A field effect transistor (“FET”) is provided which includes a gate stack overlying a single-crystal semiconductor region of a substrate, a pair of first spacers disposed over sidewalls of said gate stack, and a pair of regions consisting essentially of a single-crystal semiconductor alloy which are disposed on opposite sides of the gate stack. Each of the semiconductor alloy regions is spaced a first distance from the gate stack. The source region and drain region of the FET are at least partly disposed in respective ones of the semiconductor alloy regions, such that the source region and the drain region are each spaced a second distance from the gate stack by a first spacer of the pair of first spacers, the second distance being different from the first distance.

The present invention relates to the fabrication of semiconductor integrated circuits, and more specifically to an apparatus and method of making a strained channel field effect transistor (FETs) such as an insulated gate field effect transistor (IGFET) in which a stress is applied to the channel region by a semiconductor alloy material disposed adjacent the channel region.
Both theoretical and empirical studies have demonstrated that carrier mobility in a transistor can be greatly increased when a stress of sufficient magnitude is applied to the channel region of a transistor to create a strain therein. Stress is defined as force per unit area. Strain is a dimensionless quantity defined as the change in the dimension of an item, e.g., a change in its length, versus the original dimension, e.g., the original length, when a force is applied in the same direction, i.e., in the direction of its length, in this case. Thus, strain can be either tensile or compressive. In p-type field effect transistors (PFETs), a compressive stress applied to the channel region in the direction of its length, i.e., a compressive longitudinal stress, creates a strain which is known to increase the drive current of the PFET.
Commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/604,607 filed Aug. 4, 2003 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/605,134 filed Sep. 10, 2003 describe ways of applying stresses to the channel regions of FETs to increase their drive current. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. As described therein, one way of applying stress to the channel region of a FET is to form shallow regions of a semiconductor alloy material adjacent the channel region, the semiconductor alloy material being lattice-mismatched to the semiconductor material that exists in the channel region. Thus, in one example, shallow regions of single-crystal silicon germanium (SiGe) are formed on opposite sides of a channel region that is provided in a region of silicon. As also described in the incorporated applications, the SiGe regions are disposed in areas of the substrate that coincide with implants which define the source and drain regions of the FET.
However, it is not always desirable for the SiGe regions of a strained channel transistor structure to coincide with the locations of the source and drain implants. While the SiGe regions need to be placed close to the channel region to apply the stress needed to obtain high drive current, placed them too close can cause problems such as causing the threshold voltage of the transistor to deviate from a desired value.
In addition, the source and drain regions of a FET are desirably spaced close to each other to increase the drive current 1D of the FET by making the length (L) of the channel region small. This follows from the equationiD=f(W/L)
where iD is the drive current of the transistor, W is the width, and L is the length of the channel region, i.e., the spacing between the source and drain regions of the substrate. However, there is a limit to how close the source and drain regions can be placed to each other. If they are placed too close to each other, short channel effects occur, which could cause difficulty in turning off the transistor. When the transistor cannot be fully turned off, excessive leakage current is produced when the transistor is off, causing more power to be consumed even when the transistor is off. Excessive leakage current can also sometimes cause output signal levels to drift undesirably.
For the above reasons, it would be desirable to provide a structure and method of forming a FET in which semiconductor alloy regions are formed at a spacing from the channel region, the spacing being selected independently from the locations at which the edges of the source and drain regions are placed.

Structure and method for making strained channel field effect transistor using sacrificial spacer

International Business Machines Corporation


Embodiments of the present invention generally provide systems, methods and articles of manufacture for locating one component of callee information in response to receiving another associated component of the callee information. In a particular embodiment, a user inputs a network address (e.g., a telephone number) into a telephony device. The telephony device then operates to access a local directory in an effort to locate a callee name associated with a network address. If the callee name cannot be found in the local directory, a request for the callee name is transmitted to a remote directory.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to computerized systems and data processing. More particularly, embodiments provided herein are related to telecommunications.
2. Description of the Related Art
Being readily available for telephone contact has become increasingly important for a growing number of people who have a significant need to be reachable regardless of their location. Many such persons have a telephone for business, a telephone for home, a mobile cellular telephone in the car, a transportable telephone for personal wear, as well as stations providing telephone service through computers. Business people and professionals at times have multiple offices and may additionally work at a home office. All of these telephones and computer stations generally have different telephone numbers and Internet addresses. This requires a caller to know or look up multiple numbers and addresses, and frequently to make multiple calls in order to reach a person.
One attempt to facilitate telecommunications is the provision of a directory stored locally on a user's telephone unit. The directory is in essence an electronically stored phone book containing the names and numbers of individuals or entities the user frequently calls. The directory may be manually customized by the user or may be automatically built over time by the telephone unit itself. In the latter case, the telephone unit simply stores all outgoing numbers and/or incoming numbers and names (if available). When the user later makes a call to number stored in the directory, the related name may be displayed to the user. By verifying the number dialed (or selected from the directory) against the displayed information, the user can confirm that the call is being placed to the right person or entity.
While the use of the locally stored directory in this manner provides some assurance of having placed a call correctly it is limited to information which is actually stored in the directory. Further, because the local directories are of limited size (i.e., memory), it is not feasible to store all assigned numbers in the directories. As a result, users often make calls to a number or entity not contained in the local directory. In such cases, the directory is of no value and merely indicates to the user that no information is available for the number dialed.
To remedy the foregoing problem, remotely located directories were introduced. These remotely located directories are accessed each time a call is placed by a user authorized to use the directory. Because the remotely located directory can be contained in large databases, the volume of assigned numbers and associated names contained therein is significantly greater than that of the locally stored directories. Further, the databases need not be singular but can be made up of a network of databases maintained by different entities Theoretically, it is therefore possible to give users access to every assigned number in the world. Thus, the likelihood of locating the number/name somewhere on the network is high.
However, while remotely located directories provide access to voluminous information they typically come at a cost to the user. In particular, the time to access the network can be high, resulting in increased overhead to the user. Further, a network connection is needed to access the remotely located directories, thereby increasing network traffic. End users may also find remotely located directories undesirable because they typically have no control over the manner in which the information is organized or provided.
Therefore, there is a need to combine the advantages of local directories with remote directories in the context of telecommunications.

Network address lookup for telephony devices


A microwave buffer for use between transmitter modules and an impedance combiner. The buffer is comprised of a plurality of input segments, a plurality of output segments and an elongated transmission segment connecting the input segments to the output segments. The geometry of the buffer along with bridges located proximate to the transmitter modules eliminate the destructive effects of reflected waves set up by an unbalanced impedance combiner when one of the transmission modules becomes inoperative. The hourglass shape of the buffer causes the phases of the signals from each transmission module to be equal from any transmission port to any output. The bridges force the sum of the mutual couplings to be low in amplitude on any transmission module.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of microwave transmission and more particularly to a microwave buffer for placement between transmitter modules and an impedance combiner for protecting the remaining circuitry from the destructive effects of a reflected signal caused by a disconnected port.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The solid state transmission of microwave signals is known that utilizes transmitter modules. The power from each transmitter module is combined to form a single, more powerful signal which is transmitted through the antenna. Generally, this is done by running the signals from the transmitter modules through an impedance combiner. When all of the transmitter modules are operating and are connected to a matched load, there are essentially no reflected waves. However, when the voltage from the modules looks into a variable load or a short circuit, the reflected voltage at certain phase angles can add up unevenly and detrimentally to very high voltages if one of the transmitter modules is disconnected. Standing waves develop when the system is unmatched. The standing waves can direct toward any module. If that occurs, the circuitry of that module could be severely damaged. When transmitting signals, it is ideal to transmit in one mode, namely, the in-phase mode. However, when the impedance combiner is larger than a half wavelength and driven unequally more than one mode will be created. Thus, waves are allowed to bounce around inside the system in a resonant fashion known as ringing. When a transmitter module is disconnected, mutual coupling imbalances add together vectorally to produce a standing wave of amplitude and phase error. These waves would then launch themselves back into the feed system (because the undriven port is not loaded) and towards the output port causing the output to oscillate with frequency.
Thus, in microwave transmission systems that utilize combiners of modular transmitters, a means is needed for preventing damage to the circuitry of remaining modules when one is no longer inputting power. This means should also tend to keep the output as in-phase and as low loss as possible, accounting only for the loss of the module disconnected.


A position of a contact region formed between a transfer belt and a transfer member in the form of a brush is displaced toward a downstream side in a movement direction of the transfer belt with respect to the position in an initial state, whereby it is difficult to acquire excellent transferability. An image forming apparatus, in which a plurality of conductive fibers contacts an inner circumferential surface of the transfer belt, includes a support device configured to support the transfer member in such a manner that the plurality of conductive fibers is pressed between the support device and the transfer belt. A tilt amount of the conductive fiber, which is generated due to a movement of the transfer belt, is smaller than a length of a region where an image bearing member and the transfer belt contact each other in the movement direction of the transfer belt.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image by the electrophotographic method such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile apparatus, and a multifunction peripheral.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there has been an image forming apparatus that employs the electrophotographic method and operates according to a method employing an intermediate transfer belt as a transfer belt, as an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer. The image forming apparatus that operates according to the intermediate transfer belt method forms a full-color image by being subjected to a primary transfer process and a secondary transfer process.
During the primary transfer process, the image forming apparatus primarily transfers a toner image formed on a surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member onto the intermediate transfer belt. The image forming apparatus forms toner images of a plurality of colors on a surface of the intermediate transfer belt by repeatedly performing the primary transfer process regarding the toner images of the plurality of colors. During the secondary transfer process, the image forming apparatus collectively transfers the toner images of the plurality of colors onto a surface of a transfer material such as paper. The toner images transferred onto the transfer material are fixed by a fixing device thereafter. As a result, a full-color image can be acquired.
A transfer device in the form of a roller, a transfer device in the form of a blade, a transfer device in the form of a brush, or the like is used as a transfer device of the image forming apparatus. These transfer devices are contact members that contact an inner circumferential surface (a back surface) of the intermediate transfer belt at a position facing the photosensitive member. Especially, the transfer device in the form of a brush includes a plurality of conductive fibers, and each one of the fibers can independently contact the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt. Therefore, the transfer device in the form of a brush can improve contact unevenness, which occurs when the transfer device in the form of a roller or the transfer device in the form of a blade is used. As a result, more even contactability can be obtained with the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt. This facilitates prevention or a reduction of an image defect such as density unevenness, which otherwise occurs during the primary transfer process.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-248385 discusses an image forming apparatus including a transfer device in the form of a brush. In the image forming apparatus discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-248385, a plurality of conductive fibers included in the brush is supported by a stainless-steel metallic holder via a double-faced adhesive tape. This metallic holder is fixed, and the plurality of conductive fibers included in the transfer member is in contact with a back surface of an intermediate transfer belt with the aid of elasticity of the fibers themselves.
However, the transfer device in the form of a brush is difficult to maintain excellent primary transferability, so that there has been a demand for development of various kinds of measures to improve it. The transfer device in the form of a brush can maintain each one of the fibers in perpendicular contact with the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt when the image forming apparatus is in an initial state. However, in a state after the image forming apparatus has been used, the fibers are tilted toward a downstream side in a movement direction of the intermediate transfer belt, whereby each one of the fibers is in contact with the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt in a bent state. At this time, a position of a contact region formed between the intermediate transfer belt and the fibers is displaced toward the downstream side in the movement direction of the intermediate transfer belt with respect to the position in the initial state. A large displacement of this contact region from the position facing the photosensitive member impairs the excellent primary transferability. Further, not only when the intermediate transfer belt is used as the transfer belt but also when a conveyance belt for conveying the transfer material is used as the transfer belt, this problem occurs in a similar manner.

Transfer device and image forming apparatus comprising the same


It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication system to provide a communication system which requires no special application for a correspondent node and has a service handoff function enabling a transfer destination terminal device to be freely used, and its configuration equipment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication system having a service handoff function, and a user terminal device, transfer destination terminal device and a proxy server device for configuring the communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, various forms of ubiquitous computing environments, in which a computer can be utilized everywhere without being conscious of using the computer, have been considered.
For example, places or facilities called hot spots, where network connection from information equipment owned by a user is enabled even if the user is out, have already been put in practical use, and in such places, connection services utilizing wireless LAN or the like are provided. Furthermore, coffee shops, special shops, etc. where terminals connected to the Internet are set up are opened on a global basis, and can be utilized with ease.
Not limited to the above-described cases, if the user can freely utilize many devices that exist here and there in the neighborhood, such as a computer at a place where the user goes out, the user can receive various communications and services flexibly. In order to utilize the nearby devices, there needs a technique by which the devices are discovered and an optimal one is selected to receive a target service through the device.
For example, there are a PDA and a portable telephone as a portable terminal that a user can carry, which have been rapidly enhanced in performance in recent years, so that e-mail exchanges, WEB browsing and the like are enabled. However, wireless networks utilized by the portable terminal are far less stable and their communication bands are smaller in comparison with connection through wired networks. Moreover, as compared with a fixed terminal whose power source is connected, a portable terminal has processing capacity limited to a lower level due to its size and electric power saving, and has only small-sized simple user interface mounted. Its display ability cannot compare with that of the fixed terminal connected to a large screen display.
Consequently, in order that highly functional devices in the neighborhood can also be freely utilized instead of depending on such portable terminals only, various architectures as described in Publicly Known Literatures 1 to 4 have been proposed.
As related art techniques, there are proposed two architectures: architecture using a proxy and end-to-end type architecture.
Such an end-to-end type architecture as described in Publicly Known Literature 2 is well-known, in which a communication application for executing handoff between terminals is also installed in a correspondent node performing delivery to provide end-to-end mobility support.
Therefore, it is impossible that an existing communication application other than the above-described communication application is handed over between terminals, that the handoff between terminals is executed in communication with a correspondent node which does not have the application for handoff, or the like.
Furthermore, as proxy type architecture, there is proposed Medler in Publicly Known Literature 5, MSOCKS in Publicly Known Literature 6, or the like. However, these do not support seamless handover between terminals.
Furthermore, although MPA proposed in Publicly Known Literature 7, and Universal Inbox of Publicly Known Literature 8 realize an architecture which enables an optimal device for receiving to be selected adaptably, these have not realized seamless device switching, either.
As a method in which the handoff between devices with a proxy type configuration is realized, there is proposed a method (Publicly Known Literature 9) in which an interface such as a display of a portable telephone is transferred to a nearby device, thereby succeeding in solving the insufficiency in user interface of a portable terminal.
However, the solution of the problem with the insufficiency in processing capacity of the portable terminal has not been realized, yet.

Communication system having service hand-off function, user terminal device, transmission destination terminal device, and proxy server device

Abstract: In order to realize this, the communication system includes a correspondent node delivering communication data which can be executed by a predetermined application, a proxy server device which receives the communication data from the node to execute the application, and transfers the service to a transfer destination terminal device, the transfer destination terminal device outputting the service, and a user terminal device, wherein the user terminal device transmits control information to the proxy server device, and thereby the proxy server device switches the transfer destination terminal device to perform service handoff.

National Institute of Information and Communication Technology


A computing system is described that obtains, based at least in part on information included in at least one previous communication associated with a user of a computing device, an indication of a future location and a future time and event information associated with the future location and the future time. The computing system obtains a duration of time for the user to travel from a current location of the computing device to the future location, and, based at least in part on the duration of time, obtains a departure time at which the user is predicted to need to depart from the current location in order to arrive at the future location by an arrival time based on the event. The computing system outputs, for transmission to the computing device, an indication associated with the event and including information indicative of the departure time.

A mobile computing device (e.g., a mobile phone, tablet computer, etc.) may function as a personal digital assistant (PDA), a phone, a camera, an e-mail client, an Internet browser, and a global positioning system (GPS) navigation device. The mobile computing device may be used to search for information about an upcoming airline flight, nearby attractions (such as shows, events, and concerts), nearby real estate listings, local movie times, etc. A user may search within this information (e.g., using such a mobile computing device) on the Internet, within e-mail accounts, and within other information repositories stored locally or accessible by the mobile computing device. Finding a particular piece of information within all this data can be daunting and time consuming, however.

Presenting information for a current location or time


Techniques related to graphics rendering including techniques for improved multi-sampling anti-aliasing compression by use of unreachable bit combinations as described.

In general, graphics rendering may generate an image or images from model data using a wide range of computer implemented techniques. In some graphics rendering implementations, multi-sampling anti-aliasing (MSAA) techniques may be used to improve the visual quality of the rendered image(s) using, in some examples, a graphics processor. For example, MSAA techniques may reduce or eliminate jagged edge effects in images and crawling effects in video. In MSAA, multiple visibility samples, color samples, and/or depth samples may be used per pixel. Such oversampling or super-sampling (e.g., using more than one sample per pixel) and subsequent sample reduction to produce a final image may improve image or video quality. In general, an advantage of MSAA is that although there are multiple samples per pixel, the pixel shader (e.g., a program that provides shading within an image) only needs to be evaluated once per pixel per primitive. A common case is 4×MSAA, where there are four samples per pixel (e.g., 4× samples per pixel) as compared to the usual case of one sample per pixel.
In general, using MSAA requires a color buffer bandwidth increase by a factor of N for N×MSAA. Therefore, compression of MSAA color data may be advantageous. In previous implementations, the colors may be split into N different planes, such that plane 0 is filled first and subsequent planes are used or filled as needed. For example, if all of the samples in a pixel are the same color, then that pixel only fills color plane 0. If the samples of a pixel include two colors, planes 0 and 1 are utilized, and, in general, if the samples of a pixel include N colors, planes 0 through N−1 are utilized. Furthermore, if each pixel in a tile of pixels, for example, uses only one color each (though the colors between pixels may be different), then only plane 0 may be used for the tile of pixels. However, if one pixel of the tile includes two colors (for the samples of that pixel), then plane 1 must be used. If one more pixels use two colors (and no pixels use more than two colors), plane 0 and plane 1 are sufficient, but if one (or more) pixels uses three colors (and no pixels use more than three colors), plane 0/1/2 must be used, and so on. In such a manner the color planes may be populated as needed based on the samples within each pixel of a tile of pixels.
Furthermore, in general, each color sample within a pixel needs log2(N) bits to index to a color in the N different planes (e.g., for 4 color planes, 2 index bits, are needed for each color sample). For example, if two color planes (planes 0 and 1) are used, for each color sample within a pixel, an index must be used to indicate the plane on which the color resides for that sample. In the case of 4×MSAA, each sample would need 2 index bits to point to a color being located in one of the (up to) 4 planes. For a tile of 8×4 pixels with 4 samples per pixel, the requirement is 2×8×4×4=256 bits for the index bits.
In general, if a pixel is completely inside a triangle being rendered, then all samples within the pixel will have the same color and the index or pointer bits will all be zeros for that pixel (because they will point to color plane 0 and index bits 00 point to color plane 0, for example). Furthermore, nothing will be stored in the remaining color planes for that pixel as described above. Therefore, in some cases, only plane 0 is needed. In such examples, compression of color plane 0 may be advantageous. Remaining color planes may be used more frequently as the complexity of the geometry being rendering into a tile (e.g., a tile of 8×4 pixels) increases. Tests on tessellated workloads indicate that higher level color planes are frequently used such that compression of planes 1, 2, and 3 may also save significant bandwidth.

Multi-sampling anti-aliasing compression by use of unreachable bit combinations


A vehicle control method and device are disclosed. An embodiment of the method includes: receiving an assistance driving instruction associated with a vehicle; and sending an assistance control instruction to the vehicle, to cause the vehicle to execute the assistance control instruction to control the vehicle, the assistance control instruction being generated through a simulation driving operation performed by an assistance driving user based on travelling environment information of the vehicle presented to the assistance driving user.

At present, as computer technologies such as image recognition are widely applied to a vehicle, the environment perception capability of the vehicle is enhanced. However, the environment perception capability of the vehicle is stilled limited. For example, in a situation where the vehicle travels to an area having a complex travelling environment, travelling relying on the environment perception capability of the vehicle itself may lead to such as a situation that the vehicle cannot pass through the area having the complex travelling environment, a situation that an accident occurs, and etc.

BEIJING BAIDU NETCOM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A method includes receiving at user equipment an indication of a subset of scheduling constraints for interference mitigation and cancelation and performing interference mitigation and cancelation utilizing the subset of scheduling constraints.

Interference is a serious issue in wireless cellular communications, especially as the cell size gets smaller and user equipment (UE) density gets higher. It has been shown that interference mitigation and cancelation (IMC) techniques can be implemented at the UE side for better throughput and quality of service (QoS). Since signals from intra-cell or inter-cell UEs are typically controlled and coded using private scrambling or allocations, especially in existing releases, an UE can only do blind IMC by exhaustive search or by linear processing based on statistics. This entails either high complexity or poor performance for IMC.

Coordinated interference mitigation and cancelation


A process for preparing a low-dusting, free-flowing pigment which has not been subjected to any micronizing treatment comprising the steps of providing an inorganic pigment material; providing a source of water; forming a fine, well dispersed slurry of the pigment and water; milling the slurry; depositing a treating agent having the formula ROOCCHSO.sub.3 MCH.sub.2 COOR' wherein R and R' are monovalent alkyl radicals having from about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms, and M is a metallic monovalent cation on the slurried milled pigment; and drying the pigment material having a treating agent deposited thereon. The invention also provides the free-flowing pigments produced by this process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for preparing low-dusting, free-flowing dispersible pigments for use in paint and plastic compositions, and the pigments produced thereby. More specifically, the present invention relates to the aqueous milling, surface treatment, and spray-drying of inorganic pigments to achieve low-dusting and good dispersibility without the expensive step of micronization. Most specifically, the present invention relates to treating sandmilled titanium dioxide pigments with a surfactant before spray-drying the pigment, to eliminate the need for micronization or jet-milling while maintaining good processibility and dispersibility in polyolefin resins.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Titanium dioxide pigments and other inorganic pigments normally produced and used in the paint, plastics, or paper industry, are generally in the form of a finely divided powder. The powders are usually jet-milled, or micronized, as a final step in their production. Jet-milling contributes dispersibility and gloss, but is also an energy-intensive and expensive step. Jet-milled powders are inherently dusty and exhibit poor flow characteristics. Although free-flowing powders with low dust can be obtained by spray-drying, these powders generally exhibit poor pigmentary properties. Thus, pigment end users have generally had to choose between free-flowing, low-dusting, spray-dried pigments with poor pigmentary properties and dusty, jet-milled pigments with poor flow characteristics.
The surface treatment of pigments to achieve improved performance characteristics in plastic compositions, is known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,853 discloses the coating of lamina-shaped pearlescent pigments with monocarboxylic acids or cyclohexanone condensate resins and a plasticizer, to improve flowability and reduce dust generation. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,523 discloses coating a moist pigment with a polyester surfactant, then adding mineral oil or wax to the pigment and applying intensive shear stress to achieve a free-flowing, permanently non-dusting pigment. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,221, titanium dioxide pigments are coated with a combination of isostearic acid, dodecyl benzene sulphonic acid, and a cationic emulsifying agent and then spray-dried, without micronization, to improve flowability and reduce dust production. Also, in U.S. Pat. No.3,660,129, titanium dioxide pigments are coated with hydrous oxides, then sand-milled and spray-dried to improve flowability.
Further examples of the surface treatment or coating of pigments to improve processibility include the coating process disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,514,231. This patent teaches the coating of an oxidic or silicate filler with an organosilicon emulsifying compound and then spray-drying to improve the reinforcing properties of the filler. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,853 teaches the aqueous coating of organic pigments and/or carbon black with a sulphosuccinic acid ester surfactant followed by spray drying to improve pigment dispersibility in thermoplastics. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,203 discloses the treatment of inorganic or organic pigments with an amine and ethylene oxide block copolymer surfactant to improve pigment dispersibility and other properties in a variety of applications. U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,616 discloses the treatment of inorganic and/or organic pigments with an alkylene oxide addition product of a long-chain amine and an anionic surfactant with an aromatic moiety, for improved dispersibility.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,056,402, aqueous slurries of inorganic or organic pigments are milled in the presence of a nonionic, polyether alcohol dispersing agent and nonionic cellulose ether to reduce dusting and improve dispersibility. Also, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,947,287, aqueous, colored, inorganic and organic pigments are coated with the reaction product of a polyhydroxyl compound and a water retaining agent for improved stability and performance. U.S. Pat. No. 3,925,095 teaches the treatment of inorganic pigments or fillers with hydroxyalkylated alkylene diamine dispersing-agent for improved flowability and dispersibility in various applications.
Other examples of pigment surface treatment and coating processes include the treatment process described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,520. This patent teaches the production of dustless particles, including pigments, by treatment of the particles with a composition containing a solid low-molecular weight polymer and a liquid polymeric substance such as expoxidized soybean oil at temperatures above the melt point of the polymer. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,421 discloses the aqueous treatment of a lead chromate-containing pigment with a friable hydrocarbon resin and a cationic surfactant to produce free-flowing, non-dusting granules.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,114, an aqueous slurry of titanium dioxide is treated with a surfactant formed from the reaction of a diamine, a carboxylic acid, and a fatty acid to improve pigment dispersibility and processibility in various applications. U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,912 teaches the surface treatment of platelet-shaped pigments with a polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, or salt thereof, for improved dispersibility in paints and printing inks. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,986 discloses a process wherein previously spray-dried inorganic pigment granules are coated with water and solutions of salts of boron, aluminum, silicon, titanium, zinc, brass, or tin, to improve processibility and reduce dust production.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,622 teaches the production of aqueous dispersions of inorganic or organic pigments or fillers wherein the pigments or fillers are coated with a water soluble polymer, a nonionic alkylene oxide adduct, and other dispersants, to improve flow properties and increase the stability of the pigment dispersion. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,028 teaches the coating of various pigments and fillers with a phosphonocarboxylic acid and/or a phosphonocarboxylic acid salt to produce fluid, dispersible, aqueous filler or pigment dispersions.
None of the aforementioned patents suggest or teach the process comprising milling an aqueous pigment slurry, treating the slurry with a treating agent, and spray-drying the slurry, which is the subject of this application.

Process for preparing an improved low-dusting, free-flowing pigment


There are provided:

The present invention relates to an acid resistant catalyst sheet, and a process for producing the same, specifically, the present invention relates to an acid resistant catalyst sheet, whose catalytic activity can be retained for a long period of time, because a catalyst component contained therein hardly leaves from the catalyst sheet, and which is superior in its acid resistance against gases such as SOx and HCl and in its processability, and a process for producing said catalyst sheet. The acid resistant catalyst sheet in accordance with the present invention can be used preferably for, for example, reduction of nitrogen oxides, oxidation of organic substances and decomposition of dioxin.
As a catalyst sheet known in the art, JP-B 4-12183 discloses a catalyst sheet, which is obtained by forming a titania fiber so as to be interwoven with a glass fiber in a manner such that the glass fiber is impregnated with a titania hydrosol, and then, the hydrosol is frozen in one direction, followed by fusion of the frozen portion.
Further, as another catalyst sheet known in the art, JP-B 5-64745 disclosed a catalyst sheet, which is obtained by impregnating a honeycomb laminate with a mixed dispersing agent comprising catalyst particles, silica sol and the like to fix the catalyst particles between fiber gaps of the honeycomb laminate and on the surfaces of the honeycomb laminate, wherein the honeycomb laminate comprises paper made from a mixture of a glass fiber, mountain leather and a binder.
Each of the references referred to above is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Although the catalyst sheet disclosed in said JP-B 4-12183 has some degree of acid resistance, it has a problem that the titania fiber contained therein leaves from the sheet when vibrated mechanically because of rigidity of the sheet. Said catalyst sheet also has a problem that an additional different catalyst component contained therein leaves easily from the catalyst sheet because of poor bonding strength between the different additional catalyst component and the fibers, wherein said catalyst sheet can be produced according to the process described in said JP-B 4-12183.
On the other hand, the catalyst sheet disclosed in said JP-B 5-64745 has the following problems: (1) use of said silica sol and the like deteriorate properties of the catalyst particles contained therein, and (2) the catalyst particles contained therein leaves easily from the catalyst sheet.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a catalyst sheet, whose catalytic activity can be retained for a long period of time, because a catalyst component contained therein hardly leaves from the catalyst sheet, and which is superior in its acid resistance against acid gases such as SOx and HCl and in its processability, and a process for producing said catalyst sheet.
The present inventors have undertaken extensive studies to develop an acid resistant catalyst sheet. As a result, it has been found that a catalyst sheet comprising a catalyst component-containing titania fiber, a glass fiber and a specific resin can solve the foregoing problems, and thereby the present invention has been obtained.
The present invention provides an acid resistant catalyst sheet comprising:
a catalyst component-containing titania fiber;
a glass fiber; and
at least one resin selected from the group consisting of an epoxy resin, a phenolic resin, a melamine resin, a furan resin, a polyimide resin, a silicone resin, a fluororesin, a polyphenylene sulfide resin and a polyether ether ketone resin.
Further, the present invention provides a process for producing an acid resistant catalyst sheet, which comprises he step of making paper from a mixture containing:
a catalyst component-containing titania fiber;
a glass fiber; and
at least one resin selected from the group consisting of an epoxy resin, a phenolic resin, a melamine resin, a furan resin, a polyimide resin, a silicone resin, a fluororesin, a polyphenylene sulfide resin and a polyether ether ketone resin.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
A catalyst component-containing titania fiber used in the present invention is not particularly limited. As examples of the catalyst component-containing titania fiber, those disclosed in JP-A 11-5036 and Japanese Patent Application No. 10-333786 are enumerated. Each of the references referred to above is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Here, the term, xe2x80x9ctitania fiberxe2x80x9d, means a fiber containing a TiO2 component.
Specific examples of the catalyst component-containing titania fiber used in the present invention are those satisfying the following conditions (1) to (7):
(1) titanium oxide is contained in an amount of not less than about 50% by weight, provided that the weight of the catalyst component-containing titania fiber is assigned to be 100% by weight,
(2) a fiber length is not less than about 50 xcexcm, which length is not an average fiber length, but a length of respective fibers,
(3) a fiber diameter is within a range of from about 2 to about 100 xcexcm,
(4) a specific surface area measured by a BET method is not less than about 10 m2/g, and preferably from about 20 to about 300 m2/g,
(5) a pore volume measured by a nitrogen adsorption method is not less than about 0.05 cc/g,
(6) a pore volume having a micro pore radius of not less than 10 xc3x85 is not less than about 0.02 cc/g, and
(7) a pore radius peak is from about 10 to about 300 xc3x85, and preferably from about 10 to about 100 xc3x85.
A catalyst component used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and may be appropriately selected depending on uses of the catalyst sheet. Examples of the catalyst component usually used are at least one metal selected from the group consisting of V, W, Al, As, Ni, Zr, Mo, Ru, Mg, Ca, Fe, Cr and Pt, at least one metal oxide selected from the group consisting of oxides of said metals, and at least one composite oxide selected from the group consisting of composite oxides of said metals.
When the catalyst sheet in accordance with the present invention is used for reducing nitrogen oxides, it is recommendable to use, as the catalyst component, at least one preferred metal selected from the group consisting of V, W and Mo, or at least one metal oxide selected from the group consisting of oxides of said preferred metals, or at least one composite oxide selected from the group consisting of composite oxides of said-prefer-red metals.
An amount of the catalyst component contained in the catalyst sheet is not particularly limited, and may be determined depending on uses of the catalyst sheet. The amount of the catalyst component is usually from about 0.001 to about 50% by weight in terms of metal oxide, provided that said metal contained in the catalyst sheet is converted into its metal oxide, and the weight of the catalyst component-containing titania fiber is assigned to be 100% by weight.
A process for producing the catalyst component-containing titania fiber is not particularly limited. As examples of the production process thereof, those comprising the steps mentioned in the following Process-1 and Process-2 are enumerated. It is necessary to carry out respective steps of from Step-1 to Step-4 under atmosphere of an inert gas such as nitrogen gas, through which steps a precursor fiber is obtained. However, the obtained precursor fiber can be handled in the air.
Process-1
Step-1 of dissolving a titanium alkoxide in an alcohol such as isopropyl alcohol to obtain a solution,
Step-2 of hydrolyzing the obtained solution to obtain a slurry,
Step-3 of dissolving a vanadium compound in the slurry to obtain a spinning solution,
Step-4 of spinning the spinning solution to obtain a precursor fiber, and
Step-5 of calcining the precursor fiber to obtain a titania fiber.
Process-2
Step-1 of dissolving a titanium alkoxide and a vanadium compound in an alcohol such as isopropyl alcohol,
Step-2 of hydrolyzing the obtained solution to obtaining a slurry,
Step-3 of adding a solvent to the slurry, followed by mixing, and then further adding a silica compound thereto to obtain a spinning solution,
Step-4 of spinning the spinning solution to obtain a precursor fiber, and
Step-5 of calcining the precursor fiber to obtain a titania fiber.
A unit weight of the catalyst component-containing titania fiber present in the catalyst sheet in accordance with the present invention is not particularly limited, and may be determined depending on uses of the catalyst sheet. Here, the term, xe2x80x9cunit weightxe2x80x9d, means a weight of the catalyst component-containing. titania fiber per unit area of the sheet. From a viewpoint of increasing catalyst performance and permeability of the obtained catalyst sheet, a preferred unit weight of the catalyst component-containing titania fiber is from about 5 to about 900 g/m2.
A glass fiber used in the present invention is not particularly limited. Preferred glass fiber is that having an average fiber diameter of from about 0.5 to about 5 xcexcm, and preferably from about 0.6 to about 2.0 xcexcm, and an average fiber length of from about 7 to about 50 mm, and preferably from about 10 to about 40 mm, in order to obtain a catalyst sheet having high strength from a viewpoint of strong intertwining among the glass fiber. When the fiber length exceeds about 50 mm, it may not be easy to disperse the glass fiber in water during making paper. An alkali silicate glass fiber is preferred in order to obtain a catalyst sheet having better acid resistance. An example of the alkali silicate glass fiber is that of a trademark of CMLF 208-RW 36, manufactured by Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
A unit weight of the glass fiber present in the catalyst sheet in accordance with the present invention is not particularly limited, and may be determined depending on uses of the catalyst sheet. Here, the term, xe2x80x9cunit weightxe2x80x9d, means a weight of the glass fiber per unit area of the sheet. From a viewpoint of balance among retaining ability of the catalyst component-containing titania fiber, paper strength and permeability of the catalyst sheet obtained, a preferred unit weight of the glass fiber is from about 5 to about 900 g/m2.
A resin used in the present invention, namely an epoxy resin, a phenolic resin, a melamine resin, a furan resin, a polyimide resin, a silicone resin, a fluororesin, a polyphenylene sulfide resin or a polyether ether ketone resin, has a good acid resistance. These resins may be those obtained by a conventional production process. Among them, a fluororesin is preferable from a viewpoint of heat resistance and alkali resistance of the catalyst sheet obtained.
A process for producing the acid resistant catalyst sheet in accordance with the present invention is not particularly limited. An example of said production process is a process comprising the step of making paper from a mixture containing the catalyst component-containing titania fiber, the glass fiber and the above-mentioned resin. From a viewpoint of preventing the catalyst component from eluting out of the catalyst component-containing titania fiber, a preferable production process of the catalyst sheet is a process, which comprises the step of making paper from a mixture containing the catalyst component-containing titania fiber, the glass fiber and the above-mentioned resin, in the presence of at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkyl dimethylaminoacetate betaines represented by the following formula (I), alkylamine acetates represented by the following formula (II) and amines represented by the following formula (III):
wherein R1 is a C8-C22 alkyl group,
wherein R2 is a C8-C22 alkyl group, and
wherein X is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, Y is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R3 is a C8-C22 alkyl group.
Particularly preferred surfactants are lauryl dimethylaminoacetate betain, tridecyl dimethylaminoacetate betain and myristyl dimethylaminoacetate betain, which are represented by the formula (I); laurylamine acetate, tridecylamine acetate and myristylamine acetate, which are represented by the formula (II); and lauryl-dimethylamine, tridecyl-dimethylamine and myristyl-dimethylamine, which are represented by the formula (III).
How to make paper from the mixture containing the catalyst component-containing titania fiber, the glass fiber and the above-mentioned resin is not particularly limited. For example, a process comprising the following steps 1 to 3 can be given.
Step-1 of placing water, the glass fiber, the above-mentioned resin, a surfactant and the catalyst component-containing titania fiber in this order in a pulp disaggregating machine under stirring, and mixing them to obtain a uniform mixture thereof,
Step-2 of making wet paper from the above-mentioned uniform mixture using a paper-making machine, and
Step-3 of dehydrating and drying the wet paper to obtain a catalyst sheet.
In the above Step-1, it is usually preferable to carry out said step under conditions of making a length of the catalyst component-containing titania fiber not less than about 10 xcexcm, and making a length of the glass fiber not less than about 7 mm. In said step, if desired, a defoaming agent such as polyether type deforming agents, ester of fatty acid type defoaming agents and silicone type defoaming agents may be used. Additionally, in said step, an inorganic binding agent such as an alumina sol, a silica sol, a titania sol and a zirconia sol may be used to improve strength of the wet paper obtained in the above Step-2.
In the above Step-2, the above-mentioned inorganic binding agent may be sprayed to the wet paper, from a viewpoint of increasing strength of the wet paper.
In the above Step-3, conditions of dehydrating and drying are not particularly limited. Said step may be carried out under conventional conditions using an apparatus known in the art. Drying may be carried out two or more times, wherein temperature may be different from one another. In addition, drying maybe carried out after installing the acid resistant catalyst sheet in, for example, a reaction apparatus for reducing nitrogen oxides.
The acid catalyst sheet obtained in accordance with the present invention is a catalyst sheet, whose catalytic activity can be retained for a long period of time, because a catalyst component contained therein hardly leaves from the catalyst sheet, and which is superior in its acid resistance and processability. For example, the present catalyst sheet is generally resistant to at least about 10 hour use at about 100 to about 300xc2x0 C. against acid gases such as SOx and HCl. The present catalyst sheet is capable of retaining for a long period of time its catalytic activity for reducing nitrogen oxides, oxidizing organic substances such as organic solvents, agricultural chemicals and surfactants, and decomposing dioxin. Thus, it can be said that its utility value is great from an industrial point of view.

Acid resistant catalyst sheet and process for producing same

Abstract: There are provided:

Abstract: (i) an acid resistant catalyst sheet comprising:

Abstract: a glass fiber; and

Abstract: at least one resin selected from the group consisting of an epoxy resin, a phenolic resin, a melamine resin, a furan resin, a polyimide resin, a silicone resin, a fluororesin, a polyphenylene sulfide resin and a polyether ether ketone resin; and

Abstract: (ii) a process for producing an acid resistant catalyst sheet, which comprises the step of making paper from a mixture containing:

Abstract: a glass fiber; and


The present invention provides a partial peptide comprising the functional domain of a protein comprising an amino acid sequence which is the same or substantially the same as an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO: 4; a screening method and a kit therefor for a substance which regulates ASK1 activation, or a prophylactic or therapeutic substance for diseases associated with apoptosis or inflammation, which comprises using the protein or the partial peptide or a cell which produces the same, and optionally ASK1 or a partial peptide thereof or a cell which produces the same; and an agent for regulating apoptosis or inflammatory cytokine production, or a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for diseases associated with apoptosis or inflammation, which comprises a substance for regulating an activity of a protein comprising an amino acid sequence which is the same or substantially the same as an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO: 4.

Apoptosis is responsible for the functions of removing cells that become no longer necessary during development and abnormal cells, of homeostasis, and of body defense reactions to remove injured cells, and its mechanisms have been elucidated gradually at the molecular level. Such molecular abnormalities and the collapse of the control mechanism damage the physiological functions of apoptosis, and result in causal factors or aggravation factors for various diseases. For example, excessively suppressed apoptosis leads to abnormal proliferation of cells to be removed originally, which in turn induces tumoral diseases, autoimmune diseases and the like. Conversely, abnormally promoted apoptosis leads to the death of cells that must exist originally, which in turn causes neurodegenerative diseases and the like.
The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade is a signal transduction mechanism through which MAP kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) activated by a physicochemical stress or an inflammatory cytokine such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) or interleukin-1 (IL-1) sequentially activates MAP kinase kinase (MAPKK) and MAP kinase (MAPK), and cells, in response to these stimuli, exhibit phenotypes such as survival, proliferation, differentiation and death (apoptosis). c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAP kinase (p38) are known as MAPKs that play a part of the role in the signal transduction pathway to induce apoptosis (see, for example, Science, 270, 1326 (1995)). Furthermore, they are also involved in the evoking of inflammatory reactions by inducing the production of inflammatory cytokines.
JNK and p38 are activated by MKK4/7 and MKK3/6, respectively, which are MAPKKs. These MAPKKs are activated by single MAPKKK known as apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) (JP 10-93. A, Science, 275, 90-94 (1997)). In addition to ASK1, many MAPKKKs have been reported, and ASK1 is characterized by the capability of inducing apoptosis of cells through signal transduction via the activation of JNK and/or p38. Recently, ASK1 activation has been suggested to be involved in cell differentiation such as keratinocyte differentiation and PC12 cell axon elongation as well, and ASK1 has been shown to play an important role, not only in apoptosis, but also in the control of cell fate. Furthermore, ASK1 has also been shown to be involved in the evoking of inflammatory reactions by inducing the production of inflammatory cytokines.
Because ASK1 is an important molecule that influences the subsequent fate of cells as described above, its activation is considered to be involved by various factors and undergoes complicated control. To date, it has been reported that the formation of a homo-oligomer by ASK1 molecules and the subsequent phosphorylation of threonine in the activation loop are essential to the activation of ASK1, and the phosphorylation is based mainly on auto-phosphorylation by ASK1, but the presence of another kinase has been suggested (Journal of Cellular Physiology, 191, 95-104 (2002)). On the other hand, protein phosphatase 5 (PP5) is considered to restore activated ASK1 to an inactivated state by binding directly to ASK1 under stimulation with H2O2 and dephosphorylating threonine (EMBO Journal, 20, 6028-6036 (2001)). Furthermore, it has also been reported that thioredoxin, a redox control factor, acts as an ASK1 activation inhibitor as constitutively bound to the N-terminal domain of ASK1 in the absence of oxidation stress and leaves ASK1 upon exposure to oxidation stress and hence causes the activation of ASK1 (EMBO Journal, 17, 2596-2606 (1998)), that during the activation of ASK1 by TNF-α, TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) binds to the C-terminal domain of ASK1 to cause the activation of ASK1 (Molecular Cell, 2, 389-395 (1998)), and that the 14-3-3 protein inhibits the activation of ASK1 by binding to the C-terminal domain (Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, USA, 96, 8511-8515 (1999)).
Because treating cells of an ASK1 knockout mouse with an endoplasmic reticulum stress inducer significantly suppresses apoptosis compared to cells of a wild-type mouse, it is suggested that ASK1 is closely associated with the induction of apoptosis by endoplasmic reticulum stress, and that the above-described ASK1 inhibitors such as thioredoxin and the 14-3-3 protein, ASK1 dominant negative variants, ASK1 antisense oligonucleotides and the like are effective in the prophylaxis or treatment of diseases associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress, such as neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., polyglutamine disease and the like) (WO 02/38179). Nishitoh et al. showed that the accumulation of an abnormal protein in polyglutamine disease evokes endoplasmic reticulum stress, hence leads to the formation of a tripartite complex of the stress sensor molecule IRE1, TRAF2 and ASK1 and activates ASK1, and induces apoptosis (=nerve cell death) via the activation of JNK (Genes Development, 16, 1345-1355 (2002)).
Although the physiological importance of ASK1 and its association with disease have been elucidated gradually as described above, much remains unknown about the mechanisms of ASK1 activation control and apoptosis induction/inflammatory reaction evoking via ASK1, due partially to the complexity thereof, and there is a demand for further advances in the relevant research.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to provide new findings on the mechanisms of activation of ASK1 and the mechanisms of apoptosis induction/inflammatory reaction evoking mediated thereby. That is, it is an object of the present invention to identify a novel ASK1-binding protein that has not been known to date, and to elucidate how ASK1 activation is regulated by the protein. It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel prophylactic or therapeutic means for various diseases involved by ASK1, on the basis of the interaction of the protein and ASK1.

Apoptosis-associated protein and use thereof


An air to air refueling hose for an aircraft comprises an internal structure suitable for transporting fuel inside, an intermediate structure arranged around the internal structure, and an external structure arranged around the intermediate structure such that the intermediate structure is located between the internal structure and the external structure, and a sensing arrangement comprising electric conductors arranged along the air to air refueling hose and embedded inside of the external structure.

Air to air refueling is a very complex operation, as both the tanker and the receiver aircraft are flying, and this fact raises a large number of circumstances that may disturb the positioning of the aircraft: speed of aircraft, swirls, clouds, etc. Further, the extremely narrow tolerance allowed in this operation makes it quite delicate.
Several systems may be used for refueling. One of the most often used is the hose and drogue. A tanker aircraft comprises a hose to provide fuel to a receiver aircraft. Before starting the refueling process, the hose is wrapped in a drum located in the tanker aircraft. A drogue and a coupling are both attached at the end of the hose to provide the necessary drag force and to allow the receiver aircraft probe connection.
The drogue and coupling of a hose could be damaged by impacts with the receiver aircraft probe while attempting to contact. The hose may be damaged because of friction with previous hose turns or by wear against adjacent structure while wrapping in the drum. This damage can occur in flight or after the hose being extended for maintenance or visual inspections, where there is an additional risk of the hose being damaged by friction with the pavement or ground support equipment being used for this operation. In any of these cases, a damaged hose may have negative effects in safety or aircraft refueling operation.
Therefore, the air to air refueling hose needs to be periodically checked to confirm the absence of damage. This periodic check is usually done by visual inspection which requires the hose to be fully extended.
In addition to visual inspection, several other inspection methods are being investigated to evaluate their capability to identify hose internal damage, for example, eddy current inspection. However, this method also requires the hose to be extended and it is not valid to identify damage in the hose end fitting areas.
Visual inspections are done to check the absence of dangerous damage in the hose which could cause a fuel leak or affect the structural integrity of the hose which could end in a hose detachment in flight.
These known visual inspection methods present the following disadvantages:
The internal structure of the hose can be degraded (broken or corroded) without being detectable by external visual inspections, thus, hidden damage is not detectable. Further, this damage may cause hose rupture in flight and consequently the receiving aircraft may suffer impact due to the detached hose.
These methods require the work of several people to carry out the hose inspection.
These inspection methods require the effort of many people to move hose loads, for extending it and retracting it. Further, this could cause injury to the people involved in those activities.
In addition to added workload and time consumption for maintenance staff, extension and retraction of the hose affects aircraft schedule.
Sometimes tension done by the ground people to manually extend/rewind the hose cannot be controlled and there is a risk to incorrectly wrap the hose in the drum after being extended for inspection. Therefore, damage at hose retraction is not detectable.
Furthermore, friction to ground support equipment may also cause large hose damage, thus reducing the hose life.
Therefore, the present invention provides an improved hose with a monitoring system to check the hose damage, mainly without the need to extend the hose for inspecting it.

Air to air refueling hose and method for detecting damage in air to air refueling hose


Compact illumination systems, particularly for aircraft, use efficient beam forming optical light emitting diode arrangements combined with beam turning and beam splitting prism optics and optional aspheric reflectors to direct light in a cross cabin or cross bin lighting application. The LED based compact illumination devices are positioned to shine on opposite storage/stowage bins without being directly visible to a passenger. The devices are effective for illuminating ceiling structures as well as across the aisles of a passenger cabin, thus creating a cross-bin lighting system.

The interior configuration, architecture, and illumination of airplanes has become relatively standardized today. The arrangement of passenger seats, passenger cabins, bulkheads, lavatories, serving areas, and the like have become developed for convenience and accommodation of both passengers and crew. The passenger compartments typically have sidewall members with a plurality of windows, a floor member and a ceiling member or assembly of some type. In addition, pluralities of rows of stowage or storage bins are positioned on the aircraft generally at the position between the sidewalls and the ceilings. For larger twin-aisle aircraft, rows of inboard stowage bins are also positioned over the seats located along the center of the passenger cabins.
The design, architecture, and lighting of the interiors of passenger aircraft, particularly the passenger cabins, have remained substantially the same for a long period of time and have not had a significant variety of changes or updates.
There continues to be a need in the aircraft industry for new and innovative solutions to passenger space, cabins, furnishings and illumination. There is also a need to change or vary the aesthetics of passenger cabins in order to improve the perception and aesthetics of the space, as well as possibly catering to the different moods of the passengers. This includes the use of changes in LED based mood lighting to emphasize the activities performed aboard an aircraft, such as boarding, resting, eating and the like.
The improvements described herein would be useful in an aircraft cabin cross bin illumination system such as described in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 11/553,725 filed Oct. 27, 2006, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 11/164,267 filed Nov. 16, 2006, now abandoned. Another example of cross bin illumination, using efficient beam forming optical light emitting diodes may be found in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 11/760,386 filed Jun. 8, 2007. Each of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.
A large number of illumination systems employ a wide variety of light emitting diode (LED) illumination systems. These include those with relatively simple beam forming optical surfaces, such as seen for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,083,297, 7,059,731, 6,899,443, 6,988,815, 6,896,381, 6,819,506 and 6,814,470. Other beam forming optics, with more unusual shapes, including faceted surfaces are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,042,655, 7,021,767, 7,006,306, 6,924,943, and 6,607,286. Also, simple strip light illumination systems are disclosed, for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,114,827, 7,063,440 and 6,609,813. All of the aforementioned U.S. patents are incorporated herein by reference.
However, none of these prior designs provide a compact illumination device combining efficient beam forming optical LEDs and prism beam turning and beam splitting arrangement for direct and indirect lighting of surfaces, as practiced in embodiments of this disclosure.


A display panel and a demultiplexer circuit are provided. The demultiplexer circuit includes a first to a Pth switch units. The first to the Pth switch units are coupled to a first to a Pth data lines of a display panel respectively and collectively receive a data voltage and turn on sequentially in sequence to provide the data voltage to corresponding data lines. A period of the first to the Pth switch units provide the data voltage to the first to the P data lines sequentially which is defined to a data transmission period. When the switch unit is turned on, N transistors are turned on simultaneously according to a plurality of control signals. When the switch unit is turned off, at least one of the N transistors is turned off according to a corresponding control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to a flat display technology and more particularly, to a display panel and a demultiplexer circuit thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
With progress in manufacturing technologies of semiconductors, volumes of various types of electronic products are also developed toward being light and thin. In other to meet demands for miniaturization of the electronic products, flat panel displays are widely used due to having advantages, such as good space utilization efficiency, high definition, low power consumption, radiation free and so on. Generally, a flat panel display includes elements, such as a backlight module, a display panel and so on. The display panel is composed of pixel arrays, where a source driver transmits data voltages required by the pixel arrays through a plurality of data lines.
In order to resolve an issue of the increase of the number of the data lines due to the increase of the display panel resolution, which leads to the increase of pin numbers of chips of an integrated circuit (IC), a demultiplexer circuit is commonly disposed between the display panel and the source driver. A demultiplexer circuit is typically formed by a plurality of thin film transistors (TFTs). For an N-type TFT, when the TFT is applied with a negative bias voltage for a long time, a stress situation occurs easily. On the other hand, for accurate levels of control signals, a width-to-length ratio of TFT channels is quite large in most cases, and as a result, a stress speed of the TFTs also becomes faster. Therefore, how to mitigate the stress speed for the TFTs in the demultiplexer circuit has become a subject of designing the demultiplexer circuit.

Display panel and demultiplexer circuit thereof


A receiver for television signals is arranged to receive video signals comprising video data and information data. The receiver is arranged to respond to viewer operation of a control device (28). The receiver includes a processor (23) for processing selected information data to convert the same into signals representative thereof for output to a television in combination with the video signals. In one mode of operation the decoder responds to manipulation of the control device by causing brief scheduling information pertaining to programmes transmitted in the received signal to be displayed. In another mode of operation the receiver is arranged to display detailed scheduling information pertaining to plural different television signals. The receiver is operable to receive signals containing video data representing a plurality of video clips. The processor is arranged to process the signals and to cause simultaneous display of the clips on a television screen. The processor is arranged to respond to user manipulation of the control device by storing data for subsequent viewing of user selected programmes. The decoder may further comprise a modem (32) and a CD-ROM drive (25a).

The invention relates to improvements in receivers for television signals.
Originally a television (TV) in a typical home comprised a single unit connectable to an antenna to receive UHF signals broadcast terrestrially in different channels each containing a single television programme from a respective television station. More recent advances in technology have meant that additional equipment, such as video cassette recorders (VCRs) and satellite/cable receiver/decoders (decoders) have become affordable and more widely used. A VCR enables the recording of broadcasts and the playback of previously recorded cassettes. A decoder enables the reception of additional television programmes broadcast in a relatively large number of channels in media using cable or satellite-based technology. Thus, a television system comprising a TV, a VCR and a decoder, enables a user to select for viewing or recording a wide range of terrestrial and satellite/cable programmes and to play back previously recorded programmes. Such a system therefore enables the user to select a programme for viewing from multiple different media.
As the size of a television system is increased by the addition of extra equipment, control and operation of the system becomes more complex. The VCR and the decoder can be linked to the TV via its UHF input by tuning the TV to receive UHF signals from the VCR in one channel and to receive UHF signals from the decoder in another channel. For this to operate satisfactorily, the VCR and the decoder must each be tuned to output signals in different channels than each other and in channels not used by terrestrial stations. The VCR and the decoder each contain a modulating circuit for placing the signals onto a UHF carrier so that the signals can be demodulated by the receiver within the TV. Such modulation and demodulation is undesirable because it results in some degradation (albeit generally undetectable by the viewer) in the programme from the VCR or decoder.
These problems can to some extent be avoided by the use of so-called SCART connectors between the TV, the VCR and the decoder. The SCART system avoids the unnecessary use of UHF carriers by providing a direct path between the VCR, the decoder and the TV. The SCART system includes control lines that enable the VCR to override signals from the TV receiver, thereby causing the programme from the VCR to be displayed on the TV screen, and similarly enable the decoder to override signals from both the TV receiver and the VCR so that the programme from the decoder is displayed on the TV screen. The use of SCART connectors thus simplifies connection between, and selection of, the TV, the VCR and the decoder.
However, the SCART system does not overcome the problem of user-friendly control and use of the system. Separate controls (usually in the form of remote handsets) are provided for each of the TV, the VCR and the decoder. Recording a satellite/cable programme on the VCR requires the user to programme the VCR at the required time and to programme the decoder to switch on to the required satellite/cable programme at the required time. While this is not difficult for viewers possessed of the appropriate skills, it is too much for a large number of viewers who find such technology bewildering.
At present most broadcasting, regardless of media, is analog based and comprises a single television service (e.g. SKY ONE, SKY SPORTS, SKY MOVIES) transmitted on a carrier signal or channel. However, the use of digital based broadcast technology is imminent. Digital broadcast technology will enable television service companies to transmit in a single channel high definition television programmes, or plural programmes at conventional definition or multiple customer services, or a combination of these.
In a conventional analogue-based television broadcast system programmes (or xe2x80x9cservicesxe2x80x9d) are broadcast by separate television service companies on a single carrier signal (xe2x80x9cchannelxe2x80x9d). In a digital based broadcast system it is possible to broadcast plural services multiplexed together on a single carrier. Unless the context requires otherwise the term xe2x80x9cchannelxe2x80x9d will be used herein to refer to the bandwidth used by a single service to broadcast television programmes or other customer services. The term xe2x80x9cchannelxe2x80x9d therefore encompasses both an entire carrier signal (when the signal is used entirely by a single service) and a portion of a carrier signal (when the signal is shared by plural services).
The ability to transmit multiple channels in a single carrier signal enables a far greater number of services to be provided in the digital domain than is possible in the analogue domain. Some of the channels in a carrier may be used to provide conventional television programmes while simultaneously other channels in the carrier are used to provide data for other customer services such as television programme listings, on-line programme ordering or so-called pay-per-view (PPV) services, and so on. Customer services should not be confused with the xe2x80x9cservicesxe2x80x9d provided by television companies as discussed hereinabove.
Clearly, as digital broadcasting technology is adopted by the station, the above-discussed problems will increase.
The invention aims to provide a greater degree of integration within a television system.
The invention also aims to simplify user control over a television system. In an embodiment of the invention to be described in greater detail hereinbelow, this simplification is achieved by making the control more user friendly by making it more intuitive.
In one aspect the invention provides a remote control device for controlling a television system including a plurality of independently controllable units, the device comprising plural user selectable keys and being arranged to response to user selection of a key by transmitting separate command signals to each of the independently controllable units to cause the television systems to be configured in a first mode and thereafter responding to further user selection of the keys by transmitting command signals pertinent to the first mode of the television system.
In another aspect the invention provides a receiver for receiving digital television signals transmitted in a plurality of channels each comprising video data and information data the receiver comprising: a decoder circuit operable on one selected channel for separating in the one channel the information data and the video data and converting the video data into signals for output for a television; a store for storing information data; a viewer operable control device; and a processor connected to receive the information data from the decoder circuit and/or the store, the processor being arranged to respond to viewer operation of the control device by processing selected information data to convert the same into signals representative thereof for output for a television in combination with the video signals.
In a further aspect the invention provides a receiver for receiving television signals in a plurality of channels, each signal comprising video data defining a television programme and programme scheduling data defining the scheduling of programmes in the plurality of channels as scheduling events, the receiver being arranged to produce from a received television signal output signals defining an image of the television programme and an image of scheduling events for display on a television screen, the receiver comprising a user operable selector operable to select for display a schedule of events for one channel while displaying a television programme in another channel or to select for display a television programme in one channel while displaying a schedule of events for the one channel or another channel.
In another aspect the invention provides a receiver for receiving television signals defining television programmes in a plurality of channels, the receiver being arranged to produce output signals defining a plurality of video clips representing television programs available in the plural signal channels which output signals are output for display of the clips in respective areas on a television screen, the receiver comprising a user operable selector operable to select one of the displayed clips and responding to such user selection by storing data to cause the receiver to receive the television signals when the programme is transmitted in the corresponding channel for display of the programme on a television screen.
In a further aspect the invention provides a receiver for receiving television signals in a plurality of channels each defining a television programme and at least a signal in one of the channels further comprising programme scheduling data defining events in terms of channels, programmes and broadcast times, the receiver being arranged to produce output signals defining an image of events in the programme schedule for displaying on a television screen, the receiver comprising a user operable selector operable to select events identified in the displayed programme schedule and responding to such user selection by storing data to cause the receiver to receive television signals defining the programmes in the channels and at the times corresponding to the selected events.
In another aspect the invention provides a receiver for receiving a television signal comprising video data defining a video picture and information data defining information relating to user selectable services, the receiver being arranged to produce output signals defining an image representing available services for display on a television screen, the receiver comprising a user operable selector operable to select a displayed service and a modem responsive to such user selection for establishing a connection via a telephone line to a provider of the selected service.
In a further aspect the invention provides a receiver for receiving a television signal comprising video data defining a video picture and message data defining messages or information to be received by a destination specified by an identity code, the receiver being arranged to produce output signals defining the video picture for display on a television screen, the receiver having a unique identity code and being arranged to respond to reception of message data having an identity code corresponding to the unique identity code by producing output signals representing the message or information in the message data for display on a television screen.
The above and further features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims and together with advantages thereof will become clearer from consideration of the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention given with reference to the accompanying drawings.


A method comprising liquefying a gas to thereby obtain a liquefied gas; injecting a sample into a mobile phase containing a solvent and a supercritical fluid formed from the liquefied gas; passing this mobile phase through a column so that the mobile phase containing desired substance is divided into the solvent and the gas; and separating the desired substance from the solvent, wherein when the pressure of the gas divided from the mobile phase is higher than the pressure of the gas fed for formation of the liquefied gas from gas supply device, the gas divided from the mobile phase is liquefied. Further, there is provided a vapor liquid separator for use in the method.

Each of various kinds of chromatography has been used as a method of separating a desired substance in a sample. A known example of such the chromatography is supercritical fluid chromatography using a supercritical fluid as a mobile phase. Since the supercritical fluid chromatography uses a fluid, which is referred to as a supercritical fluid and has a greater variety of properties than that of a general solvent, as a mobile phase, investigation has been conducted into the utilization of supercritical fluid chromatography for the separation, analysis, purification, and the like of various substances that have been considered to be difficult to separate.
A technique has been known as the method of substance separation by supercritical fluid chromatography, which involves: delivering a supercritical fluid supplied from a bomb by using a pump; injecting a sample into the supercritical fluid; passing the supercritical fluid into which the sample has been injected through a column; reducing the pressure of the supercritical fluid that has been passed through the column to precipitate a solute; dividing the precipitated solute and the supercritical fluid; and delivering the divided supercritical fluid to the pump to recycle the supercritical fluid (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication 05-307026).
By the way, a mobile phase obtained by mixing a supercritical fluid and a solvent is used in supercritical fluid chromatography depending on the kind of a solute and the kind of a filler in some cases. The above technique does not show the use of such mobile phase, so the recycling of the supercritical fluid upon use of such mobile phase is susceptible to investigation.

Method of substance separation by supercritical fluid chromatography and vapor liquid separator for use therein


A matrix is created for storing the various verified methods of communication that are available between a plurality of hosts. Each host pair has two or three values stored in the matrix to indicate the known methods of communications between each other. A first value indicates whether unreliable multicast communications are possible, not possible or not yet determined. A second value indicates whether unreliable unicast communications are possible, not possible, or not yet determined. A third optional value may indicate whether reliable unicast communications are possible, not possible, or not yet determined. The mode of communications between each pair of hosts is then selected in the order of unreliable multicast, unreliable unicast, and, finally, reliable unicast.

Systems for data processing in a network environment commonly exchange and disseminate information among a multitude of hosts. An internetwork environment includes hosts and routers having different communications capabilities. These variations include the ability to send and receive unreliable multicast data and the ability to receive unreliable unicast data. Consequently, a host cannot employ a single means to disseminate data to a large number of hosts. Clearly, determining the most appropriate means for transmitting data to each destination represents a considerable burden for the application programmer.
Therefore, a need exists for a method and system for automatically gathering communications capability information for all hosts and for automatically selecting the most appropriate means for sending data to each destination.

Method and system for connecting network hosts having different communication protocols


A connector assembly includes a housing extending along a housing axis between a front and a rear and contact modules loaded into the housing along the housing axis through the rear. The contact modules have a body holding contacts arranged along contact planes. A stabilizer is coupled to the housing and is coupled to the contact modules to hold the contact modules such that the contact planes are parallel to the housing axis.

The subject matter herein relates generally to connector assemblies, and more particularly, to connector assemblies having a plurality of contact modules.
Some electrical connector systems utilize electrical connectors to interconnect two circuit boards to one another, or to interconnect a data cable with a circuit board. One or more of the electrical connectors are mounted to a circuit board for mating with a corresponding electrical connector, which may be board mounted or cable mounted. In some high-density connector systems, the electrical connectors include a housing and a plurality of contact modules, sometimes referred to as chicklets, loaded into the housing. The contact modules include contacts with board mounting features, such as eye-of-the-needle portions, that may be terminated to the circuit board. The contacts have mating ends opposite the board mounting ends. Such electrical connectors are typically either right angle connectors with the mating ends and board mounting ends at right angles with respect to one another, or vertical connectors with the mating ends and board mounting ends at opposite ends of the contact modules.
With vertical connectors, the contacts typically pass straight through the contact modules between the opposite ends of the contact modules. The length of the contact modules, and thus the overall height of the mating interface of the vertical connector above the circuit board, may very depending on the particular application. For example, when additional height is needed to raise the mating interface further above the circuit board, such as when other components are mounted in proximity to the vertical connector, the contact modules may be relatively long. However, problems arise with vertical connectors having relatively long contact modules due to the distance between the housing and the board mounting end of the contact modules. For example, controlling the positions of the contact modules with respect to the housing and with respect to one another may become problematic. Such contact modules have an inherent lean caused by contact preload forces created during the assembly of the vertical connector. For example, when the contact modules are loaded in the housing, the mating ends of the contacts interfere with the housing which generally forces the contact modules to be angled with respect to the housing. A need remains for a connector assembly that is able to hold a true position of the contact models with respect to the housing.


An unencoded m-bit data input sequence is divided into a block of n bits and a block of m−n bits. The block of n bits is divided into a first set of n+1 encoded bits, wherein at least one of P1 subblocks of the first set satisfies a G, M and I constraints. The first set of n+1 encoded bits is mapped into a second set of n+1 encoded bits wherein at least one of P2 subblocks of the second set gives rise to at least Q1 transitions after 1/(1+D2) precoding. A second set of n+1 encoded bits is divided into P3 encoded subblocks and the P3 encoded subblocks are interleaved among (m−n)/s unencoded symbols so as to form a (m+1)-bit output sequence codeword which is then stored on a data storage medium.

Runlength-limited (RLL) codes have been widely used in magnetic and optical data storage to eliminate sequences that are undesired for the processes of recording and reproducing digital data. Various classes of RLL codes are used in practice. For example, peak detection systems employing runlength-limited RLL(d,k) constrained codes such as rate-1/2 RLL(2,7) and rate-2/3 RLL(1,7) codes have been predominant in digital magnetic storage at low normalized linear densities. At moderate normalized linear densities, the introduction of partial-response maximum-likelihood (PRML) detection channels into data storage required a different type of constrained codes. This class of codes, which are known as PRML(G,I) or PRML(0,G,I) codes, facilitates timing recovery and gain control, and limits the path memory length of the sequence detector, and therefore the decoding delay, without significantly degrading detector performance. PRML(G,I) codes may also be used in conjunction with 1/(1⊕D2) precoders and with noise-predictive, maximum-likelihood (NPML) channels which generalize the PRML concept (⊕ stands for the logical exclusive-OR operation). The G constraint limits the maximum runlength of zeros at the modulation encoder output (input of 1/(1⊕D2) precoder) to G. The I constraint limits the maximum runlength of zeros in the even and odd interleave of the encoder output (input of 1/(1⊕D2) precoder) to I.
The first PRML(G, I) code that was implemented in a data storage device had the code rate 8/9 and satisfied the constraints G=4 and I=4. In addition, it satisfied a VFO constraint, which is also known as the M constraint, allowing discrimination of encoded data from the synchronization preamble and therefore fast start-up of the PRML receiver. The M constraint limits the maximum runlength of ones at the modulation encoder output (input of 1/(1⊕D2) precoder) to M. The class of RLL codes satisfying G, I and M constraints is known as PRML(G, I, M) codes. The recorded VFO pattern . . . ++−−++−− . . . (the output of a 1/(1⊕D2) precoder) is received as a tone with frequency 1/(4T) at the center of the channel. The VFO constraint (M constraint) was generalized to constraints used to construct anti-whistle codes that exclude data patterns with zero or one spectral component in the frequency band (0, 1/(2T)). Hard disk drive (HDD) products often used architectures that did not require the VFO constraint. Therefore, high-rate PRML codes with rates higher than 8/9, which have been designed, satisfy G and I constraints but not necessarily the M constraint.
The RLL code used in Linear Tape Open (LTO) standards for generations 2 to 4 (hereinafter LTO 2-4) is a twins-constrained maximum-transition-run MTR(j,k,t) code that requires 1/(1⊕D) precoding. It satisfies j, k and t constraints at the input of the 1/(1⊕D) precoder. The k constraint limits the maximum runlength of zeros at the modulation encoder output (input of 1/(1⊕D) precoder) to k. The j constraint limits the maximum runlength of ones at the modulation encoder output (input of 1(1⊕D) precoder) to j. The twins constraint t limits the maximum number of consecutive twins (pair of zeros or pair of ones) at the modulation encoder output (input of 1/(1⊕D) precoder) to t. The G and I constraints at the input of 1/(1⊕D2) precoders are equivalent to constraints j=G+1, k=G+1 and t=I at the input of 1/(1⊕D) precoders where both set of constraints PRML(G,I) and MTR(j,k,t) give rise to the same set of constraints on recorded patterns (output of precoder). The RLL code in LTO 2-4 is based on a rate-8/9 code that also satisfies the VFO constraint, rules out the Data Set Separator (DSS) and Resynchronization (Re Sync) patterns and ensures that each RLL codeword has at least one isolated transition. The concatenated rate of the RLL code in LTO 2-4 is 16/17 because a rate-8/9 encoded byte is concatenated with an uncoded byte. The constraints satisfied by the rate-16/17 RLL code in LTO 2-4 are equivalent to G=13, I=11 and M=23. Additionally, the RLL code parameter that is very important to error-rate performance with error-correction-coding (ECC) is error propagation. Error propagation is defined as the minimum length of a channel error burst in NRZ bits that causes two erroneous symbols in one Reed-Solomon (RS) codeword at the RS decoder input. Error propagation depends on the modulation code properties and the depth of interleaving of ECC codewords. In LTO 2-4 two-way interleaved RS codewords are RLL encoded and the error propagation of the modulation code is therefore 9 NRZ bits. Since most of the error patterns at the detector output are 1 to 4 NRZ bits long, most of the time one symbol in a RS codeword is in error as a result of a short (non-fading) error burst in the channel.
Construction of rate-8/9 PRML(G, I, M) codes has previously been described. Additionally, the rate of non-concatenated PRML(G, I, M) codes that have been constructed is less than 16/17.
The next generation LTO standard (LTO 5) will likely have a rate-32/33 or rate-48/49 RLL code in order to increase the format efficiency. One method for the design of such codes is the straightforward extension of the rate-16/17 LTO 2-4 code by inserting two or four more uncoded bytes to obtain a rate-32/33 or rate-48/49 code, respectively. However, this solution results in a rate-32/33 RLL code with parameters G=29, I=19, M=39 or a rate-48/49 RLL code with parameters G=45, I=27, M=55. These values are not acceptable because the constraints are too weak. Another solution would be to generate a rate-16/17 encode and decode table using a computer and use computer-aided design tools to generate Boolean-based or ROM-based logic for encoding and decoding based on the encode and decode table. However, this solution is too complex and would require more than 500,000 gates per channel to implement. Additionally, the encoding operation needs a compact representation such that it can be included into the LTO 5 standard; specifying 65,536 17-bit codewords in the LTO 5 standard is not acceptable. Therefore, there is a need for an algorithmic approach to design an RLL code that satisfies similar constraints as the LTO 2-4 RLL code does.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.