A method and a device for continuous or semi-continuous casting of metal. A primary flow (P) of hot metallic melt supplied into a mold is acted upon by at least one static or periodically low-frequency magnetic field to brake and split the primary flow and form a controlled secondary flow pattern in the non-solidified parts of the cast strand. The magnetic flux density of the magnetic field is controlled based on casting conditions. The secondary flow (M, U, C1, C2, c3, c4, G1, G2, g3, g4, O1, O2, o3, o4) in the mold is monitored throughout the casting and upon detection of a change in the flow, information on the detected change monitored flow is fed into a control unit (44) where the change is evaluated and the magnetic flux density is regulated based on this evaluation to maintain or adjust the controlled secondary flow.

The present invention relates to a method for casting of metals, and in particular to a method for continuous or semi-continuous casting of a strand in a mold, wherein the flow of metal in non-solidified parts of the cast strand is acted on and controlled by at least one static or periodically low-frequency magnetic field applied to act upon the molten metal in the mold during casting. The present invention also relates to a device for carrying out the invented method.
In a process for continuous or semi-continuous casting, a metallic melt is chilled and formed into an elongated strand. Depending on its cross-section dimensions, the strand is called a billet, a bloom or a slab. During casting a primary flow of hot metal is supplied to a chilled mold wherein the metal is cooled and at least partly solidified into an elongated strand. The cooled and partly solidified strand leaves the mold continuously. At the point where the strand leaves the mold, it includes at least a mechanically self-supporting skin surrounding a non-solidified center. The chilled mold is open at both of its ends in the casting direction and is preferably associated with means for supporting the mold and means for supplying coolant to the mold and the support. The chilled mold preferably includes four mold plates, preferably made of copper or other material with a suitable heat conductivity. The support means are preferably beams with internal channels for supply of coolant, normally water, thus such support beams are often called water beams. The water beams are arranged around and in good thermal contact with the chilled mold to fulfill its double function of supporting and cooling the mold.
The hot primary metal flow is supplied either through a nozzle submerged in the melt (closed casting), or through a free tapping jet (open casting). These two alternative methods create separate flow situations and effects how and where the magnetic field(s) is/are applied. If the hot primary metal flow is allowed to enter the mold in an uncontrolled manner, it will penetrate deep in the cast strand, which is likely to negatively effect its quality and productivity. Non-metallic particles and/or gas might be drawn in and entrapped in the solidified strand. An uncontrolled hot metal flow in the strand might also cause flaws in the internal structure of the cast strand. Also a deep penetration of the hot primary flow might cause a partial remelt of the solidified skin, such that melt penetrates the skin beneath the mold, causing severe disturbance and long down-time for repair. To avoid or minimize these problems and improve the production conditions, according to the disclosure in European Patent Document EP-A1-0 040 383, one or more static magnetic fields can be applied to act on the incoming primary flow of hot melt in the mold to brake the incoming flow and split it up to create a controlled secondary flow in the molten parts of the strand. The magnetic field is applied by a magnetic brake which includes one or more magnets. Favorably, an electromagnetic device, i.e., a device comprising one or more windings such as a multi-turn coil wound around a magnetic core, are used. Such an electromagnetic brake device is called an EMBR.
According to the disclosure in European Patent document EP-B1-0 401 504, magnetic fields are applied in two levels, arranged one after the other in the casting direction, during casting with a submerged entry nozzle (closed casting). The magnets include poles having a magnetic band area covering essentially the whole width of the cast strand and one first level is arranged above and one second level below the outlet ports of the submerged nozzle. Further, EP-B1-0 401 504 teaches that the magnetic flux should be adopted to the casting conditions, i.e., the strand or mold dimensions and casting speed. The magnetic flux and the magnetic flux distribution are adopted to ensure a sufficient heat transport to the meniscus to avoid freezing while at the same time the flow velocity at the meniscus is limited and controlled so that the removal of gas or inclusions from the melt is not put at risk. A high uncontrolled flow velocity at the meniscus might also cause mold powder to be drawn down into the melt. It is also suggested in this document that an optimum range exists for the flow velocity at the meniscus, see FIG. 9. It is suggested that the magnetic flux density over the mold is adopted before a casting operation based on the specific conditions assumed to prevail during the coming cast operation. To accomplish this EP-B1-0 401 504 suggests a mechanical magnetic flux-controlling device which is arranged to move the magnetic poles in essentially their axial direction to change the distance between the poles comprised in one cooperation pair and arranged facing each other on opposite sides of the mold, see FIG. 15 and column 8, lines 34 to 50. Such a mechanical magnetic flux-controlling device must however be extremely rigid to accomplish a stable magnetic flux density, especially when subject to the large magnetic forces prevailing under operation of the brake while at the same time being capable of small movements to accomplish the adjusting changes in flux density required as the flux density has a high sensitivity to changes in the distance between the poles. Such a mechanical magnetic flux density-controlling device requires a combination of heavy gauge material, rigid construction and small movements in the direction of the magnetically field, which will be hard and costly to accomplish. According to one alternative embodiment the mechanical flux density device is formed by partial substitution of the poles by non-magnetic material such as stainless steel, i.e., by a change in the configuration of the poles and thereby an alteration of the pattern of the magnetic flux in the mold before each cast. Similar ideas as to the configuration of the poles, are discussed in other documents such as EP-Al-577 831 and WO 92/12814. The patent document WO 96/26029 teaches the application of magnetic fields in further levels including one or more levels at or just downstream of the exit end of the mold to further improve the control of the secondary flow in the mold. Flux density-controlling devices of these types based on reconfiguration and/or movements of the poles by mechanical means must be complemented with means for securing the magnet core or partial cores to withstand the magnetic forces and is thus intended for presenting the magnetic flux density and adopted to casting conditions predicted to prevail during a forthcoming casting, and it will include costly and elaborative development work to use such devices for on-line regulation of the magnetic flux density.
According to European Patent Document EP-A1-0 707 909, the flow velocity at the meniscus shall be set within a range of 0.20-0.40 m/sec for a continuous casting method wherein a primary flow is supplied to mold through a nozzle capable of controlling the incoming flow and wherein a static magnetic field having a substantially uniform magnetic flux density distribution over the whole width of the mold is applied to act on the metal in the mold. It further teaches that the flow at the meniscus can be held within this range by setting several parameters such as;
the angle of the port(s) in the submerged nozzle;
the position of the nozzle ports) within the mold;
the position of the magnetic field; and
the magnetic flux density.
The angle and position of the nozzle port(s) as well as the position of the magnetic field(s) are determined and preset before the start of casting and the magnetic flux is controlled according to one out of two different algorithms. The choice of algorithm to be used is dependent on the position of the magnetic field relative the primary flow, i.e., if the primary flow out of the nozzle port(s) traverses a magnetic brake field or not before hitting the side-wall. The algorithms) are based on one measured value only, the flow velocity at the meniscus when no magnetic field is applied, i.e., a historical value measured at an earlier casting or possible at the start of the casting if the casting are started with the brake off. The other values of the algorithms are all preset. The values included are the mold width and thickness which truly is constant and the average flow velocity of molten steel through the nozzle port(s), i.e., the primary flow, which is treated as a constant value or possibly as a predetermined function of time. Thus will in fact the magnetic flux density also according to this method be preset as it will be based on predetermined and preset parameters only and the control will not account for any change in the actual casting conditions or a dynamically progressing process and will consequently not be capable of adjusting the flux density on-line based on a change in the actual flow. Examples of parameters or conditions which effect the secondary flow and are likely to change during casting are the ferrostatic pressure at the nozzle port(s), nozzle angle(s) or nozzle dimensions due to erosion or clogging, the superheat in the primary flow, i.e., its temperature relative the melting point, chill at meniscus, and level of meniscus in mold. The primary flow might also have to be adopted due to a change in casting speed or other separately controlled production parameter.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a method for continuous casting of metal wherein the flow in the mold is controlled during casting by an on-line regulation of the magnetic flux density of a magnetic field applied to act on the metal to brake and split the incoming primary flow of hot metal and form a controlled secondary flow pattern in the mold. The on-line regulation shall be provided throughout essentially the whole casting and be based on the actual casting conditions or operating parameters prevailing in the mold or effecting the conditions in the mold at that moment to provide a cast product with a minimum of defects produced at the same or improved productivity.
As the flow at the meniscus has been shown critical for both removal of impurities, trapping of mold powder and gas and indicative of the flow situation prevailing in the mold, it is also an object of the present invention to monitor the flow at the meniscus throughout the casting by direct or indirect methods and include any change detected in this flow in the online regulating of the magnetic flux density to ensure a minimum of trapping or accumulation of non-metallic inclusions, mold powder or gas in the cast products. It is further an object of the present invention to provide a device for carrying out the invented method.
Other advantages of the present invention will became apparent from the description of the invention and the preferred embodiments of the invention, including its capabilities to provide an improved and controlled flow pattern throughout the casting also when one or more parameters change and the thereby increased capability to, over a wide range of operating parameters, mold dimensions, metal compositions, etc., control the solidification conditions in the cast product, conditions for removal of non-metallic impurities from the cast product and the entrapment of mold powder or gas in the cast products, so that even when one or more of these parameters changes for whatever reason during casting, the casting conditions can remain essentially stable or be adjusted to be within preferred limits.
To achieve this in the inventive casting method (continuous or semi-continuous), a primary flow of hot metallic melt is supplied into a mold and at least one static or periodically low-frequency magnetic field is applied to act on the melt in the mold. One or more magnetic fields are arranged to brake and split the primary flow and form a controlled secondary flow pattern in the non-solidified parts of the cast strand. To achieve the desired secondary flow the magnetic flux density of the magnetic field is regulated based on casting conditions. To accomplish the primary object of the invention, the secondary flow in the mold is monitored throughout the casting and any detected change in the monitored flow is fed into a control unit where the change is evaluated. The magnetic flux density is thereafter regulated based on this evaluation to maintain or adjust the controlled secondary flow. Preferably the flow velocity of the secondary flow in at least one specific point in the mold is measured continuously throughout essentially the whole casting. As an alternative to the continuous measurement of the flow velocity, the flow velocity can also be discontinuously (intermittently) measured or sampled throughout essentially the whole casting operation. Upon detection of any change in the flow, information on this change will, whether detected by continuously measurement or sampling, be fed into the control unit where it is evaluated. The magnetic flux density is thereafter regulated based on this evaluation.
A device for carrying out the invented method for continuous or semicontinuous casting of metals comprises a mold for forming a cast strand, means for supply of a primary flow of a hot metallic melt to the mold, and magnetic means arranged to apply at least one magnetic field to act upon the metal in the mold and is according to the present invention arranged with the magnetic means associated with a control unit. The control unit is associated with detection means which are arranged to monitor metal flow in the mold and detect any changes in the flow. Upon detection of a change in the casting conditions or in the flow information, the change is fed into the control unit which comprises evaluation means to evaluate the detected change and control means to regulate the magnetic flux density of the magnetic field based on the evaluation of the detected change in the flow.
The detection means can be any known sensor or device for direct or indirect determination of the flow velocity in a hot metallic melt, such as flow sensors based on eddy current technology or comprising a permanent magnet, temperature sensors by which a temperature profile of, e.g., one of the narrow sides or the meniscus can be monitored, a level sensing device for determination and supervision of level height and profile of a melt surface in a mold, the meniscus. Suitable detection means will be exemplified and described in more detail in the following.
The control unit comprises means, preferably in the form of an electronic device with software in the form of a algorithm, statistical model or multivariate data-analysis for processing of casting parameters and information from the detection means on flow, and means for regulating the magnetic flux density based on the result of the processing. According to one embodiment of the invention, the control unit is arranged within a neural network comprising electronic means for supervision and control of further steps and devices associated with the casting operation. The control unit also includes means for the regulation of the magnetic flux density of the magnetic brake. For an electromagnetic brake this is best accomplished by control of the amperage fed to the windings in the electromagnets of the electromagnetic brake. This is accomplished by any current limiting device controlled by an out-signal from the control unit. Alternatively, for an electromagnet which is connected to a voltage source, the voltage can be controlled by the out-signal from the control unit, thus indirectly controlling the amperage of the current in the magnet windings. The control unit will be further exemplified in the following.
As the flow conditions can vary within the mold, has it in some cases been shown desirable to monitor the flow at two or more locations within the mold and also to apply the magnetic fields in such a way that the magnetic flux density of one magnetic field can be regulated separately and independently of any other magnetic fields based on the flow prevailing in the part of the mold on which the magnetic field is applied to act. The typical situation is that for a slab mold wide two wide sides and a tapping point in the center of the mold, at least one magnetic circuit is arranged to apply at least one magnetic to act on the melt in each half of the mold, i.e., the mold is, in the casting direction, split into two control zones, each control zone comprising a half of the mold and is disposed on each side of a plane comprising the center line of the wide sides. The flow at the meniscus is measured directly or indirectly for both control zones, i.e., mold halves, and the left control zone sensor is associated with means for regulating the magnetic flux density of a magnetic field acting on the melt in the left half of the mold and a right control sensor is associated with means for regulating the magnetic flux density of a magnetic field acting on the melt in the right half of the mold. The mold can, naturally, be divided into zones of any number and shapes where at least one sensor and at least one magnetic flux density-regulating means is associated with each zone. Using two control zones ensures that an essentially symmetrical two-loop flow is developed in the upper part of the mold and that the risks of the two-loop flow developing to an unsymmetrical or unbalanced flow showing, e.g., marked differences in the flow velocities at the meniscus for the two mold halves, a so called biased flow, or even in the extreme case transforming into an undesired one-loop flow, where the melt flows up along one molds side, across the meniscus to the other side, down and further back across the mold at level with or just downstream the nozzle ports, is essentially eliminated.
According to one embodiment, the flow velocity at the meniscus (vm) is monitored or sampled. Upon detection of a change in flow velocity at the meniscus (vm), information on this change is fed into the control unit, where it is evaluated. Based on this evaluation, the magnetic flux density is regulated in a suitable way to either maintain the secondary flow pattern or, should it be deemed suitable, change the flow. According to one preferred embodiment, the magnetic flux density is then controlled to maintain or adjust the flow velocity at the meniscus (vm) to be within a predetermined flow velocity range.
According to one alternative embodiment, the upwardly-directed secondary flow (vu) at one of the molds narrow sides is monitored or sampled. Upon detection of a change in this upwardly-directed flow velocity (vu), information on this is fed into the control unit. Based on this evaluation the magnetic flux density is regulated to maintain or adjust the flow velocity of this upwardly-directed flow (vu) or, as the flow at the meniscus (vm) is a function of this upwardly-directed flow, to maintain or adjust the flow at the meniscus (vm) to be within a predetermined flow velocity range. This flow velocity range will vary with casting speed, nozzle geometry, nozzle immersion depth, and when gas is purged, the gas flow, superheat and mold dimensions, but shall for the casting slab using a submerged entry nozzle with side ports and a moderate casting speed normally be held within the range mentioned in the foregoing.
According to one further alternative embodiment, the profile of the meniscus, part of this profile or a parameter characterizing it such as the height (hw), location and/or shape of a standing wave, which is generated in the meniscus by the upwardly-directed secondary flow at one of the molds narrow sides, is supervised or sampled throughout essentially the whole casting. The profile of the meniscus and especially the standing wave is closely dependent on the upwardly-directed flow (vu), as is also, as referred to in the foregoing paragraph, the flow velocity at the meniscus. Therefore can any detected change in the profile such as the height, location or shape of this standing wave be correlated to a flow velocity. Based on such correlation or evaluation the magnetic density is regulated to maintain the standing wave, the flow velocity of the upwardly-directed flow and/or the flow velocity at the meniscus within predetermined limits.
According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention the algorithm, statistical model or data-analysis method used for processing the detected changes also includes parameter values for one or more predetermined parameters out of the following group of parameters;
mold dimensions,
nozzle dimensions and nozzle configuration including the angle of the ports,
dimensions, configuration and position of magnetic poles;
composition of metal cast;
composition of mold powder used.
Such a parameter value is included in the algorithm, statistical model or method for data analysis used to evaluate the determined change to the flow and regulate the magnetic flux density of the magnetic field on-line. The parameter is included as a constant value or if relevant as a time-dependent function, which is assumed to vary in a known way over the casting sequence or as a function of any other casting parameter or flow. Examples of dependent parameters which value can be included in the algorithm, statistical model or method for data-analysis as a function of time or other parameter are;
changes in primary flow due clogging and/or wear of nozzle;
superheat of primary flow, i.e. metal upon entry in the mold;
ferrostatic pressure at nozzle exit.
According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, one or more out of the following group of parameters is monitored or sampled together with the secondary flow during casting;
superheat of the metal upon entry in mold;
ferrostatic pressure at nozzle exit;
flow velocity of primary flow upon exit from nozzle;
any gas bubbling in mold;
casting speed;
mold powder addition rate;
position of meniscus in mold and relative nozzle port;
position of nozzle port relative mold;
position of magnetic field(s) relative meniscus and nozzle ports;
direction of magnetic field; and
any other casting parameter deemed critical for the secondary flow and which is likely to change during casting.
Preferably one or more these parameters is supervised or sampled throughout essentially the whole casting process and included on-line in the algorithm, statistical model or method for data analysis used to evaluate the determined change to the flow and regulate the magnetic flux density of the magnetic field on-line. The changes can be due to a time-dependent process or be due to an induced change of the casting conditions. These parameters which are accommodated for in the algorithm, statistical model or method for multivariate data-analysis will thereby effect the on-line regulation of the magnetic flux so that the magnetic flux density can be adopted to these changes and a better control of the secondary flow is accomplished.
Preferably the algorithm, numerical model or method for multivariate data analysis used in addition to the monitored or sampled flow parameters also include further casting parameters in the form of preset or predetermined constants, predetermined functions as well as monitored or sampled parameter values. Thus will the controlled secondary flow be more stable and well adopted to give the preferred flow pattern for the conditions actual prevailing in the mold.
According to a further embodiment, the control unit is also associated to one or more further electromagnetic devices, which are arranged to apply one or more alternating magnetic fields to act upon the melt in the mold or in the strand. Such electromagnetic device are stirrers which can be arranged to act on the melt in the mold or on the melt down-streams of the mold, e.g., on the last remaining melt in the so called sump but also high-frequency heaters are used preferably applied to act on the melt adjacent to the meniscus to avoid freezing, melt mold powder and provide good thermal conditions, e.g., when casting with low superheat.
The present invention according provides means to adopt the flow and thereby also thermal conditions to achieve the desired cast structure while ensuring the cleanliness of the cast product and same or improved productivity. The embodiments which include monitoring or sampling of further parameters and/or information on induced changes in production parameters are especially favorably as they provide the possibility to, upon the detection of a change in a casting parameter, adopt the magnetic flux density to counteract any disturbance like to come as a result of this change or take measures to minimize such a disturbance known to be the result of such change.

Method and device for control of metal flow during continuous casting using electromagnetic fields


A method comprises forming a photoresist on a substrate, rinsing the photoresist using a rinse liquid agitated with at least one megasonic source, exposing the photoresist to radiation while immersed in a liquid, and developing the photoresist.

Photolithography is a process of transferring the pattern of a mask to the photoresist coating the surface of the wafer. Immersion photolithography is a new advance in photolithography which the exposure procedure is performed with a liquid filling the space between the surface of the wafer and the lens. Using immersion photolithography, higher numerical apertures can be built than when using lenses in air, resulting in improved resolution. Further, while smaller device features have less depth of focus, immersion allows a slower loss of depth of focus as we progress toward printing ever smaller features. And since these benefits come without a change in exposure wavelength, existing materials and methodologies can be extended further to smaller feature sizes.

Immersion photolithography with megasonic rinse

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


Embodiments of the present invention provide a diaphragm pressure gauge with an interface printed circuit board (“PCB”) contained in a reference pressure chamber of the diaphragm pressure gauge for receiving signals from one or more sensing elements in the reference pressure chamber. The sensing elements can comprise, for example, piezoelectric strain gauges, piezoresistive strain gauges, capacitor elements or other elements used in determining the deflection in the diaphragm. The interface PCB can be configured to connect the sensing elements to pass-through electrical connections in the housing of the reference pressure chamber. Thus, signals can be communicated from the sensing elements, through the interface board and out of the reference pressure chamber via the pass-through electrical connections.

Many manufacturing processes require accurate and repeatable pressure measurements during critical process steps. These processes may rely on diaphragm pressure gauges to achieve an accurate determination of process chamber pressure. Diaphragm pressure gauges are widely used in the semiconductor industry. In part, this is because they are typically well suited to the corrosive services of this industry. They are also favored because of their high accuracy and immunity to contamination.
A typical diaphragm pressure gauge has a pressure port that is open to a process chamber or conduit containing a media being measured, a diaphragm or bellows exposed to the media being measured and a header assembly attached to the pressure port. The header assembly creates a chamber, referred to the vacuum reference chamber, which is typically (although not necessarily) evacuated to create a vacuum reference, on the opposite side of the diaphragm from the media being measured. The diaphragm or bellows is typically made of a flexible metal sheet and separates the vacuum reference chamber from the media being measured. According to some prior art sensor manufacturing techniques, the vacuum is formed on the reference side of the diaphragm by electron-beam welding the header assembly to the pressure port in a vacuum. Tungsten Inert Gas ("TIG"), laser or other welding techniques are typically employed to join the header assembly to the pressure port, with the chamber being evacuated at a later time. In addition, a getter material can be installed in the vacuum in order to maintain vacuum integrity over time.
Based on the pressure difference between the vacuum reference and the pressure of the media being measured, the diaphragm will flex. Piezoresistive strain gauges are attached to the diaphragm to detect the amount of flexion in the diaphragm. As the flexion in the diaphragm changes, the resistance of the strain gauges will change. The resistance changes of the strain gauges can be correlated to a particular pressure in the process chamber or conduit. In absolute pressures measuring devices, the strain gauges attached to the diaphragm are typically located in the vacuum reference chamber of the diaphragm vacuum gauge. Therefore, signals from the strain gauges must be transmitted out of the vacuum reference chamber to electronics for processing.
In some prior art systems, flexible cables of polyimide and copper/tin are used for this purpose. One end of a cable is attached to a portion of the pressure port using adhesives. A small wire connects the strain gauge to this end of the cable using wire bonding or soldering. The flexible cable is not generally attached directly to the strain gauge as doing so can put undue stress on the strain gauge. The other end of the flexible cable is soldered to pins on the header assembly. The pin passes through the header assembly (e.g., by means of a glass or ceramic feed-through) to transmit the signal from the cable to the printed circuit board ("PCB") outside of the header assembly. Socket or pin-type interfaces are then used to transmit signals from the diaphragm pressure gauge's PCB to external electronics.
One disadvantage of prior art systems is that the adhesives and elastomers associated with cabling in the vacuum have a higher vapor pressure compared to metals and ceramics because of their tendency for gas evolution at relatively low pressures. In other words, when used inside a vacuum or low pressure chamber, the elastomers or adhesives become a source of outgassing. As the temperature increases, the outgassing becomes worse. This can result in an increased pressure on the vacuum side of the diaphragm, leading to an unstable device output signal (e.g., reduction in signal) over time. Additionally, outgassing in the vacuum reference can cause thermally-induced errors. When the temperature increases the pressure of the vacuum reference will increase, causing the transducer output signal to reduce). Another disadvantage of this system is that the cables can interfere with movement of the diaphragm, decreasing the accuracy and stability of the diaphragm pressure gauge. Yet another problem with this method is that the flexible cables connecting the strain gauges to pins in the housing can become disconnected. To correct this problem, the hermitic seal of the pressure gauge must be broken, the cabling fixed and the vacuum reestablished.


A magnetic junction usable in a magnetic device and a method for providing the magnetic junction are described. The magnetic junction includes a free layer, a pinned layer and nonmagnetic spacer layer between the free and pinned layers. At least one of the free and pinned layers includes at least one engineered Heusler structure having a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer and an amorphous layer between the magnetic layers. At least one of the first and second magnetic layer(s) is a Heusler layer. The first magnetic layer's perpendicular magnetic anisotropy energy (PMAE) exceeds is out-of-plane demagnetization energy. The second magnetic layer's PMAE exceeds its out-of-plane demagnetization energy. The free layer and/or the pinned layer has a PMAE greater than an out-of-plane demagnetization energy. The free layer is switchable between stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction.

Magnetic memories, particularly magnetic random access memories (MRAMs), have drawn increasing interest due to their potential for high read/write speed, excellent endurance, non-volatility and low power consumption during operation. An MRAM can store information utilizing magnetic materials as an information recording medium. One type of MRAM is a spin transfer torque random access memory (STT-MRAM). STT-MRAM utilizes magnetic junctions written at least in part by a current driven through the magnetic junction. A spin polarized current driven through the magnetic junction exerts a spin torque on the magnetic moments in the magnetic junction. As a result, layer(s) having magnetic moments that are responsive to the spin torque may be switched to a desired state.
For example, FIG. 1 depicts a conventional magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) 10 as it may be used in a conventional STT-MRAM. The conventional MTJ 10 typically resides on a substrate 12. A bottom contact 14 and top contact 22 may be used to drive current through the conventional MTJ 10. The conventional MTJ, uses conventional seed layer(s) (not shown), may include capping layers (not shown) and may include a conventional antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer (not shown). The conventional magnetic junction 10 includes a conventional pinned layer 16, a conventional tunneling barrier layer 18, and a conventional free layer 20. Also shown is top contact 22. Conventional contacts 14 and 22 are used in driving the current in a current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) direction, or along the z-axis as shown in FIG. 1. Typically, the conventional pinned layer 16 is closest to the substrate 12 of the layers 16, 18 and 20.
The conventional pinned layer 16 and the conventional free layer 20 are magnetic. The magnetization 17 of the conventional pinned layer 16 is fixed, or pinned, in a particular direction. Although depicted as a simple (single) layer, the conventional pinned layer 16 may include multiple layers. For example, the conventional pinned layer 16 may be a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) layer including magnetic layers antiferromagnetically coupled through thin conductive layers, such as Ru. In such a SAF, multiple magnetic layers interleaved with a thin layer of Ru may be used. In another embodiment, the coupling across the Ru layers can be ferromagnetic.
The conventional free layer 20 has a changeable magnetization 21. Although depicted as a simple layer, the conventional free layer 20 may also include multiple layers. For example, the conventional free layer 20 may be a synthetic layer including magnetic layers antiferromagnetically or ferromagnetically coupled through thin conductive layers, such as Ru. Although shown as perpendicular-to-plane, the magnetization 21 of the conventional free layer 20 may be in plane. Thus, the pinned layer 16 and free layer 20 may have their magnetizations 17 and 21, respectively oriented perpendicular to the plane of the layers.
Because of their potential for use in a variety of applications, research in magnetic memories is ongoing to improve the performance of the STT-RAM. For example, in order to achieve perpendicular magnetic moments 17 and 21, various structures have been proposed. However, such structures may suffer from higher damping (which increases the required switching current), a lower magnetoresistance that decreases the signal and/or other issues. Accordingly, what is needed is a method and system that may improve the performance of the spin transfer torque based memories. The method and system described herein address such a need.

Method and system for providing an engineered magnetic layer including Heusler layers and an amorphous insertion layer


A serpentine cooling circuit is formed in a gas turbine blade to cool portions of the tip shroud, primarily the fillet between the airfoil and the tip shroud and the shroud edges.

The present invention relates to a blade for a turbine, e.g. aircraft engine, gas turbine, steam turbine, etc. More specifically, the present invention relates to the cooling of a turbine blade tip shroud. As a non-limiting example the invention and its background are described with reference to a gas turbine.
A gas turbine is typically comprised of a compressor section that produces compressed air. Fuel is mixed with a portion of the compressed air and burned in one or more combustors, thereby producing hot compressed gas. The hot compressed gas is expanded in a turbine section to produce rotating shaft power. The turbine section is typically comprised of a plurality of alternating rows of stationary vanes (nozzles) and rotating blades (buckets). Each of the rotating blades has an airfoil portion and a root portion by which it is affixed to a rotor.
Since the blades are exposed to the hot gas discharged from the combustors, cooling methods are required to obtain a useful design life cycle. Traditionally, blade cooling is accomplished by extracting a portion of the compressed air from the compressor and directing it to the turbine section, thereby bypassing the combustors. After introduction into the turbine section, this cooling air flows through passages formed in the airfoil portions of the blades. Often, radial passages are provided that discharge the cooling air radially outwardly at the blade tip.
On many rotating airfoils, integral tip shrouds are used on the radially outer end of the blade to create an outer surface of the passage through which the hot gases must pass. Having the shroud as a part of the airfoil results in an increase in performance for the engine. As such, it is desirable for the entire outer surface to be covered by the tip shrouds. However, integral shrouds on rotating airfoils are highly stressed parts due to the mechanical forces applied via the rotational speed. The high temperature environment coupled with the high stresses makes it a challenge to design a shroud that will effectively perform over the entire useful life of the remainder of the blade. Two methods for resolving this challenge are to reduce the stress and/or reduce the temperature.
A common method for reducing the stress is to remove a portion of the overhanging shroud (scallop the shroud), thus reducing the load applied. Reducing the tip shroud coverage, however, results in a detriment to engine performance. In addition or in the alternative, cooling air discharging at the blade tip flows over the radially outward facing surface of the shroud so as to provide a measure of film cooling.

Serpentine cooling circuit and method for cooling tip shroud


A power electronics module includes an electronics module and a connector housing. The electronics module includes at least one interface section having at least one conductive surface. At least one connector is configured for attachment to the electronics module to establish electrical communication between the connector and the electronics module. The connector includes a connector housing, an insulative housing, a terminal and a biasing device. The insulative housing is supported by the connector housing. The terminal is configured to transmit electrical current to the conductive surface of the electronics module. The biasing device is configured to bias the terminal in a first direction to establish electrical contact with the conductive surface and the conductive surface biases the terminal in a second direction, opposite the first direction.

It is typical for a plurality of electrical connections to be made to a single component inside of a vehicle. To do this, a number of individual connectors are used. These individual connectors typically equal the total number of electrical connections. To ensure the connection remains secure and connected, each connector may be individually fastened.
For example, in some hybrid transmissions each electrical connection requires an individual fastener. In addition, an individual cover is placed over each electrical connection, which may also require a seal. The excess of fasteners, seals, and covers increases the amount of time and expense required to assemble all of the electrical connections.

Contact assembly for attachment to an electronics module


An electronic apparatus having a fuel cell which sufficiently supplies air to the fuel cell without a separate air pump or fan. In the electronic apparatus, a cooling fan cools heat-generating parts of an external device having the fuel cell mounted thereon. A guide bracket guides wind of the cooling fan, upon having cooled the heat-generating parts, toward a fuel cell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus having a fuel cell which generates current through chemical reaction. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electronic apparatus capable of sufficiently supplying air to a fuel cell without a separate air pump or fan.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a portable fuel cell has been developed as a compact portable electric power. This portable fuel cell is superior to a portable electrical power supply which drives a generator and generates electricity via engines. That is, compared with the portable electrical power supply, such a portable fuel cell generates electricity equal to hundreds of watts, exhausts less air pollutants and causes less noises.
In general, the portable fuel cell has a fuel cell body in which phosphoric acid fuel cells are stacked. Also, an air supply fan or a metal hydride tank is housed in a casing. Here the air supply fan supplies air to a fuel cell body and the metal hydride tank supplies hydrogen as a fuel gas. During operation, the portable fuel cell generates electricity using air transported by the air supply fan and hydrogen supplied from a hydrogen supply source.
Conventionally, the portable fuel cell is designed to be operable with the construction which is as simple as possible. Here, the portable fuel cell cools a fuel cell body with air transported from the air supply fan to the fuel cell body. Also, high-temperature air exhausted from the fuel cell body is used to raise temperature of the metal hydride tank.
To release unreacted fuel cell gas out of the fuel cell body, the portable fuel cell is typically equipped with a catalystic combustor for processing unreacted hydrogen. The catalystic combustor includes a catalyst layer having for example a platinum catalyst, where catalystic combustion is performed using a mixture of the unreacted hydrogen and air.
The fuel cell generates current smoothly when sufficiently supplied with air including oxygen. But this natural convection method disadvantageously fails to ensure sufficient air supply to the fuel cell. To overcome this drawback, air is forcibly supplied to between the stacked cells using a separate fan.
The conventional fuel cell will be explained in greater detail hereunder with reference to FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the conventional fuel. For explanatory purpose, in FIG. 1, a narrow A indicates a forward direction, and a direction perpendicular to the arrow A is referred to as a horizontal direction.
As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional fuel cell includes a phosphoric acid fuel cell body 2, a metal hydride tank 6, an air supply fan 8, a catalystic combustor 10, a DC-DC converter and a controller. The phosphoric acid fuel cell body 2 is housed in a casing 1 and supplied with hydrogen and air to generate electricity. The metal hydride tank 6 supplies hydrogen stored to the fuel cell body 2. The air supply fan supplies air to the fuel cell body 2. Also, the catalystic combustor 10 processes unreacted hydrogen discharged from the fuel cell body 2. The DC-DC converter controls voltage of power supplied to the outside at a uniform level. A controller (not shown) controls operation of each unit.
To form a fuel stack 3, a predetermined number (e.g., 30 plates) of rectangle-shaped phosphoric acid power-generating cells are stacked horizontally via a bipolar plate. Here, the plates of the stack are fastened at both ends individually. In the fuel cell body 2, hydrogen gas supplied to a distribution manifold 4 travels downward inside the fuel stack 3 and then into the power-generating cells. In turn, unreacted hydrogen travels back to a recovery manifold 5. Meanwhile, air supplied onto the fuel stack 3 travels downward inside the fuel stack 3 and into the power-generating cells. At the same time, the fuel cell body 2 is air-cooled and high-temperature air is released to a rear side of the fuel cell stack 3.
The casing 1 has partitions 31, 32 and 33 formed on rear, upper and front sides of the fuel cell 2. The casing 1 is divided into front and rear sides by the partition 31, and a rear space 34 is formed behind the partition 31. Also, a front space of the partition 31 is divided into upper and lower sides by the partition 32. An upper space 35 is formed in an upper part of the partition 32. Furthermore, a lower space of the partition 32 is divided into front and rear sides by the partition 33 and a front space 36 is formed in front of the partition 33. In addition, the partitions 31 and 33 each have an opening for circulating air disposed corresponding to the fuel stack 3.
The metal hydride tank 6 is connected to a plurality of metal hydride tank elements 6a filled with metal hydride. The metal hydride tank 6 is mountable in the rear space 34. Also, the metal hydride tank 6 and the distribution manifold 4 are connected to a hydrogen introduction pipe (not illustrated) and hydrogen is supplied to the distribution manifold 4.
The air supply fan 8 has an intake hole 8a formed in a central part thereof and a ventilator 8b formed in a lower part thereof. The air supply fan 8 is disposed in an upper part of the front space 36 in the upper space 35. A catalystic combustor 10 includes a rectangular parallelepiped external plate 11, a bar-shaped hydrogen supply nozzle, and a catalyst layer 13. The external plate 11 has upper and lower sides wide opened. The hydrogen supply nozzle 12 is inserted into an upper space of the external plate 11. The catalyst layer 13 is filled in a lower space inside the external plate 11. The catalystic combustor 10 is fixed in a front portion of the front space 36, in particular to a support plate 37 installed under the partition 32 inside the front space 36.
Furthermore, the support plate 37 has openings 37a and 37b formed therein so that air from above is distributed to middle and external sides of the catalystic combustor 10 at an adequate ratio and travels downward. Also, the hydrogen introduction pipe is provided between the recovery manifold 5 and the hydrogen supply nozzle 12 to induce unreacted hydrogen. The catalyst layer 13 has a platinum catalyst formed on a honeycomb which causes catalytic combustion to a mixture of the unreacted hydrogen and air passing therethrough.
In this catalystic combustor 10, the unreacted hydrogen from the recovery manifold 5 is subject to catalystic combustion using air received from thereabove. Then, high temperature combustion gas is released from an underside of the catalystic combustor 10. The DC-DC converter and controller are superimposed one upon another in the upper space 35. In addition, air intake holes 41 are formed according to locations of the DC-DC converter and controller. A driving heater (not illustrated) is provided to heat air transported to the fuel cell body through the air intake holes 41.
This conventional fuel cell is necessarily equipped with the air supply fan 8 for supplying air to the fuel stack 3 and the driving heater for heating the air supplied. This complicates internal construction of the fuel cell and subsequently a manufacturing process thereof, thereby increasing manufacturing costs and hampering miniaturization thereof.
Moreover, the air supply fan 8 and the driving heater run with a lot of noise, rendering their use inconvenient. Further, disadvantageously, additional power is required to operate the air supply fan 8 and the driving heater. Especially, the fuel cell, when employed in a note book computer requires a cooling fan for cooling and the air supply fan 8 independently, thereby disadvantageously aggravating noises.
Also, to generate current, the fuel cell performs chemical reaction most actively when air supplied has a temperature of 60° C. to 70° C. Thus in a case where low-temperature air is supplied to the fuel cell due to low ambient temperature, the fuel cell experiences considerable decline in its capability.


This invention relates to a rubber composition which contains a block copolymer and a tire having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition. In one aspect of the invention, such rubber composition is comprised of a combination of at least one diene-based elastomer and liquid polymer comprised of a central polyalkylene polymer block, a first terminal hydroxyl group positioned on one end of said polyalkylene polymer block comprised of at least one primary hydroxyl group and a second terminal group positioned on the opposite end of said polyalkylene polymer block comprised of an epoxidized polyisoprene block or a hydrogenated polyisoprene block. The diene-based elastomer may be, for example, cis 1,4-polyisoprene natural rubber and/or other diene-based elastomer. The rubber composition contains reinforcement as carbon black and/or silica together with a coupling agent. The invention further relates to a tire having a tread of such rubber composition.

Tires are sometimes prepared with treads of rubber compositions comprised of diene-based elastomers which contain reinforcement as carbon black and/or silica in combination with a coupling agent to aid in coupling the silica and/or hydroxyl terminated liquid ethylene/butylene copolymer to diene-based elastomers.
While rubber processing oils have often been used to improve processability (e.g. to reduce rubber viscosity) of various unvulcanized relatively high viscosity elastomers, as well as to substantially maintain various physical properties for various conjugated diene-based elastomers for various tire components, the inclusion of relatively medium to large rubber processing oil contents in such diene-based rubber compositions often results in an unwanted decrease of various significant rubber physical properties so that such use of significant quantities of rubber processing oils in the respective rubber compositions for various tire components may not be a desirable option.
In one respect, it has heretofore been proposed to use various diene-based liquid polymers which contain olefinic unsaturation to replace at least a portion of rubber processing oil which might otherwise be contained in the respective rubber composition for a tire component. One philosophy has been for the liquid diene-based polymer to initially enhance the processsability of a relatively high viscosity unvulcanized rubber composition (e.g. reduce its viscosity) and to later co-sulfur vulcanize with the diene-based elastomer via the olefinic double bonds contained in the liquid diene-based polymer upon sulfur vulcanizing the rubber composition.
In another aspect, replacement of conventional rubber processing oils with a hydroxyl terminated liquid polyalkylene-based polymer in a sulfur cured tire sidewall rubber composition composed of cis 1,4-polybutadiene, brominated copolymer of isobutylene and para-methylstyrene and a minor amount of cis 1,4-polyisoprene has been suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 6,255,397 as well as U.S. Pat. No. 6,251,992 in which the brominated copolymer of isobutylene and para-methylstyrene is not included.
For this invention, an hydroxyl terminated liquid saturated ethylene/butylene backbone polymer having an hydrogenated polyisoprene block or epoxidized polyisoprene block on the opposite end of the ethylene/butylene copolymer backbone (in addition to its aforesaid hydroxyl terminal group) is used which becomes a part of a sulfur cured network, in combination with the included conjugated diene-based elastomer(s) of the rubber composition for a tire component.
However, it remains desirable to continue to improve various properties and/or processability of various conjugated diene-based rubber compositions for various tire components.
In the description of this invention, the term "phr" as used herein, and according to conventional practice, refers to "parts of a respective material per 100 parts by weight of rubber elastomer". In the description of this invention, the terms "rubber" and "elastomer" can be used interchangeably, unless otherwise distinguished. The terms "rubber composition", "compounded rubber" and "rubber compound" can be used interchangeably to refer to "rubber which has been blended or mixed with various ingredients and materials" and the terms "cure" and "vulcanize" may also be used interchangeably herein, unless otherwise noted and such terms are well known to those having skill in the rubber mixing or rubber compounding art.
The term "butyl-type" polymers or rubbers relates to isobutylene copolymers comprised of isobutylene and a minor amount of conjugated diene (e.g. from about 0.5 to about 3 weight percent conjugated diene such as for example isoprene), which are conventionally referred to as butyl rubbers, as well as halogenated (e.g. brominated or chlorinated) butyl rubber as well as copolymers, particularly brominated copolymers, of isobutylene and para methylstyrene.

Rubber composition containing block copolymer and tire having component thereof


A treatment instrument output data analysis section includes a probe ID extraction section, an output waveform extraction section, a data analysis section and an analysis result output section. The analysis result output section of the treatment instrument output data analysis section can display on a centralized display panel a synthetic image made by synthesizing a frame image stored in an image storage section of an endoscopic camera apparatus and an analysis result analyzed by the data analysis section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an operation system for controlling multiple medical instruments and a method of notifying system operation information of the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an endoscopic operation system for performing a procedure by using an endoscope, for instance, has come into wide use as an operation system for performing the procedure by controlling multiple medical instruments, where a wide variety of medical instruments are used.
The medical instruments used for such an endoscopic operation system include an electric knife apparatus, an ultrasonic apparatus, an aeroperitoneum apparatus and the like in addition to an electronic endoscope system. These instruments are managed as a package system, and are controlled by an operating instrument placed under a system controller as proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-76786 or Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-70746 for instance.
On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-65721 discloses a medical information system as an operation system, wherein all information generated during an operation is recorded in order of generation thereof and displayed on a display unit so that the information can be complemented and exploited for a subsequent analysis and the like. The medical information system analyzes a process of the operation in detail after the operation, and obtains information on a surgical technique and improvement in the instruments. In particular, the system is intended to establish an optimal procedure for a target operation.

Operation system and method of notifying system operation information of same


A memcapacitor device includes a pair of opposing conductive electrodes. A semiconductive material including mobile dopants within a dielectric and a mobile dopant barrier dielectric material are received between the pair of opposing conductive electrodes. The semiconductive material and the barrier dielectric material are of different composition relative one another which is at least characterized by at least one different atomic element. One of the semiconductive material and the barrier dielectric material is closer to one of the pair of electrodes than is the other of the semiconductive material and the barrier dielectric material. The other of the semiconductive material and the barrier dielectric material is closer to the other of the pair of electrodes than is the one of the semiconductive material and the barrier dielectric material. Other implementations are disclosed, including field effect transistors, memory arrays, and methods.

Capacitors and field effect transistors are two types of electronic components used in integrated circuitry, for example in logic circuitry and memory circuitry. One property of a capacitor is its capacitance which is impacted by a number of variables such as size, construction, and materials of manufacture. One property of a field effect transistor is its threshold voltage. Such is a measure of the minimum gate voltage required for current to flow between a pair of source/drain regions through a channel region. Factors that impact threshold voltage also include size, construction and materials of manufacture.
Capacitors and transistors upon manufacture typically have fixed capacitance and fixed threshold voltage, respectively, as opposed to variable, adjustable, or programmable capacitance and threshold voltage.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An improved injection dart is disclosed. A flow restrictor positioned at a forward end of a dart body is provided. The flow restrictor has a generally cylindrical restrictor body portion and a radially outward extending flange portion at a forward end thereof. The flange is securely held in position. The restrictor body also having a recess in a rearward end. The flange portion holds said restrictor in a position where an inner bore of a cannula is precisely aligned with the restrictor bore. The restrictor acts to diminish a variable flow rate so that all flow rates above a maximum flow rate are restricted to be less than the maximum flow rate. The flange also keeps a forward end of the flow channel bore open but allows for radially inward deformation of the restrictor at a rear end of said flow channel bore.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved injection dart. More specifically, it relates to an improved injection dart which employs a flow restrictor which limits and controls the rate of flow of an injection administered by the dart.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Dart-type projectiles carrying a self-contained actuating means which detonate upon rapid deceleration are generally well known in delivering drugs, medicines and the like to animals from a distance. Studies have concluded the rate of injection can and will disturb living tissue and in some instances result in partial injection due to the dart being propelled away from its intended target as a result of the speed of impact coupled with the rate of the injection rate. The use of hypodermic darts to administer anesthesia or other medications to animals is well known in the art. An early example is described and shown in Harris, U.S. Pat. No. 1,815,300. A number of injecting projectiles have been proposed by Crockford et al. including U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,854,925; 2,923,243; 3,022,785; and 3,209,695. Still other dart-like projectiles are described in Murdock, U.S. Pat. No. 3,207,157 and in Warren et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,266,806. At the present time, injection darts are typically shot as projectiles from dart-projectors into the animal.
Publication No. WO 1988010129 A1, by Allan Kenneth Wallace teaches that a large number of drug reactions are due to the rate of injection, not the species of drug and that "[i]deally, the contents of a syringe need to be delivered over a number of minutes."
Fischer, U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,698, discloses an adjustable flow syringe. In one embodiment of the invention described in column 8, lines 24-36, Fischer teaches the provision of an adjustable flow syringe 90 which includes a porous inset 94 which is capable of performing the function of a flow restrictor means for restricting the flow rate of a fluid in the syringe such that any force within a range of forces that can be manually applied to plunger 14 delivers fluid at a substantially constant flow rate
Rosenblum, U.S. Pat. No. 2,444,677, teaches a flow control device wherein fluid flowing through the casing must flow through the fixed orifice direct to the hollow shank or through the compensating orifice and ports into the hollow shank before it is discharged from the casing. The rubber ring deflects downstream in accordance with the pressure of the fluid to vary the capacity of the compensating orifice.
Kempton, U.S. Pat. No. 2,454,929, teaches a flow control which, as shown in FIG. 5, has a resilient annular member 11 which is deformed in the region of the orifice 17 when fluid under pressure is introduced in the bore 25 and is delivered through the bore 31 in the lower coupling member 26. The extent of deformation of the resilient annular member 11 depends upon the pressure drop across the orifice, the greater the pressure drop the greater the deformation. Such deformation causes a reduction in the diameter of the orifice.
Dahl et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,936,788, teach a flow control system wherein disposed within the hollow interior of the housing 10 is a resilient, annular flow control washer 13 composed of rubber, chlorinated rubber, or similar elastic material. The flow control washer 13 is said to be effective to maintain a substantially constant flow over a wide range of pressure variations by its automatic reduction in the cross-sectional area of its orifice 13a upon increases in pressure thereon. Dahl et al. teach the provision of a flow control washer 13 which includes a frusto-conical face 13b.
Diggs, U.S. Pat. No. 3,833,019, teaches an irrigation system which employs a flow control device. A resilient compressible orifice member 34 is provided which has a conically shaped orifice 37 in its center. When the fitting is compressed, the compressible member to be deformed radially inwardly to decrease the size of the orifice 37 and thus restrict the rate of flow.
Taguri et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,265, is yet another example of a flow control with a restrictor which includes an elastic valve 30 molded from a rubber or the like elastic material to have a small diameter section 31 and a large diameter section 32 with tapered periphery, as shown in FIG. 3. An aperture 33 is formed to extend through an axial center of the valve 30 for fluid communication between pipe 15 and passage 24. The valve 30 is capable of elastically deforming so as to vary the diameter of the aperture 33 in proportion to the pressure applied thereto, thereby allowing the water to flow through the aperture 33 at a controlled rate of keeping the flow volume at a constant level irrespective of the variation of pressure of the water being supplied.
Despite the many known examples of projectile darts and the many known methods of providing flow control, there remains a need for an improved injection dart which can address the difficult and complex problem of reliably and consistently injecting an animal with various medications at a rate which does not cause damage or injury to the tissue of the animal and does not cause the dart to eject from the animal's skin because of excessive backward pressure from a too rapid injection.


A frame assembly for a window including a sash that slides vertically within a master frame. The master frame is substantially of unitary, one-piece construction that can advantageously be manufactured by an injection moulding process. The sash frame can also be of unitary, one-piece construction, and can also be manufactured by injection moulding. The master frame can be provided with liner support structures along the jambs to receive jamb liners in snap-fit. The liner support structures can advantageously be integrally moulded with the master frame.

A common style of window construction has a first framed pane of glass (the sash) mounted within a larger frame (herein referred to for convenience as the master frame) in such a way that the sash is slidable between open and closed positions within the master frame. Typically, adjacent horizontal members of the sash frame and master frame are provided with slidably engaging tongue-and-groove style projections and recesses to define and support the sliding movement of the sash within the master frame. By adjusting the dimensions of the sash frame and master frame, this construction can also be used to provide doors, such as sliding patio doors.
A known technique for constructing frame assemblies for windows or doors is to extrude sections of aluminum or vinyl having a desired cross-sectional profile for the various vertical and horizontal members of the frames. The extrusions are then cut to length, and then assembled to form a separate master frame and sash frame. An example of known extrusion profiles for constructing window frames can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,478 (Phillips et al.).
Another frame construction for a sliding window is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/735,498, having Publication No. US 2002/0124494(Zen). This frame construction has a two-piece master frame, between which a sash frame is sandwiched. The sash comprises two injection molded halves which are secured together with fasteners. The assembled sash is positioned between two halves of the master frame, each of which are also separate, injection molded elements, secured together with fasteners.
The construction techniques described above can be relatively time-consuming and costly. Also, if the assembly is improperly performed, problems with the function or appearance of the product may result. Accordingly, it may be advantageous to provide a frame assembly for a window or door wherein the master frame and sash frame are each integrally molded, one-piece structures.

Frame assembly for window with vertically sliding sash


A rotary, nutating sprinkler head includes a housing supporting a nozzle; a starter tube axially adjacent the nozzle and extending in a downstream direction, concentric with a vertical center axis of the sprinkler head. A spool assembly is loosely supported on the starter tube, the spool assembly including a double-flanged spool and a water-deflection plate carried by the spool, the water-deflection plate formed with one or more grooves shaped to cause the spool assembly to rotate when impinged upon by a stream emitted from the nozzle. Either the starter tube or the spool is provided with at least one tilting lug located to keep the spool assembly in a tilted or angularly offset orientation relative to the vertical center axis, thereby facilitating a wobbling action of the spool assembly during rotation.

This invention relates to rotary sprinkler heads and, more particularly, to sprinkler heads that nutate (i.e., wobble while they rotate) to minimize the "donut effect" prevalent with conventional rotary sprinkler heads.
Conventional rotary sprinklers typically throw one or more streams in a radial direction to wet a specified area in a circular pattern. In circumstances where the sprinkler is in a fixed location, unless some mechanism is employed to break up the one or more streams, a donut pattern is created that leaves a substantial dry area inside the pattern. A higher speed of rotation tends to break down the stream or streams, but also shortens the stream's throw-radius. An alternative is the wobbling-type sprinkler where a water-deflection plate is caused to wobble as it rotates (sometimes referred to as a nutating action). Various nutating or wobbling sprinkler head designs have been available but with potential shortcomings that can nullify the very effect that makes such sprinklers attractive in the first instance. Examples of known nutating or wobbling sprinkler heads may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,381,960; 5,950,927; and 6,932,279. Commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,439,174; 5,588,595; 5,671,885; 6,267,299; and 6,439,477 provide further examples.
A problem often encountered with sprinklers of this type relates to stalling, primarily at start-up, but possibly also during normal operation. Stalling occurs when the water-deflection plate of the sprinkler head fails to tilt at start-up, or ceases tilting during operation, thereby simply rotating (without wobbling) and distributing a stream particularly susceptible to the donut effect. When nutating or wobbling sprinklers operate as designed, the wobbling action tends to fill in the pattern in a substantially uniform manner. Thus, it is critical that the water-deflection plate reliably and consistently remain in a tilted orientation on start-up and while rotating to achieve the desired wobbling action.
Another issue relating to wobbling-type sprinklers is excessive wear on the engaged wobbling/rotating and stationary surfaces. This issue is addressed in applicants, copending application Ser. No. 12/222,740 filed Aug. 14, 2008.
There remains a need, however, for establishing even greater wear life for the sprinkler components, while also enabling reliable "tipping" of the wobbling assembly on start-up.

Sprinkler with nutating mechanism and optional weight


An operation method of a terminal in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The operation method of the terminal comprises the steps of: receiving common information from any one among a plurality of base stations; and performing a random access procedure with a first base station among the plurality of base stations by using the common information, wherein the step of performing the random access procedure includes the steps of: transmitting a random access preamble; receiving a random access response; and transmitting an uplink message (RACH MSG3). Therefore, a performance of the communication system can be improved.

A communication system (hereinafter, an 'integrated communication system') using a higher frequency band (e.g., a frequency band of 6 GHz or higher) than a frequency band (e.g., a frequency band lower below 6 GHz) of a long term evolution (LTE) based communication system (or, a LTE-A based communication system) is being considered for processing of soaring wireless data. The reception performance of a signal may deteriorate due to path loss of a radio wave and reflection of the radio wave in such the high frequency band (e.g., a frequency band of 6 GHz or higher), and a small base station supporting smaller cell coverage than that of a macro base station can be introduced into the integrated communication system in order to solve this problem. In the integrated communication system, the small base station may be connected to a core network using a wired backhaul link.
Meanwhile, in the integrated communication system, a terminal may perform a random access procedure for connection with a base station. In the random access procedure, messages may be exchanged between the terminal and the base station. The formats of the messages used in the random access procedure needs to be changed according to the size of an identifier of the terminal, the type and size of the information to be transmitted by the terminal. However, since the formats of the messages used in the current random access procedure are fixed, there is a problem that the random access procedure cannot be efficiently performed.

Access method in communication system and device for performing same

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


The present disclosure provides a drum type washing machine including a tub; a drum in the tub, configured to receive laundry; a motor coupled to the tub configured to rotate the drum; a spider configured to transfer torque from the motor to the drum, the spider including a shaft mount connected to a shaft of the motor, a plurality of arms radially extending from the shaft mount, and a plurality of supporting bars extending from the arms; a fixing member configured to fix or attach the drum to the spider; a plurality of slide guides in at least one of a side surface of the drum and the supporting bars; and a plurality of slide rails on another one of the side surface of the drum and the supporting bars, configured to be inserted into and/or slide along the slide guides, wherein the drum is movable in forward and backward directions of the tub.

In general, a drum type washing machine is designed to place laundry in the washing machine through a door at the front of the washing machine, and to wash the laundry using a relatively small amount of water and detergent.
The drum type washing machine includes a cabinet that forms the exterior of the washing machine, a tub in the cabinet configured to hold water, a rotatable drum in the tub to accommodate laundry, a motor in, behind or under the tub for rotating the drum, a water supply device for supplying water to the tub, and a drain for discharging the water from the tub to the outside of the cabinet after the washing operation is terminated.
The drum may be connected to a shaft of the motor via a spider. The spider is on a rear surface of the drum. The spider includes a shaft mount connected to the shaft and a plurality of arms that protrude from the shaft mount and are coupled to the rear surface of the drum. The drum is coupled to the spider at a plurality of points on its rear surface by screws or an adhesive. When the drum type washing machine washes laundry, the motor generates torque and the spider transfers the torque to the drum.
When the drum is contaminated with foreign substances or stains, the drum (e.g., inside or outside surfaces of the drum) may need to be cleaned. Since the drum is coupled to the spider at a plurality of points by screws or adhesive, it is relatively difficult to disassemble the drum from the spider. Also, after the drum is disassembled from the spider and cleaned, it may be difficult to reassemble the drum to the spider.
In addition, since the spider is coupled or attached to the rear surface of the drum, the torque generated by the motor may not be effectively transferred to the drum.
A conventional drum type washing machine may be disclosed in United States Patent Application Publication No. US 2006/0254321 A1.


Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, medium, and system for summarizing music. The method includes summarizing a music content by extracting an audio feature value from a compressed segment of music data, tracking change points of the music content using the extracted audio feature value and re-configuring segments, selecting a fixed length fragment from each of the reconfigured segments and clustering the selected fragment so as to measure similarity and redundancy between the respective segments, and generating a summary of the music content using a segment selected based on the measured similarity and redundancy between the respective segments.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, medium, and system summarizing the content of music ("music content"), e.g., in a digital contents management system, and more particularly to a method, medium, and system summarizing a music content in which an audio feature value has been extracted from a compressed area of music data, change points of the music content are tracked by using the extracted audio feature value to re-configure segments, a fixed length fragment is selected from each of the reconfigured segments and the selected fragment is clustered so as to measure similarity and redundancy between the respective segments, and a summary of the music content is generated by using a segment selected based on the measured similarity and redundancy between the respective segments
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, digital contents management systems have included summarizing aspects, summarizing a music content in order to rapidly search for a piece of music similar to a music file that a user selects from a large-capacity music database.
As an example of a conventional music summarization technique, U.S. Pat. No. 6,633,845 discusses a cross-entropy measure or a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) approach to identify the structure of a song by using feature vector values of Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs) extracted from an uncompressed segment of each audio file. However, such a conventional music summarization technique includes problems, in that it may be suitable for a summarization of a distinct music genre such as rock or folk, but not that of classical music.
As another example, US patent application Serial No. 2005/0065976 discusses the structure of a song being identified by using a 2-D similarity matrix appended to feature vector values of Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs) extracted from an uncompressed segment of each audio file, and then a summary of the song being generated from the identified song structure. However, such a technique does not provide a summary of the song perceptually.
Further, another example includes extracting a dynamic feature according to a variation in energy acquired in a variety of frequency bands of a music signal as an audio feature value. Also, in this technique, large and rapid change portions are located using a similarity matrix between respective feature frames to obtain corresponding segments. Then, an average value of the features within the obtained segments is obtained. At this time, the obtained average value is defined as a potential state. Using the potential state, redundancy of the average value between respective segments is identified. Then, similarity between segments is assumed based on the identified redundancy of the average value and is incorporated into one segment. Such a technique incorporates segments so that after the number of potential states and an initial state have been defined, a state defined by a K-means algorithm is employed as an initialization of a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) training. That is, such a technique establishes a model using a Baum-Welch algorithm of the Hidden Markov Model (HMM), decodes a music audio file using the established model, and produces a summary of music content using a short segment from segments acquired in the decoding process. However, this technique similarly has shortcomings in that since it is configured in a multi-pass manner, a greater number of calculations are required, resulting in the processing speeds being slow.
As such, here, this conventional technique encounters problems in that it obtains a number of classes using segments acquired by segmentation, establishes each class model using a K-means algorithm and a HMM accordingly, and then decodes a music audio signal, thereby increasing the number of calculations and reducing the process speed.
Thus, for such music summarization techniques, the music audio signal is divided into short segments and then well-known audio feature values such as Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC), Linear Predictive Coding (LPC), Zero Crossing Rates (ZCR), etc., are extracted. However, these music summarization methods further have problems in that when similarity is measured using a distance and then a clustering is performed, so as to measure a similarity of the short segments, these techniques result in the generation of a clustering error.

Method, medium, and system summarizing music content


An injection molding machine having a side-injection sub-assembly and a method for providing access to a hot passage distributor system therein. The injection molding machine includes a side-injection sub-assembly having an injection mold part and the hot passage distributor system. The hot passage distributor system is sandwiched between the injection mold part and a head plate by two or more bolt members, which attach the injection mold part to the head plate and are accessible from a side of the injection mold part. The injection molding machine further includes an ejection mold part for releasably mating to the injection mold part and defining a mold cavity.

Injection molding machines are well known. Typical injection molding machines generally include an injection mold part and an ejection mold part, which together form two tool halves for defining a mold cavity. The injection mold part typically has one or more channels for partially receiving a hot passage distributor system therethrough.
Existing injection molding machines have a construction that is substantially difficult to dismantle for accessing various parts of the machine, e.g. the hot passage distributor system, for maintaining and/or repairing those parts.
Therefore, a need exists for an injection molding machine having a side-injection sub-assembly that is easily manipulated for providing access to components therein.

Injection molding machine having a side-injection sub-assembly and a method for accessing a hot passage distributor system contained therein


The present invention relates to the architecture and operation of computer hardware memory logic, and in particular to a method and respective system for verifying hardware memory logic, wherein an Error Correction Code (ECC) is used for correcting single-bit or multi-bit errors when the ECC-bits cannot be accessed directly for a read or write process. The system and process employs the selection of data patterns that produce check bits that are all ones to ferret out errors in the ECC circuitry.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the architecture and operation of computer hardware memory logic, and in particular to a method and respective system for verifying hardware memory, wherein an Error Correction Code (ECC) is used for correcting single-bit or multi-bit errors, and wherein the ECC-bits cannot be accessed directly for a read or write process.
2. Description and Disadvantages of Prior Art
At boot time or during runtime many computer systems of different types and categories—be it high—performant server systems or personal computers or processing units in embedded systems—execute a memory test. This is done, in order to assure a correct operation of the computer memory, which is working closely with the computer's processor. In computing systems such memory is called DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory). Some prior art memory test procedures write a data pattern (such as 0h or A5A5A5A5h) (hexadecimal) and its respective complement into the memory. When each bit toggles from one to the other value, then the data section of the memory is free from stuck bit errors. Other test procedures write a different pattern to each memory location, such as the address of that memory location and its complement, and also check if the bit locations toggle from one to the other value. By doing this, such software makes sure that every data bit is toggled and not stuck at 0 or 1.
In addition to the pure data space a memory of a higher quality computer also comprises a relatively small section, in which the above-mentioned Error Correction Code (ECC) is stored and operated, in order to correct single-bit errors and detect multi-errors. Each data pattern is thus associated with an ECC pattern. The ECC memory section covers approximately 10-20% of the overall memory.
A problem is that the ECC section cannot be directly accessed bitwise or bitwise by such memory test procedure software. This is true for nearly all computer systems. In order to test the proper operability of the ECC section the user has to use special test patterns that result in known ECC byte patterns.
Prior art solutions in this area have different implementations to perform such ECC test procedures: for example the Power PC 405 GP application note describes a table of known data patterns and the resulting ECC bytes such that a user can create a 0, FF, so-called walking 0's and walking 1's in the ECC byte. This is a very time-consuming test for software and needs 8-10, minimum 4 read/write cycles for every memory location. Here, the user is not free to choose the test data pattern or to define a test that concurrently initializes the memory with a given data set.
The prior art AMIDiag diagnostic tool contains a chipset-specific memory test with ECC on 440 FX, 440 LX, 440 BX, 450 NX & pro fusion. It is a general PC diagnostics utility for a limited set of implementations and not suited for a fast test at boot time.
Further, the prior art mem-test 86 does not include any special test for ECC-protected memory. The same is true with the prior art ultra-XRAM-stress-test tool. Thus, in the latter tests the ECC section is simply not tested.
Further prior art test procedures, such as MATS+ or GALPAT row aim at finding errors in the memory with the full knowledge about the internal architecture and layout of the memory. They use sophisticated algorithms to check for address/data line shorts, stuck-bits, cross-talk etc. In a system environment these time-consuming tests can be used only if the memory architecture is known. For a user of a memory unit, however, the precise memory architecture is not known, thus such tests are not applicable.

Method for fast ECC memory testing by software including ECC check byte

International Business Machines Corporation


An input signal is encoded using a multicarrier code that provides a PEP reduction of 3k [dB] and a minimum distance dmin=√{square root over (2k)} d, by restricting the code so as to have one or more 2k+1-carrier kernels in which |Δθ(2k)−Δθ*(2k)|≡π (for any k) holds for the phase difference Δθ(2k) between a set of 2k−1 carriers and another set of 2k−1 carriers and the phase difference Δθ*(2k) between a set of 2k−1 carriers and another set of 2k−1 carriers, where k is an integer not smaller than 1. By setting k to 1, and by further providing the condition |Δθ(2k)−Δθ*(2k)|=π/2 between two kinds of 4-carrier kernels one equal in number to the other, a PEP reduction of 3.7 dB and dmin=√{square root over (2)} d can be achieved. By extending the code length using these two kinds of 4-carrier kernels as basic units, a PEP reduction of 3k+0.7 [dB] and dmin=√{square root over (2k)} d can be achieved.

In wideband wireless communications, frequency-selective, or multipath, fading is a particular problem as it degrades channel quality. Multicarrier modulation is an effective technique to combat multipath fading. In this modulation scheme, the transmission bandwidth is divided into a plurality of carriers (called subcarriers) to utilize the frequency diversity in a frequency-selective fading environment and thereby enable high-quality wireless transmission. Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is also included in this technique.
A main disadvantage of the multicarrier technique is that multicarrier signals inherently exhibit a high peak power (or peak-to-average power ratio). Linear amplifiers having a wide dynamic range are needed to maintain system linearity. However, linear amplifiers are not only expensive, but their power efficiency is also very low. On the other hand, using inexpensive nonlinear amplifiers involves the problem of nonlinear distortion, resulting in degradation of performances, since these amplifier are operated in their saturation regions. These problems have been regarded as a bottleneck impeding the commercial implementation of this technique.
There are two main approaches to solving these problems: (1) by restricting the signal input and (2) by restricting the signal output. The former approach, mainly employing coding technique, is performed so as not to produce signal patterns that increase peak power, and no degradation in performances occurs. Furthermore, if the minimum distance of the code can be increased, it is also possible to improve the bit-error rate—BER performance. The latter approach, such as clipping technique which clips the signal before amplification, is also an effective technique for the peak reduction. This is because the large peaks occur with very low probability. This technique however causes both the BER performance degradation and the spectral efficiency reduction. There is also a technique that normalizes the entire signal envelope level to the threshold value, but this also causes the performance degradation due to the loss of the S/N ratio. The former technique is therefore preferred for providing wideband high-quality wireless transmission.
Complementary sequence (complementary code) has the proper of both peak reduction and error correction, and is being studied for application to the multicarrier modulation scheme. This code can be applied to M-ary phase shift keying (MPSK) modulation. This code achieves the coding rate R=(log2N+1)/N, the minimum distance dmin=√{square root over (N/2)} d, and the peak power Ppep=2/N P(N) in the case of N carriers, where d is the minimum distance between signal points, and P(N) (=N2) is the peak power of N carriers without coding. For example, in the case of four carriers, R=¾, dmin2=2d2, and Ppep=P(4)/2, while in the case of eight carriers, R=½, dmin2=4d2, and Ppep=P(8)/2. Accordingly, since the coding rate of complementary code decreases as the number of carriers increases, degradation in transmission efficiency is unavoidable even if the improvement of the error-correction capability is considered. It is of course possible to operate the system as a four-carrier system by dividing the eight carries into two four carriers, but if this technique is used, the coding rate of R>¾ is not available.
On the other hand, N carriers are represented by MN signal patterns (M is the number of modulated signal points). It is well known to reduce peak power by measuring the peak envelope power (PEP) levels of all signal patterns, ranking them in the order of envelope levels and encoding using only the patterns in the lower half of the ranking. This means that the peak power can be reduced by adding only one redundant bit. Moreover, the reduction effect, ΔPPEP (10 log (P(N)/Ppep)[dB]), achieved by this one-bit redundancy increases as N is increased. Therefore, increasing N should, in effect, lead to an increase in coding rate. However, in the above-described complementary code, the coding rate decreases with increasing N; therefore, it cannot fully meet this phenomenon. It should also be noted that, with the technique that uses the patterns in the lower half of the PEP ranking, the error-correction capability cannot be obtained. Furthermore, since there is no logical between the signal input and the code assigned to it, logic circuits cannot be used, which leaves no other choice but to use a mapping memory such as a ROM. Using a mapping memory becomes unrealistic when the number of carriers increases.

Decoding for peak-power reduction and error-correction capabilities in multicarrier transmission


A shield member that includes a drain wire with a free end portion by cutting a long drain wire-attached shield member to a desired length. The shield member includes a shield portion and a drain wire. The shield portion can shield an electric wire. The drain wire includes a holding portion provided between a first end and a second end of the shield portion and held in the shield portion; and an extension portion that is continuous with the holding portion and extends outward from the shield portion. At least a portion of the holding portion extends between the first end and the second end of the shield portion while having excess length.

Patent Document 1 discloses a wire harness in which a plurality of electric wires of a low-voltage system circuit and a plurality of electric wires of a high-voltage system circuit are provided separately, and the plurality of electric wires of the low-voltage system circuit and the plurality of electric wires of the high-voltage system circuit are sheathed using an insulating sheet and a shield sheet that are folded so as to separately envelop the entire outer circumference of the plurality of electric wires of the low-voltage system circuit and the plurality of electric wires of the high-voltage system circuit, whereby it is possible to prevent electromagnetic noise generated by the electric wires of the high-voltage system circuit from negatively affecting the low-voltage system circuit.

Shield member, shield member-attached electric wire, intermediate product for shield member, and method for producing shield member


The present disclosure relates to speech therapy and voice training methods. A system is provided which utilizes tonal and rhythm visualization components to allow a person to “see” their words as they attempt to improve or regain their ability to speak clearly. The system is also applicable to vocal music instruction and allows students improve their singing abilities by responding to visual feedback which incorporates both color and shape. The system may comprise a step-by-step instruction method, live performance abilities, and recording and playback features. Certain embodiments incorporate statistical analysis of student progress, remote access for teacher consultation, and video games for enhancing student interest.

Stroke victims or others who have lost the ability to speak clearly through accident or surgery, for example, often undergo long hours of speech therapy that requires the patient to match or imitate their spoken words with a word or phrase that they hear. Because speech sounds different to the person who is speaking than it does to others who are hearing that person, it is frequently difficult for someone to accurately hear what they are saying when attempting to imitate words and phrases. Students learning to sing also have trouble mastering proper vocal techniques due to this difference in sound perception between the student and teacher. People who are deaf or have lost their hearing have an even more difficult time in either learning to speak or to continue to speak clearly enough to be understood. Without the ability to hear what is being spoken, an individual has no way to tell what their words sound like, and hence no way to tell how to speak more clearly, or even how to speak at all. Methods are needed which improve the efficiency and quality of speech therapy and vocal instruction.


One embodiment in accordance with the present invention includes a capacitive sensing apparatus. The capacitive sensing apparatus comprises a first set of interdigitated conductive traces. Additionally, the capacitive sensing apparatus comprises a second set of interdigitated conductive traces that are intertwined with the first set of interdigitated conductive traces.

Computing devices have become integral tools used in a wide variety of different applications, such as in finance and commercial transactions, computer-aided design and manufacturing, health care, telecommunication, education, etc. Computing devices are finding new applications as a result of advances in hardware technology and rapid development in software technology. Furthermore, the functionality of a computing device is dramatically enhanced by coupling these types of stand-alone devices together to form a networking environment. Within a networking environment, computing device users may readily exchange files, share information stored on a common database, pool resources, and communicate via electronic mail (e-mail) and video teleconferencing.
Conventional computing devices provide several ways for enabling a user to input a choice or a selection. For example, a user can use one or more keys of an alphanumeric keyboard communicatively connected to the computing device in order to indicate a choice or selection. Additionally, a user can use a cursor control device communicatively connected to the computing device to indicate a choice. Also, a user can use a microphone communicatively connected to the computing device to audibly indicate a particular selection. Moreover, touch sensing technology can be used to provide an input selection to a computing device or other electronic device.
Within the broad category of touch sensing technology there exist capacitive sensing devices such as touch screens and touch pads. When a capacitive sensing device is conventionally manufactured with conductive wires or traces, local open-circuit defects can occur within one or more of these conductive traces (e.g., a speck of dust in a photolithography process, a scratch, or the like). If the conductive sensor trace has an open-circuit defect, it is typically non-functional or everything to one side of the break is disconnected from circuitry that drives it. As such, the yield of a capacitive sensor device manufacturing process is diminished by open circuit defects.
The present invention may address one or more of the above issues.

Sensor patterns for a capacitive sensing apparatus