The disclosure concerns a method and a system for monitoring the composition of a cement slurry or wellbore service fluid, the method and system including one or more feeder units for solid particulate material; one or more mixing or blending units adapted to receive material from the feeder units; one or more outlet tubes to direct the cement slurry or wellbore service fluid to a storage facility or into a wellbore; and a control unit connected to at least one densitometer to monitor the density of the cement slurry or wellbore service fluid; wherein the densitometer comprises a generator free of radioactive material and capable of generating high-energy photons based on accelerating or decelerating electrons.

The pumping services sector within the oil and gas industry injects fluid into wells to stimulate production or to encase well bore tubulars. The fluids that are pumped usually include various chemicals and solid particulates. The chemicals are added to enhance the properties of the fluids or to make them more compatible with the hydrocarbon bearing formation. The particulates that are added to the fluids are used as propping agents, diverting agents, or as extenders that reduce volumetric cost, change volumetric density, or even enhance properties of the base fluid.
Sands (silicon, ceramic, resin), glass beads, and salts are examples of particulates that are added to fracture fluids, acids, and cements. All of these products come in defined densities and size ranges. The operations that employ these materials are pre-engineered for varying concentrations during the treatment dependent on the desired final results.
Within the industry, it is desirable to monitor the quality of the fluid within the system. This includes monitoring the concentration of particulates within the fluid. Current methods for quality control of the addition of particulates include: batch weighing, both pre- and post-job, mechanical metering during the addition of the particulates, or radioactive density measurements of the fluid slurries during operations.
Batch weighing provides quality control of the cumulative total product used, but does not provide quality control during on the fly operations for pre-engineered programs that vary the rate at which particulates are added during different phases of the injection.
Mechanical metering involves measuring the rate at which the particulate is added and the rate of the fluid prior to addition (clean rate) and then using these rates to calculate the particulate concentration in the slurry. The calculation for concentration is based on the knowledge of the density of the fluid and the particulate material. However, mechanical metering is prone to slippage and inaccuracies due to the efficiencies of the mechanical system being employed. The quality of the measurement is therefore limited.
Another method of measuring concentration is the use of radioactive densitometers, as described for example in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,340. The densitometer measures the absolute density of the slurry flowing in the pipe. In these measurements, a flux of photons is typically delivered through a pipe or other containment vessel; the flux of photons transmitted through the vessel and the contained fluid (or other material) is measured at an appropriately located detector, and this can be interpreted to yield fluid density. Given the density of each phase, it is then possible to determine the fractions given the mixture density.
Radioactive density measurements are the most accurate method of concentration measurements. The densities of the fluids and particulates are known prior to pumping and the radioactive density meter reads the absolute density of the slurry from which the particulate concentration can be calculated.
The currently deployed proppant concentration meter uses a radioisotope ("chemical") source to deliver gamma-rays of appropriate energy in order to provide a density measurement; given the density of the frac fluid and the additive (proppant), it is then simple to determine the proppant volume fraction. However, the deployment of a radioisotope source presents concerns over QHSE (possible exposure to radiation) and particularly security issues (loss or theft of radioactive "chemical" source), as well as licensing and transportation issues.
Various methods and apparatus have been suggested to remove the need for a radioactive source in the densitometer:
One alternative solution taught in the published U.S. Patent application 2004/0007059 is the use of an acoustic sensor.
Another alternative solution is described in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,421 and published International Patent application WO 2004/072621, both describing the use of a Coriolis flow meter to determine the density of a fracturing fluid.
In the light of the known state of the art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method to monitor the mixing process of proppants and other solid particles into a fluid or slurry, particularly for use with wellbore service fluids and cementing slurries.

Blending system for solid/fluids mixtures


A secondary battery includes a case with an internal space, at least one electrode assembly in the case, the electrode assembly including a separator between a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, a current collector plate coupled to the electrode assembly, the current collector plate including an electrode terminal, a dielectric body with a through-hole on the current collector plate, the electrode terminal of the current collector plate protruding through the through-hole of the dielectric body, a gasket in the through-hole of the dielectric body, and a cap plate coupled to an upper portion of the dielectric body.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to a secondary battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, unlike primary batteries, i.e., not chargeable batteries, secondary batteries are chargeable and dischargeable. Low-capacity secondary batteries are widely used in a variety of high-tech electronic devices, e.g., cellular phones, notebook computers, camcorders, and the like. High-capacity secondary batteries are widely used as power supplies, e.g., for electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles. The secondary battery, i.e., rechargeable battery, generally includes an electrode assembly accommodated in a case, a cap plate at an upper portion of the case, and an electrode terminal coupled to the electrode assembly and protruding through the cap plate.


An improved Built-In-Self-Test (BIST) architecture for Content Addressable Memory (CAM) devices, including a bit scanner for reading out the contents of the matchlines of the CAM cells as a serial bit stream; a bit transition detector that detects and determines the address of each bit transition in the serial bit stream; a state machine that generates bit addresses for each expected transition in the serial bit stream; and an analyser that compares expected transition bit addresses with detected transition addresses and declares a BIST failure if expected and detected transition addresses do not match at any point in the bit stream.

Content Addressable Memories are memories in which the data word is selected or identified by its contents rather than by its physical address. In other words, a CAM is a memory that can be instructed to compare a specific pattern of comparand or other reference data with data stored in the CAM array. The entire CAM array is searched in parallel for a match with the comparand data. CAMs are used in a variety of applications, such as sorting large databases, pattern-matching for image processing and voice recognition and cache systems of high speed computing systems. CAM cells are becoming increasingly popular in high-speed network routers and many other applications known in the art of computing.
A standard content addressable memory comprises an array of individual CAM cells. Each CAM cell consists of a data storage unit and comparison circuitry. A CAM cell can store a single bit of data and can compare the stored bit with a comparand or other reference bit during a search operation.
In a common implementation, each row represents a different word of maximum length having depth equal to the total number of columns in the CAM array. During the comparison operation, if all the reference bits match the corresponding stored data bits, a match is declared otherwise the match operation fails. An indicator, commonly known as a "Match Line" ("ML"), associated with each stored word indicates a match or mismatch, which can be detected by a sensing means connected to each ML.
In order to ensure proper functioning of the CAM, a built-in-self-test ("BIST") is often implemented in the CAMs. However conventional methods for BIST implementation often require a large chip area and complex circuitry.
Turning to FIG. 1, illustrated is an exemplary prior art (U.S. Pat. No. 6,430,072) content addressable memory structure with BIST implementation in which the each matchline of the CAM is connected to one of the words, and a self-test matchline compare circuit is connected to the matchlines, adapted to individually test the match function for all of the words. Further, a matchline compare circuit having a plurality of XNOR gates or comparators 1.3a, 1.3b, 1.3c, 1.3d equal in number to the number of words, such that each word is connected to a dedicated comparator to allow each word in the memory array to be individually tested.
During test of the search function, matchline latches 1.1a, 1.1b, 1.1c, 1.1d are loaded with the match results for each word on the matchlines. The match compare shift register 1.2a, 1.2b, 1.2c, 1.2d has been loaded previously with the expected results of the search. Match compare shift register override multiplexers 1.5a, 1.5b, 1.5c, 1.5d are controlled by match compare shift register override select signal 1.6 and operate to select a logic value to which the matchlines will be compared, which will either come from the match compare shift register 1.2a, 1.2b, 1.2c, 1.2d, or the alternate match compare signal 1.4b. The XNOR gates 1.3a, 1.3b, 1.3c, 1.3d compare the results with the expected results, and logic gates 1.7, 1.8, 1.9 compress the compare results into compare signal 1.10 which is "active high" if the matchline values are equal to the expected values. The structure includes an equal number of the words, the first latches, the second latches, the multiplexers, and the comparators, such that each word's match function is individually tested. The override signal line carries a test data pattern that does not match data in any word in the memory array.
This prior art reference patent provides an extra latch and a XOR gate with each matchline in order to compare for match line contents that substantially increase the size and complexity of the memory chip. It is readily evident that there is a need for memory-built-in-self-test technique that is area efficient. It is also readily evident that a need exists for a MBIST that is not only area efficient, but also is simple to implement and is less expensive.

Systems for built-in-self-test for content addressable memories and methods of operating the same


Provided are a production method of a pregabalin-containing composition, which suppresses crystallization of pregabalin, and a pregabalin-containing composition that shows suppressed crystallization of Pregabalin. The production method of the pregabalin-containing composition of the present invention contains steps of:    (1) dissolving pregabalin in an aqueous solution of an acid to prepare an aqueous solution of a salt of pregabalin; (2) mixing the aqueous solution of pregabalin salt and a hydrophilic resin to prepare a mixture thereof; and (3) concentrating the mixture; wherein the acid has an acid dissociation constant lower than that of pregabalin.

Pregabalin is a medicament used for mitigating pain and is commercially available as an oral drug. However, a treatment of pain by oral administration, which is a systemic administration, requires administration of high doses and continuous administration. This in turn gives rise to a serious problem of side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, edema, rash, and blurred vision. For this reason, a method other than oral administration such as transdermal administration has been considered for the treatment with pregabalin (patent document 1).
In transdermal administration, the stratum corneum layer, which constitutes the outermost surface of the skin, has a barrier function to prevent invasion of foreign substances into the body, and has high hydrophobicity. It is therefore considered difficult for a medicament having high hydrophilicity such as pregabalin to permeate through the stratum corneum layer.
On the other hand, a method for enhancing skin permeability of a medicament in transdermal administration is also known. For example, a method for increasing the amount of a medicament that permeates through the stratum corneum (permeability) is known, which includes raising the concentration of the medicament contained in a drug-containing layer of a transdermal agent to a supersaturated state (patent document 2).

Production method of pregabalin-containing composition and pregabalin-containing composition


This invention is a silicon bipolar integrated circuit comprising: a high barrier Schottky diode clamp on a bipolar transistor, the diode clamp comprising a self-aligned PtSi layer on a silicon surface; and a TiN local interconnect partially overlying the PtSi layer. It also is a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit comprising: forming a self-aligned PtSi layer on the adjacent base and collector silicon regions, the PtSi serving as a clamp diode on the bipolar transistor; and forming an etch-patterned TiN layer partially overlying the PtSi layer, the etch-patterned TiN layer serving as local interconnects. The invention provides a PtSi Schottky diode on a bipolar transistor in combination with a TiN local interconnect with the advantages of (i) providing a TiN local interconnect which can be etched without also etching the PtSi, (ii) permitting a wide process window for overetching at contacts, (ii) a TiN local interconnect which is an improvement over a polysilicon local interconnect, and (iv) a high barrier Schottky diode for clamping a bipolar transistor.

The present invention relates to electronic semiconductor devices and fabrication methods, and, more particularly, to Schottky barrier diodes including diodes formed in integrated circuits.
Schottky barrier diodes are widely used in integrated circuits in applications such as decoupling devices in digital circuits (silicon bipolar and gallium arsenide MOSFET) and as clamping devices to prevent heavy saturation of bipolar transistors. Generally, a Schottky barrier diode is formed by deposition of suitable barrier metal into a contact opening through a silicon dioxide insulating layer down to bare silicon. The barrier metal may be reacted with the silicon to form a silicide-to-silicon junction (for example Pt is deposited and reacted to form transistor clamping and Ti is deposited and reacted to form TiSi2 and is used as a low barrier diode for logic circuits) or may be left unreacted and form a metal-to silicon junction (for example TiW is used as a low barrier diode and Al as a high barrier diode on n-type silicon). Note that the reaction with silicon: that is, a metal is uniformly deposited but only the portion in contact with bare silicon reacts so the unreacted metal away from the silicon can be selectively removed. Of course, a silicide could be directly deposited which would avoid the need for reaction of the metal with the silicon but would not yield a self-aligned structure.

Process for obtaining high barrier Schottky diode and local interconnect


A system for resupplying power to self-contained mobile equipment, including a fixed station having an external power source and consisting of a high-frequency generator and an induction coil as well as, on or in the equipment, a pick-up coil, a current filtering and rectifying device, a rechargeable battery pack, and a microcomputer-controlled tracking system. The microcomputer is connected to the drive control system of the equipment and applies a drive algorithm to the fixed station when the battery charge level drops below a predetermined level, the algorithm being based on a measurement of the high-frequency generator signal reception strength gradient.

The present invention is directed to an arrangement, a positioning and an energy supply system for self-contained mobile robots.
In order for a mobile robot to be completely autonomous, it is necessary for the robot to be supplied by an energy source without any external intervention.
A solution to this problem, only available if the robot is operative outdoors, is to use the ambient light which is converted into electricity by means of photovoltaic cells located on the illuminated surface of the device. The electricity so produced may be used immediately or may be stored in a rechargeable battery. This will free the robot from the energy supply constraint.
The photovoltaic cell system will limit the use of the robot to operations requiring a low power consumption and to a use in the open air which will make it dependent on the sunshine conditions. Other solutions have been contemplated in the context of the automatic re-filling of fuel reservoirs for internal combustion engine devices. The automatic connection to an electric network for the recharge of a battery of a device with an electric motor has also been contemplated.
These solutions require a precise positioning of the robot and a physical connection to the recharging or refuelling system.
The localisation by the robot of the point of re-supplying requires also a relatively complicated guiding system, for example by means of electric wires.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,416 discloses an autonomous mobile robot able to automatically join a resupplying station when the level of a rechargeable battery drops below a predetermined value. The positioning of such robot is however determined at all times and the motion in direction of the recharge station is effected according to a predetermined path. Such a system is complicated and requires frequent positioning calibrations. Moreover, in this document, a physical connection is required for the recharging operation, more particularly by means of a retractable arm.
The object of the invention is to overcome these difficulties and disadvantages.
According to the invention, a mobile self-contained robot is provided, able to re-supply itself with energy without having to physically be connected to a re-supplying source, without a precise positioning and with the use of the source itself as part of a positioning and guiding system for the resupplying in energy.
In normal operation, the robot moves in its working zone whose limits, for example determined by obstacles or a metallic wire, are detected in a known manner by appropriated sensors located on or in the robot.

Power supply system for self-contained mobile robots


Systems, methods, and/or techniques (“tools”) for improved search techniques for page-based document layouts are described herein. The tools may analyze markup elements defined for pages within source documents, and may determine whether the markup elements for the page may include at least part of a search string.

Traditionally, viewable documents have been stored as a set of pages. When a user wishes to view a document, all pages of the document would be opened, loaded into memory, and presented to the user upon demand. This approach may consume excessive memory, with portions of the documents being loaded despite the fact that the user may never demand to view them. However, page-based markup documents are becoming more widely used. With page-based markup documents, pages are retrieved, marked up, and loaded into memory upon demand, resulting in reduced memory consumption and faster performance.
When a user wishes to, for example, search for a given string within a page-based markup document, this may present challenges. To do a comprehensive search, all pages of the markup document may be loaded and rendered before the precise location of the search string can be determined. Assuming that loading and rendering each page takes a given amount of time, the overall search process would take at least that given amount of time, multiplied by the total number of pages in the document. For some documents, this scenario may be unacceptable, and may result in excessively lengthy search times.

Search techniques for page-based document layouts


An apparatus for measuring the loss factor of an insulator for medium or high voltages is equipped with a tap adapter forming a point for picking up an electrical signal, and comprises a reference capacitor having a first electrode connected to the tap adapter and a second electrode; a first voltage detection module is connected to the first electrode of the reference capacitor for detecting a signal representative of the voltage applied to the reference capacitor; an active electronic device is connected to earth and to the second electrode of the reference capacitor for keeping the potential of the second electrode at a predetermined reference value; a second voltage detection module is connected to an output of the active electronic device in order to detect a signal representative of the electric current that flows through the reference capacitor.

For monitoring a three-phase high-voltage transformer by measuring quantities correlated with the loss factor, several solutions are known in the prior art, described briefly below.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,382 describes a sensor having a resistor between a tap adapter and earth (coupled to a capture instrument by a measuring transformer).
This solution allows measurement only of a signal correlated with the current that flows through the insulation, whereas quantities indicating the voltage applied to the insulation cannot be measured.
Besides this limitation, this technical solution has some drawbacks linked to the presence of the inductive coupling (that is, the measuring transformer), including the risk of introducing unwanted displacements, thus reducing measuring precision because of the additional impedance devices used, and narrowing the sensor's detection bandwidth.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,927,562 describes a sensor comprising a reference capacitor connected across the tap adapter and earth. Thus, a measurement of the voltage is taken at the capacitor electrode connected to the tap adapter, for detecting a signal indicating the voltage applied to the reference capacitor.
This solution, too, however, is not free of drawbacks in that it allows measurement only of a signal correlated with the voltage along the insulation whereas it does not allow detection of any signal indicating the current travelling in the insulation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,263 describes a sensor equipped with a capacitive divider for detecting a signal indicating the voltage applied to the reference capacitor. Further, the device of U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,263 is configured to make a comparison with a reference source.
The disadvantage of this device, however, is that does not allow detection of any signal indicating the current flowing through the insulation.
It should be noted that often, in the field of devices for detecting signals correlated with the tan delta in a medium- or high-voltage insulator, the need is also felt to maximize the passband so as to detect a signal useful both for estimating the tan delta (in that case it is necessary to detect components in low frequency) and for detecting current pulses correlated with partial discharges, if any, present in the insulation (in that case it is necessary to detect components in high frequency).
In effect, it is known that estimating the loss factor and analysing the partial discharges are two different and, in certain respects, complementary techniques of diagnosing an insulation system and in many cases it is desirable to use both techniques in combination.
In light of this, it should be noted that U.S. Pat. No. 6,433,557 describes a circuit for picking up the signal from the tap adapter and comprising a reference capacitor connected across the tap adapter and earth, and an inductive coupling (that is, a signal transformer) coupled to the circuit leg formed by the reference capacitor.
This system is designed to measure simultaneously a signal indicating a voltage applied to the insulator (having only low frequency components) and a signal indicating high-frequency current pulses).
This solution, however, has the disadvantage of not allowing detection of a signal indicating the current flowing in the insulation and having low-frequency components useful for the tan delta.
This circuit also has the disadvantage of requiring the presence of the signal transformer (that is, of an inductive coupling), leading to problems of displacement, use of additional impedance devices and bandwidth limitations (similarly to what is stated above in connection with U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,382.
More generally, it should be noted that the above mentioned devices have the following limitations.
With these devices it is not possible to directly detect a set of data sufficient to directly derive (that is, estimate by calculation) the tan delta. In effect, it should be noted that to perform a true volt-amp measurement, it would be necessary to measure the high voltage applied to the insulation, but such a measurement is not performed because of the excessive risks and drawbacks consequent upon the high level of the voltage. involved (so much so that the tap adapter is used).
In light of this, all the prior art systems are unable to provide significant data for estimating the tan delta based on values measured at a given point in time; thus, the data provided by the prior art devices mentioned above are used for relative processing, that is to say, for comparison with previously detected data (time-trend analysis) or for comparisons between the data measured in the different phases of a poly-phase transformer.
From patent document JP56112662A it is known a measuring apparatus for measuring the loss factor of capacity element. In this apparatus a current/voltage converter is directly connected to the measured element (which, in turn, is connected to a voltage source); indeed, said apparatus does not comprise any reference capacitor.
Therefore, the apparatus of JP56112662A could not be used to measure the loss factor of a medium or high voltage capacitor, where the capacitor itself is accessible through a tap adapter and the voltage source is not accessible.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for measuring the dissipation factor of an insulator


An in line fluid pressure regulating and pressure relief device having a regulator body with an axial bore therethrough with an inlet chamber conectable to a source of fluid under pressure and an outlet chamber connect able to a device requiring fluid under substantially constant pressure. A fluid pressure regulator located in the regulator body maintains fluid pressure at the outlet chamber at a constant predetermined level. A bleed piston located in the axial bore between the inlet chamber and to the pressure regulating means loses contact with said pressure regulating piston when the pressurized fluid source is removed from the regulator or drops below a certain level relieving substantially all pressure in said exit chamber and any attached device passively rendering the device inoperable.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fluid pressure regulators used with mechanical or other devices requiring a regulated constant flow of fluid pressure for powering operation of the device. More particularly it relates to an in line pressure regulator for tools which both regulates the pressure received by the tool from a conventional fluid pressure source during operation, and, passively relieves leftover pressure inside the tool and regulator when the pressure regulator is disconnected from the pressure source or when the pressure source is turned and vented.
2. Prior Art
Pressure regulators are commonly used in the United States and throughout the world to regulate the pressure received by pneumatic and hydraulic tools for compressors or other pressure sources. Most such tools have an optimum range of operation for the pressurized fluid stream which provides them energy to operate. However, most compressors and other conventionally used pressurized fluid stream sources operate at fluid pressures above the optimum range required by the tool connected to them.
Common power tools such as pneumatic air hammers which drive nails into wood on construction sites, pneumatic staplers, and pneumatic and hydraulic saws used in construction, butcher shops, and even dentist offices, require a constant regulated fluid stream to operate effectively. Currently such a regulated pressurized fluid stream is maintained by a fluid pressure regulator located between the conventional pressurized fluid source and the connected tool.
There exists a common hazard with all such devices when connected to a source of compressed fluid. When the conventional source of the pressurized fluid is disconnected from the inlet side of a conventional pressure regulator, pressurized fluid remains in the tool and on the regulated exit side of the regulator. The disconnection from the fluid source thus provides a false sense of security to the user because the tool, having a pressurized fluid source still available in the regulator and the tool itself, is still capable of operation for another cycle if the tool trigger is activated.
Many a carpenter has been seriously injured by an "unloaded" nail gun thinking that the tool would not operate after it was disconnected from a compressor line. Severe injury has also been caused by the operation of rotary saws and drills which will also operate for a short time on the reservoir of pressurized fluid that exists between the outlet of current regulators and the tool itself.
There are a number of approaches advanced in prior art which address either the safety disconnect issue or the pressure regulating requirements. However, prior art fails to address both requirements leaving a constant hazard to users of such devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,683, Jentsch et al., teaches a safety bleed stop hose coupling for pneumatic tools. Jentsch notes the extreme hazard to tool users who disconnect the tool from a pressurized line feeding the tool. If the line is disconnected while under pressure the line can seriously injure the user. Jentsch solves this problem with a telltale hiss sound alerting the user to the pressure still contained in the line. The user therein can activate a bleed valve to release the pressure and then disconnect the tool. However, Jentsch offers no pressure regulation means and requires an affirmative action by the user to release the pent up pressure in the line which is easily forgotten on a busy job site.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,524,465, Sadler, teaches an in line pressure regulation device wherein pressure received on the inlet side is transferred to the outlet side and excess pressure beyond a predetermined point is relieved through a bleed valve. However, Sadler in operation would still allow pressure at the predetermined amount to stay in the tool used and the outlet side of the regulator upon release of pressure feeding the inlet. Thus, while the tool received pressurized fluid at a predetermined amount, that pressure is not released upon disconnecting from the source and poses an extreme hazard to tool users who unaware that the tool will still operate.
Pressure regulation is also taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,518 Fisher et al. Fisher however addresses only the problem of excess pressure in lines caused by excess pressure from the source or a blockage of a return line in a hydraulic system. Fisher does not allow for the release of line pressure upon disconnecting from a pressure source and is not intended to be a constant pressure regulation device.
Safety in the control of a power tool is addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,970,110 Schaedler et al. Schaedler teaches a safety switch at the trigger of a power tool which must be concurrently activated with a separate trigger switch to allow operation of the tool. However, Schaedler does not allow for constant fluid pressure regulation or passive release of pressure upon disconnecting from the pressure source. Thus the tool may operate if the user concurrently activates the safety and the trigger using pressure stored in the tool even if disconnected from a power source.
Another method of addressing the safety concerns in power tools is advanced by U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,273 McCullough et al. MuCullough teaches and electronic sensing means which monitors the users grasping of the tool and power supply line. If the user grasps both the tool and the supply line, the electronic sensing means will allow the tool to operate upon activation of the trigger by the user. However if the supply line is not held at the same time as the tool, the electronic sensing means will not allow the tool to operate. Once both the tool and the supply line are released by the operator, the electronic sensing means de-energizes the tool. MuCullough however requires the use of a complicated electronic sensing means which would not fare well in the rough use of construction workers and it provides no pressure regulation means.
There thus exists the need for an in line fluid pressure regulating device providing fluid at a relatively constant predetermined pressure which also provides the safety of passive release of the pressurized fluid left in the regulation device and in the connected tool operated by the pressurized fluid.

In line pressure regulator valve with passive pressure release


A control method is provided for controlling a heating of a thermal optical element, the thermal optical element having a matrix of heater elements. The method includes stabilizing a nominal temperature of the thermal optical element with a feedback loop to control the heating of heater elements; providing a desired temperature profile of the thermal optical element by a set point signal; determining a feedforward control of the heater elements from the set point signal; and forwardly feeding an output of the feedforward control into the feedback loop.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lithographic apparatus and a method for controlling a thermal optical manipulator.
2. Description of the Related Art
A lithographic apparatus is a machine that applies a desired pattern onto a substrate, usually onto a target portion of the substrate. A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In such a case, a patterning device, which is alternatively referred to as a mask or a reticle, may be used to generate a circuit pattern to be formed on an individual layer of the IC. This pattern can be transferred onto a target portion (e.g. including part of, one, or several dies) on a substrate (e.g. a silicon wafer). Transfer of the pattern is typically via imaging onto a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist) provided on the substrate. In general, a single substrate will contain a network of adjacent target portions that are successively patterned. Conventional lithographic apparatus include so-called steppers, in which each target portion is irradiated by exposing an entire pattern onto the target portion at once, and so-called scanners, in which each target portion is irradiated by scanning the pattern through a radiation beam in a given direction (the "scanning"-direction) while synchronously scanning the substrate parallel or anti-parallel to this direction. It is also possible to transfer the pattern from the patterning device to the substrate by imprinting the pattern onto the substrate.
In the projection system of such lithographic apparatus, or in general in any optical system, aberrations may occur due to e.g. thermal effects in optical elements. As an example, a lens of the projection system may be subjected to a thermal profile, which may lead to differences in refractive index of a material of the lens, as the refractive index may show a temperature dependency. Thermal differences in optical elements may occur due to various causes: absorption of some of the radiation may cause an increase in temperature, gas flows may lead to a local increase or decrease of a surface temperature of an optical element, etc. To be able to at least partly compensate for such aberrations, a thermal optical element has been devised, as disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/593,648, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Such thermal optical element is provided with a matrix of heater elements arranged on a surface thereof, each heater element e.g. consisting of a layer of conductive material and being able to be provided with electrical power to heat the heater element. The heater elements may thereby form a matrix, each of the heater elements may be provided with a suitable amount of electrical power to generate a suitable amount of heat thereby bringing the respective part of the thermal optical element to a suitable temperature.
Controlling a heating of each of the heater elements of the matrix may lead to a highly complex control structure. Furthermore, many parasitic effects would have to be taken into account. For example, conductors toward each of the heater elements of the matrix will provide for an amount of electrical dissipation in other parts of the thermal optical element.

Lithographic apparatus and thermal optical manipulator control method


Techniques involving a mobile computing device having a flexible hinge structure are described. In one or more implementations, a mobile computing device includes a plurality of housings, a display device that is flexible, and a flexible hinge structure. The flexible hinge structure secures the plurality of housings to each other, permits the plurality of housings to rotate about an axis in relation to each other, and supports a continuous viewing area of the display device that extends across the plurality of housings and the flexible hinge structure.

Mobile computing devices may be found in a variety of form factors, such as a tablet, a mobile communications device (e.g., a phone), and so forth. As these form factors are optimized for mobile use, a size of the device becomes a primary consideration in its design and implementation as well as in a choice made by a consumer as to which device to purchase.
A user, for instance, may purchase a mobile phone having a relatively small display device to make phone calls, text, and so on. If a larger display device is desired, a user may also purchase a tablet to answer emails, browser the Internet, and so on. Additionally, form factors have been developed that represent a compromise between these form factors, such as a "phablet" that may have decreased mobility due to an increase in size of a display device. As such, conventional mobile computing device form factors often forced a user to make a choice regarding a form factor that may involve a compromise between these form factors (e.g., a "phablet"), purchase of multiple devices, and so on.

Mobile computing device having a flexible hinge structure


A method is disclosed for greatly reducing pacing polarization of a porous platinum bioelectrical stimulation electrode substrate by applying an oscillating current to the electrode substrate while it is immersed in an electrolyte such as a sodium sulfate solution to electrochemically cause the formation of a thick, highly porous platinum hydrous oxide surface layer on the substrate. The surface layer is then slowly reduced to platinum, while maintaining an increased surface area structure therein, using a similar electrochemical process employing much lower levels of current. This method does not alter the electrode characteristics other than to increase the microsurface area. The reduced polarization follows from the known inverse relationship between microsurface area and polarization. An electrode made by the foregoing method is also disclosed.

Bioelectrical stimulation electrodes may be judged according to many criteria, two of which are biocompatability with tissues in the body and low polarization impedance. Electrochemically, "polarization impedance" is a term which describes the inefficiency of an electrode in transferring energy to or from adjacent body tissues. Polarization impedance is a measure of the energy consumed in electrochemical reactions at the electrode-tissue interface. A low polarization impedance is important for stimulating the heart because a suprathreshold stimulating current can be applied to the heart which causes only slight potential changes. Therefore, electrochemical reactions with the body fluid are suppressed and the energy expenditure required for stimulating the heart is greatly reduced. Furthermore, a low polarization impedance is desirable for sensing intrinsic or natural bioelectrical signals, because for such intrinsic signals only a small measurement current flows and low polarization electrodes reduce the demands made on the input impedance of the sensing amplifiers. The practical result of using low polarization electrodes is to lessen the noise detected during the sensing of a bioelectrical signal. In addition, sophisticated bioelectrical stimulation devices may perform analysis of intrinsic bioelectrical signals and evoked potentials. Low polarization electrodes promote the capability to analyze these signals by abating problems arising from polarization artifact and noise signals, which otherwise could obscure desired physiological signals. Porous platinum electrode surfaces are especially desirable in this regard because of their high degree of biocompatability and their superior electrical properties.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,408,604, entitled "Porous Pacemaker Electrode Tip" granted on Oct. 11, 1983 to M. S. Hirshorn et al. discloses a porous pacemaker electrode tip comprising a concavo-convex electrode cap having a plurality of apertures therethrough and an electrode shaft having a supporting edge formed thereon to which the concave surface of the electrode is joined. The porous cardiac pacemaker electrode is formed by deforming a platinum plate onto a concavo-convex shaped cap member, thereby forming a plurality of selectively spaced apertures through the electrode cap member to make the electrode cap substantially porous.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,492, entitled "Low-Polarization Low-Threshold Electrode" granted to G. A. Bornzin on Mar. 5, 1985 teaches a cardiac pacing lead electrode having a low impedance by virtue of a platinum black coating and a novel geometry, involving circular grooves and tines to bring the electrode into contact with the endocardial wall in roughly a perpendicular configuration with respect to the grooves.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,752, entitled "Implantable Device having Porous Surface with Carbon Coating", issued Sep. 24, 1985 to A. DeHaan et al. discloses an electrode having the advantage of a low polarization impedance, which is accomplished by means of a porous carbon coating overlying a porous substrate or surface of an implantable device. The procedure for forming this porous carbon coating involves depositing a plasma coating by subjecting the substrate surface to a gaseous environment. This degrades the hydrocarbon in the substrate to form the porous carbon lattice structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,704, entitled "Electrode for Medical Applications", granted on Aug. 5, 1986 to K. Mund et al. describes a low polarization electrode comprising an electrically conductive carrier material and a porous layer in its active region, which is composed of a carbide, nitride or carbonite of one of the metals titanium, vanadium, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, hafnium, tantalum or tungsten. The porous layers are applied to the substrate by means of physical vapor deposition.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,604, entitled "Bipolar Electrode for Medical Applications" issued to L Bodvidsson et al on Sep. 16, 1986 teaches an electrode with low polarization which is achieved by means of a toughened or porous material surface (e.g. a sintered metal alloy), underlying a layer of activated glassy carbon that has an extremely high double layer capacitance of up to 0.1 F/cm.sup.2. The best porous material surface is provided by a layer of a carbide, nitride or carbonitride of at least one of the metals titanium, vanadium, zirconium niobium, molybdenum, hafnium, tantalum or tungsten. The porous carbide, nitride or carbonium layers are situated upon an electrically conductive carrier material, for example platinum, titanium or a metal alloy such as Elgiloy.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,100, entitled "Method for the Fabrication of an Implantable Electrode", issued on Sep. 16, 1986 to M. Edeling et al. teaches a procedure for manufacturing an implantable stimulation electrode having a body portion with an outer surface, in which a layer of vitreous carbon is sputtered from a target of vitreous carbon onto at least a portion of the outer surface of the electrode body.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,937, entitled "Etched Grooved Electrode for Pacing Lead and Method for Making Same", issued Mar. 17, 1987 to A. DeHaan et al. provides a low impedance electrode having a plurality of grooves etched into the surface of the tip electrode to expand its surface area. The enlarged surface area lessens the polarization of the electrode while maintaining the overall diameter of the electrode so that the large surface area is within a small displaced surface area to ensure an electric current flow which is sufficient to cause muscle depolarization of the heart.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,572, entitled "Low Threshold Cardiac Pacing Electrodes", and U.S Pat. No. 4,762,136, entitled "Low Polarization Pacing Electrodes for Capture Verification", issued to R. G. Baker, Jr. on Jul. 14, 1987 and Aug. 9, 1988, respectively, disclose pacing electrodes which achieve low polarization by using an iridium oxide layer overlying the surface of the stimulating cathode.
Each of the aforementioned patents describes low polarization cardiac pacing leads, wherein the low polarization character of the leads is provided by either the application of special coatings to the pacing electrodes or by etching geometrical structures into an electrode. Either alternative increases the complexity of the process of manufacture for a pacing lead and raises the cost of a lead. What is desired is a method for reducing the polarization of a pacing lead that does not require application of a coating to an electrode and does not require painstaking application of solvents, etching solutions and photosensitive solutions which are required in the etching process.
It is known in the field of electrochemistry that the surface of metal electrodes immersed in aqueous solutions can be substantially modified by applying periodic electrical potentials of various waveforms. (For example, see A. Visintin et al., "Growth Modes of Platinum Overlayers Resulting from Square Wave Perturbing Potential Treatments of Different Symmetries", in J. Electrical Chem., Vol. 267, pp. 191-205, 1989.) The surface area of an electrode is electrochemically changed by varying the relative proportion of crystallographic faces through a process of electrochemical faceting and by producing different particular surface morphologies.
The work in the field of electrochemistry generally refers to a method for increasing the surface area of electrodes for usage in electrocatalysis. Heretofore, none of these electrochemical methods are known to have been applied to bioelectrical stimulation leads or electrodes. None of these electrochemical methods are known to have been applied to bioelectrical stimulation leads or electrodes for the purpose of increasing the surface area of pacing electrodes. Furthermore, none of these electrochemical methods are known to have been applied to bioelectrical stimulation leads or electrodes for the purpose of reducing the polarization of stimulating electrodes.
The object of the present invention is to provide a method for reducing the polarization of a stimulating lead without the necessity of applying a coating to the electrode. The present invention achieves low polarization by rearranging or roughening, by electrochemical means, the outer platinum layers of an electrode, resulting in a substantially increased microscopic electrode surface area.
What is also desired is a method for reducing the polarization of a stimulating lead which can reduce the polarization of a wide range of existing pacing leads. The method of the present invention may be applied to all existing noble metal-based pacemaker electrodes.
Furthermore, it is desired to reduce the polarization of leads in a simple, relatively fast, simply automated and easily implemented process which may take place on a production floor.

Method for reducing the polarization of bioelectrical stimulation leads using surface enhancement, and product made thereby


A method of producing components, such as a door modules with electrical wires and connectors, is provided. The door module includes a substrate material with conductor tracks arranged therein. Electrical wires, which preferably have connectors at the ends, are placed into the conductor tracks. The substrate is then placed in a mold and filled with foamed plastic to encase the wires and form the door module. The connectors protrude from the door module to permit electrical components to be attached to the connectors.

This invention relates to a door module for a vehicle, and more specifically, the invention relates to a method of forming a door module about electrical wires and connectors.
In motor vehicle construction as well as in numerous other fields of application, components with corresponding cable harnesses must be arranged on a mounting plate, and fastened there by a wide variety of methods, before they are finally fitted. Typically, the harnesses are secured by only a few attachment points. The mounting plate often consists of metal and offers only few possibilities of integrating the required components. In vehicle construction, problems arise in this respect particularly with the door modules, in which inadequate fastening of the cable harnesses leads to rattling and the fitting of the various components requires considerable installation times.
It is desireable that the harness be supported along its entire length as opposed to being attached only by a few points to the mounting plate. Therefore, what are needed are electrical conductor tracks that are reliably laid and which allows additional components or molded parts to be easily integrated. Furthermore, the laid conductor tracks are to be optionally protected from physical effects, such as vibration or moisture.
The present invention provides a component such as a door module which includes electrical wires and connectors. The door module includes a substrate material with conductor tracks arranged therein. Electrical wires, which preferably have connectors at the ends, are placed into the conductor tracks. The substrate is then placed in a mold and filled with foamed plastic to encase the wires and form the door module. The connectors protrude from the door module to permit electrical components to be attached to the connectors.
Accordingly, the above invention provides electrical conductor tracks that are reliably laid and which allows additional components or molded parts to be easily integrated. Furthermore, the laid conductor are to be optionally protected from physical effects, such as vibration or moisture.

Door module with electrical wires and connectors


An apparatus and method for correcting a scanning error in a flatbed scanner, can minimize the scanning error due to deviations in position or scanning of a CCD (charge-coupled device) module by determining a scanning position, a scan region, and a scan rate for each flatbed scanner. The scanning error correcting apparatus includes a white shading plate having a black patch, a reading module for reading the white shading plate and the black patch, and a controller that compares information about the black patch read by the reading module with a predetermined reference value to correct the scanning error in the flatbed scanner. Thus, the apparatus and method can secure a scanning region in horizontal and vertical directions as wide as possible for each flatbed scanner and prevent occurrences of errors in a scanned image due to deviations of the CCD module. Furthermore, the apparatus and method provide an accurately scanned image having a desired scan rate by comparing right and left sizes and the entire scan size for a currently scanned region.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a flatbed scanner, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for correcting a scanning error due to a deviation in the position of a charge-coupled device (CCD) module of a flatbed scanner.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a flatbed scanner, a CCD module emits light onto a transparent glass of a flatbed, focuses light reflected from a document that sits on the transparent glass, and reads the image of the document. To accomplish this, upon application of power to the flatbed scanner, the CCD module moves until a home position is detected. If the home position is detected, the CCD module moves to a white shading plate in order to set white shading. Then, if the white shading is set through a white shading plate, the CCD module moves to a scan start line of the transparent glass in order to start an actual scanning operation.
A conventional flatbed scanner moves the CCD module to the home position using a home position sensor provided therein. The flatbed scanner controls other movements of the CCD module, i.e., the movements of the CCD module from the home position to the white shading plate and from the white shading plate to the scan start line, by using values which are pre-computed considering the distances the CCD module is to be moved.
However, since the pre-computed values do not vary depending on the type of flatbed scanner but are determined from a standard flatbed scanner, any deviations in the movement of the CCD module may cause distortions in a resultant image.
For example, if deviations in the position of the CCD module occur such that the scan start line is not detected exactly, Y-registration may occur such that a vertical line, which does not exist in a real image, exists at the top of the scanned image. Furthermore, since a conventional flatbed scanner operates to set the position of a first pixel on a document at a predetermined value, for example, 130 pixels, if an image is scanned such that the first pixel is positioned in front of the predetermined value due to a deviation in the position of the CCD module, the content of the document in front of the predetermined value is shielded by a scan-upper to produce a vertical line that does not exist in the real image on the left portion of the document.
Furthermore, a conventional flatbed scanner does not consider a skew that results when the CCD module is slanted to the right or left, thereby obtaining an unexpected scanned image due to skew of CCD module.
In addition, a conventional flatbed scanner does not consider the right and left magnifications of a scanning image, thereby failing to obtain a scanning image having an accurate scan rate due to a scanning deviation of a CCD module. For example, even if an image having a scan rate of 100% is desired, an image having a scan rate of 105% or 95% may result.

Method and apparatus for correcting scanning error in flatbed scanner


In an RTV organopolysiloxane composition comprising a hydroxy-terminated diorganopolysiloxane and an organic silicon compound having at least three hydrolyzable groups, there is blended calcium carbonate which has been treated with 1-2.5% by weight of an agent having a melting or softening point of at least 100.degree. C. or a saturated fatty acid having at least 21 carbon atoms. The composition is adhesive to even surface treated aluminum plates and maintain a firm bond under water immersion and at elevated temperatures.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to room temperature vulcanizable organopolysiloxane compositions which are readily vulcanizable with moisture in the air to form rubbery elastomers having improved water immersion and thermoresistant adhesion.
2. Prior Art
Room temperature vulcanizable (RTV) organopolysiloxane compositions which readily cure with moisture to form rubbery elastomers are well-known in the art. They are widely used in a variety of fields as adhesives, coatings, electrically insulating sealants, and building sealants because the cured elastomers have excellent characteristics including weather resistance, durability and freeze resistance.
Recently, acryl resin and fluoro-resin electrodeposited aluminum members featuring weather resistance and having a less adhesive surface have been utilized as building exterior materials. RTV organopolysiloxane compositions do not firmly bond to such aluminum members surface coated with acryl resins and fluoro-resins. The organopolysiloxane compositions applied to the surface coated aluminum members also suffer from the problem that they become peeled when immersed in water for a long time.
Known RTV organopolysiloxane compositions are often loaded with calcium carbonate as a filler. For example, JP-A 39422/1993 discloses the use of calcium carbonate which has been treated with 3% by weight of a treating agent in the form of rhodinic acid. The use of calcium carbonate as a filler is also proposed in JP-A 179760/1995 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,889 (issued Apr. 11, 1995). Allegedly these compositions are also improved in anti-spitting and adhesion. These compositions, however, are not satisfactory in water immersion and thermoresistant adhesion to less adhesive surface coatings on aluminum members and mortar.
It was proposed by Dow Corning Toray Silicone Co. to use a filler blend of calcium carbonate treated with stearic acid and fumed silica. In water immersion and heating tests, however, the stearic acid on the surface of calcium carbonate leaches out to adversely affect the adhesion. This proposal is thus not satisfactory in performance.


Disclosed is a CPP type giant magnetoresistance device (10, 20, 50) capable of exhibiting a giant magnetoresistance effect by spin dependent current in a direction perpendicular to a film plane as well as magnetic components and units using the device. The CPP type giant magnetoresistance device has a multi-layered structure of an antiferromagnetic layer (9), a ferromagnetic fixed layer (11, 11A), a nonmagnetic conductive layer (12) and a ferromagnetic free layer (13, 13A) wherein the ferromagnetic free layer (13, 13A) has a first magnetic layer (14, 14A) and a second magnetic layer (16, 16A) magnetically coupled together antiparallel to each other via a magnetic coupler (15, 15A) and formed to have different magnitudes of magnetization (17, 17′; 18, 18A) from each other. Electrons (5) with upward spin and electrons (6) with downward spin are scattered spin-dependently according to orientations in magnetization of the ferromagnetic fixed layer (11, 11A) and the ferromagnetic free layer (13, 13A) and are allowed to trace paths (1, 2, 3, 4) whereby the CPP-GMR is increased. Also, in a CPP type giant magnetoresistance device (30) having a ferromagnetic fixed layer (11), a nonmagnetic conductive layer (12) and a ferromagnetic free layer (13A), there may be a layer (21) made of one or more of ruthenium, iridium, rhodium, rhenium and chromium between the ferromagnetic fixed layer (11) and the nonmagnetic conductive layer (12) and/or on a surface of the ferromagnetic free layer (13A).

In recent years there has been developed a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) effect device that is made of a ferromagnetic layer, a nonmagnetic metal layer and a ferromagnetic layer laid adjacent one to another. The GMR is due to spin dependent scattering at an interface and is based on the fact that two ferromagnetic layers, when their magnetizations are switched to orient parallel or antiparallel to each other on controlled application of external magnetic filed, have a change in electrical resistance.
GMR devices have already been put to practical use as in magnetic sensors and reproducing heads in hard disk drives. Then, current is passed in a film plane, when the GMR device is called "CIP-GMR" device where CIP stands for Current In Plane. The CIP-GMR device generally makes use of an element called what is of spin valve in which an antiferromagnet is brought adjacent to one of the ferromagnets to fix spins in the one ferromagnet. On the other hand, there has also been known a GMR device called what is of "CPP" (which stands for Current Perpendicular to the Plane) type in which current is passed in a direction perpendicular to a film plane.
It is further known that generally CPP-GMR is greater in magnitude than CIP-GMR. Using such CPP-GMR, there is the proposed development to a CPP-type giant magnetoresistive effect device in which spiral magnetic domains generated by a sense current in a free magnetic layer are controlled to develop and then to a reproducing head using the device. See, the Japanese laid open patent application, for example, JP 2002-359415 A.
There are also proposals to apply a spin valve structure to a densified recording head to improve its head characteristics. See the Japanese laid open patent application, for example, JP 2002-124721 A.
There is also a proposal by the present inventors for a three-layer structure having antiparallel magnetizations identical in magnitude. See the Japanese laid open patent application, JP H09-251621 A.
A CPP-GMR device so far proposed is small in resistance, however, since its current path is small. Being poor in utility unless it is made enough smaller, the device has not yet been put to practical use.
Although in the CPP-GMR device, too, the spin valve type has been considered having an antiferromagnetic layer 81 brought adjacent to a ferromagnetic fixed layer 82 as shown in FIG. 10, the antiferromagnetic layer 81 is larger in resistance than a GMR film made of a ferromagnetic free layer 84, a nonmagnetic conductive layer 83 and the ferromagnetic fixed layer 82 to an extent that the spin valve element then will generally have to have its rate of resistance change as small as less than 1% and its resistance change ΔR that is small, too. This becomes a primary and large factor that prevents a CPP-GMR device from its practical use.
Therefore, a problem that prevents a conventional spin valve type CPP-GMR device from its practical use is that it is small in resistance change ΔR and rate of change of magnetic resistance.
The present inventors have discovered that coupling a pair of ferromagnetic layers antiparallel to each other via a nonmagnetic metal layer while using this three-layer structure (SyAF) with different magnitudes of magnetization for a free and/or a fixed layer gives rise to a CPP-GMR device of spin valve type of which ΔR is large and the rate of change of magnetic resistance is increased to 8% or more and then have reached the present invention.

CPP-type giant manetoresistance effect element and magnetic component and magnetic device using it


An inspection apparatus includes a memory for storing shape information including a plurality of line segments representing a shape of an object; and a processor coupled to the memory and the processor that detects a plurality of feature lines from an image of the object, generates a plurality of combinations obtained by correlating each of the plurality of line segments and each of the plurality of feature lines with each other, generates a plurality of projection lines by projecting each of the plurality of line segments onto the image, sets a threshold value with respect to an error between a position of the projection lines and a position of the feature lines of the line segments included in each of the plurality of combinations based on a statistical value of the error, and classifies the plurality of combinations using the threshold value.

In recent years, systems that display images using augmented reality (AR) technology have become widespread. In an example of the AR technology, an object is captured using a camera mounted on a personal computer (PC), a portable terminal device, and the like, and the position and orientation of the camera in three-dimensional space are estimated from the image of the object. Then, based on the determined position and orientation of the camera, the content information is superimposed and displayed at a certain position in the image.
An inspection of products at the work site where the products are manufactured is often performed by skilled workers over a period of time using a dedicated jig. However, if workers other than skilled workers may easily perform the inspection, it will be possible to reduce the inspection cost.
There is known a technique of superimposing a model image of a spatial structure on a shot image in a manner such that an edge line extracted from the shot image and a ridge line included in the model image overlap with each other (for example, see Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2017-91078). There is also known a technique of estimating a position of an image capturing apparatus by using the predetermined number of combinations obtained by correlating projection lines obtained by projecting candidate lines included in shape information of an object onto an image to feature lines detected from the images (for example, see Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2017-182302). There is also known a technique of displaying statistical information of an error representing an amount of displacement between an edge position of a workpiece image and a position on a master image corresponding to the edge position along the edge position (for example, see Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2012-32344).
There is also known a technique such as camera calibration, line segment detection, spatial mechanical perception, orientation estimation from line correspondences, and robust regression method for computer vision (for example, see Z. Zhang, "A Flexible New Technique for Camera Calibration", IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, Vol. 22, No. 11, pp. 1330-1334, November 2000, R. G. Gioi et al., "LSD: a Line Segment Detector", Image Processing On Line, 2 (2012), pp. 35-55, March 2012, L. G. Roberts, "Machine perception of three-dimensional solids", MIT Lincoln Lab. Rep., TR 3315, pp. 1-82, May 1963, C. Xu et al., "Pose Estimation from Line Correspondences: A Complete Analysis and a Series of Solutions", IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, Vol. 39, No. 6, pp. 1209-1222, June 2017, and P. Meer et al., "Robust Regression Methods for Computer Vision: A Review", International Journal of Computer Vision, Vol. 6, Issue 1, pp. 59-70, April 1991).

Inspection apparatus, inspection method, and computer readable recording medium storing inspection program


A negative electrode including: a current collector; a negative active material layer formed on the current collector; and a polymer coating layer that is formed on the negative active material layer and comprises a fluorinated acrylate type polymer.

1. Field
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to negative electrodes, negative active materials, methods of preparing the negative electrodes, and lithium batteries including the negative electrodes, and more particularly, to negative electrodes with high charge and discharge efficiency and good cycle characteristics, negative active materials, methods of preparing the negative electrodes, and lithium batteries including the negative electrodes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lithium batteries are rechargeable at high rates, and have an energy density per unit three times greater than those of conventional lead storage batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, etc. Since lithium batteries operate at high operating voltages, they are not used together with an aqueous electrolyte solution that is highly reactive to lithium. In general, lithium batteries include an organic electrolyte solution. The organic electrolyte solution is prepared by dissolving a lithium salt in an organic solvent. An organic solvent that is suitable for preparing the organic electrolyte solution may be any one of various solvents that are stable at high voltage and have high ion conductivity, a high dielectric rate, and low viscosity.
If a lithium battery includes a polar carbonate-based and non-aqueous solvent, excess charges are used due to a side reaction between a carbon electrode that is a negative electrode and an electrolyte solution during initial charging, which is an irreversible reaction. Due to the irreversible reaction, a passivation layer such as a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) is formed on the surface of the negative electrode.
During charging and discharging, the SEI prevents decomposition of the electrolyte solution and performs as an ion tunnel. During charging and discharging, the SEI allows only lithium ions to pass therethrough, and blocks flow of the organic solvent moving together with lithium ions in the electrolyte solution.
Only lithium ions are intercalated in the carbon electrode that is a negative electrode and the organic solvent is not cointercalated with the lithium ions, thereby preventing collapsing of the structure of the negative electrode. In general, an additive, such as vinylene carbonate or vinylene sulfate, is used in an electrolyte solution of a lithium battery in order to form a high-quality SEI on the surface of the negative electrode, and the use of the additives leads to higher capacity retention rate, better cycle characteristics, and higher stability of the lithium battery.
However, the greater surface area of the carbon electrode that is a negative electrode and the smaller carbon particle size, for example, a nanoparticle size, bring about more side reactions between the carbon electrode that is a negative electrode and the electrolyte solution and thus, the SEI is not formed. Thus, high capacity retention rate and good cycle characteristics of a lithium battery may not be obtained only by using the additives of the lithium battery.

Negative electrode with fluorinated acrylate polymer coating layer, and lithium battery


A good transport system includes a network of rails and a plurality of trolleys that travel on the rails. Read/write assembles are disposed on the rails and are used to read data from, and to write data on data carriers which are mounted on the trolleys. When a trolley is loaded, data regarding the goods loaded on the trolley is written onto the data carrier. That data is deleted when the goods are unloaded from the trolley.

A transport system for articles is known from WO 98/12313. Transport carts are used for transporting and for the intermediate storage of paper rolls which are intended for use in a printing press. The tracks of this transport system are arranged below the level of the surrounding ground, and the transport carts each have a support plate slightly projecting above the ground level for receiving the paper rolls.
Paper webs of varying properties, such as grain, surface quality, and the like can be used at the same time in a web-fed rotary printing press. They must be brought to the correct roll changer at the correct time. To simplify this process, it is proposed, in WO 98/28213, to equip paper rolls, which are transported in a transport system, with a contactless read/write data support, which can be written on and from which data can be read out by read/write devices installed at defined locations on the tracks. Information regarding important properties of a paper roll can be written on each of these data supports, so that it is possible, by reading out this property with the aid of a read/write device installed at a suitable location, to gain information regarding the properties of the roll present at the location of the read/write device in order to pass this roll, in accordance with its properties, along to a roll changer intended to receive it.
With these previously known transport systems, each roll of material, which is within the range of the transport system, must be equipped with such a read/write data support in order to be automatically correctly transported.
If the data supports are not recovered after a roll of material has been used, the cost of each roll of material is increased by the cost of the data support. However, the recovery of the data supports entails outlay for labor and organization. If the data supports are installed by the manufacturer of the rolls of materials, it is necessary that the user of these rolls of material conveys the data supports from used-up rolls of material back to the manufacturer. If the user of the rolls of material obtains these rolls of material from various different manufacturers, the compatibility of the data support from all of the various different manufacturers must be assured. If the user himself equips the rolls of material with data supports, he is forced to determine the data of each roll of material which is brought within the range of the transport system because of the roll being placed into a storage facility or in other ways, and to enter that data in the data support attached to the roll of material.
Since it is necessary to provide every roll of material within the range of the transport system, in other words possibly the entire stock, with a data support, a large number of data supports are required for implementing the system.
DE 39 42 009 C2 describes a system for the control and monitoring of the distribution of freight. Containers are each provided with a data carrier which can be repeatedly written on.
DE 44 46 203 A1 discloses a method for the digital recording of the circulation of beer barrels.

Goods transport system and method for operating a goods transport system


The present invention provides a heating device and a method for manufacturing a heated molding material. The method uses the heating device to continuously manufacture the heated molding material. The heating device includes a heating chamber for heating a molding material, at least one opening section for feeding or expelling molding material therethrough, and a means for using nitrogen gas or superheated steam to expel oxygen gas present in the heating chamber.

Recently, in the field of machinery, attention has been paid to so-called fiber reinforced molding materials containing reinforcing fibers such as carbon fibers or the like. In such molding materials, fibers are dispersed in the matrix resin, and therefore the materials are excellent in tensile modulus, tensile strength and impact resistance and are now investigated for use for structural members for automobiles, etc. These molding materials can be molded into intended shapes through injection molding, compression molding, etc.
Here, in the case of compression molding of molding materials, the molding materials must be previously heated. In this connection, PTL 1 describes various methods for heating molding materials. PTL 2 describes a method of producing a composite material using superheated steam.

Method for manufacturing heated molding material and device for heating molding material


A technique for testing a memory array. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to a memory array testing architecture in which a memory array within a device under test (DUT) is able to be tested at speeds substantially similar to those under typical operating conditions of the memory array without incurring significant die real estate and power penalties.

Testing of memory arrays, whether embedded within a processor die or external to the processor die, typically requires command, control, and test data to be generated by testing equipment or extensive logic within, or associated with, the device under test (DUT). Commands (e.g., read, write, etc.) typically involve operations to be executed by some state machine or processor within the DUT in order to interact with the memory array. Control typically involves memory addresses or other signals that place the memory array or interfacing logic in a particular state in order to interact with the memory array. Data usually refers to the actual information (normally in bit format) programmed into or read from the memory array.
In order to test the DUT at speeds similar to those under normal operating conditions, testing equipment typically must operate beyond its capability. As a result, the array may not be tested under normal operating conditions, which may result in defects within the array going undetected. In the case in which extensive logic is used within, or at least associated with, the DUT to generate testing command, control, and data, processor power and/or real estate budgets may be compromised in order to accommodate the testing logic.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art memory array testing architecture in which algorithmic pattern generation (APG) logic within the testing equipment is used to generate command, control, and data necessary to test the DUT. In FIG. 1, control, command, and data generated by the testing equipment may be input to the DUT on parallel inputs and translated into a format compatible with the internal bus interface. The translated control, commands, and data may then be transmitted across the internal bus of the DUT where it is further translated within the bus-to-array interface into the test pattern to be applied to the memory array.
In the prior example illustrated in FIG. 1, APG logic within the testing equipment is used to generate the command, control, and data necessary to test the memory array within the OUT. Because memory testing equipment is not typically able to test memory arrays at the speeds at which they are accessed (read or programmed) under normal operating conditions, the testing architecture of FIG. 1 can be deficient in its test coverage.
FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art testing architecture in which a controller located either within, or otherwise associated with, the DUT is used to generate the command, control, and data necessary to test a memory array within the DUT. In testing architectures, such as the one illustrated in FIG. 2, the testing equipment is typically required to generate relatively minimal control information to the DUT, with which logic located within the DUT may generate command, control, and data necessary to test the memory array within the DUT. The control information supplied by the tester, in this case, is minimal and therefore may be input to the DUT via a serial interface, which requires fewer pins to be allocated for testing purposes than the parallel inputs illustrated in FIG. 1. The serial data may then be converted within the DUT to parallel data required by the command, control, and data generation logic.
In the prior art example illustrated in FIG. 2, extensive logic, may be necessary to generate the necessary command, control, and data information to test the memory array of the DUT, as the logic must substantially replace the APG logic of the testing equipment. Because the logic is located within the DUT, however, the memory array may be tested under conditions substantially similar to those of normal operating conditions, thereby improving DUT testing coverage.
The command, control, and data generation logic illustrated within FIG. 2 typically requires large sequences of programming information to test the memory within the DUT. For example, one common testing sequence programs and reads data within the memory array at substantially incremental addresses. FIG. 3 illustrates a programming sequence that may be used to configure the prior art command, control, and data generation logic of FIG. 2 to perform a test pattern in which data is programmed to and read from incremental addresses within a memory array within the DUT.
The program sequence of FIG. 3 illustrates six operations (^(wD1), ^(rD2, wI3), ^(rI4, wD5), v(rD6, wI7), v(rI8, wD9), v(rD10)), that must be successfully programmed into the prior art command, control, and data generation logic of FIG. 2 before the command, control, and data generation logic will begin to issue the program sequence to the memory array to be tested. In the program sequence of FIG. 3, the command registers of the prior art are programmed to write an initial data to various memory locations, where "W" represents a write operation, "D" represents an initial data to be written, and "1" represents the operation number (number "1" in this case). Next (operation "2"), the data written from the previous operation ("D") is read ("r"), and erased by writing the inverse value ("I"), and the address is incremented ("^"). Operations 2 and 3 can then be repeated for all address locations being tested.
Once the programming sequence of FIG. 3 is programmed into the registers of the command, control, and data generation logic of FIG. 2, they may be sequentially issued to the memory array to be tested within the DUT via the flow control logic illustrated in FIG. 2.
Requiring lengthy programming sequences to configure the command, control, and data generation logic of the prior art can require extensive logic, programming registers, and overhead, requiring substantial processor real estate and power. On the other hand, the prior art alternative illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein tester equipment is used to generate command, control, and data necessary to test the memory array within the DUT does not typically allow the memory array to be tested at speeds consistent with those of normal operating conditions.

Method and apparatus for testing a memory array


During the normal operation of a liquid-cleaning filter cartridge, which is located in a pressurizable inverted bell housing, contaminates are filtered through a sheet of wire mesh arranged in a star configuration on a frame structure within the filter cartridge. Contaminates collect on this filter bed, thus cleaning the dry cleaning solvent. During the system's backwash cycle, filtered solvent previously collected in a steel reservoir is pressurized to provide a powerful head of pressure for backflushing each filter cartridge through its own sprayer nozzle assembly which reciprocates inside the cartridge. The high-pressure spray vigorously cleans the wire mesh of all suspended contaminants and filter bed particles.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates, in general, to transportable liquid filtering and cleaning systems, and in particular to permanent filter systems that utilize one or more permanent filter cartridges that can be backwashed through the use of reciprocating high pressure sprayer assemblies, and to the ancillary equipment used with such cartridges and sprayer assemblies.
2. Description of the Related Art
Filtration systems for cleaning contaminated liquid have long been used in commercial and industrial operations where liquids, such as solvents, need to be continuously cleansed during a particular process, such as dry cleaning clothes at a professional dry cleaner. During normal operating conditions, the liquid to be filtered generally passes through a filter cartridge that is made of either disposable paper or wire mesh for collecting the contaminants, generally solids, that are suspended within the liquid. Typically, only by maintaining the level of suspended solids and other contaminants within the liquid below a certain level, can the machinery that utilizes the liquid operate properly or for its expected number of cycles. After a number of hours or cycles of running a given industrial or commercial process, the filters must be changed in order to keep the percentage of soluble soil within the liquid at a desired low level. For example, in dry cleaning operations in order to properly cleanse the clothes, it is very important to maintain a certain minimum level of purity of the dry cleaning solution in order to achieve the desired cleaning level and also to remove odors from the clothes.
Dry cleaning operations typically use perchloroethylene combined with a small amount of surfactants and water as the liquid solvent to cleanse a variety of different types of clothing articles during a typical dry cleaning process. In conventional dry cleaning systems, the solvent is cleansed by a filter bed including a layer of paper or wire mesh material, covered with a very thin layer of diatomaceous earth which, in turn, is covered with a very thin layer of even finer activated carbon particles. This filter bed removes contaminates, which are primarily colloidally suspended solids that are washed from the clothes, and also removes various acids and odors that are dissolved in the solvent. In known filter systems, a filter assembly using replaceable cartridge filters that must be manually installed and removed from the filter assembly are utilized. The problem with servicing this type of filters are several. First, the dry cleaning system must be shut down during this filter-changing period for a fair amount of time, thus increasing downtime and decreasing overall productivity of the dry cleaning operation. Second, the disposable filters and the particulate resulting from a conventional distillation process are considered hazardous, since perchloroethylene is listed by federal environmental regulations as a toxic substance, even at relatively low concentration levels. Accordingly, they, too, must be disposed of in a manner consistent with hazardous waste regulations. Manually changing filters not only increases exposure to these solvents, but also is messy due to the remnants of the used powdery filter bed materials which remain caked on the filters, including the very fine activated carbon powder. Thus, the necessary step of changing the disposable filter cartridge is quite unpleasant. Yet, if the operator of the dry cleaning system elects to run the dry cleaning washer when the solvent is contaminated to an unacceptable level, the clothes will not be properly cleaned. Thus, the dry cleaning operators must follow a schedule and change the filters on a regular basis, even though it is very unpleasant to do, in order to maintain quality in a dry cleaning operation.
It would be preferable to have a liquid filter cleaning system that would minimize the down time of the dry cleaning process by reducing the time required to service the filter cartridges. It would also be preferred to have a liquid filter cleaning system with a reusable filter that could be easily and repeatedly reconditioned to its original pristine state of cleanliness. In other words, it would be very desirable to be able to successfully remove all contaminants, diatomaceous earth and activated carbon from a permanent filter before beginning the next normal dry cleaning operation, which commences with the reestablishment of the filter bed, by adding fresh diatomaceous earth/activated carbon materials on a permanent filter sheet.
Some manufacturing process that employ liquids, such as solution, and the like, utilize complicated liquid-cleaning systems that not only filter out the contaminants picked up by the liquid in the process, but also distill the sludge that is created when the system's filters are backwashed. The distillation systems are generally large in size and have different types of vessels for handling the liquids or vapors. These vessels are elaborately interconnected by piping and permanently anchored to the floor or mounted to a support structure or trusses of the building. For example, in professional dry cleaning establishments, the liquid-cleaning system not only the filtering equipment, but also distillation equipment which normally includes a still (that is the reservoir in which the solvent is heated), a heating system, storage tanks, separators, condensers, various shut-off valves, motor-driven pumps and large contaminant traps, such as lint strainers. When the liquid system is down for the failure of or complex servicing of any one of these components, the entire dry cleaning operation must cease until the entire liquid-cleaning system is back to a fully operational condition. A lengthy downtime of the solvent cleaning system in a dry cleaning establishment wrecks havoc on business since all operations at the particular establishment are suspended. In order to meet commitments to customers, the clothes must be dry cleaned elsewhere and returned.
It would, thus, be desirable to have a liquid-cleaning system that can be easily transported as a unit, and is ruggedly constructed to withstand the inevitable vibrations that occur when bulky equipment is shipped by truck. Further, it would be highly desirable to make it possible to rapidly decouple and recouple the unit to the commercial or manufacturing operation it is used with. In this way, when one or more components of the liquid-cleaning system needed service that could not be rapidly performed on-site, it would be possible to have an identical secondary liquid-cleaning system available that could be quickly interchanged with the primary liquid-cleaning system, which would then be serviced at the factory. This arrangement would permit the down time of the dry cleaning operation to be minimized when factory service or reconditioning of any portion of the liquid-cleaning system is required.
In light of the foregoing needs, one primary object of the present invention is to provide a liquid-cleaning system that employs a filter assembly having a permanent filter cartridge which can be reconditioned through backflushing to an original pristine state. An object of the invention is to provide a large surface area to unit volume ratio for such a permanent filter cartridge.
A related object of the present invention is to provide a compact sprayer nozzle structure which fits within a permanent mesh filter cartridge and provides high velocity jets of fluid for efficiently backflushing the mesh filter to reduce backflushing cycle time to a minimum. A related object of the present invention is to provide a common lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the compact sprayer nozzle structure.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for doubling the capacity of a permanent filter system for liquids to be cleaned by using two permanent filter assemblies in tandem which share common components to reduce the overall costs of the system while providing increased filtering capacity.
Another related object of the present invention is to provide a common backwash manifold for supporting a tandem flexible arcuate hose arrangement to interconnect to the twin reciprocating sprayer nozzle assemblies.
Another primary object of the present invention is to provide a compact, transportable liquid-cleaning system including one or more permanent filter assemblies and a distillation system for processing spent solvent produced by backflushing dry cleaning filter beds which include diatomaceous earth and activated carbon powder.
A related object of the present invention is to provide a liquid-filtering system and distillation system including still reservoir, steam heating system, water-cooled condenser and separator lines, all mounted in a compact portable base frame and support structure mounted on wheels.
A related object of the present invention is to provide a self-contained fluid-cleaning system including permanent filters and a distillation system with control valves and quick-disconnect fittings to permit the rapid interconnection or uncoupling of steam, solvent, air and/or electrical supply or control lines and solvent vapor recovery lines to permanently installed process equipment, especially dry cleaning washer systems and solvent vapor recovery systems.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clear upon reading the following summary and detailed description of the liquid-cleaning system and methods of the present invention.


A method of transferring proppant materials, wherein the method includes providing a first pressurized container (102) containing proppant materials on a first vessel (106). The method also includes connecting the first pressurized container (102) on the first vessel (106) to a second container (102) on a second vessel (114) and transferring pneumatically, proppant materials from the first pressurized container (102) on the first vessel (106) to the second container (102) on the second vessel (114). Also, a method of transferring proppant materials, the method including removing a wellbore fluid comprising excess proppant materials from a well, and screening the excess proppant materials from the wellbore fluid. The method also includes transferring the excess proppant materials to a first pressurized container (102) and transferring pneumatically, the excess proppant materials from the first pressurized container to a second pressurized container.

1. Field of the Disclosure
Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to methods and systems for transferring proppant materials between pressurized containers. More specifically, embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for transferring proppant materials between pressurized containers as a dense phase. More specifically still, embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for transferring proppant materials between pressurized containers disposed on supply vessels, stimulation vessels, and offshore production platforms.
2. Background Art
Traditionally, methods of transferring dry material, including proppant materials from land-based facilities to boats and then to offshore production platforms, includes lifting box or bags or bags of dry material from a first location to a second location with a crane. Depending on the volume of proppant required for a specific operation the number of crane lifts and boat trips may be substantial. For example, in a typical operation several hundred crane lifts may be required to transfer sufficient proppant from a land-based facility to a boat, for transference to an off shore platform.
In addition to requiring numerous crane lifts, procurement and then transportation of proppant to and from an offshore production platform may also be time consuming. For example, typically, a stimulation vessel that is configured to mix proppant with chemicals at a drilling location picks up proppant from a land-based facility and travels several hundred miles out to an offshore production platform. After mixing the dry proppant with chemicals on board the stimulation vessel, the constituted fluid is transferred from the stimulation vessel to the production platform. The fluid is then pumped into the wellbore using high pressure pumps on the production platform or pumped directly from a high pressure pump on the stimulation vessel. Often, the amount of proppant required is more than a single boat trip can supply, so after mixing and injecting the proppant, the stimulation vessel must travel back to the land-based facility, pick up more proppant, and then travel back to the offshore production platform. The picking up of additional proppant requires additional crane lifts, and depending on the quantity of proppant required, this process could be repeated a number of times for each well.
In addition to the time consuming nature of existing transportation mechanisms of proppant, proppant is inherently dangerous, and the transportation of proppant may increase the risks associated with the dry proppant. In an attempt to decrease the time consuming method of using multiple boat trips and crane lifts, certain operators have begun transferring dry proppant through suction. In such an application, an operator may use a vacuum to move dry proppant from a first location to a second location, thereby decreasing the need for crane lifts. However, such methods result in a high attrition rate, damage the resin coating on the proppant materials, and create more dust particles. Increased resin dust particles from the proppant may, over a certain concentration, result in an explosion, if ignited. Thus, the vacuum methods of transferring proppant may further increase the dangers of transferring proppant.
To prevent resin dust from the dry proppant from exploding, certain operators "wet" the proppant, thereby decreasing the amount of dust created during transference. While wetting the proppant causes the particles to stick together, thereby decreasing the amount of dust produced, the wetting also decreases the effectiveness of the proppant when constituted into a fluid prior to injection into the wellbore. Thus, operators are typically faced with choosing between a slow dangerous process of transferring proppant using multiple crane lifts, or decreasing the effectiveness of the end product.
Accordingly, there exists a need for systems and methods for transferring proppant between land-based facilities, vessels, and offshore production platforms.