sensor signals indicative of a sensed parameter and generating a plurality of parameter pair signals responsive to the at least one sensor signal of the at least three sensor signals. Additionally, the method includes selecting one parameter pair signal of the plurality of parameter pair signals and generating a measured parameter signal responsive to the selecting.

This invention relates to the signal processing associated with fault tolerant multiple sensor signals, and more particularly, to multiple torque sensor reasonableness diagnostics to ensure fault tolerance.
Many control systems employ multiple sensors to achieve some level of fault tolerance. In some systems, two sensors are employed, providing confidence that if a sensor fails response to the failed sensors may be controlled in a deterministic manner. Under such conditions, continued operation may not be possible, but at least the response to a loss of a sensor may be constrained. In other systems, three or more sensors may be employed to provide complete redundancy, and thereby providing some level of tolerance to a particularized fault as voting among the sensors and their inputs may now be accomplished.
However, additional sensors inherently require additional integration packaging, complexity, and interface signal processing, all of which add cost. Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide deterministic fault tolerance while employing a minimum of redundant sensors and signal processing interfaces.

Fault tolerant torque sensor signal processing


A device may include a sensor window. The sensor window may include a substrate. The sensor window may include a set of layers disposed onto the substrate. The set of layers may include a first subset of layers of a first refractive index and a second set of layers of a second refractive index different from the first refractive index. The set of layers may be associated with a threshold transmissivity in a sensing spectral range, and may be configured to a particular color in a visible spectral range and associated with a threshold opacity in the visible spectral range. The device may include a spectral sensor device aligned to the sensor window and including at least one sensor element to receive light in the sensing spectral range and provide a plurality of sensing functionalities based on at least one measurement of the light in the sensing spectral range.

A user device may include a camera. For example, a user device may include a camera that captures images of an object, of a user, and/or the like. The user device may also include one or more other types of sensor devices. For example, some user devices may include a fingerprint reader to determine an identity of a user and to perform a security function. Similarly, some user devices may include a heart rate monitor to measure a pulse of the user and to perform a health function. Some user devices may connect to external peripherals to perform one or more functions. For example, a user device may connect to an external heart rate monitor worn by a user to enable the external heart rate monitor to monitor a pulse of the user. Similarly, external peripherals may be used to monitor blood oxygenation, to perform fingerprint scanning, and/or the like for a user device.

User device incorporating multi-sensing sensor device


This invention is related to a pair of eyeglasses. The lens includes a pair of connecting pieces disposed with a connecting barb portion set on two opposite sides of the lens; the temples include a hinge portion comprising a hinge neck portion and a hinge pillar set on one end of the temples, the hinge neck portion being respectively connected to the temples and the hinge pillar; the connecting elements comprise a connecting trough with an inner trough in it, a hinge trough, and a hinge passage, and the connecting elements are respectively connected to the lens and the temples. Wherein when the lens is hinged to the connecting elements, the connecting piece is received by the hinge trough and the connecting barb portion is engaged in the inner trough; when the temples are hinged to the connecting elements, the hinge pillar is hinged in the hinge trough.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a pair of eyeglasses, and more particularly, to a pair of eyeglasses with the hinge of lens and temples of which completed by using connecting elements and its assembly method.
2. Description of Prior Art
From eyeglasses for myopia, presbyopia, and vision correction emphasizing practicality, eyewear for industry use, sunglasses, and windproof eyeglasses emphasizing functionality, to stylized eyeglasses emphasizing aesthetic appearance and fashion as mainstream, eyeglasses almost become an indispensable device in the daily life of modern people. And the most common style of eyeglass in the current market is a pair of eyeglasses with an eyeglass frame to support a pair of lens (framed eyeglasses) or with only a pair of lens (frameless eyeglasses), wherein the temples are hinged to the left and right opposite sides of the frame (lens) with screw. However, when eyeglasses hinged in such way are used for a long time, the screw may become loose or worn and thus lead to loosening of temples. At this moment a supplementary tool (screw driver) is needed to back the screw out or drive the screw in for further reparation or taking-apart. However, not only does such process of taking-apart take much time and efforts, but it is also easy for screw to be indirectly damaged and thus become unusable when being backed out or driven in. And if there is no supplementary tool at hand, then the replacement cannot be done at all, which causes much inconvenience.
In addition, when this type of eyeglass is produced by ordinary eyeglass manufacturers, it is often needed to complete the hinged connection of eyeglass frame (lens) and temples by handwork. Therefore in addition to the cost of raw materials, there will also be extra cost of manpower for performing this handwork, and thus the production cost cannot be decreased and the competitiveness in the industry is lost.


A traction control road simulator (10) is disclosed as having a separate electric motor (12) for controllably applying torque to each axle (14) of a vehicle (16), a speed sensor (46) for determining the speed of each motor (12) and a motor controller (52) for directing each electric motor (12) to apply positive and negative torque to its associated axle (12) to simulate various road conditions in response to the speed signal and according to instructions. A brake (54) is also provided to simulate rapidly changing road conditions.

Vehicle traction control system testing is important to confirm anti-lock brake and traction control system performance. Performing low friction coefficient tests under actual road conditions is less than satisfactory for several significant reasons. The remote location of most test sites does not facilitate the provision of an adequate level of engineering and physical support. The variability of test conditions and driver performance increases the difficulty of data evaluation and possibly masks important incremental traction control performance changes. In addition to these problems, winter conditions are available only during a limited portion of each year; and access to areas having suitable conditions is often inconvenient. Testing done at warm climate proving grounds using specially prepared surfaces is inadequate because the coefficient of friction is too high and is generally not controllable.
In attempting to solve the above problems, various apparatuses for dynamically testing a vehicle have been designed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,690, issued to Mears on May 2, 1989 discloses a method for controlling a dynamometer to more accurately simulate on-road vehicle operation. A power absorption and motoring unit is typically connected to the powertrain of the vehicle by rotatable rollers upon which vehicle wheels rest or by direct connections to the output shaft of a vehicle engine and transmission to simulate road operating forces. Force and speed transducers measure the force and speed of the power absorption and motoring unit at intervals so that changes in the force produced by changes in vehicle power can be determined. A feed-forward force necessary to bring the power absorption and motoring unit force to a level required to maintain vehicle acceleration and speed at road equivalency is determined, and the power absorption and motoring unit is adjusted to produce the determined force. The feed-forward force includes a factor that compensates for speed-matching errors resulting from large differences between the effective masses of the vehicle and the dynamometer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,524, issued to von Thun on Nov. 11, 1986 discloses a circuit layout for the simulation of moments of inertia of a vehicle on a test stand. The circuit and an associated process utilize a test stand and a test vehicle elastically joined to represent an n-mass oscillator. An m number of additional masses are imitated by means of electronic functional elements so that regulation of the technical structure corresponds to a differential equation system of a (n+m) mass system. An airgap, moment-controlled, electric machine is used as a transmission element between the electronic functional elements and mechanical masses. Vehicle inertial moments are simulated by setting time constraints and amplification factors of the electronic functional elements. Vehicle vibration behavior (natural frequency and attenuation) can also be imitated by the electronic functional elements.
Great Britain Patent No. 1,281,821, issued to Pagdin and Forster and published on Jul. 19, 1972, discloses a method and apparatus for measuring output characteristics of a rotary moving part. The method includes imparting the rotation of the part to a rotary inertia means and generating a series of primary frequency signals representative of the angular displacement of the rotary inertial means. Groups of primary signals are generated at various times and input to a computer, which arithmetically derives a characteristic to be determined.
While each of the above apparatus functions with a certain degree of efficiency, none discloses the advantages of the improved traction control road simulator of the present invention as is hereinafter more fully described.


The present invention is related to the modifying of substrates such as monofilaments, bundles of monofilaments, and fibrous structural material with a modifying agent. The modifying agent is suspended or dissolved in a supercritical fluid, near-critical fluid, superheated fluid, superheated liquid, or a liquified gas and is deposited by rapidly altering the pressure in a chamber to deposit the modifying material onto the substrate.

The present invention is related to the modifying of substrates such as monofilaments, bundles of monofilaments fibrous structural materials, fibrous high-strength materials, fibrous construction materials, and fibrous engineered materials with a modifying agent comprised of, or conveyed by a supercritical or near-critical fluid.
Methods have been developed for the coating or modification of monofilaments, bundles of monofilamnents, fibrous structural materials, fibrous high-strength materials, fibrous construction materials, and fibrous engineered materials, including optical fibers, filaments, cables, fiberglass, glass fibers, ceramic fibers, graphite fibers, composites fibers, metal fibers and wires, that may be constructed of metals, alloys, inorganics, organometallics, salts, minerals, structural polymers, single-strand polymers, filamentous polymers, and the like. For example, polystyrene is known to be a good coating for glass optical fibers to increase durability. These coatings, however, are generally applied in a variety of ways with chemical treatment processes. Some of these methods of chemical treatment (for coating, impregnation, surface modification, etc.) include solvent-based systems and melt-based systems.
Solvent-based chemical treatment systems can include organic or inorganic materials in solutions such as aqueous solutions wherein the organic or inorganic material is dissolved, suspended, or otherwise dispersed in the solution. In the area of coating of glass fibers, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,055,119, 5,034,276 and 3,473,950 disclose examples of such chemical treatments. Typically, with chemical treatment of some of the prior art, solvents are used to lower the viscosity of the chemical treatment to facilitate wetting of the glass fibers. The solvent is substantially unreactive with the other constituents of the chemical treatment and is driven out of the chemical treatment after the wetting of the glass fibers. In each process for applying solvent-based chemical treatments, an external source such as heat can be used to evaporate or otherwise remove the water or other solvent from the applied chemical treatment, leaving a coating of organic material on the glass fibers. With melt-based chemical treatment systems, thermoplastic-type organic solids can be melted and applied to various fibrous structures. Again, in the area of glass coating, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,567,102, 4,537,610, 3,783,001 and 3,473,950 disclose examples of such melt-based chemical treatments of glass fibers. These methods and others have been used in the prior art to coat various elongated materials including monofilaments, bundles of monofilaments, and fibrous structures.
Supercritical fluids have been used previously to coat elongated materials such as fibers, metals, and the like. However, when such supercritical fluids have been used, they have typically been applied by one of a few methods. Several of these techniques involve the application of one or more modifying agent by batch soaking in an enclosed chamber. Other methods include processes based upon spraying from a pressurized chamber through a narrow nozzle.
With regard to spray-on deposition, air pressure sprayers have been used to contain supercritical and near-critical fluids (carriers) containing coating material. Upon spraying of the fluid onto the substrate, the supercritical fluid carrying the coating material leaves the high pressure environment and is exposed to a normal atmospheric environment. Thus, the supercritical fluid is exposed to low pressure and can evaporates leaving behind a coating material or modifying agent. This coating material or modifying agent can be deposited onto, or modify the substrate. Examples of typical spray depositions of the prior art include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,582,731, 4,734,227, 4,734,451, 4,970,093, 5,032,568, 5,213,851, and 5,997,956. Regarding supercritical fluid batch processes, the substrate is typically immersed and then the pressure is dropped, depositing the coating. This is usually followed by a drying stage. In a related embodiment, fluorocarbon dipolymers can be used to enhance solubility of polar components in supercritical fluid. However, this is still a batch process.
Though the use of liquified gas, supercritical fluids, and near-critical liquids and gases have been used to coat solid or other fibrous substrates in the prior art, none presently known by the applicant appear to provide a system and method for modifying substrates such as monofilaments, bundles of monofilaments, fibrous structural materials in a continuous system that does not utilize spray-on or batch coating processes.
It has not been recognized that providing methods of coating monofilaments, bundles of monofilaments, and fibrous structural materials in a continuous system would be a significant advance in the art. Thus, it would be useful to provide methods of physically or chemically modifying such substrates in accordance with the principles disclosed herein.
The present invention is drawn to a method of modifying elongated monofilaments and bundles of monofilament, preferably utilizing any device related to that described in accompanying FIG. 1. The basic method can be broken down into several steps. One of the steps includes providing a treatment apparatus chamber having a passageway passing entirely therethrough, wherein the passageway comprises a first region, a second region, and a constricted medial region between the first region and the second region. An additional step involves passing a monofilament or a bundle of monofilaments through the passageway so that the monofilament or bundle of monofilaments move continuously therethrough. As the monofilament or bundle of monofilaments is passed through the passageway, the step of introducing a chemical treatment mixture into the constricted medial region of the passageway is carried out. The chemical treatment mixture comprises a modifying composition in a carrier medium that can be a supercritical fluid, a near-critical fluid, a superheated fluid, a superheated liquid, or a liquified gas. Thus, the modifying composition can be separated from the carrier medium upon a pressure drop when the mixture is flowed through the constricted region of the passageway. Preferably, the pressure drop causes a rapid expansion of the carrier medium, though this is not required. Once the substrate has been modified, optionally, the carrier medium and any unused modifying composition can be removed and/or recycled for further use. This method can also be carried out using different substrates than monofilaments and bundles of monofilaments. For example, a similar method can be carried out by applying a modifying composition to a fibrous structural material, such as roving material, according to the steps described above.

Methods for modifying monofilaments, bundles of monofilaments, and fibrous structural material


The present invention relates to the invention of a masticating agent for the mastication of natural and synthetic rubbers, wherein the masticating agent is a dialkyl polysulfide, which is toxicologically acceptable and has very good masticating properties.

The natural rubber supplied by plantations is in general too hard and not plastic enough for it to be able to be mixed and further processed directly with rubber chemicals. The same applies to types of synthetic rubber in hard formulations, e.g., copolymers of butadiene and styrene or acrylonitrile and other rubber-like co-polymers. It is, therefore, necessary for such relatively hard rubbers, which are not very plastic to be masticated, i.e., rendered plastic, before the mixing process. Mastication can take place purely mechanically without the addition of chemical auxiliary substances by working on a mill or in a kneader. However, this process, which must be carried out at a low temperature, in general takes a relatively long time. For better utilization of the processing capacities available in the plant and to save energy, masticating agents are, therefore, in general, added and the rubber is masticated at higher temperatures.
A very rapid and uniform breakdown of the rubber is achieved in this manner. The usual masticating agents are, inter alia, thiophenols, which can be substituted by various substituents on the aryl radical, and furthermore, disulfides and zinc salts of pentachlorothiophenol. Nitroso compounds and hydrazine compounds have, more-over, been used as masticating agents. However, it is also known that although the classes of compounds mentioned are already very active in small dosages, the concentrations of masticating agents should not fall below certain minimum values.
Pentachlorothiophenol (PCTP) and zinc salts thereof above all are used in practice today for mastication of high molecular weight rubbers (NR, SBR). However, the disadvantage of the use of pentachlorothiophenol is that under certain circumstances pentachlorothiophenol is capable of forming highly toxic dioxins. Other less toxic products, such as dibenzamide-diphenyl disulfide (DBD), however, have the disadvantage that they are quite expensive and, like PCTP, as a crystalline substance, they are poorly distributed homogeneously in the rubber matrix in the small amounts used which are typical of mastication. As a result, there is the risk of inhomogeneous mastication, and resulting from this, a heterogeneous molecular weight distribution of the masticated rubber.
For the preparation of rubber mixtures, i.e., mixtures of masticated rubber, which comprise all the chemicals required for processing and vulcanization, such as fillers, stabilizers, vulcanizing agents and vulcanization accelerators, as a rule three process steps are necessary: i) such as mastication of the rubber, ii) premixing of the masticated rubber for incorporation of the rubber chemicals and fillers and, as the last step, iii) addition of the vulcanizing agent into the previously mixed rubber mixture.
It is important that the three steps described are carried out separately, because other-wise the action of the masticating agent would be impaired by the rubber chemicals and the distribution of the rubber chemicals would be impeded. Furthermore, pre-mature admixing of the vulcanizing agent could trigger off an unwanted vulcanization.

Use of dialkyl polysulfides for mastication of natural and synthetic rubbers


A universal integrated wireless digital dental x-ray sensor and positioning apparatus includes a digital array sensor, such as CCD or CMOS, attached to a distal end of a bite block portion through a hinge assembly. Attached to an opposite end of the bite block portion is a housing. The housing houses the electrical components which includes the digital imaging processing unit, a wireless transmitting unit, a power source for operating the electronics and a coupling for recharging the power source. An on-board viewer may be in the housing. The electrical components are coupled to the sensor through wires embedded within the bite block portion and extending through the hinge assembly. A target x-ray member is attached to the tubular housing for proper direction of the x-rays onto the sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to digital dental x-ray devices. Specifically, the invention relates to an integrated wireless digital dental x-ray sensor, optional on-board viewer and positioning apparatus.
2. Background Information
Dentists and oral surgeons have historically used light and x-radiation ("x-rays") to obtain and then store images of their patients' teeth, mouths and gums to aid in diagnosis of a patient. In traditional oral and dental radiography, a cartridge containing a piece of radiographic film is placed in the patient's mouth, for example behind a patient's tooth, and an x-ray beam is projected through the tooth and onto the film. The film, after being exposed in this manner, is developed in a dark room or a closed processor using special chemicals to obtain a radiographic image of the tooth.
More recently, the field of film-less dental radiography has emerged. In film-less dental radiography, an x-ray beam is projected through the patient's teeth in the same manner as in the film based methods, but no x-ray sensitive film is used. Instead, an electronic sensor is placed in the patient's mouth behind the tooth to be examined. The electronic sensor may include a charge-coupled device (CCD), a complementary metal oxide semi conductor (CMOS), or any other film-less radiation sensor. The x-rays pass through the teeth and impinge on the electronic sensor, which converts the x-rays into an electrical signal. The electrical signal is often transmitted over a wire to a computer, either directly or though a module containing intermediate processing circuitry. The computer then processes the signal to produce an image on an associated output device, such as a monitor or a printer.
Film-less dental radiography offers several advantages over traditional film-based radiography. First, the electronic sensor is much more sensitive to x-rays than is film, allowing the dosage of x-rays to the patient to be lowered. Also, the image of the tooth is generated by the computer almost instantaneously, thus eliminating the entire film developing process. The operator can quickly determine in real time if the image is the one required for proper diagnosis of the patient or if further imaging is required. In addition, because the images are generated electronically, they can be stored electronically in a computer database. Examples of film-less dental radiography systems include those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,160,997 to Robert Schwartz, U.S. Pat. No. 5,434,418 to David Schick, and U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2003/0156681 to Egidio Cianciosi et al. These systems can be generally referred to as digital dental x-ray devices. U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2004/0005032 to Nanni Eros discloses a digital dental device in which the sensor communicates with the computer through a wireless connection.
When taking intra-oral film radiographs, a conventional standard of care is to use a paralleling device, a popular version of which is known as the Rinn Instrument (see at www.rinncorp.com). In taking x-rays of all of a patient's teeth, also known as a "Complete Mouth Series", typically three different x-ray film holders are employed. In addition, the holder for taking periapical films of the upper right and lower left teeth is disassembled and then reassembled in a different configuration to take films of the upper left and lower right teeth. Further, in order to take an x-ray of a tooth undergoing root canal treatment, an additional x-ray holder is used. Furthermore, in some situations the paralleling technique is not possible or practical. Consequently, up to seven different holders are currently used to take dental x-rays.
The existing digital dental devices do not have adequate universal structure for proper positioning of the sensor within the patient's mouth, nor do they provide convenient location or housing of the digital imaging components. Further, there is no existing digital dental device that provides viewing integrated with the sensor. It is an object of the present invention to overcome the deficiencies of these prior art digital dental x-ray devices, and to overcome the deficiencies of these prior art film and digital sensor holders, in order to provide an integrated wireless digital dental x-ray sensor and positioning apparatus providing an efficient, effective device. A further object of the present invention is to provide a single universal positioning device with which any of a patients teeth can be radio-graphed as desired by the operator.

Wireless digital dental x-ray sensor with positioning apparatus


Novel ethylene glycol compounds bearing various functional groups are used to prepare oligomeric structures. The ethylene glycol monomers can be joined via standard phosphate linkages including phosphorothioate, phosphodiester, and phosphoramidate linkages. Useful functional groups include nucleobases as well as polar groups, hydrophobic groups, ionic groups, aromatic groups and/or groups that participate in hydrogen-bonding.

Phospholipases A.sub.2 (PLA.sub.2) are a family of enzymes that hydrolyze the sn-2 ester linkage of membrane phospholipids resulting in release of a free fatty acid and a lysophospholipid (see, Dennis, E. A., The Enzymes, Vol. 16, pp. 307-353, Boyer, P. D., ed., Academic Press, New York, 1983). Elevated levels of type II PLA.sub.2 are correlated with a number of human inflammatory diseases. The PLA.sub.2 -catalyzed reaction is the rate-limiting step in the release of a number of pro-inflammatory mediators. Arachidonic acid, a fatty acid commonly linked at the sn-2 position, serves as a precursor to leukotrienes, prostaglandins, lipoxins and thromboxanes. The lysophospholipid can be a precursor to platelet-activating factor. PLA.sub.2 is regulated by pro-inflammatory cytokines and, thus, occupies a central position in the inflammatory cascade (see, e.g., Dennis, ibid.; Glaser, et al., TiPs Reviews 1992, 14, 92; and Pruzanski, et al., Inflammation 1992, 16, 451).
All mammalian tissues evaluated thus far have exhibited PLA.sub.2 activity. At least three different types of PLA.sub.2 are found in humans: pancreatic (type I), synovial fluid (type II) and cytosolic. Studies suggest that additional isoenzymes exist. Type I and type II, the secreted forms of PLA.sub.2, share strong similarity with phospholipases isolated from the venom of snakes. The PLA.sub.2 enzymes are important for normal functions including digestion, cellular membrane remodeling and repair, and in mediation of the inflammatory response. Both cytosolic and type II enzymes are of interest as therapeutic targets. Increased levels of the type II PLA.sub.2 are correlated with a variety of inflammatory disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and septic shock, suggesting that inhibitors of this enzyme would have therapeutic utility. Additional support for a role of PLA.sub.2 in promoting the pathophysiology observed in certain chronic inflammatory disorders was the observation that injection of type II PLA.sub.2 into the footpad of rats (Vishwanath, et al., Inflammation 1988, 12, 549) or into the articular space of rabbits (Bomalaski, et al., J. Immunol. 1991, 146, 3904) produced an inflammatory response. When the protein was denatured before injection, no inflammatory response was produced.
The type II PLA.sub.2 enzyme from synovial fluid is a relatively small molecule (about 14 kD) and can be distinguished from type I enzymes (e.g., pancreatic) by the sequence and pattern of its disulfide bonds. Both types of enzymes require calcium for activity. The crystal structures of secreted PLA.sub.2 enzymes from venom and pancreatic PLA.sub.2, with and without inhibitors, have been reported (Scott, et al., Science 1990, 250, 1541). Recently, the crystal structure of PLA.sub.2 from human synovial fluid has been solved (Wery, et al., Nature 1991, 352, 79). The structures clarify the role of calcium and amino acid residues in catalysis. The calcium acts as a Lewis acid to activate the scissile ester carbonyl and bind the lipid, and a His-Asp side chain dyad acts as general base catalyst to activate a water molecule nucleophile. This is consistent with the absence of any acyl enzyme intermediates, and is also comparable to the catalytic mechanism of serine proteases. The catalytic residues and the calcium ion are at the end of a deep cleft (ca. 14 .ANG.) in the enzyme. The walls of this cleft contact the hydrocarbon portion of the phospholipid and are composed of hydrophobic and aromatic residues. The positively-charged amino-terminal helix is situated above the opening of the hydrophobic cleft. Several lines of evidence suggest that the N-terminal portion is the interfacial binding site. (see, e.g., Achari, et al., Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 1987, 52, 441; Cho, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1988, 263, 11237; Yang, et al., Biochem. J. 1989, 262, 855; and Noel, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1990, 112, 3704).
Much work has been reported in recent years on the study of the mechanism and properties of PLA.sub.2 -catalyzed hydrolysis of phospholipids. In in vitro assays, PLA.sub.2 displays a lag phase during which the enzyme adsorbs to the substrate bilayer and a process called interfacial activation occurs. This activation may involve desolvation of the enzyme/lipid interface or a change in the physical state of the lipid around the cleft opening. The evidence favoring this hypothesis comes from studies revealing that rapid changes in PLA.sub.2 activity occur concurrently with changes in the fluorescence of a membrane probe (Burack, et al., Biochemistry 1993, 32, 583). This suggests that lipid rearrangement is occurring during the interfacial activation process. PLA.sub.2 activity is maximal around the melting temperature of the lipid, where regions of gel and liquid-crystalline lipid coexist. This is also consistent with the sensitivity of PLA2 activity to temperature and to the composition of the substrate, both of which can lead to structurally distinct lipid arrangements separated by a boundary region. Fluorescence microscopy was used to simultaneously identify the physical state of the lipid and the position of the enzyme during catalysis (Grainger, et al., FEBS Lett. 1989, 252, 73). These studies clearly show that PLA.sub.2 binds exclusively at the boundary region between liquid and solid phase lipid.
While the hydrolysis of the secondary ester bond of 1,2-diacylglycerophospholipids catalyzed by the enzyme is relatively simple, the mechanistic and kinetic picture is clouded by the complexity of the enzyme-substrate interaction. A remarkable characteristic of PLA.sub.2 is that maximal catalytic activity is observed on substrate that is aggregated (i.e., phospholipid above its critical micelle concentration), while low levels of activity are observed on monomeric substrate. As a result, competitive inhibitors of PLA.sub.2 either have a high affinity for the active site of the enzyme before it binds to the substrate bilayer or partition into the membrane and compete for the active site with the phospholipid substrate. Although a number of inhibitors appear to show promising inhibition of PLA.sub.2 in biochemical assays (see, e.g., Yuan, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1987, 109, 8071; Lombardo, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1985, 260, 7234; Washburn, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 30 1991, 266, 5042; Campbell, et al., J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1988, 1560; and Davidson, et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 1986, 137, 587), reports describing in vivo activity are limited (see, e.g., Miyake, et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 1992, 263, 1302).
Traditional structure activity relationship type drug discovery gives unambiguous products but yet requires the preparation of numerous individual test candidates. The preparation of each structure requires significant amounts of time and resources. Another drug discovery approach, de novo design of active compounds based on high resolution enzyme structures, generally has not been successful. Yet another approach involves screening complex fermentation broths and plant extracts for a desired biological activity. The advantage of screening mixtures from biological sources is that a large number of compounds can be screened simultaneously, in some cases leading to the discovery of novel and complex natural products with activity that could not have been predicted otherwise. One disadvantage is that many different samples must be screened and numerous purifications must be carried out to identify the active component, which often is present only in trace amounts.
In order to maximize the advantages of each classical approach, new strategies for combinatorial unrandomization have been developed by several groups. Selection techniques have been used with libraries of peptides (see, e.g., Geysen, et al., J. Immun. Meth. 1987, 102, 259; Houghten, et al., Nature 1991, 354, 84; and Owens, et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 1991, 181, 402) and nucleic acids (see, e.g,, Wyatt, et al., (in press) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA; and Ecker, et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 1993, 21, 1853). These selection techniques involve iterative synthesis and screening of increasingly simplified subsets of oligomers. In using these selection techniques, subsets are assayed for activity in either cell-based assays, or for binding or inhibition of purified protein targets.
One technique, called SURF (Synthetic Unrandomization of Randomized Fragments; see, e.g., Ecker, et al., ibid., involves the synthesis of subsets of oligomers containing a known residue at one fixed monomer position and equimolar mixtures of residues at all other positions. For a library of oligomers four residues long containing three monomers (A, B, C), three subsets would be synthesized (NNAN, NNBN, NNCN, where N represents equal incorporation of each of the three monomers). Each subset is then screened in a functional assay and the best subset is identified (e.g., NNAN) A second set of libraries is synthesized and screened, each containing the fixed residue from the previous round, and a second fixed residue (e.g. ANAN, BNAN, CNAN). Through successive rounds of screening and synthesis, a unique sequence with activity in the assay can be identified.


An enclosure for electronic components which is provided with a heater mounted to an exterior wall to maintain a minimum operating temperature for the electronic components without utilizing space within the enclosure.

This invention relates to an electrical assembly which must operate within a defined temperature range and, more particularly, to structure for providing heat for such an assembly.
An electrical assembly utilized as a base station for a cellular telephone system is typically mounted outdoors, where it is exposed to the environment. Such an assembly includes heat generating components and is mounted within an enclosure, and therefore some means for dissipating the heat generated by the components must be provided. It is known to provide a heat sink including heat conducting fins on the exterior of the enclosure for dissipating heat generated within the enclosure. These fins are typically planar and parallel to define vertical channels between adjacent pairs of the fins. However, when the outdoor temperature is very low, particularly when the electronic components have not been turned on for an extended period of time, the components are below the minimum temperature at which they function properly. It is also known to provide a heater within the enclosure to maintain a proper operating environment for the internal electronic components, even when the outdoor temperature is very low. However, such a heater takes up valuable space within the enclosure, which could otherwise be used for electronic components. It would therefore be desirable to provide structure for heating an electrical assembly when required, which structure does not interfere with the allocation of space for electronic components.

Heat providing structure for an electrical assembly


A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal modulation element configured to modulate light from a light source, and including a first electrode, a second electrode, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a controller configured to provide a first potential to the first electrode and a second potential to the second electrode. While the light source is turned off, the controller provides a third potential to the first electrode and a fourth potential to the second electrode, such that the difference between the third and fourth potentials has a constant sign but a variable magnitude in an in-plane direction of the liquid crystal layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display apparatus using a liquid crystal modulation element, such as a liquid crystal projector.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some of the liquid crystal modulation elements are realized by sealing nematic liquid crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy between a first transparent substrate having a transparent electrode (common electrode) formed thereon and a second transparent substrate having a transparent electrode (pixel electrode) forming pixels, wiring, switching elements and the like formed thereon. The liquid crystal modulation element is referred to as a Twisted Nematic (TN) liquid crystal modulation element in which the major axes of liquid crystal molecules are twisted by 90 degrees continuously between the two glass substrates. This liquid crystal modulation element is used as a transmissive liquid crystal modulation element. Some of the liquid crystal modulation elements utilize a circuit substrate having reflecting mirrors, wiring, switching elements and the like formed thereon instead of the abovementioned second transparent substrate. This is called a Vertical Alignment (Arrangement) Nematic (VAN) liquid crystal modulation element in which the major axes of liquid crystal molecules are aligned in homeotropic alignment substantially perpendicularly to two substrates. The liquid crystal modulation element is used as a reflective liquid crystal modulation element.
In these liquid crystal modulation elements, typically, the Electrically Controlled Birefringence (ECB) effect is used to provide retardation for a light wave passing through a liquid crystal layer to control the change of polarization of the light wave, thereby forming an image with light.
The liquid crystal modulation element utilizes the ECB effect to modulate the light intensity, and the application of an electric field to the liquid crystal layer moves charged particles (ionic substances) present in the liquid crystal layer. When a DC electric field is continuously applied to the liquid crystal layer, the charged particles are drawn toward one of two opposite electrodes. Even when a constant voltage is applied to the electrodes, the electric field substantially applied to the liquid crystal layer is attenuated or increased by the charge of the charged particles.
To avoid such a phenomenon, a line inversion drive method is typically employed which inverts the polarity of an applied electric field between positive and negative polarities for each line of arranged pixels and changes the polarity in a predetermined cycle such as 60 Hz or the like. In addition, a field inversion drive method is also used which inverts the polarity of an electric field applied to all arranged pixels between positive and negative in a predetermined cycle. These drive methods can avoid the application of the electric field of only one polarity to the liquid crystal layer to prevent unbalanced ions.
However, the liquid crystal layer, and an outer wall member surrounding the liquid crystal layer and the like also include there inside charged particles. When the liquid crystal is driven in a high temperature environment in particular, these charged particles drift (or move) in the liquid crystal layer. These charged particles generate a DC electric field component in the liquid crystal layer, and attach to an interface between the liquid crystal layer and an alignment film or an electrode. Then, the charged particles drift and accumulate in a direction along which the liquid crystal molecules are aligned.
In a liquid crystal modulation element having an organic alignment film, in addition to the drifting of charged particles due to the driving of the liquid crystal under the high temperature environment, light entering the liquid crystal modulation element causes decomposition of organic materials forming the alignment film, the liquid crystal, a seal member or the like, causing the generation of charged particles. These charged particles also generate a DC electric field component in the liquid crystal layer, attach to the interface between the liquid crystal layer and the alignment film or the electrode, and then drift and accumulate in the direction along which the liquid crystal molecules are aligned.
The charged particles that have accumulated in a specific area in the liquid crystal layer change the effective electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer, thereby preventing an expected ECB modulation. This causes, for example, luminance unevenness in an effective display area of the liquid crystal modulation element, which deteriorates image quality.
Countermeasures applied against such a problem have been disclosed in International Publication No. 2005-012986 pamphlet and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 8-201830, 11-38389, and 5-323336.
International Publication No. 2005-012986 pamphlet discloses a method in which at least one of potentials of the pixel electrode and the electrode opposite thereto of a liquid crystal cell is set to a ground level during a period other than an image display operation period such that ions causing a burn-in phenomenon are dissociated from the interface between the liquid crystal layer and the alignment film or the electrodes.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-201830 discloses a method in which an ion trap electrode area is provided in a non-display area of a liquid crystal modulation element, and a direct voltage is applied to the ion trap electrode such that ionic impurities are absorbed by the ion trap electrode area of the non-display area having no influence on image display.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-38389 discloses a method in which a metal film electrode is provided at a position different from that of the pixel electrode to apply a direct voltage between the metal film electrode and a common electrode, thereby reducing the concentration of movable ions in a display area to suppress a flicker phenomenon.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-323336 discloses a method in which ion trap electrodes are provided independently of a transparent electrode at opposing surfaces of two electrode substrates provided in the vicinity of a liquid crystal enclosing portion, and a voltage is applied to the ion trap electrodes to trap ionic impurities.
As described above, the voltage control from the outside can control the charged particles in the liquid crystal modulation element to provide displayed images of good quality.
However, the method disclosed in International Publication No. 2005-012986 needs in a circuit of the liquid crystal modulation element a switching part for setting the potential of the opposite electrodes to the ground level. This increases the number of steps of manufacturing the liquid crystal modulation element. Furthermore, the setting of the potential of the opposite electrodes to the ground level is not sufficiently effective because forces for pulling off the ions that have attached to the interface of the liquid crystal layer and the alignment film or the electrode are weaker than coulomb forces.
Similarly, the methods disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 8-201830, 11-38389, and 5-323336 also need to newly provide the ion trap electrode for attracting the ions in the non-display area, so that the number of the manufacturing steps increases. Moreover, although in these disclosed methods the ionic impurities are drawn by the coulomb force, the coulomb force is inversely proportional to the square of a distance from the ion trap electrode, so that the ions generated at a position away from the ion trap electrode cannot be efficiently attracted.


A belt integrated starter generator may selectively drive accessory components while an engine is off. The belt integrated starter generator may also selectively drive a crankshaft of the engine. Clutches are used to access rotational power from the belt.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to systems and methods for powering mechanically driven accessory components in automotive vehicles.
2. Discussion
Hybrid technologies may be grouped into "full hybrid" and "micro-hybrid technologies." Full hybrid technologies may contain electric machines capable of independently delivering torque to the wheels and providing propulsion to the vehicle independent of the internal combustion engine. Micro-hybrid technologies may contain Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) machines that are not capable of propelling the vehicle but are capable of supporting a rapid start of the engine as well as on/off operation of the engine while the vehicle is stationary.
In conventional ISG based micro-hybrids, the ISG may be placed in series with the internal combustion engine and transmission system. The ISG takes the place of the traditional engine starter as well as the traditional alternator/generator that generates electric power for accessories and battery storage. The ISG may allow the engine to go from zero rpm to several hundred rpm in a fraction of a second, thus providing seamless start-stop capability to the driver in addition to fuel economy and reduced tailpipe emissions benefits.

System and method for powering a mechanically driven accessory component in an automotive vehicle


A ratchet arrangement of a chain splitter comprises a rotating rod integrally formed at a side of the ratchet wrench, and the rotating rod is to be screwed in a threaded hole of a splitter body. The ratchet wrench can reduce the required revolving space and the whole packing of the chain splitter, thus saving the required space when transporting the packed chain splitter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ratchet arrangement for a chain splitter that is adapted for disconnecting a chain of a bicycle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Please refer to FIG. 1, a conventional chain splitter for a bicycle chain is shown and comprises a rotating rod 11 installed at a side of a splitter body 1, and a rotating bar 12 is integrally formed with the rotating rod 11 and located at an end thereof, such that the rotating rod 11 and the rotating bar 12 form a T-shaped structure 13. In use, the user has to turn the rotating bar 12 360 degrees in order to push the rotating rod 11 to move, and then the displacement of the rotating rod 11 causes the positioning pin to move out of the bicycle chain. However, this conventional chain splitter still has the following disadvantages:
The rotating bar 12 of the splitter body 1 must be rotated continuously over 360 degrees, then the positioning pin can be pushed out of the inserting hole of the connecting plate of the chain. In addition to this, the T-shaped structure 13 formed by the rotating rod 11 and the rotating bar 12 substantially increases the size of the chain splitter, and the chain splitter requires a large transportation space.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

Ratchet arrangement for a chain splitter


A filtered cathodic arc deposition method and apparatus for the production of highly dense, wear resistant coatings which are free from macro particles. The filtered cathodic arc deposition apparatus includes a cross shaped vacuum chamber which houses a cathode target having an evaporable surface comprised of the coating material, means for generating a stream of plasma, means for generating a transverse magnetic field, and a macro particle deflector. The transverse magnetic field bends the generated stream of plasma in the direction of a substrate. Macro particles are effectively filtered from the stream of plasma by traveling, unaffected by the transverse magnetic field, along the initial path of the plasma stream to a macro particle deflector. The macro particle deflector has a preformed surface which deflects macro particles away from the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a filtered cathodic arc source, wherein the filtering eliminates or reduces macro particles from the generated stream of plasma.
2. Background of the Invention
Cathodic arc deposition is an effective means for depositing thin films onto various substrates. A cathodic arc source apparatus generally includes a vacuum chamber, a cathode target having an evaporable surface which is made of the coating material, a means for igniting a stream of plasma at the cathode, and a substrate which receives the coating. If required, magnetic and electrostatic fields are generated to direct the plasma stream through the vacuum chamber and to the substrate.
A cathodic arc discharge occurs when a low voltage, high current power source is connected between the cathode and the vacuum chamber. Arc spots form on the surface of the cathode, producing a highly ionized stream of plasma which consists of vaporized cathode material including ions, neutral atoms, and electrons. The stream of plasma flows away from the surface of the cathode and is deposited on the substrate, forming a coating thereon. Cathodic arc deposition can also be used to produce a beam of high energy ions for ion implantation or surface modification.
A major benefit of cathodic arc deposition is the production of high density, uniform, adherent films. The films have excellent hardness and wear resistance, and can be deposited at very high growth rates. For example, diamond like carbon (DLC) coatings, which can be produced by using a graphite cathode, are exceptionally smooth and have diamond-like qualities, including extreme hardness, extremely low electrical conductivity, low coefficients of friction, and optical transparency over a wide range of wavelengths. DLC coatings are anti-corrosive and wear resistant, which make them particularly desirable for semi-conductor and tool manufacturing applications.
A problem associated with cathodic arc deposition is the generation of macro particles in the form of droplets of molten target material of about 0.1 to 50 microns in diameter. Macro particles are produced at the arc spot when the presence of the arc superheats the cathode target. Macro particles cause surface irregularities in the deposited coating by becoming either permanently imbedded or temporarily affixed in the coating and later detaching. Macro particles thus result in undesirable non-uniformities which make the coatings unsuitable for particular mechanical, electronic, and optical applications.
Two solutions to the above cited problem have been developed in the prior art. The first prevents macro particles from forming by controlling the location of the arc on the surface of the cathode target, and the second filters macro particles from the plasma stream before they reach the substrate.
Conventional methods of controlling the arc path over the surface of the cathode target include steering the arc by using magnetic fields and/or employing a cathode target of a particular shape. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,527 to Welty discloses a rectangular planar cathode and a magnetic field reversal technique which eliminates the splattering of molten droplets which form macro particles. Welty teaches reversing the magnetic field each time the arc reaches one end of the rectangular cathode, causing the arc to scan back and forth along the cathode surface and preventing any one region of the cathode from getting hot enough to "splatter" particles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,031 to Tamagaki, et al. discloses generating a magnetic field that causes the arc spot to rotate circularly and at a high velocity. This design also reduces the generation of macro particles by shortening the time the arc spot resides at a certain position on the cathode target.
Although arc steering methods represent simpler solutions than filtering methods, arc steering does not completely eliminate macro particle generation. In addition, where a magnetic field is also used to separate macro particles from a plasma stream, the macro particle separation magnetic field may be stronger than and interfere with the arc steering magnetic field, such that control over the arc position is lost.
Conventional filtering methods provide for an angled vacuum chamber or plasma duct configuration, where no line of sight exists between the cathode target and the substrate. Using this technique, a magnetic and/or electrostatic field guides the plasma stream through the angled plasma duct and to the substrate. While the plasma stream bends around the elbow of the duct, macro particles, which are unaffected by the magnetic and/or electrostatic field, continue along the initial trajectory, substantially a straight line, and are thus separated or filtered from the plasma stream. In addition, baffles or traps can be used in an attempt to prevent macro particles from being deflected in the direction of the substrate by angled or curved plasma duct walls.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,723 to Falabella, et al., discloses a bent plasma duct in which two straight solenoids placed end-to-end and at a 45 degree angle generate a magnetic field with magnetic field lines nearly parallel to the bent plasma duct walls. The magnetic field constrains the electrons in the plasma stream, and the flow of the electrons produces the electrostatic field required to guide the ions around the bend in the plasma duct. In addition, a series of baffles comprised of annular rings are provided along the duct walls to trap and deflect macro particles away from the substrate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,836 to Martin, et al., discloses filtering macro particles by using a minimally non-linear duct, in addition to an extended magnetic field which produces the required bending and confining of the plasma. The extended magnetic field is generated by toroids to define the non-linear plasma duct, which comprises a tubular anode having a length that is six times greater than the length of the cathode.
Although filtering systems may successfully remove larger macro particles from the plasma stream, not all macro particles are effectively filtered. Furthermore, the use of an angled or curved plasma duct dictates that macro particles which strike the duct wall are likely to bounce or be deflected in the direction of the substrate, despite the use of baffles.
There exists a significant and continuing demand for filtered cathodic arc sources which eliminate macro particles from the deposited coating.
Therefore, in view of the above, a basic object of the present invention is to separate macro particles from a stream of plasma generated by a cathodic arc source, such that macro particles are not present in the resultant coating.
Another object of this invention is to use a transverse magnetic field to guide a stream of plasma to a substrate, wherein the substrate is not in the line of sight of the cathode target.
Another object of this invention is to position a particle deflector within a vacuum chamber of a cathodic arc source which intercepts and deflects macro particles away from the substrate.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a macro particle deflector having a conical and tapered surface, including a flange, for deflecting macro particles away from the substrate.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of instrumentation and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Filtered cathodic arc deposition apparatus and method


A level detector mounts to a tank containing a liquid. The detector transmits and receives ultrasonic pulses. The pulses are processed by a microprocessor which periodically measures the liquid level of the tank. When the liquid level reaches a pre-established level, a cell phone automatically transmits data to a remote location. A schedule for emptying the tank is generated by a server at the remote location. A service man uses the schedule to visit the tank location and empty the tank. In addition, a portable charger/calibrator is mounted to the level detector to charge the power supply of the detector and calibrate the liquid level.

This disclosure relates generally to devices and methods for determining the liquid level in a tank. More particularly, this disclosure relates to electronic devices for automatically determining the liquid level in a tank.
For applications to which the present disclosure relates, waste oil from restaurants and food preparation facilities has now become a significant source of fuel. The waste oil is typically stored in tanks at the restaurant or facility. When a sufficient quantity of waste oil has been accrued, the waste oil is picked up and transferred to a tank on a truck. The waste oil is taken to a refining facility wherein the waste oil is filtered and/or otherwise treated to produce fuel suitable for usage.
One of the recurring issues is to schedule the trucks and pickup events so that a proper amount of waste oil is on hand for pickup. Economic considerations dictate that there be sufficient quantities of waste oil available for pickup subject to the limiting parameters that the pickup should not be scheduled beyond the point when the waste oil tank is full of waste oil.