A printhead, particularly a light emitting diode (LED) printhead, which has improved apparatus for distributing signals to individual printing elements, i.e. LEDs, that are used in the printhead. Specifically, this printhead contains a number of print element arrays, typically arrays of light emitting diodes, and a corresponding number of drive circuits all of which are mounted to a common member, this member illustratively being a metallic stiffener plate. Each of the drive circuits is connected to a corresponding one of the print element arrays. All the print element arrays are typically situated in a co-linear orientation transversely along the member with the drive circuits co-linearly arranged along a side of the arrays. In addition, both drive circuits in every pair of adjacent drive circuits are interconnected, through for example spreader boards mounted to said member along the same side of the print element arrays and outward of the drive circuits with wire bonds extending between adjacent spreader boards, such that all the drive circuits in the printhead are interconnected in a daisy-chained fashion.

For many years, image reproduction technology has relied on, inter alia, first producing an image on a paper original and reproducing the original image using a xerographic based process. With the advent and increasingly widespread use of personal computers, such images increasingly contain computer generated graphics, such as pictures, charts, graphs and the like of one form or another. In forming an original depiction of such an image, a desired graphical image is often generated onto a sheet of paper or other suitable medium using an output device, such as a pen plotter or the like. This original depiction is then xerographically reproduced a desired number of times. Xerographic reproduction generally involves placing a paper original face down on a platen of a xerographic copier and then directing light onto the image depicted thereon at an appropriate angle such that light reflected therefrom will strike a surface of an appropriately charged moving photoconductive drum or belt (henceforth referred to as a photoconductor) as it passes through an internal exposure station within the copier. The reflected light, in turn, locally discharges the surface of the photoconductor such that a resulting electro-static charge pattern appearing thereon substantially matches the local visual reflectance characteristics that appear in the image. When the rotating photoconductor reaches an internal toning station within the copier, toner typically in the form of a powder is automatically applied to the photoconductor. The toner adheres to those portions of the surface of the photoconductor that remain charged. As the photoconductor continues to rotate, a sheet of paper is subsequently pressed against the rotating drum at a transfer station internal to the copier. An opposite charge is applied to the paper in order to transfer the toner pattern from the photoconductor to the paper. Thereafter, the paper is separated from the photoconductor typically through application of an appropriate charge thereto. Thereafter, the "toned" image is permanently fixed onto the paper at a so-called "fusing" station within the copier whereat the paper is passed between two heated rollers which melt the toner and fuse it into the paper.
Owing to the relatively large sized optical components typically used in a xerographic copier and the number and/or size of the necessary optical transmission paths internal to the copier, xerographic copiers tend to be physically large and rather bulky. Moreover, a user often wastes a significant amount of time by first employing a pen plotter or other similar device to generate an original image and then manually reproducing the image using a xerographic copier -- the latter task includes bringing the original to a copier, waiting for the copier to generate the desired number of copies and then returning with the copies.
Therefore, in an effort to substantially increase the speed at which multiple copies of a image can be produced while reducing the size of an output device that produces these images, the art has turned to electronic imaging techniques. Generally, these techniques convert digital data directly into an image at a sufficiently high quality to rival present optical image reproduction techniques. In one such electronic imaging technique, digitized binary, gray scale or color image data provided by a computer or similar device, rather than light reflected off a paper original, is used to repeatedly discharge a photoconductor that through one or more separate toning passes respectively generates either a black and white or color image at a resolution that favorably compares with that produced by a optical xerographic copier. Specifically, the digital data is used, through appropriate driving circuitry, to energize individual diodes that exist within a linear array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that collectively form a printhead. In response to the drive signals, the individual diodes generate light energy that when passed through a fiber optic lens assembly onto the surface of a moving photoconductor is sufficiently intense to locally discharge the surface of the photoconductor and establish a charge pattern thereon that mirrors a desired visual graphical pattern. To make multiple copies, this electro-optical imaging process is then repeated as often as necessary to directly generate the desired number of copies. Moreover, if an image that has been previously generated on paper or another medium is to be copied, that image can be read and digitized using a facsimile type scanner, stored within a digital memory circuit and subsequently and repeatedly printed using such a digital image printer to provide one or more copies.
To provide light energy that closely matches the spectral sensitivity of the photoconductor, gallium arsenide diodes that produce red light are used typically within the printhead. Unfortunately, present gallium arsenide fabrication technology suffers from a drawback that severely complicates the assembly of LED printheads.
Specifically, LED printheads generally require a single relatively long row, generally 11" (approximately 28 cm) or greater, of separate light emitting sites. Furthermore, to provide an appropriate level of detail in an output image which rivals that produced by xerographic or other image reproduction methods, LED printheads typically need a minimum resolution of 400 light emitting sites, i.e. individual LEDs, per inch (approximately 158 LEDs/cm). This necessitates that an 11" printhead must have at least approximately 4400 separate diodes aligned in a single row with a resulting 2.5.multidot.10.sup.-6 " (63.5 .mu.m) center-to-center spacing between any two adjacent diodes. Unfortunately, current gallium arsenide fabrication methods have not reached the level of sophistication needed to produce semiconductor wafers in excess of typically 3" (approximately 7.6 cm) in diameter. Accordingly, the relatively small size of these wafers prevents a single 11" row of gallium arsenide LEDs from being fabricated on a single substrate. Hence, the art has turned to fabricating LED printheads using a sequence of individual arrays of gallium arsenide LEDs that are arranged in an abutting end-to-end fashion to form a single common line of closely spaced light emitting sites, in which each array contains multiple, e.g. 128, LEDs arranged along a single row. To ensure that the photoconductor will be uniformly illuminated along the entire width of the printhead, thereby ensuring to the extent possible that no artifacts due to uneven illumination will be imparted into an output image produced therewith, the individual LED arrays must be positioned on the printhead within extremely fine tolerances with respect to each other not only two-dimensionally across a common transverse axis on the printhead but also elevationally across the entire printhead, the latter ensuring that the printhead possesses a sufficient degree of mechanical flatness.
With this overall approach to implementing an LED printhead in mind, various specific techniques for actually implementing this approach are disclosed in the art. However, each of these techniques experiences various deficiencies that limit its use.
One technique, hereinafter referred to as the "ceramic substrate" technique for reasons that will become clear below and typified by the disclosure in U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,714 (issued to Takasu et al on Mar. 29, 1988), involves an LED printhead in which individual LED arrays, each having 96 light emitting sites, are each positioned on a relatively wide thick film conductive strip located along a central transverse axis of a surface of a fired alumina ceramic substrate. Staggered anode connections for all the diodes and associated metallized pads ("anode pads") therefor appear on the top of each array. The cathodes of all the individual LEDs within any array are internally connected to a common gold electrode on the reverse side of the array that abuts against the conductive strip. Each individual diode is approximately 0.04" by 0.31" (1 millimeter by 8 millimeter) and is arranged within an array at a center-to-center spacing of approximately 33.3.multidot.10.sup.-6 " (84.5 .mu.m) between adjacent diodes. A pair of drive driving elements is associated with each individual array. The two elements that form any such pair are mounted directly to the substrate and on opposite sides of and generally perpendicular to the corresponding array. These driving elements contain appropriate shift registers and LED drive circuits. For any one array, one driving element in the pair associated therewith (situated in the so-called even half of the printhead) controls even number LEDs in that array, while the other driving element in the pair (situated in the so-called odd half of the printhead) controls the odd number LEDs in that array.
In this specific LED printhead, LED drive signals are routed from a connector situated near an edge of the substrate to various signal processing and line driver integrated circuits that are also mounted on the substrate. The output signals produced by the line drivers are applied through appropriate metallized busses situated on the surface of the substrate to drive driving elements for either the odd or even half of the printhead. The pitch of the output terminations of the driving elements is significantly greater than the narrow center-to-center pitch of the anode pads for the individual LEDs. Accordingly, for each driving element, a pattern of metallized interconnection leads ("interconnects") having a pitch that matches that of the driving element terminations is also fabricated on the surface of the substrate. These interconnects have pads at one end that are linearly aligned for connection to appropriate terminations of a driving element and have staggered metallized pads at the other end thereof for connection to corresponding individual metallized anode pads of the LEDs. One end of every interconnect is connected through a wire bond using relatively fine wire to an individual anode pad of an LED; while the other end of every metallized lead is connected through another wire bond to a corresponding drive module termination. Wire bonds, again with relatively fine wire, are also used to connect appropriate line driver terminations to the metallized busses. The metallized busses and interconnects are collectively formed by placing a gold thin film onto the alumina substrate followed by one or more separate conductive thick film and interspersed dielectric layers to form, where necessary, a multi-layered metallized pattern on the surface of the substrate. Flexible circuitry is used to route power from external circuit connections to multiple metallized leads situated on either side of the printhead. The substrate itself is affixed to a relatively large heatsink.
This specific technique for implementing an LED printhead is plagued by a number of serious deficiencies. First, long dimensionally accurate fired ceramic substrates that maintain flatness within acceptable tolerances across their entire length, such as 25 .mu.m over 12" (approximately 30.48 cm), have proven to be extremely difficult to manufacture in large quantities. Inasmuch as low yields of acceptable substrates typically occur, each resulting substrate tends to be very expensive. Second, this approach requires a large number of wire bonds, typically in excess of 10,000 which are expensive and time-consuming to provide and also tend to reduce reliability of the printhead. Third, since the individual LED arrays are mounted through a thick film conductor to the actual ceramic substrate which, in turn, is mounted to a heatsink, a relatively high thermal resistance exists for heat dissipated from each diode, which, in turn, during sustained operation of the printhead raises the temperature and the failure rate of the individual LEDs therein. Fourth, inasmuch as a relatively high current is needed to drive the printhead, this current causes voltage drops to appear across the flexible circuits used to distribute power. Specifically, each diode in an operating printhead draws an average current of approximately 8 mA. Assuming every diode in the printhead is simultaneously energized, then an entire printhead containing 5000 such diodes draws approximately 40 amperes during the 50% on time of the duty cycle associated with all the diodes, with half of this current being distributed through flexible circuitry to the each of the even and odd halves of the printhead. Owing to the relatively small cross-section of the copper conductor(s) contained in the flexible circuitry used to route power to each half of the printhead, an appreciable voltage drop appears across this circuitry particularly when all or most of the diodes are energized. This voltage drop increasingly lowers the drive current available to power the diodes that are located at increasing distances down this circuitry and along the printhead such that "current starvation" is increasingly likely to occur for these diodes. Consequently, the printhead disadvantageously produces a non-uniform optical output across its length. Fifth, since all the driving elements and LED arrays are mounted to a common substrate, any subsequent failure in any of these driving elements or an LED array itself necessitates that manual repair techniques be used to replace a failed component, i.e. a driving element or an LED array, without damaging any of the other components on the substrate. This is generally an extremely difficult and expensive task. Moreover, since not every repair is successful or can be economically accomplished, the affected printheads including the large ceramic substrate and all the components mounted thereto, which are collectively quite expensive, are merely scrapped resulting in significant economic waste. Furthermore, if a driving element failed, all the relatively fine wire bonds connected to this driving element need to be manually removed, the driving element manually replaced and the bonds manually re-attached to a replacement drive module. This procedure is not only tedious, even when performed by skilled labor, but also the manual nature of this procedure renders it unsuitable for use of a mass production manufacturing environment.
In an effort to surmount these deficiencies associated with the "ceramic substrate" technique, the art has turned to another technique, hereinafter referred to as the "multi-module distribution board" technique for reasons that will become clear below, for fabricating LED printheads. Here, the printhead contains an assembly having a number of modules which are all mounted, typically using a conductive adhesive layer, to a metallic, typically stainless steel, support plate in an abutting horizontally aligned orientation with the support plate, in turn, being mounted to an aluminum heatsink. Each module has a metallic base plate ("tile") that is typically rectangular in shape with a vertical dimension that is somewhat larger than its horizontal dimension. The flatness of each of these metallic tiles can be much more easily maintained to the needed tolerance than can that of a large ceramic substrate.
Specifically, through the "multi-module distribution board" technique, an assembly of one or more LED arrays, illustratively three, is mounted onto a tile and located along a central transverse axis thereof with corresponding drive circuits situated on the tile close to and on opposing sides of each array and interconnected thereto through wire bonds, here at a relatively narrow pitch and using relatively fine wire. A ceramic or printed circuit spreader board is also situated on the tile and is located beyond and on either side of the drive circuits. A row of metallized fingers is typically located along a horizontal edge of the spreader board that is to be situated farthest from the drive circuits. The spreader boards are suitably dimensioned and appropriately situated on each tile such that a relatively small gap exists between one horizontal edge of the spreader board and the drive circuits while the other edge containing the metallized fingers overlays and is generally aligned with a corresponding horizontal edge, i.e. either the top or bottom edge, of the tile. Each spreader board contains a multi-layer metallized wiring pattern for interconnecting appropriate drive terminations to the appropriate metallized fingers. This wiring pattern matches the relatively narrow pitch of the drive terminations to a relatively broad pitch of the fingers and distributes appropriate LED drive signals, such as clocks and power, as input to the proper drive terminations. Metallized leads on the spreader board are connected by wire bonds, at the narrow pitch and again with using relatively fine wire, to appropriate drive terminations. In some current printhead implementations, each spreader board is typically a co-fired ceramic multi-layer thick film hybrid board which uses gold thin film layers for metallized bond pads and a relatively resistive conductor, such as tungsten, for the conductive layers. Dielectric layers are included in the spreader board such that a cross-over pattern of perpendicularly oriented conductive layers interconnected with appropriate feedthroughs (also known as "vias") is formed on each spreader board. This arrangement also includes a large conventional multi-layer laminate rectangular circuit board with a centrally located rectangular cut-out which is appropriately sized to substantially encircle the entire assembly of modules. This multi-layer board, henceforth referred to as the "distribution" board, contains metallized busses, typically 25 or more, to distribute power and drive signals, the latter being produced by various signal processing and line driver integrated circuits located on the distribution board, to the proper fingers of each spreader board. Wire bonds, though here with a relatively wide pitch and a relatively large diameter wire, connect the appropriate busses on the distribution board with corresponding fingers on each spreader board. Power and incoming data and clock signals are supplied to the printhead through appropriate connectors typically situated on the distribution board and located relatively close to an edge thereof.
While the "multi-module distribution board" technique eliminates various drawbacks associated with the "ceramic substrate" technique, it nevertheless presents other drawbacks. Since the LED arrays are directly mounted through a metallic path to the heatsink, heat is more readily dissipated therefrom than in the "ceramic substrate" technique thereby beneficially lowering the failure rate of the LEDs. Furthermore, since each individual module can be fully tested after its assembly but prior to its being mounted to the support plate, the need to repair completed printheads substantially decreases. Moreover, whenever such a repair is needed, a complete module can be readily removed from the printhead and a replacement installed thereon. Inasmuch as this repair necessitates removing a small number of wire bonds that occur at a relatively wide pitch between the fingers on that module and the distribution board, installing a new module and then replacing these wide-pitched bonds, the cost and tedium associated with this repair advantageously is significantly less than that associated with replacing a failed component located on an LED printhead implemented using the "ceramic substrate" technique. However, though the "multi-module distribution board" technique eliminates the need to use a large ceramic substrate along with its attendant high cost, the "distribution" board is still expensive though less than the ceramic substrate. For example, wire bondable gold is generally used in a wire bond layer within the distribution board which increases its cost. In addition, if ceramic spreader boards are used, these spreader boards themselves tend to be costly. Nevertheless, the combined cost of a distribution board and all the required attendant spreader boards is often appreciably less than the cost of a large ceramic substrate. Second, the signal distribution lines running between and among both the distribution board and the spreader boards present complex impedance values, typically containing resistance, inductance and a significant amount of capacitance, that due to inherent charge and discharge times associated therewith limit the speed of clock and data signals that can propagate down the printhead and hence limit the speed at which the printhead can perform. Third, the cross-sectional area of the metallized busses situated on the distribution board that carry power to each half of the printhead still tends to be insufficient to eliminate an appreciable voltage drop that appears therealong during operation of the printhead. This voltage drop reduces the available drive current to the individual LEDs situated at increasing distances down from the printhead and, in turn, through current starvation causes a non-uniform optical output to appear along the printhead. Fourth, the distribution board is relatively large which disadvantageously increases the overall physical size of the printhead and any image printer that employs it.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for a printhead, such as an LED printhead, that tends to be smaller, and is simpler and less expensive to implement than such printheads known in the art. Moreover, the resulting LED printhead should provide a more uniform light output across its entire length than currently available printheads; operate at increased speeds than those associated with currently available printheads, particularly printheads implemented using the "multi-module distribution board" technique; have a relatively low thermal failure rate, and be relatively easy and inexpensive to repair. Such a resulting printhead will advantageously facilitate the evolution of relatively small and inexpensive electronic image printers.

Light emitting diode printhead having improved signal distribution apparatus


A thrust control apparatus for a jet propulsion watercraft is provided. The thrust control apparatus includes a throttle sensor for detecting a fully-closed operation of a throttle of the engine, a steering sensor for detecting steering of a steering device more than a predetermined amount from a neutral position of the steering device and a direction of the steering; a control device configured to control the engine such that the water jet pump generates a different thrust for rightward and leftward steering, in accordance with the steering direction detected by the steering sensor, when the throttle sensor detects the fully-closed operation of the throttle and the steering sensor detects steering of more than the predetermined amount.

Among the variety of water-jet-pump-propulsion type small watercraft, personal watercraft (PWC) are the most popular. Personal watercraft generally have a water jet pump impeller that rotates counterclockwise when seen from a rear of the watercraft when the watercraft travels forward. During forward travel, the watercraft tends to bank to the right due to a reactive force of impeller rotation; thus, the watercraft tends to turn to the right.
The water jet pump is configured so that its thrust direction can be changed by horizontally swinging a steering nozzle arranged behind the impeller and, thus, the watercraft makes a turn. Because of this configuration, it is more difficult to steer the watercraft when a throttle is in a fully-closed state.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,059, Canada patent No. 2,207,938, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,809 disclose a steering assist technique addressing the above difficulties. The disclosed steering assist technique is to make steering easier by controlling thrust when a throttle is in a fully-closed state and the steering is not easy to operate. The thrust is controlled so as to be increased independently of throttle operation.
However, the above disclosed technique has a drawback in that steering to the right and steering to the left does not work the same even if the thrust is increased in the same manner for both cases, due to a reactive force of impeller rotation.

Thrust control device for jet propulsion watercraft


A method and apparatus for processing substances by coexisting an object matter with water held at temperature above 200xc2x0 C. to carry out chemical reactions such as severing of molecular chains, recombination and decoupling occluded molecules, oxidation and reduction reactions. A mixture phase containing an object matter and a liquid medium is subjected to a super-critical state of a medium in a super-critical reaction apparatus, where feed inlets are provided on the upper end, and a product outlet is provided on the lower end. In the interior of the apparatus, the super-critical zone is provided above and the sub-critical zone is provided below, and the object matter and the reaction products are progressed towards a lower end of a reaction chamber in one direction.

This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for processing matter by hydrothermal reactions, such as rupturing of molecular chains, recombination and decoupling occluded molecules, oxidation and reduction reactions, by holding the matter with water held at temperature above 200xc2x0 C.
In recent years, it has been pointed out that ashes generated from incineration of municipal waste contain substances harmful to humans such as dioxin and others, resulting in demands for treatment processing to deal with such matters. Also, needs are increasing for processing halogen compounds, herbicides, PCB, DDT and other organic halogen compounds contained in pesticides, chemical weapons such as poison gas, explosives, substances with high organic contents unamenable to biological processing, waste water containing matters unamenable to biological processing, compounds that suppresses biological metabolic reactions, and other substances that cannot be discharged or left in the environment.
As a method of treating such substances, expectations are high for hydrothermal reactions that hold the substances with water at temperature above 200xc2x0 C. and perform tasks such as severing of molecular chains, recombination and decoupling occluded molecules, oxidation and reduction reactions. This high expectation is because this type of chemical processing can be carried out in a closed-circuit system and the facility can be relatively small.
Especially, in the so-called super-critical zones, it is known that a medium exists in an unusual middle state that is neither gas nor liquid, and exhibits special physical and chemical properties that can be used to perform various treatments. Here, the super-critical state, when the medium is water, means that the temperature exceeds the critical temperature of 374.15xc2x0 C. and the pressure exceeds the critical pressure of 225.56 atmosphere, and a state near this critical point, such as temperature between 200 and 374.15xc2x0 C. at a pressure exceeding the saturated vapor pressure, is called a sub-critical state. Here, in order to create such state, it is necessary to maintain the pressure of the medium to higher than its vapor pressure to avoid the temperature decrease as a result of heat loss caused by latent heat of vaporization. As an example, a relation between temperature and vapor pressure for water is shown in FIG. 9.
Such hydrothermal reactions are useful not only to decontaminate the substances, but are also useful as a technology for converting organic waste matter to carbon slurry, which can be used as a carbon source for fuel or chemical reactions. The process includes steps of: converting organic matter to water slurry; thermal treatment at a high temperature and high pressure condition; washing and dewatering and increasing the calorific value by separating and concentrating dechlorinated solid carbon and oil.
Typical methods and apparatuses for performing super-critical processing are known wherein such steps are conducted as: charging a waste matter to be processed into a vertical pressure chamber; and creating the super-critical zone in the upper half of the chamber and creating a sub-critical zone in the bottom half of the chamber. In such apparatus, chemical reactions such as oxidation reactions are carried out in the super-critical zone, while solid particles that are present in the waste matter or in the reaction products are separated and absorbed in the slurry at the sub-critical zone. A outlet is provided at the top of the chamber to remove the fluid reaction products of the super-critical state region. This discharge fluid is sent to the next processing station through piping provided with a filter, where solid particles included in the reaction products are removed.
In such apparatus, the pressured matter is charged into the super-critical zone provided at upper region of the chamber through a supply pipe. Oxidation of organic substances such as dioxin are carried out in the super-critical zone, and the fluid layer at the super-critical temperature first flows downward and then flows upward. Therefore, combusted liquid waste is discharged through the pipe at the top of the chamber, but the inorganic substances contained in the charged matter, which do not dissolve in the super-critical zone, are precipitated. These precipitates continue to flow downward, due to momentum and gravity forces, and reach the liquid phase in the sub-critical zone. The liquid phase in the sub-critical zone dissolves organic substances that do not dissolve in the super-critical zone, and forms a slurry which does not dissolve in the super-critical zone. The slurry thus obtained is discharged through a pipe provided at the bottom of the chamber which is in the sub-critical zone.
However, in such conventional technology, because the inside wall of the reaction chamber is exposed to the super-critical temperature and strong oxidation ambient, even expensive material such as Inconel are attacked by corrosion. Also, because of this concern for corrosion, it was not possible to raise the reaction temperature too much. Furthermore, the use of such expensive materials, in a thickness range of several centimeters which is necessary to withstand the high pressure above 225.56 atmosphere, results in a very costly apparatus.
In the case of decomposition of substances like dioxin, that are highly toxic at very small amounts, it was very common to use a second reactor in addition to the main reactor. This is because the super-critical oxidation reaction alone cannot raise the temperature high enough to obtain appropriate reaction rates, resulting in insufficient residence time in the chamber for the reacting substances. Also, if the waste matter contains porous matter, only the surface is reacted but the interior matter may be left unprocessed, so that there is danger of retaining toxic substances in the residues.
Also, because the pressure chamber almost behaves as a complete mixing reactor, there is a possibility of some of the substances to be processed flowing out of the chamber without having been processed. One of the possible methods to prevent this is to increase the flow rate by re-circulating the fluid inside the chamber so that increased inflow can stir and mix the contents of the chamber. Another method is to provide a secondary processing chamber for processing the unreacted substances.
Salts are not dissolved in the super-critical zone and are precipitated, whereas they are dissolved and diluted in the sub-critical zone to be discharged. However, a diffusive boundary region between the super-critical and sub-critical zone is exposed to a severe condition where alternating drying and wetting actions take place, and may grow scales consisting of salts and other retained solid particles in its vicinity. For this reason, the location of the boundary region is periodically moved by adjusting the process, and the grown scales must be removed by stopping the process. Some of the scales are difficult to remove, and may even necessitate disassembling the chamber, especially when the chamber is used for processing municipal waste incineration ashes, which may contain calcium, potassium, sodium, chlorine, and sulfur, very often in concentration as high as 10-20%. As a result, it is expected that the chamber cannot be operated over a prolonged period.
Furthermore, when removing the fluid directly from the super-critical zone of the chamber, precipitated micro-particles of salts and solid particles originally contained in the waste matter may sometimes be carried out together. Therefore, it is necessary to remove the particles at the reaction products in the super-critical state with a filter to prevent corrosion of the delivery pipe. However, because the process temperature exceeds 374.15xc2x0 C., the filter must be made of expensive materials such as ceramics, and often faces clogging problems.
Furthermore, relatively non-fluid substances such as salts and occluded solid particles tend to settle in the bottom of the chamber. To remove such settlings, it is necessary to introduce a carrying fluid medium separately in addition to the original feed water. The result is that the amount of by-products increases, and post-process treatments become overloaded.
Furthermore, when the reaction products are re-circulated, the feed material is diluted with the reaction products, and the feed and reaction products are mixed completely in the super-critical zone, it is not possible to form a localized high-temperature high-speed reaction field, as one in a usual air combusted flame. For overcoming this low temperature, increasing the reaction times is very often required.
The purpose of this invention is to provide a practical method and apparatus for conducting high-temperature hydrothermal reaction for resolving the problems in the conventional technologies outlined above.
This invention relates to a super-critical reaction apparatus for processing a mixture phase, comprising an object matter to be processed and a medium in a liquid form, by subjecting the mixture phase to the super-critical state of the medium. The apparatus has: a reaction chamber of a substantially vertical cylindrical shape with a feed supply inlet at an upper end and a product outlet at a lower end; and an interior section of the reaction chamber comprising the super-critical zone above and a sub-critical zone below, wherein the object matter and reaction products are progressed in one direction towards the lower end.
Accordingly, compared to the case of withdrawing the reaction product in the super-critical state, it is possible to process the waste matter at much lower temperatures so that the post-treatments are significantly simplified, and residues of lower fluidity, including salts, are not formed, thus eliminating the necessity for supplying water for processing the residues separately. This also results in simplifying the post-treatment processes.
Also, since the process is carried out in one direction, there is no need for complex arrangement for circulating the mixture phase in the reaction chamber as in the conventional apparatus, so that the apparatus itself and controlling method of operation are significantly simplified.
The reaction chamber may be designed with a length at least four times higher than the diameter. Also, the reaction chamber may be made with a double-walled cylinder to form a thermal fluid passage surrounding the super-critical zone and/or the sub-critical zone. In such case, it is possible to generate a reaction field at elevated temperatures, higher than 600-650xc2x0 C., which are the usual limiting temperatures for metallic materials. Therefore, with the aid of combustion heat generated by an auxiliary fuel, it is possible to operate the apparatus continuously at temperatures in the range of 650-800xc2x0 C., exceeding thermal resistance temperature of metals.
The feed supply inlet may comprise a slurry supply nozzle for feeding a slurry or a liquid containing the object matter, and a medium supply inlet for feeding a medium at a temperature exceeding the critical temperature.
The super-critical zone may be provided with a tubular structure for forming a localized continuous reaction field. The tubular structure having one end opened to the feed supply inlet and other end opened towards downstream.
In a lower section of the reaction chamber, a tubular discharge section may be disposed transversely to the sub-critical zone. The discharge section may be constructed with a certain angle to horizontal direction and a gas outlet may be provided in an upper end.
The discharge section may be provided with a mechanical type transport device for moving the slurry phase. The transport device may comprise transport screws. The transport screws may comprise vanes disposed discontinuously about a shaft. The transport device may be connected to a drive source by way of a coupling section using a fluid sealing mechanism.
The thermal fluid fed at the thermal fluid passage may be a medium at a temperature less than the critical temperature of the medium. A part of the medium supplied to the thermal fluid passage can be heated to a temperature higher than the critical temperature, and delivered to the feed supply of the reaction chamber.
The apparatus may be provided with a scraping device for scraping objects adhering to and/or growing on the internal wall surface of the sub-critical zone in the reaction chamber or a stirring device for stirring a mixture phase.
A pre-treatment vessel at a sub-critical temperature may be further provided for pre-processing the object matter to be sent to the reaction chamber. The pre-treatment vessel may be provided with an outlet for discharging an object matter at substantially the same height of the feed supply inlet of the reaction chamber.
The apparatus may be provided with a cooling device downstream of the reaction chamber for further cooling the object matter and a separation tank for separating vapor/liquid from cooled object matter by subjecting the object matter to a reduced pressure. A pressure reducing device may be provided between the reaction chamber and the cooling device. The pressure reducing device may comprise at least two pressure reducing tanks separated by a middle valve. After filling a first tank with an object matter, the middle valve is opened and the object matter is expanded into a second tank in such a way to reduce pressure of the object matter. A heat exchanger may be provided to preheat the object matter using the gas phase produced in the separation tank.
This invention relates also to a method for performing the super-critical reactions by subjecting a mixture phase comprising an object matter and a medium to the super-critical temperature of the medium. The method comprises: a first step of producing a sub-critical state in the mixture phase in the absence of oxidizing agent; and a second step of producing the super-critical state in the presence of an added oxidizing agent.
After the second step, the method may further comprise a third step of producing a single liquid phase or a mixture phase containing a liquid phase and solid substances, or noncondensable gases, by cooling to the sub-critical temperature, and includes a step of withdrawing it from a reaction tower at a temperature less than the critical temperature. The second step may be carried out inside an inner wall held at a temperature less than the critical temperature.
The inner wall may be maintained at a temperature less than the critical temperature by flowing a fluid along an outer surface of the inner wall held at a pressure equal to, or substantially higher than a pressure of the object matter at less than the critical temperature.
The second step may be carried out inside the tubular structure for producing localized continuous reaction fields in the inner wall. The second step may also be carried out in a substantially vertical cylindrical reaction chamber comprising the upstream super-critical zone and the downstream sub-critical zone, and the object matter and reaction products are moved in one direction towards a lower end in the reaction chamber.
An object matter, an oxidizing agent and a medium at the super-critical temperature may be supplied to the super-critical zone in the reaction chamber. Here, oxidizing agents include oxygen-containing gases such as oxygen gas or air, or so-called oxidizers such as hydrogen peroxide.
The method may include a step of pre-liquefying the object matter, or may include a step of treating the object for becoming the pH value neutral or weakly acidic by adding acid or alkaline prior to processing. Also, a temperature higher than the critical point may be achieved by combustion reactions at the super-critical zone with the addition of auxiliary fuel to the object matter.
To prevent the separation of the object matter and the medium, a dispersant may be added to the object matter.
This invention also relates to a method for producing the super-critical reaction by subjecting a mixture phase containing an object matter and a medium to the super-critical state of the medium to carry out a reaction, and subjecting the mixture phase containing reaction products to a post-treatment in the sub-critical state.
This invention also relates to an apparatus for processing substances by subjecting a mixture phase, containing an object matter and a liquid medium, to the sub-critical state or the super-critical state. The apparatus has: a reaction chamber of a substantially vertical cylindrical shape with a feed supply inlet at an upper end and a product outlet at a lower end, and for forming a reaction zone in interior, wherein the object matter and reaction products are moved in one direction towards the lower end in the reaction zone formed in interior of the reaction chamber.
This invention also relates to an apparatus for processing substances by subjecting a mixture phase, containing an object matter and a liquid medium, to the sub-critical state or the super-critical state. The apparatus has: a reaction chamber of a substantially vertical cylindrical shape with a feed supply inlet at an upper end and a product outlet at a lower end, and a reaction zone formed in interior, wherein the reaction chamber is a double-walled cylinder comprising an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve to form a thermal fluid passage surrounding the reaction zone. The inner sleeve may be detachably installed, and may be assembled by insertion. Also, the liquid medium flowing through the thermal fluid passage may be a thermal fluid.
The reaction zone in the sub-critical state may include a vane section for scraping substances adhered to the inner wall and/or stirring a mixture phase. The vane section may have a sealing mechanism for retaining the medium under pressure around an area enclosing a shaft hole for inserting a drive shaft.
Oxidation reactions may be performed by using a medium in the sub-critical state in conjunction with any of the apparatuses disclosed above.
This invention also relates to a method for producing oxidation reactions by subjecting a mixture phase, containing an object matter and a liquid medium, to the sub-critical state of the medium. The method comprises: a first step of producing the sub-critical state in the mixture phase in an absence of oxidizing agent; and a second step of producing the super-critical state with an added oxidizing agent.

Supercritical reaction apparatus and method


A method used by a virtual machine in communication with an external machine includes providing a single sharing page that is shared between a plurality of virtual machines and a particular virtual machine, wherein the particular virtual machine and the plurality of virtual machines run on a same physical machine; writing into the single sharing page a data packet to be sent by the virtual machine to the external machine; scheduling a page swap between the single sharing page and a blank memory page of the particular virtual machine; and sending, to the external machine, the data packet in the memory page of the particular virtual machine subsequent to the page swap.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of virtual machines, and particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and device used by a virtual machine in communication with an external machine as well as a related virtual machine system.
A virtual machine is a complete computer system that is simulated through software, has complete hardware system functions, and runs in a complete isolated environment. Through virtual machine software, one or more virtual machines can be simulated on a single physical computer (hereinafter briefly referred to as a physical machine). These virtual machines work completely like real computers. For example, a user may install an operating system, install applications, access network resources, and talk by utilizing instant messaging software installed thereon, etc. From the perspective of the user, the virtual machine is only an application that runs on the physical machine; but for the applications running in the virtual machine, it is a real computer.
As mentioned above, the user may perform network communications with other physical machines or virtual machines on the network by utilizing an application running in the virtual machine (for example, a web browser, instant messaging software, etc.). It should be noted that when performing network communications in a common virtualized implementation (for example, an Xen-based virtualized system), only one particular virtual machine (for example, Dom0) among a plurality of virtual machines can directly interact with a network card in a bottom-layer hardware platform of the physical machine. Therefore, in order to perform network communications via the network card, a virtual machine must send, to the particular virtual machine, a data packet that is to be sent to an external machine (which may be a physical machine or a virtual machine) on the network. The data packet is then sent to the external machine from the particular virtual machine.

Techniques used by a virtual machine in communication with an external machine and related virtual machine system

International Business Machines Corporation


Managing a multi-version database is provided. A logical record identifier to physical record row identifier indirection mapping table on a solid-state storage device is extended to include a plurality of delta blocks. A delta block within the plurality of delta blocks is maintained for each primary key in a plurality of primary keys associated with a data table on a magnetic hard disk storage device.

1. Field
The disclosure relates generally to a multi-version database and more specifically to compressing data records stored within the multi-version database.
2. Description of the Related Art
A multi-version database stores both current data records and historical data records in rows of a relational data table. The rows are typically annotated with timestamps representing the time period during which a row is valid or was valid. In a multi-version database system, new data records do not physically replace old ones. Instead, a new version of a data record is generated, which becomes visible to other transactions at commit time. Conceptually, many rows for a data record may exist, each row corresponding to a state of the multi-version database at some point in time.
However, in a multi-version database a challenge exists in managing a footprint of these multiple versions of a data record that are generated during updates. These multiple versions of the data record take up space on a magnetic hard disk drive. As a result, queries on data records stored on the magnetic hard disk drive are slowed down.


A transfer voltage controlling apparatus of an image forming apparatus includes a high voltage unit installed at one side of a sheet for generating a magnetic field around the sheet by applying a high voltage to the sheet, a conductor unit installed at the other side of the sheet for forming an induced current by the magnetic field transmitted through the sheet, an A/D converter for converting an analog signal of the current induced to the conductor unit into a digital signal, a microcontroller for receiving the output signal of the A/D converter, comparing the received signal with a reference signal to detect thickness of the sheet, and generating a control command of the transfer voltage corresponding to the thickness of the sheet, and a high voltage controller for receiving the control command from the microcontroller and applying the transfer voltage having a predetermined magnitude to a transfer unit. Since the transfer voltage applied to a transfer unit is varied/controlled according to the thickness of the sheet as well as the ambient temperature and humidity, the transfer efficiency can be enhanced and a better quality image can be obtained, accordingly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling a transfer voltage of an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus which measures the thickness of a supplied sheet to thereby vary and control the transfer voltage.
The present application is based on Korean priority application 97-41192 which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus reproduces characters or images onto a recording medium according to transferred character or picture image data signals, and generally includes a photoreceptor member (e.g., a photoreceptor drum or a photoreceptor belt) for forming a latent electrostatic image, a charging means for charging the photoreceptor member, an exposing unit for forming a latent electrostatic image having a predetermined pattern by scanning light onto the charged photoreceptor member, a developing unit for developing the latent electrostatic image by supplying a developing medium (e.g., a toner or a developer liquid) on the exposed latent electrostatic image, and a transfer unit for transferring the developed image to the recording medium by applying pressure or heat.
Referring to FIG. 1 showing a general image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including a photoreceptor belt 104 installed to be capable of moving circulatively by first, second and third belt rollers 101, 102 and 103, a discharger 105 for removing charges remaining on the photoreceptor belt 104, a charger 106 for newly generating the charges on the photoreceptor belt 104, exposing units 107, 108, 109 and 110 each having a laser scanning unit (not shown) for scanning a laser beam for the purpose of selectively discharging the image forming portion of the photoreceptor belt 104 to be formed, into an image-shaped pattern, developing units 111, 112, 113 and 114 for respective colors yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K), for developing the latent electrostatic image formed on the photoreceptor belt 104, a drier 115 for drying the developer liquid supplied to the latent electrostatic image, and a transfer unit 116 for transferring an arbitrarily developed image formed on the photoreceptor belt 104 to a recording medium 117 such as a sheet of paper or a film.
Here, the developing unit 111 includes a developing roller 111a for coating the developer liquid on the photoreceptor belt 104, a developer liquid supplier 111b for supplying the developer liquid to the developing roller 111a, a cleaning roller 111c for removing the developer liquid embedded on the rear surface of the developing roller 111a, first and second squeegee rollers 111d and 111e for removing the developer liquid remaining in the photoreceptor belt 104, first and second blades 111f and 111g for removing the developer liquid embedded on the first and second squeegee rollers 111d and 111e, and a developer liquid recovery container 111h for recovering the developer liquid removed by the cleaning roller 111c and blades 111f and 111g. The drier 115 includes a heating roller 115h for drying the developer liquid embedded on the photoreceptor belt 104. The transfer unit 116 includes a transfer roller 116t pressing closely against the first belt roller 101 and rotating reciprocally thereto, with the photoreceptor belt 104 interposed between the transfer roller 116t and the first belt roller 101 for receiving the image from the photoreceptor belt 104, and a fixing roller 116p pressing closely against the transfer roller 116t and rotating reciprocally thereto for fixing the image transferred to the transfer roller 116t on the recording sheet 117 interposed therebetween.
In the image forming apparatus having the aforementioned configuration, conventionally the transfer conditions are controlled by detecting only the ambient temperature and humidity. Thus, if the thicknesses of sheets used are different (e.g., if the sheets become thicker) the transfer efficiency is lowered, thereby precluding the attainment of a good quality image. If a transfer voltage is increased to a predetermined level or higher in order to solve this problem, a photoreceptor belt may be damaged by arc discharge and a great deal of ozone (O.sub.3) may be generated.

Transfer voltage controlling method and apparatus of image forming apparatus


The present invention relates to an inter-layer prediction method and an apparatus using same. The inter-layer prediction method comprises: a step of inducing inter-layer motion information from a reference layer; and a step of performing a prediction on the current block in the current layer using the inter-layer motion information. The inter-layer motion information may include an inter-layer motion vector induced from the reference layer.

In recent years, demands for high-resolution and high-quality videos have increased more and more in various fields of applications. With improvement in resolution and quality of a video, an amount of data of the video also increases.
With the increase in the amount of data, apparatuses having a variety of performance and networks having various environments have been developed.
With the development of the apparatuses having a variety of performance and the networks having various environments, the same contents can be used with a variety of quality.
Specifically, since video quality which can be supported by terminals diversifies and the constructed network environments diversify, videos with general quality can be used in some environments but videos with higher quality can be used in other environments.
For example, a user having purchased video contents with a mobile terminal can enjoy the video contents with a larger screen and a higher resolution using a large-screen display at his or her home.
With recent broadcast services with a high definition (HD) resolution, users have got accustomed to high-resolution and high-quality videos and service providers and users have been interested in ultra-high definition (UHD) services with a resolution of four or more times that of HDTV as well as HDTV.
Therefore, in order to provide video services requested by users in various environments depending on the quality, it is possible to provide scalability to video quality such as image quality of a video, a resolution of a video, a size of a video, and a frame rate of a video on the basis of high-efficiency encoding/decoding methods for high-capacity videos.

Inter-layer prediction method and apparatus using same


In one embodiment, a method includes determining, by one or more processors, a weight of a link between a first node and a second node of a network, wherein the weight is proportional to a probability value of forwarding a probe packet from the first node to the second node of the network. The method also includes adjusting, by the processors, the weight of the link between the first node and the second node using binary exponential backoff. The method further includes determining, by the processors, to forward the probe packet to the second node of the network based on the adjusted weight of the link and one or more field values of the probe packet.

In communication networks, delay measurements provide valuable information about congestion and other impediments to network traffic. Persistent delays in networks such as wide area networks are often perilous and can adversely affect the effectiveness of online commerce. For example, persistent network delays may adversely affect the stock exchange, the streaming of online games, and other online applications where obstructed data transfer can cause a significant loss of money or disrupt the quality of service.


Novel refrigeration compositions comprising at least one ester of a hydroxycarboxylic acid which can have a chain length in the range of from 8 to 22 carbon atoms. The composition can contain a carrier fluid or base oil selected from alkylbenzenes, alkylated naphthenics, polyalkylene glycols, polyvinylethers, polyalphaolefins, mineral oils, polyol esters, and combinations thereof, providing improved fluidity and heat transfer, and enhanced oil return. A method of making a refrigeration composition by preparing at least one ester by esterifying a first component comprising at least one hydroxycarboxylic acid with a second component comprising at least one alcohol and combining the at least one ester with a base oil selected from the group consisting of alkylbenzenes, alkylated naphthenics, polyalkylene glycols, polyvinylethers, polyalphaolefins, mineral oils, polyol esters, and combinations thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of refrigeration lubrication. More specifically, the invention relates to synthetic refrigeration oil compositions for use with primarily hydrofluorocarbons and other refrigerants as described herein.
2. Background of the Invention
Current refrigerant lubricants for hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) systems can be divided into two categories: 1) lubricants that are soluble with HFC refrigerants over a wide range of temperatures including polyol esters (POE), polyvinyl ethers (PVE) and polyalkylene glycols (PAG); and 2) lubricants that are partially or completely immiscible with HFC refrigerants such as those of hydrocarbon based oils, e.g., mineral oils (MO), alkybenzene (AB), and polyalpha olefins (PAO). It is commonly recognized that miscible oils provide good oil return for better cooling efficiency. POE is the most widely used miscible refrigeration lubricant. However, miscible oils such as POE have polar functional groups that are hygroscopic, which is undesirable for system and compressor components. POE chemical structure is also non-responsive to commonly used and accepted lubricity enhancement additives. POE also does not promote foaming in the presence of HFC refrigerant, which results in an undesirable increase in compressor noise level. On the other hand, immiscible oils provide better compressor durability and respond favorably to further lubricity enhancing additives. In addition, immiscible oils are also highly desirable for use in HFC systems because of their lower cost. However, the immiscibility of the HFC refrigerants and hydrocarbon oils causes the build up of an oil layer in the system, resulting in less efficient heat transfer and reduced system efficiency. In extreme cases, immiscibility can cause excessive amounts of oil to migrate into the system and not return to the compressor, resulting in oil starvation and ultimately catastrophic failure at the compressor. It is therefore essential to ensure adequate oil return to the refrigeration compressor to avoid loss of efficiency and/or compressor failure. POE is known by those skilled in the art to have significant lubrication deficiencies, no foam promotion characteristics, and high hygroscopicity, but is still widely used due to the overriding need to ensure adequate oil return.
Mixed refrigeration lubricant systems such as AB/POE have been proposed. Such a combination system of the miscible and immiscible lubricants directionally improves the oil return characteristics of the immiscible oils and reduces the hygroscopicity of the miscible lubricants and overall cost of the lubricant in the system. However, combining miscible and immiscible oils does not generally improve the overall compressor performance or system efficiency sufficiently to warrant change from a pure miscible lubricant system.
Compatibilizers have also been proposed as an alternative mechanism to improve the mutual solubility between the miscible and immiscible oils and thereby enable improved oil migration characteristics commensurate with oil migration characteristics of a pure miscible lubricant system. Additionally, enhanced pool boiling has been reported to result in higher heat transfer coefficients between refrigerant and refrigeration oils and thereby increase heat transfer efficiency. However, neither of these proposed solutions has been demonstrated to provide an adequate alternative to fully miscible systems. Accordingly, oil return to the refrigeration compressor remains a critical factor in such studies whether candidates are based on miscible POE, PVE or PAG chemistries or whether candidates are based on alternative lubricant system chemistries. To date, no lubricant system based on non-miscible lubricant chemistry has achieved the necessary balance of adequate oil migration/oil return to provide system efficiency and life, superior lubrication characteristics and cost effectiveness required to make such a system a viable alternative to currently accepted fully miscible systems.
The foregoing demonstrates the industry's need for a lubricant formulation that can be used with HFCs across the entire application range, without the respective deficiencies of the miscible or immiscible systems; that is a formulation that offers enhanced heat transfer and oil migration, enhanced lubrication properties, and, results in a more efficient and cost effective refrigeration system than those employing either miscible lubricants such as POE or immiscible formulations.

Synthetic refrigeration oil composition for HFC applications


An easy-load camera comprising a cartridge receiving chamber for receiving a film cartridge with a protruding film leader that has one longitudinal edge extending straight from a reduced-width forward-most leader portion to a full-width leader portion following the reduced-width leader portion and an opposite longitudinal edge extending curved from the reduced-width leader portion to the full-width leader portion, and a leader insertion slot for first receiving the reduced-width leader portion and then receiving the full-width leader portion when the film leader is inserted into the leader insertion slot, is characterized in that an inclined film edge guide is located between the cartridge receiving chamber and the leader insertion slot to contact the longitudinal edge that extends curved from the reduced-width leader portion to the full-width leader portion, but only at the reduced-width leader portion and not at the full-width leader portion, when the film leader is inserted into the leader insertion slot, and a non-inclined film edge guide is located between the cartridge receiving chamber and the leader insertion slot to contact the longitudinal edge that extends straight from the reduced-width leader portion to the full-width leader portion, first at the reduced-width leader portion and then at full-width leader portion, when the film leader is inserted into the leader insertion slot.

A conventional 35 mm type film cartridge has a protruding film leader. One longitudinal edge of the film leader extends straight from a reduced-width forward-most portion of the film leader to a full-width portion of the film leader which follows the reduced-width leader portion. An opposite longitudinal edge of the film leader extends curved from the reduced-width leader portion to the full-width leader portion.
When loading a 35 mm type film cartridge into a conventional camera, a rear door of the camera is widely opened to uncover the rear interior of the camera body including a cartridge receiving chamber, a film-exposure backframe opening, and an exposed film take-up chamber. Then, the film cartridge with the protruding film leader manually held straightened, i.e. uncurled, is placed in the cartridge receiving chamber, the full-width leader portion is positioned over the backframe opening, and the reduced-width leader portion is placed in the take-up chamber.
By contrast, when loading a 35 mm type film cartridge into a so-called "easy-load" camera, such as disclosed in prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,189 issued May 13, 1997, a rear door of the camera is opened only to uncover the cartridge receiving chamber and a leader insertion slot adjacent the cartridge receiving chamber. Then, the protruding film leader beginning with the reduced-width leader portion and followed by the full-width leader portion is inserted into the leader insertion slot. And last, the film cartridge is placed in the cartridge receiving chamber.

Guide arrangement for facilitating insertion of film leader into easy-load camera


A honeycomb structure includes a center part which has a cylindrical honeycomb structure part with a porous partition wall and an outer circumferential wall defining a plurality of cells, and which has a pair of electrodes disposed on the side surface of the honeycomb structure part. The honeycomb structure also includes an outer circumferential part disposed around the center part. The electric resistivity of the honeycomb structure part is 1-200 Ωcm. Each electrode in the electrode pair is formed in a band shape that extends in the direction that the cells extend. In a cross section, one electrode is located opposite the other electrode over the center of the honeycomb structure part. The outer circumferential part has a porous partition wall and an outer circumferential wall that define a plurality of cells. The volumetric heat capacity of the outer circumferential part is smaller than that of the center part.

Conventionally, a cordierite honeycomb structure with a catalyst loaded therein is used for treating toxic substances contained in an exhaust gas emitted from an automobile engine. Use of a honeycomb structure formed from a silicon carbide sintered body for purification of the exhaust gas is also known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
When exhaust gas is treated by the catalyst loaded in the honeycomb structure, the catalyst needs to be heated to a predetermined temperature. At the starting up of the engine, however, the catalyst temperature is low, and therefore there is a problem that the exhaust gas is not sufficiently purified.
To deal with this, a metallic heater is provided upstream of the honeycomb structure with the catalyst loaded therein, in order to elevate the exhaust gas temperature (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
There is also disclosed use of another honeycomb structure, which is provided with electrodes at both ends thereof and is made from conductive ceramics as a heater-attached catalyst carrier (see, for example, Patent Document 3). Still another ceramic honeycomb structure that has electrodes on its side face and generates heat upon application of electricity is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 4).


A screw assembly for use with an electrical connector securing a conductor includes a threaded body configured to be releasably coupled to a coupling portion of the connector. A contacting structure includes a plate spaced from the threaded body and has a flat contacting surface configured for contacting the conductor. The plate is coupled to the threaded body. The plate is rotatable relative to the threaded body when the threaded body is coupled to the coupling portion of the connector. The plate is restricted from movement away from said threaded body when the threaded body is not coupled to the coupling portion of the connector. A spacer may be positioned between the plate and the threaded body and is configured to urge the plate away from the threaded body.

Various types of electrical connectors are used for connecting electrical conductors to one another or to the terminals of electrical devices. Conventional connectors receive a conductor within a channel or the like and then receive a screw. The screw is then tightened against the conductor so that it is held in physical contact with the connector.
Known conductors are made of a soft material such as copper or aluminum and may further be defined by a series of individual bare strands. Conventional connectors and, more particularly, screws used with such connectors, may have a tendency to damage the conductors. Pointed, angled or tapered screw configurations often dent or damage the strands.
Connections between connectors and conductors may also involve different materials. For example, the screw of a connector may be made of one material while a conductor may be made of another. Different materials may have different rates of expansion and contraction. Accordingly, the life span of the connection and/or the temperatures to which the connector and conductor may be subject to lead to relative movement between the connector and the conductor. This movement causes loosening of the connection, which leads to an inadequate electrical connection between the parts involved.
Loose connections may also arise from different degrees of elasticity of the parts involved. More particularly, one element may exhibit one degree of elastic deformation during engagement of the screw with the conductor, while another material will exhibit a different degree of elastic deformation. These different degrees of elastic deformation lead to different degrees of material recovery, which may result in loose connections.
Known connectors may be used in areas subject to relatively high degrees of vibration. In such types of environment, vibration may similarly lead to loose connections between the conductor and the connector. More particularly, vibration may lead to movement of the screw relative to the connector. This relative movement, in turn, loosens the physical contact between them. As a way to compensate for this observed loosened connection, a user often performs periodic maintenance to retorque the connection. Without such maintenance, the loose connection may eventually result, for example, in elevated operating temperatures in the connection, which in turn may result in a failed connection.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a connector and a corresponding screw that address the drawbacks of conventional connectors and corresponding conventional screws.

Screw assembly for electrical connectors


A pillow of composite construction comprises a first mass of resilient material for conforming to the head and neck region of a human body resting thereon and providing a comfortable support thereto, and an underlying mass of resilient material having a greater density than the first block. The underlying mass is shaped to provide a reactionary force that provides a manipulative action on said head and neck region of the user.

This invention relates to a pillow, and more particularly to a pillow having a manipulative action on the head and neck region of the human body.
The various concepts used in the construction of other pillows currently available provide only passive support to the neck region or the head and neck region of the human body. Prior art pillows have various shapes and constructions and may support the neck region and/or the head region, but none provides a manipulative action on the head and neck region.
An object of this invention is to provide both a support action and a manipulative action for the head and neck region of the human Body.


The back kneading device mounted in the chair-type massage apparatus comprises: the massage mechanism including paired right-hand and left-hand massage members having the treatment element for massage and the driving section for transmitting massage action to the massage member; the base member for supporting the massage mechanism, with the massage member pointing forward; the vertical movement mechanism for moving the base member in the vertical direction in the backrest; and the protruding-amount varying mechanism for moving the massage member so that protrusion amount of the treatment element in the front-rear direction can be varied.

There is a heretofore known chair-type massage apparatus that has mounted in its backrest a massage mechanism in which a pair of right-hand and left-hand massage members are operated to provide a massage action. This massage mechanism is required to move so as to conform to the spine of a user sitting on a seat of the apparatus, and is therefore provided with a vertical movement mechanism. The massage mechanism and the vertical movement mechanism constitute a back kneading device. As a back kneading device of this type, there has been proposed a device equipped with an advancing and retracting mechanism capable of causing a massage member to protrude forward beyond a normal massage position, as well as to return it to the original normal position (refer to Patent Literature 1, for example).
In this advancing and retracting mechanism, a base member, which is moved up and down in the backrest by the vertical movement mechanism, is provided independently of the massage mechanism. The massage mechanism is supported on this base member in such a manner that the upper end of the massage mechanism can be rocked back and forth about a lower pivot shaft. Moreover, over the base member, there is disposed a slider which is raised and lowered by a feed screw mechanism having a longitudinally pointing axis. The slider and the upper end of the massage mechanism are coupled to each other by a transmission arm.
That is, as the slider placed over the base member is raised, the upper end of the massage mechanism is pushed forward via the transmission arm, whereupon the massage mechanism is rocked, at its upper end, forward about the lower pivot shaft as a pivotal point. In this way, the right-hand and left-hand massage members are caused to protrude forward.

Back kneading device and chair-type massage apparatus equipped with the back kneading device

DAITO ELECTRIC MACHINE INDUSTRY COMPANY LIMITED


The method for depositing a dielectric layer can be used to evenly deposit the dielectric layer to be applied to a semiconductor device. The method includes steps of: a) providing a substrate; b) depositing a first dielectric film on the subtrate; c) introducing an oxygen plasma for eliminating an uneven distribution of charges on a surface of the substrate; and d) forming a second dielectric film on the first dielectric film treated with the oxygen plasma for obtaining the dielectric layer having a uniform thickness on the substrate,

During the process for manufacturing a semiconductor, the dielectric layer can be formed by deposition or non-deposition (e.g. thermal oxidation). For depositing the dielectric layer, there are many methods ranging from the early evaporation to the present physical vapor deposition (PVD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD), among which the chemical vapor deposition is especially universal. The chemical vapor deposition can be classified into atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD), sub-atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (SACVD), low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The major source of reaction gas containing silicon is silane (SiH.sub.4) or tetra-ethylortho-silicate (TEOS).
For example, the dielectric layer, formed by low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) using TEOS, is extensively used in the semiconductor device because of its good step coverage. However, it is graduately replaced by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) (at 400.degree. C.) due to its requirement of high reaction temperature (650.degree..about.750.degree. C.). On the other hand, during the process of the atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) using TEOS, the reaction can proceed at low temperature by introducing ozone.
Nevertheless, there are surface charge residues resulting from ion bombardment after the process of conventional PECVD using TEOS. It leads to an uneven deposition rate during the following process of APCVD or SACVD using TEOS and ozone so that the deposition thickness of the dielectric layer on the wafer varies with the distance to the center of the wafer, resulting in the difficulty with its following process.

Method for using oxygen plasma treatment on a dielectric layer


The present invention provides an apparatus for mounting a wheelchair back that provides a high degree of support and adjustability such that it can be used with wheelchairs that originate from a wide variety of different manufacturers. In order to provide this custom fit, the present invention provide for depth adjustability, height adjustability and angle adjustability of a wheelchair back. The present invention also provides the convenience of a quick-release wheelchair back so that the wheelchair occupant can easily remove the back of the wheelchair from the canes so that the wheelchair can be collapsed and stored. The present mounting system also provides for an effective two point mounting system that is reliable yet simple to use.

People requiring wheelchairs include those affected with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, head injuries, etc. These individuals often suffer from kyphosis, scoliosis, lordosis and other back ailments. One of the most common complaints of wheelchair occupants is that of pain related to their use of a wheelchair. Unfortunately, at least some of the problems faced by wheelchair users are further exacerbated by the failure of current back system designs to properly position a wheelchair occupant.
One problem with current back systems is that they are difficult to install and to remove. Disabled users may need to remove and install the wheelchair back to collapse the wheelchair for storage, such as when the user enters and exits a motor vehicle.
Yet another problem with current back systems is the wide variability between commercially available wheelchairs. In particular, the upright posts of the wheelchair, or canes, often differ in configuration between wheelchairs. Specifically, in the inventor's experience, the canes may vary in diameter between 0.75″ to 1.125″. Additionally, the center to center distance of the canes may vary ±1″ despite the manufacturer's designation. Frequently, the canes may not be perfectly vertical.
An additional problem with current wheelchair back systems is that they are not adaptable to all wheelchairs. For example, some wheelchairs, particularly those for persons having more active lifestyles, have short canes. Therefore, there is little area in which to attach a wheelchair back, which may mean that wheelchair occupants who pursue a more active lifestyle may not be able to take advantage of the positioning benefits offered by a wheelchair having an adjustable back. For example, wheelchairs for patients with special needs often have pneumatic cylinders and/or brake cables that limit the space required for mounting a back adequate to treat the particular patient. Frequently, therapist are required to mount the back support in the way it will fit, as opposed to the optimum fit for a particular user, potentially causing additional injuries to the patient. Additionally, wheelchair occupants, needing their hands for mobility, have little capacity for carrying cargo. Therefore, another problem with current wheelchair back designs is that they leave little room for mounting other carrier accessories such as bags.
Another disadvantage of current wheelchair back systems is that they provide limited adjustability for people of different sizes, shapes and physical needs. For example, a simple sling style wheelchair back provides almost no adjustability. Other wheelchair backs require a four point mounting system, which occupies lots of space along the wheelchair canes as well as limiting the ability of a therapist to position the wheelchair back. Additionally, some wheelchair backs provide limited adjustability, e.g. the wheelchair back can move vertically but has no seat depth adjustment, or the wheelchair back has seat depth adjustment but no angle adjustment.
Therefore, what is needed is a wheelchair back mounting apparatus that is adaptable to wheelchairs having canes with varying diameters and being a wide variety of widths. There is also a need for a wheelchair back mounting apparatus that takes up less space on the wheelchair canes so as to permit the attachment of other items, such as bags. There is also a need to provide a wheelchair back mounting device that provides a wide variety of adjustability so eliminate comprising the users positioning requirements and that it can position all shapes and sizes of people. Lastly, there is a need to provide a wheelchair back that is quickly and easily removable such that the wheelchair back can be removed, and the wheelchair collapsed and stored.

Apparatus for mounting a wheelchair back


Compounds of the formula (I)

Phenanthrene derivatives for use in liquid-crystalline mixtures have already been disclosed in DE-A 19500768, WO 98/27043, WO 98/27035 or WO 99/24385.
However, since the development of liquid-crystal mixtures can in no way be regarded as complete, display manufacturers are interested in a wide variety of components for mixtures.
In particular, liquid-crystal mixtures are required which have a very broad operating temperature range, but also a very low threshold voltage, for example for use in automobiles, in which a temperature range from xe2x88x9240 to 100xc2x0 C. can easily occur, but also for portable devices such as mobile telephones and notebook PCs. Moreover, it appears that the tendency toward moving images can be realized with nematic liquid crystals only when the electrode separation of such LCDs is reduced, since the response times are inversely proportional to the square of the electrode separation. This in turn inevitably results in a reduction in brightness and contrast, unless liquid-crystal mixtures having a high optical anisotropy (delta n) value are used. However, materials having a high optical anisotropy usually have high viscosities as well and are thus unfavorable for the objective intended.
There is thus a need for novel, suitable liquid-crystal mixtures and mixture components for these which have a high clearing point and a high optical anisotropy and at the same time have a relatively low rotational viscosity.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide novel components for use in nematic or cholesteric liquid-crystal mixtures which have positive dielectric anisotropy values combined with a favorable viscosity/clearing point ratio. Moreover, the compounds should have a high light and UV stability and thermal stability. They should furthermore be suitable for realizing high voltage holding ratios (VHR). They should also be readily obtainable synthetically and thus potentially inexpensive.
It has now been found that these requirements are satisfied in a particular manner by compounds of the formula (I)
R1xe2x80x94Axe2x80x94Z1xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(I)
in which:
R1 is an alkyl radical having 1 to 8 carbon atoms or an alkenyl radical having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, where, in each case, one (nonterminal) xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94 group may also be replaced by xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94C(xe2x95x90O)Oxe2x80x94 and/or one or more H may be replaced by F
A is phenanthrene-2,7-diyl or 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-2,7-diyl
Z1 is F, OCHxF3xe2x88x92x or CHxF3xe2x88x92x, where, in each case, x is 0, 1 or 2, OC2HzF5xe2x88x92z or C2HzF5xe2x88x92z, where, in each case, z is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, CHxe2x95x90CF2 or Cl,
with the proviso that 2-fluoro-7-methoxy-phenanthrene is excluded.
Preference is given to those compounds of the formula (I) in which
R1 is an alkyl radical having 2 to 7 carbon atoms or an alkenyl radical having 2 to 7 carbon atoms, where, in each case, one (nonterminal) xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94 group may also be replaced by xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94 and/or one or more H may be replaced by F
A is phenanthrene-2,7-diyl or 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-2,7-diyl
Z1 is F, OCF3, CF3, OCHF2, CHF2.
Particular preference is given to those compounds of the formula (I) in which
R1 is an alkyl radical having 2 to 7 carbon atoms or an alkenyl radical having 2 to 7 carbon atoms or an alkyloxy radical having 2 to 6 carbon atoms or an alkenyloxy radical having 2 to 6 carbon atoms
A is phenanthrene-2,7-diyl or 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-2,7-diyl
Z1 is F, OCF3, CF3.
Very particular preference is given to those compounds of the formula (I) in which
R1 is a linear alkyl radical having 2 to 7 carbon atoms or a linear alkyloxy radical having 2 to 6 carbon atoms
A is phenanthrene-2,7-diyl
Z1 is F, OCF3, CF3.
Very particular preference is likewise given to those compounds of the formula (I) in which
R1 is a linear alkyl radical having 2 to 7 carbon atoms or a linear alkyloxy radical having 2 to 6 carbon atoms
A is 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-2,7-diyl
Z1 is F, OCF3, CF3.
Special preference is given to
2-ethyl-7-fluoro-phenanthrene
2-fluoro-7-propyl-phenanthrene
2-butyl-7-fluoro-phenanthrene
2-fluoro-7-pentyl-phenanthrene
2-fluoro-7-hexyl-phenanthrene.
Special preference is likewise given to
2-ethyl-7-fluoro-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene
2-fluoro-7-propyl-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene
2-butyl-7-luoro-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene
2-fluoro-7-pentyl-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene
2-fluoro-7-hexyl-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene.
The compounds of the formula (I) are used in liquid-crystal mixtures, preferably in nematic or cholesteric liquid-crystal mixtures. The liquid-crystal mixtures of the invention comprise at least one compound of the formula (I), preferably in an amount of 1 to 40% by weight, based on the liquid-crystal mixture. They preferably comprise at least 3 further components. The invention also provides a liquid-crystal display comprising these liquid-crystal mixtures.

Disubstituted phenanthrenes and their use in liquid-crystal mixtures

Abstract: Compounds of the formula (I)

Abstract: in which:


Beads for use in beds in electrostatic separators for the separation of suspended particles from hydrocarbon oils. Electrostatic separators employing a bed of these beads have the capacity to remove as much as 99 weight percent of contaminating particles, such as catalyst fines, from various oil fractions to levels of less than 100 parts per million and even less than 5 ppm. A method and apparatus for purifying various FCC oils using these beads is also provided.

The requirements for cleaner fuel oil are an increasingly important challenge for petroleum processing. Crude oil fractions are processed by being "cracked" in a refinery by passing such fractions through a catalytic cracker, followed by fractionation in a distillation column. Fluid Catalytic Crackers (FCC) units include a fluidized bed reactor and a regenerator. The reactors are vessels containing a finely divided catalyst. Incoming petroleum feed stocks are generally vaporized by contact with heated catalyst and pass as a stream of mainly gas through the reactor at a sufficient velocity to maintain the catalyst particles in the form of a fluidized bed. The cracked feed stock passes from the catalyst bed through cyclone separators or dust collectors, which retrieve the bulk of the catalyst particles through the use of a centrifugal flow pattern, and then into a fractionating column or system. A fraction of the spent catalyst is discharged into the regenerator where accumulated carbon is burned from the particles at high temperatures. Generally the type of cracker employed depends on the type of feed stock, such as a gas oil cracker for fractionating light oils, and a residual oil cracker for fractionating heavy oils and tar.
A commonly used fluidized bed catalytic cracker is one which employs a zeolite catalyst in the form of alumina-silicate base particles. In this and other systems, small particles of catalyst or "fines" become entrained in the fluid stream passing through the cracker and are not separated by the cyclones, and as a result enter the fractionating system. Most of the entrained catalyst fines are retained in the heaviest fraction leaving the main column of the fractionator. This fraction is referred to as main column bottoms (MCB) or as fluidized catalytic cracker bottoms (FCCB), or as bottoms slurry oil.
Several alternative apparatuses have been considered for removing catalyst contaminants from the bottoms slurry oil by workers in the petroleum industry. Hydrocyclones were considered, but since these work best at lower viscosities they necessarily must operate at higher temperatures than is considered practical or safe. Hydrocyclones also have a removal efficiency of only about 70%. Conventional filters were also considered, but it was found in trial runs that such filters became plugged and it was not practical to clean them by backflushing. An apparatus which has been found to successfully clean slurry oil is a separator which operates by passing the oil to be cleaned through a bed of glass beads maintained in an electrostatic field. This separator is referred to herein as an electrostatic bead bed separator, and acts to capture contaminating particles as the oil passes through the void spaces surrounding the bead surfaces. Such separators are easily backflushed with compatible oils or solvents as the beads become saturated with contaminants. These electrostatic bead bed separators have proved to be efficient in removing catalyst particles from oils and can be efficiently backflushed for cleaning.
This electrostatic bead bed separator is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,928,158 to Fritsche et al. The principles of bead bed purification as described in this patent have been adapted to large-scale commercial use in petroleum refining, in a commercial unit called the Gulftronic.TM. separator, sold by General Atomics in San Diego, Calif.
The Gulftronic.TM. separator employs glass beads of high resistivity, such as soda-lime glass, having a resistivity of 6.2.times.10.sup.8 l ohm-cm at 125.degree. C. The electrostatic bead beds employing these beads are effective in removing particulate contaminants, in particular pieces of catalyst, with as high as 95% efficiency. However, new requirements for cleaner oils having less than 100 parts per million (ppm) (by weight), and in some cases having 5 ppm or even less of contaminants, prompted a search for materials which could provide even more efficient separation to purify oils up to 99% or even essentially 100% free from catalyst particles and other contaminants.
Furthermore, it has been found that during operation of an electrostatic separator or filter, such as the Gulftronic.TM. separator, sodium ion depletion of the bead surface is observed over time. This results in weakening and cracking of the beads, and also results in changes in the electrical conductivity of the beads which require adjustments in operating conditions.
Therefore, it has become desirable to find beads which would provide an improved performance when placed under an electrical field for separation of oils from contaminants.

Electrostatic separator using a bead bed


A modular connector plug for high speed applications includes a wire guide filter at least partially situated in the conductor-receiving cavity of the housing of the plug. The wire guide filter includes an impedance containing portion comprising a longitudinally extending body having a plurality of longitudinally extending passageways and an internal cable guide portion comprising a longitudinally extending body defining a plurality of longitudinally extending passageways.

The speed of data transmission has increased. New specifications for the performance of modular plugs and jacks reflect the need for higher speed transmission without signal degradation. RJ45 modular plugs and jacks, not originally designed to perform at these levels, must be redesigned to meet the new, ever-increasing performance requirements based on existing infrastructure. While the outline and dimensions of the modular connectors are subject to the U.S. and international standards such as IEC 60603-7 series and TIA 568 series, the internal designs of plugs differ widely. The internal designs are intended to make the plugs satisfy the high speed application requirements.
Presently, the RJ45 connectors are used in applications from 30 KHz to 500 MHz. There are very few modular plugs known that can be used for high speed applications that consistently meet all the major transmission parameters and at the same time are easy to manufacture at low cost and can be used with a variety of cables.
Connector performance is judged by either direct measurement of the transmitted signals or more commonly, by controlling the major transmission parameters such as NEXT, Return loss, Common mode noise and Common to Differential mode conversion. These parameters are specified in the U.S. in TIA 568-10 and internationally in the IEC 60603-7 standard series. The high performance connectors are referred to by categories where category 5e is characterized by applications up to 100 MHz, category 6 by applications up to 250 MHz and category 6a by applications up to 500 MHz. There are several approaches to meet CAT6 and CAT6a performance levels in modular plugs and patchcord assemblies.
The simplest plugs utilize the direct attachment of the plug contacts to the wires without any means to control or modify the position of wires or electrical properties of the assembly. To use these, assemblers must posses a high level of skill and experience to ensure that the conductors are routed correctly. Minor differences in cable handling, pair twisting, foil shield location and wire location can make the difference between cable assemblies that pass or fail the performance requirements. While this design may achieve category 5e or 6 levels, it will not meet such levels consistently and will rarely meet Category 6A performance requirements.
More complex plug designs incorporate printed circuit boards that are used to rout the signals. These designs contain more components and are more expensive to manufacture and assemble. The performance of the PCB plugs is more consistent than the simple plugs noted above. This design can meet CAT 6A, but is very expensive.
There are no designs known that would improve the EMI performance when mated with unshielded jacks.
Thus, a need exists for a modular connector plug which satisfies CAT 6A requirements with improved Near End Cross Talk, Return loss and Common Mode Noise transmission parameters.

Modular connector plug having a wire guide filter with an impedance containing portion and a cable guide portion

Bel Fuse (Macao Commercial Offshore) Limited