In one embodiment, a carbon dioxide separating and capturing apparatus includes an absorption tower to allow a gas containing carbon dioxide to contact with an absorption liquid and discharge a rich liquid, a regeneration tower to cause the absorption liquid to release a gas containing the carbon dioxide and discharge a lean liquid, and first and second regenerative heat exchangers to heat the rich liquid with the lean liquid. The first regenerative heat exchanger heats the rich liquid with the lean liquid from the second regenerative heat exchanger and discharges the rich liquid in a liquid phase, and the second regenerative heat exchanger heats the rich liquid in the liquid phase with the lean liquid from the regeneration tower. The lean liquid from the first regenerative heat exchanger and the rich liquid from the second regenerative heat exchanger are fed to the absorption and regeneration towers, respectively.

Regarding capturing of carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide capture and storage technology has recently received attention as an effective measure against global warming issues concerned on a global mass scale. In particular, a method of capturing the carbon dioxide by using an aqueous solution has been studied in association with a thermal power plant and a process exhaust gas. For example, a carbon dioxide capturing apparatus is known which includes an absorption tower configured to generate a rich liquid by causing an absorption liquid to absorb a gas containing carbon dioxide, and a regeneration tower configured to heat the rich liquid discharged from the absorption tower to release the carbon dioxide and steam, separate the carbon dioxide from the steam, and return a generated lean liquid to the absorption tower. In this carbon dioxide capturing apparatus, the cold rich liquid is preheated with the hot lean liquid by a regenerative heat exchanger and is fed to the regeneration tower, so that an amount of energy required for releasing the carbon dioxide is reduced.
However, since the rich liquid and the lean liquid flow in liquid phases through the regenerative heat exchanger, heat transfer characteristics between these absorption liquids are low. When a temperature of the rich liquid is elevated close to an operation temperature of the regeneration tower by the regenerative heat exchanger for the purpose of reducing an amount of energy input at the regeneration tower, a difference in temperature between the rich liquid and the lean liquid becomes small in the vicinity of an outlet of the regenerative heat exchanger. Specifically, driving force for transferring heat from the lean liquid to the rich liquid becomes small in the vicinity of the outlet of the regenerative heat exchanger. Therefore, a large regenerative heat exchanger is required for securing a wide heating area. On the contrary, when the difference in temperature between the rich liquid and the lean liquid in the vicinity of the outlet of the regenerative heat exchanger is made large, a temperature elevation of the rich liquid at the regeneration tower becomes large, which increases the amount of energy input at the regeneration tower.
In order to solve such problems, a regenerative heat exchanger of plate type is used which is compact and has high heat transfer characteristics. It can also be conceivable to set a pressure of the rich liquid side to be low so as to generate steam (water vapor) and a carbon dioxide gas from the rich liquid while its temperature is elevated toward the outlet of the regenerative heat exchanger. In this case, extra heat recovery from the lean liquid can be achieved by latent heat of vaporization during the steam generation and heat of dissociation during the generation of the carbon dioxide gas from the rich liquid. Therefore, even when the temperature of the rich liquid is not elevated close to the operation temperature of the regeneration tower, the amount of energy input at the regeneration tower can be suppressed. Since the difference in temperature between the rich liquid and the lean liquid does not have to be made small, an increase of the heating area in the regenerative heat exchanger can be suppressed.
However, when the rich liquid in the regenerative heat exchanger of plate type becomes a two phase flow of a gas and a liquid in which the liquid and the gas are mixed, their flow rates in a plurality of channels between plates become uneven. When the ratio of the gas component in the two phase flow increases, heat transfer planes of the regenerative heat exchanger of plate type are dried. As a result, heat transfer performance of the regenerative heat exchanger deteriorates and its operation becomes unstable. On the other hand, when the temperature elevation of the rich liquid at the regenerative heat exchanger is made small to suppress the generation of the gas, the heat recovery from the lean liquid is not sufficient, causing an effect of reducing the amount of energy input at the regeneration tower to be small.

Carbon dioxide separating and capturing apparatus and method of operating same


A ceramic heater includes a body of aluminum nitride, and a heating element embedded in the body of aluminum nitride. The heating element has a resistance of (E.sup.2 /W).multidot.0.003.OMEGA. to (E.sup.2 /W).multidot.0.135.OMEGA. (E and W denote an input voltage (unit: V) and a weight (unit: g) of the body of aluminum nitride, respectively).

The present invention relates to a ceramic heater which is widely used in, for example, a field related to biotechnology such as molecular biology and genetic engineering and a field of physical and chemical research with regard to medical treatment, the food industry, or the like.
In a field such as a field related to biotechnology such as molecular biology and genetic engineering, a field of physical and chemical research with regard to medical treatment, the food industry, or the like, is a constant-temperature vessel is indispensable for heating a sample in a test tube or a microtube and keeping the sample at a fixed temperature. Such a constant-temperature vessel needs high temperature precision. This is because most experiments in the above fields concern enzyme reactions, each enzyme has an optimum temperature, and an enzyme is inactivated at a temperature higher than a definite temperature. Further, in a field of genetic engineering, when mutually complementary nucleic acid molecules, or the like, are subjected to annealing, or when nucleic acid molecules each having two chains are dissociated so as to have single chain, it is necessary to control temperatures strictly.
Further, such a constant-temperature vessel is required to reach a predetermined temperature in a short period of time. If the time is too long, it is not efficient because an unacceptable time is required for a completion of one experiment when a temperature of the constant-temperature vessel has to be frequently changed as in a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) method, which is a genetic amplification method used widely in genetic engineering. Further, when a plurality of experiments are conducted in parallel and each constant-temperature vessel has an independent predetermined temperature, the experiments cannot be effectively conducted if the time until a temperature reaches a predetermined one is too long.
As a constant-temperature vessel having such properties, there have conventionally been used a constant-temperature water vessel, an aluminum block constant-temperature vessel, or the like. A constant-temperature water vessel is a cistern being provided, therein, with a heater for heating water. In an aluminum block constant-temperature vessel is an aluminum block having a cavity for receiving an object to be heated by a heater on the outside.
In recent years, there has been proposed a heater in which a heating element is embedded in a ceramic block of aluminum nitride and a cavity for receiving an object to be heated on a surface of the block, which make use of an excellent heat conductivity of aluminum nitride (Japanese Patent Laid-Open 6-210189).
However, there are some problems. Since a test tube, or the like, is directly put in a liquid in the constant-temperature water vessel, the outer wall of the test tube gets wet and water on the outer wall has to be wiped off before the next step. Besides, water on the outer wall sometimes enters in the test tube, and it causes a contamination.
With respect to an aluminum block constant-temperature vessel, it has low temperature precision and a variance in temperature distribution is large because it is heated by a heater on the outside. Accordingly, it is difficult to control conditions for an experiment. Sometimes, a temperature in the constant-temperature vessel exceeds a predetermined temperature, and an enzyme is prone to be inactivated in an enzyme reaction.
Further, both a constant-temperature water vessel and an aluminum block constant temperature vessel need a long time to reach a predetermined temperature. For example, it takes about 100 seconds to raise 100.degree. C. Accordingly, a time length until the constant-temperature vessel reaches a predetermined temperature is a rate-determining condition of an experiment, and the experiment cannot effectively proceed.
On the other hand, a ceramic heater using aluminum nitride solves the problems that an outer wall of a test tube gets wet and that a variance in temperature distribution is large, a temperature of the ceramic heater reaches a predetermined one in a shorter time. However, there is a problem that it takes about 50 seconds for a rise of 100.degree. C.
In view of these situations, the present invention aims to provide a ceramic heater which can be heated up to a predetermined temperature in a short time and is excellent in temperature precision without hindrance to an enzyme reaction, or the like, by keeping the temperature so as not to exceed a predetermined one.


A method of manufacturing a Radio Frequency (RF) coil for a multi-driven RF based negative ion source includes manufacturing a first coil and a second coil using tubes of stainless steel as a substrate material, coating the first coil and the second coil separately; and joining the first coil and the second coil by orbital TIG welding after coating the first coil and the second coil to provide the RF coil for the multi-driven RF based negative ion source.

Water cooled RF coils for the plasma generation in RF based negative ion sources are structures consisting of tube (with diameter 8 mm, thickness 1 mm) wounded in a coil of diameter ˜300 mm with 6.5 to 8.5 number of turns equally spaced with pitch of 12 mm.
For a multi driven negative ion RF source, where two RF drivers are placed side by side, two such coils are installed in series with an interconnection between them. At both ends of this series connection, a hydraulic circuit is attached to feed water into the coil. From the functional point of view, to meet the electrical conductivity requirements, material for this coil are chosen as CuOF (Oxygen Free copper).
The following is a list of prior art known to exist for interconnection and end connection of the above mentioned coils:
A. Demountable Connection
Inter-connection between two coils (to make a series of coils) and end connection by demountable (e.g. Swagelok, Dockweiler connections).
B. Brazing
(i) Brazing of CuOF to CuOF tube as inter-connection (ii) brazing of CuOF to SS tube as end connection.
C. Electron Beam Welding (EBW)
(i) Electron Beam Welding of CuOF to CuOF tube as inter-connection (ii) Electron beam welding of CuOF to SS tube through Inconel/Nickel transition.
D. Manufacture of the coil from single tube
Make a coil from single tube and choose one of the above prior art to make the end connection.
Following are the drawbacks of the above-discussed prior art techniques:
a) Demountable connection
                Maintenance issue.        Reliability of demountable connection.        Such connection is not allowed for water to vacuum boundary connection, specifically in nuclear environment.        Tightening and un-tightening induces reaction forces on the ceramic elements (which are placed at the end for functional needs) and involves risk of breakage.b) Brazing        Not a reliable connection for water to vacuum boundary joint.        Joint efficiency of braze is <100% and therefore mechanical properties are compromised.        Volumetric integrity of the joint cannot be ensured because it is not possible to inspect it by volumetric examination technique.        Such connection is not allowed for water to vacuum boundary connection, specifically in nuclear environment.c) Electron Beam Welding (EBW)        Not possible to weld within the vacuum chamber due to requirement of rotation of coils.        Customized vacuum chamber and fixtures for coil to coil welding.        Not possible for in-situ connection of dissimilar material (Cu—Ni—SS) for end connections.d) Manufacture the coil from a single tube        The length required to execute this in a single piece i.e. without inter-connection is ˜13 m. Handling of this length required special fixturing arrangement for wounding in the desired shape. Additionally, to make the end connection, dependency on the above mentioned prior art is not completely eliminated and therefore limitations still exist.
Additionally, it was noticed during the manufacturing of an RF coil for an RF negative Diagnostic Neutral Beam (DNB) source, the conventional technique of using copper coil involves many limitations with respect to meeting the compliance of water to vacuum boundary connection.
Further, it becomes difficult to handle (because of inherent flexibility of copper material and electrical isolation requirements) such RF-coils when it comes to a multi driven RF ion source and that too in vacuum environment.

Method of manufacturing radio frequency (RF) coil multi-driven RF based negative ion source


A drill bit for drilling a borehole, the drill bit comprising a bit body 10 having an axis of rotation 12, a leading face, a plurality of blades 26 upstanding from the leading face, at least one of the blades terminating in a gauge pad 28 having a gauge surface 29 arranged, in use, to face a wall 30 of the borehole 32, the gauge surface 29 being devoid of cutting elements, the gauge surface 29 terminating at an end thereof remote from the blade at a junction 58 with a gauge pad end wall 56, wherein the gauge pad 28 carries a single cutter 62 having a face 64 and a cutting edge 65 located radially inward of the gauge surface 29, and wherein the junction 58 of the gauge surface 29 and the gauge pad end wall 56 crosses, radially, between the face 64 of the cutter 62 and the wall 30 of the borehole 32.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to earth boring drill bits, and in particular to a fixed cutter drill bit having cuffing elements positioned so as to facilitate directional drilling.
2. Description of the Related Art
Until quite recently, drill bit designers worked primarily on designing drill bits which would drill straight holes through the earth. More recently, designers have been working on bit designs which, when used in conjunction with suitable downhole equipment, can be steered to permit directional drilling. In directional drilling, it is important to ensure that the drill bit does not wander from the desired path. In addition, the bits must be easy to steer and be able to hold a horizontal drilling trajectory.
There are two common ways to steer a drill bit. One method is to use a downhole motor to rotate the drill bit, the motor and drill bit being mounted upon a drill string including an angled bend. In such an arrangement, the direction of drilling is dependent upon the angular position of the drill string. In use, the drill string is rotated until the drill bit is pointing in the desired direction. The drill string is then held against further angular movement whilst drilling in the desired location takes place. This steering technique is sometimes known as xe2x80x9cpointing the bitxe2x80x9d.
An alternative steering technique is known as xe2x80x9cpush the bitxe2x80x9d. In this technique, the drill bit is rotated continuously. Associated with the drill bit is a unit designed to permit the application of a side load to the drill bit to cause the direction of drilling to deviate from the straight path it would otherwise follow. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,265,682; 5,553,679; 5,582,259; 5,603,385; 5,685,379; 5,706,905; 5,778,992; 5,803,185 all incorporated herein by reference for all they disclose describe a unit suitable for use in a push the bit type steerable drilling system.
A known drill bit suitable for use in a steerable drilling system of the push the bit type has a leading face from which a plurality of blades upstand, each blade carrying a plurality of cutting elements. Each blade terminates in a gauge pad. In a typical drill bit, the gauge pads are not provided with cutting elements, but may be provided with inserts designed to improve the wear resistance of the gauge pads. It has been found, however, to be advantageous in a push the bit type system to provide the gauge pads with cutting elements. One disadvantage, however, of applying cutting elements to the gauge pads is that there is a tendency for a wellbore formed using the drill bit to drop. This is due to the gravitational effects experienced by the drill bit, the effect being greatest where a horizontal bore is to be drilled, the gravitational effects applying a side loading to the drill bit causing the cutters of the gauge pads located at the lower side of the bit at any given time to become active in drilling the borehole.
It is an object of the invention to provide a drill bit particularly suitable for use in a steerable drilling system of the push the bit type.
According to the present invention there is provided a drill bit for drilling a borehole, the drill bit comprising a bit body having an axis of rotation, a leading face, a plurality of blades upstanding from the leading face, at least one of the blades terminating in a gauge pad having a gauge surface arranged, in use, to face a wall of the borehole, the gauge surface being devoid of cutting elements, the gauge surface terminating at an end thereof remote from the blade at a junction with a gauge pad end wall, wherein the gauge pad carries a single cutter having a face and a cutting edge located radially inward of the gauge surface, and wherein the junction of the gauge surface and the gauge pad end wall crosses, radially, between the face of the cutter and the wall of the borehole.
Preferably each blade terminates in a similar gauge pad, each gauge pad carrying a single cutter. Each cutter conveniently comprises a table of a superhard material bonded to a substrate. The superhard material preferably comprises diamond.
The cutting edge is preferably spaced radially inward of the gauge surface by a distance greater than about 0.15 mm, and preferably between about 0.2 mm and 0.5 mm.
A line drawn between the cutting edge and the junction conveniently makes an angle with the axis of the bit of less than about 0.1xc2x0.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a drill bit for drilling a borehole, the drill bit comprising a bit body having an axis of rotation, a leading face, a plurality of blades upstanding from the leading face, at least one of the blades terminating in a gauge pad having a gauge surface arranged, in use, to face a wall of the borehole, the gauge surface being devoid of cutting elements, the gauge surface terminating at an end thereof remote from the blade at a junction with a gauge pad end wall, wherein the gauge pad carries a single cutter having a face and a cutting edge located radially inward of the gauge surface, the radial spacing of the cutting edge from the gauge surface being greater than about 0.15 mm.
According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a drill bit for drilling a borehole, the drill bit comprising a bit body having an axis of rotation, a leading face, a plurality of blades upstanding from the leading face, at least one of the blades terminating in a gauge pad having a gauge surface arranged, in use, to face a wall of the borehole, the gauge surface being devoid of cutting elements, the gauge surface terminating at an end thereof remote from the blade at a junction with a gauge pad end wall, wherein the gauge pad carries a single cutter having a face and a cutting edge located radially inward of the gauge surface, and wherein a notional line between the junction and the cutting edge makes an angle with the axis of rotation of less than about 0.1xc2x0.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a drill bit for drilling a borehole, the drill bit comprising a bit body having an axis of rotation, a leading face, a plurality of blades upstanding from the leading face, at least one of the blades terminating in a gauge pad having a gauge surface arranged, in use, to face a wall of the borehole, the gauge surface being devoid of cutting elements, the gauge surface terminating at an end thereof remote from the blade at a junction with a gauge pad end wall, wherein the gauge pad carries a single cutter having a face and a cutting edge located radially inward of the gauge surface, and wherein an axial position of the junction of the gauge surface and the gauge pad end wall lies between an axial position of an edge of the cutter face closest to the blade and an axial position of an edge thereof furthest from the blade.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a steerable drilling system for use in the drilling of a borehole comprising a bottom hole assembly (BHA) adapted to permit control over the direction of drilling of a drill bit, the drill bit comprising a bit body having a plurality of blades, at least one of the blades terminating in a gauge pad having a gauge surface devoid of cutting elements, the gauge pad having, at an end thereof remote from the blade, a gauge pad end wall, the gauge pad carrying a single cutter located inward of the gauge surface and such that an axial position of a junction between the gauge surface and the gauge pad end wall lies between an axial position of an edge of the cutter closest to the blade and an axial position of an edge of the cutter furthest from the blade.
The bottom hole assembly (BHA) may be of the xe2x80x9cpush the bitxe2x80x9d type including a bias unit arranged to apply a side loading to the bit. Alternatively, the bottom hole assembly may be of the xe2x80x9cpoint the bitxe2x80x9d type, including a downhole motor for rotating the drilling bit, and an angled member arranged to permit the bit to be supported in a desired orientation relative to an axis of the borehole.
It is envisaged that the drill bit may be used in a drilling system which is, in effect, a combination of the xe2x80x9cpush the bitxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cpoint the bitxe2x80x9d types, the system including, for example, a bias unit arranged to apply a side loading to a bent unit which carries a motor, the motor carrying the drill bit. In such an arrangement, when the system is to be used to drill a curve, the drill string is held against rotation with the bent unit holding the drill bit in the desired orientation whilst the motor drives the drill bit, and the bias unit is operated to apply a side loading to the bent unit and the drill bit.

Cutting structure for earth boring drill bits


Inserting capitalized Latin characters in a non-Latin document by changing the input mode of an input device, such as a keyboard, from a non-Latin input mode to a Latin input mode. The input mode is automatically switched from a non-Latin input mode to a Latin input mode when the combination of a shift key and an alphabet key on the input device is depressed. The input mode is automatically returned to the previous non-Latin input mode when the shift key is released and only an alphabet key on the input device is depressed.

Word processing programs are commonly used to create and edit documents. To create a document using a word processing program, an author typically enters the text of the document using a keyboard. For a language system having a limited number of alphabet characters, each alphabet character is assigned to a different key of the keyboard. For example, the English language system uses twenty-six alphabet characters. Most keyboards have approximately 101 keys, so each English language alphabet character is assigned to a different key. To enter a word, an author depresses the keys which correspond to the letters of the words of the document and the keystrokes are sent directly from the keyboard to the word processing program.
In contrast to the English language system, some language systems have significantly more characters than there are keys on a keyboard. For example, the Japanese language system uses approximately 6,300 kanji characters. Because the number of kanji characters precludes assigning each kanji character to a different key, a phonetic input method is used to enter a Japanese document. To use the phonetic input method, an author enters a combination of keys which correspond to the syllables of the kanji character. Typically, a front-end input processor converts the keystrokes into syllabic characters and then converts the syllabic characters into kanji characters.
A phonetic input method for a Japanese keyboard may convert combinations of Latin characters into kana characters. A kana character is a syllabic character. There are two commonly used sets of kana, Hiragana and Katakana. Each set includes 46 characters. For example, if an author enters "k" and then enters "a", the kana character corresponding to the syllable "ka" is displayed on the display device. Once the kana characters are entered, the kana characters may be converted into kanji characters by depressing a conversion key.
A Japanese document may include kana and kanji characters, as well as English language words or text strings. Typically, an author uses one input mode to enter kana and then manually switches to another input mode to enter an English language text string. The author's input rhythm is disrupted when the author must stop typing and switch to a different input mode to enter the English language text string. Once the English language text string is entered, the author's input rhythm is again disrupted when the author must stop typing to return to the previous non-Latin input mode.
One solution to the mode switching problem uses a dictionary. For example, the "ATOK 11" front-end input processor used with the "ICHITARO" word processing program, uses a dictionary of learned words. If an author enters a kana string corresponding to one of the learned words, then the learned word is converted to an English language text string when the conversion key is pressed. One drawback of the ATOK 11 solution is that it only works for learned words. If a word is not in the dictionary of learned words, then the word is not converted. Another drawback is that the kana string is not converted until the conversion key is depressed, so the English language characters are not immediately displayed. The delay in displaying the English language characters makes it difficult for an author to review a document as the document is entered. Yet another drawback is that a kana string may be converted incorrectly. For example, a kana character intended by the author to remain as a kana character (or to be converted into kanji) may be erroneously converted into English language characters or a kana character at a boundary of a kana string intended by the author to be converted may not be converted.
Another solution to the mode switching problem automatically detects the depression of the shift key. For example, the "IME '97" front-end input processor marketed by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. detects the depression of the shift key in combination with an alphabet key and automatically switches into an input mode appropriate for entering a capitalized English language character. A disadvantage of the IME '97 method is that the input mode is not automatically returned to the previous mode once a capitalized English language text string is entered. To return to the previous input mode, the user must intervene. For example, the user may manually select the previous input mode or determine the previously entered text. To determine the previously entered text, the user typically depresses a character determination key, such as the enter key, to accept the displayed text.
Many of the English language text strings included in a Japanese document are capitalized. Capitalized terms include abbreviations, such as PC (personal computer), OS (operating system) or HTML (hypertext markup language). Although the IME '97 method switches input modes when the shift key is depressed in combination with an alphabet key, the IME '97 method does not return to the previous mode when only an alphabet key is depressed. If the input mode could be automatically returned to the previous mode, then the author's input rhythm would not be disrupted to return to the previous non-Latin input mode once an English language text string is entered.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method for automatically switching input modes to enter a capitalized text string and then automatically returning to the previous input mode once the capitalized text string is entered.

Method for inserting capitalized Latin characters in a non-Latin document


In this invention there is disclosed a system and method for tuning a speed controller that is used to keep a rail-based transportation system within a prescribed speed limit while providing a smooth ride. A fuzzy logic controller is synthesized to track the performance of a train simulator to a predetermined velocity profile over a specified track profile. A genetic algorithm is used to adjust the fuzzy logic controller's performance by adjusting its parameters in a sequential order of significance.

A rail-based transportation system such as a freight train typically comprises at least one locomotive and about one hundred rail-cars connected together by inter-car couplers. Most of the couplers that are currently used are connected to the rail-cars by a hydraulically damped spring. Since each of the couplers are connected to a hydraulically damped spring at opposite ends, there is a slack zone that allows the rail-cars to move relative to each other while in motion, allowing the train to change length by as much as 50-100 feet. For example, the slack zone will decrease to zero while the train is traveling downhill and using dynamic braking and will expand to its maximum length while the train is traveling uphill. The amount of movement allowed by the couplers depends on the handling of the locomotive controls. Typically, the couplers are subjected to two types of forces (i.e., static and dynamic) that may lead to breakage of the couplers, the brake pipe that prevents the rail-cars from banging in to each other, and the train. Accordingly, the train operator has to be careful in the handling of the locomotive controls so that these forces are not exceeded. In addition, the train operator has to control the locomotive so that the train travels within prescribed speed limits without excess acceleration and braking. Violation of the prescribed speed limits and excess acceleration and braking may lead to derailments and severe cargo damage. Therefore, it is imperative that the train operator handle the locomotive controls smoothly while staying within the prescribed speed limits.
Currently, most locomotives are equipped with only a very simplistic cruise control that uses a linear Proportional Integral (PI) controller. This type of cruise control can only be used below speeds of 10 mph and is primarily used for uniform loading and yard movement and cannot prescribe a braking action. In addition, this type of PI controller does not take into account the slack or distributed dynamics of the couplers in any manner and is not applicable for extended trains traveling at cruising speeds over a variety of terrain. Accordingly, there is a need for a speed controller that can smoothly manage the slack of the couplers while keeping the train within prescribed speed limits over a varying terrain.

System and method for tuning a rail-based transportation system speed controller


The present technology is generally directed to systems and methods of controlling or reducing the output rate of a coke oven through gas sharing providing an extended process cycle. In some embodiments, a method of gas sharing between coke ovens to decrease a coke production rate includes operating a plurality of coke ovens to produce coke and heated exhaust gases. In some embodiments, a first coke oven is offset in operation cycle from a second coke oven. The method further includes directing the heated exhaust gases from the first coke oven to the second coke oven while the second coke oven is mid-cycle. The heat transfer allows the second coke oven to extend its cycle while staying above a critical operating temperature. By extending the operational cycle while generally maintaining output per cycle, overall production is decreased.

Coke is a solid carbon fuel and carbon source used to melt and reduce iron ore in the production of steel. In one process, known as the "Thompson Coking Process," coke is produced by batch feeding pulverized coal to an oven that is sealed and heated to very high temperatures for 24 to 48 hours under closely-controlled atmospheric conditions. Coking ovens have been used for many years to covert coal into metallurgical coke. During the coking process, finely crushed coal is heated under controlled temperature conditions to devolatilize the coal and form a fused mass of coke having a predetermined porosity and strength. Because the production of coke is a batch process, multiple coke ovens are operated simultaneously.
The melting and fusion process undergone by the coal particles during the heating process is an important part of coking. The degree of melting and degree of assimilation of the coal particles into the molten mass determine the characteristics of the coke produced. In order to produce the strongest coke from a particular coal or coal blend, there is an optimum ratio of reactive to inert entities in the coal. The porosity and strength of the coke are important for the ore refining process and are determined by the coal source and/or method of coking.
Coal particles or a blend of coal particles are charged into hot ovens, and the coal is heated in the ovens in order to remove volatile matter ("VM") from the resulting coke. The coking process is highly dependent on the oven design, the type of coal, and conversion temperature used. Typically, ovens are adjusted during the coking process so that each charge of coal is coked out in approximately the same amount of time. Once the coal is "coked out" or fully coked, the coke is removed from the oven and quenched with water to cool it below its ignition temperature. Alternatively, the coke is dry quenched with an inert gas. The quenching operation must also be carefully controlled so that the coke does not absorb too much moisture. Once it is quenched, the coke is screened and loaded into rail cars or trucks for shipment.
Because coal is fed into hot ovens, much of the coal feeding process is automated. In slot-type or vertical ovens, the coal is typically charged through slots or openings in the top of the ovens. Such ovens tend to be tall and narrow. Horizontal non-recovery or heat recovery type coking ovens are also used to produce coke. In the non-recovery or heat recovery type coking ovens, conveyors are used to convey the coal particles horizontally into the ovens to provide an elongate bed of coal.
As the source of coal suitable for forming metallurgical coal ("coking coal") has decreased, attempts have been made to blend weak or lower quality coals ("non-coking coal") with coking coals to provide a suitable coal charge for the ovens. One way to combine non-coking and coking coals is to use compacted or stamp-charged coal. The coal may be compacted before or after it is in the oven. In some embodiments, a mixture of non-coking and coking coals is compacted to greater than fifty pounds per cubic foot in order to use non-coking coal in the coke making process. As the percentage of non-coking coal in the coal mixture is increased, higher levels of coal compaction are required (e.g., up to about sixty-five to seventy-five pounds per cubic foot). Commercially, coal is typically compacted to about 1.15 to 1.2 specific gravity (sg) or about 70-75 pounds per cubic foot.
Horizontal Heat Recovery (HHR) ovens have a unique environmental advantage over chemical byproduct ovens based upon the relative operating atmospheric pressure conditions inside HHR ovens. HHR ovens operate under negative pressure whereas chemical byproduct ovens operate at a slightly positive atmospheric pressure. Both oven types are typically constructed of refractory bricks and other materials in which creating a substantially airtight environment can be a challenge because small cracks can form in these structures during day-to-day operation. Chemical byproduct ovens are kept at a positive pressure to avoid oxidizing recoverable products and overheating the ovens. Conversely, HHR ovens are kept at a negative pressure, drawing in air from outside the oven to oxidize the coal's VM and to release the heat of combustion within the oven. It is important to minimize the loss of volatile gases to the environment, so the combination of positive atmospheric conditions and small openings or cracks in chemical byproduct ovens allow raw coke oven gas ("COG") and hazardous pollutants to leak into the atmosphere. Conversely, the negative atmospheric conditions and small openings or cracks in the HHR ovens or locations elsewhere in the coke plant simply allow additional air to be drawn into the oven or other locations in the coke plant so that the negative atmospheric conditions resist the loss of COG to the atmosphere.
HHR ovens have traditionally been unable to turn down their operation (e.g., their coke production) significantly below their designed capacity without potentially damaging the ovens. This restraint is linked to temperature limitations in the ovens. More specifically, if the ovens drop below the silica brick zero-expansion point, the oven bricks can start to contract and potentially crack or break and damage the oven crown. The bricks could also potentially shrink on cooling, with bricks in the arched crown moving or falling out, leading to a collapsed crown and oven failure. Enough heat must be maintained in the ovens to keep the brick above the brick contraction point. This is the reason why it has been stated that a HHR oven can never be turned off. Because the ovens cannot be significantly turned down, during periods of low steel and coke demand, coke production must be sustained. The continuous, high-volume coke production despite low demand leads to build up of excess coke. This coke must be stored or wasted and can lead to a large economic burden and loss to coke and steel plants.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Reduced output rate coke oven operation with gas sharing providing extended process cycle


One embodiment provides a method, including: detecting, from a user and using a sensor operatively coupled to an information handling device, for facial features associated with an authorized user; requesting, using a prompt provided by an output device operatively coupled to an information handling device, the user to mimic at least one emotion; detecting, responsive to the requesting, at least one facial expression provided by the user; and authenticating the user responsive to determining that: the at least one facial expression corresponds to at least one accepted facial expression associated with the at least one emotion and the at least one facial expression comprises the facial features. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Information handling devices ("devices"), for example smart phones, tablet devices, smart speakers, laptop and personal computers, and the like, may have measures in place to authenticate a user prior to granting that user access to content on the device (e.g., access to a user profile, access to an application, etc.). For example, authentication mechanisms may include password authentication (e.g., provided via keyboard input, touch input, audible input, etc.), fingerprint identification, voice authentication, face authentication, and the like. Responsive to authenticating a user, a device may thereafter grant the user access to the requested content.

User authentication via emotion detection


A real-time system receives a selection structure formed by weighted rules joined by links, each of the weighted rules including a condition part, a conclusion part and a weight. The selection structure is an Algebraic Decision Diagram (ADD) that includes internal nodes, each representing a decision point and terminal nodes, each representing a subset of candidate results having an accumulated weight. In response to a query that specifies a set of conditions, the ADD is traversed by making a series of decisions at decision points of the ADD to reach at least one terminal node having a maximum accumulated weight among terminal nodes that satisfy the set of conditions. The subset of candidate results represented by the at least one terminal node is selected as the output for responding to the query.

Many different applications in a real-time system involve making a decision from a prescribed set of data elements in a current decision situation. In this context, the set of data elements can also include discrete numbers. Information technology offers many kinds of solutions to such problems. One component is computer-related formulation of the selection, which is done using programming languages or using descriptions of selection devices and the associated tools.
There are two different approaches to describing the operation of a real-time system. A first description approach is operational, in which a program is written in the form of precise individual instructions whose execution is precisely stipulated. An example of the first description approach is programs written in a programming language such as the C programming language. A benefit of the first description approach is that through compilation efficient code can be produced. A drawback is that a skilled programmer is needed to write such programs, as users (e.g., administrators or operators of a real-time system, and even more so application experts of the considered real-time domain) generally cannot develop such programs. In addition, the actual effect of a program on the real-time system is typically not easy to comprehend, and the described function can often vary greatly in the case of small changes to the program. This makes creating and changing the description complicated. The second approach is predicative, which describes properties of the desired results and prescribes the flow of calculation indirectly. A benefit of the predicative approach is that users can deliver the description in special areas with appropriate support. With the predicative approach, however, a drawback is that the description usually takes much longer to execute than its operational description counterpart.
Typically, users can create only very simple operational descriptions without mistakes. However, the extended execution time for predicative descriptions is problematic in many respects. The predicative descriptions increase the expense of technical solutions for tasks which need to be carried out under real-time demands, or even make certain technical solutions unachievable.

Methods for generating selection structures, for making selections according to selection structures and for creating selection descriptions


A high quality silicon carbide (SiC) layer being substantially lower in threading dislocation density than a prior layer is formed on silicon (Si) substrate. A semiconductor device is fabricated in such a way that a semiconductor buffer layer containing Si in part and being higher in defect density than a Si substrate is formed on the Si substrate on the upper portion of which are formed a plurality of pairs of facets being mirror-symmetrical to the surface orientation of a semiconductor substrate, further on the top of the layer a SiC layer is sequentially formed.

Wide energy band gap semiconductor materials such as a III-nitride semiconductor and silicon nitride (SiC) have had a wide range of applications to light emitting elements in blue-ultraviolet range and high-frequency high-output devices and have been growing in importance more and more in late years. These materials are very expensive for a bulk substrate, so that heterogeneous materials are used as a substrate in fabricating devices. Desired semiconductor materials are formed as thin film on the abovementioned heterogeneous-material substrate by crystal growth such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method or molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) method. As materials for a III-nitride semiconductor represented by gallium nitride (GaN), for example, industrially inexpensive sapphire (Al2O3) is generally used, and silicon (Si) is used in a cubic crystal SiC substrate. However, these substrates are different from semiconductor materials formed thereon in lattice constant. For example, there exist a lattice mismatch of about 12% between a GaN and a sapphire substrate, and a lattice mismatch of as large as about 20% between SiC and a Si substrate. These lattice mismatches cause large strain between a substrate and a grown layer, producing a large number of defects such as threading dislocation and plane defect in the thin film, which markedly deteriorates device operation. For example, a III-nitride semiconductor formed on sapphire and SiC film formed on a SiC substrate have defects on the order of 108 to 109/cm2. These defects lower a lifetime of a light emitting device and produce leak current in an electronic device.
It is effective to form a semiconductor layer acting as a buffer between a substrate and a grown film to suppress the development of defects and thereby to achieve a high quality semiconductor film. This method has been an effective thin-film forming technique related to lattice mismatch. In a device using a III-nitride semiconductor, for instance, a GaN layer grown at lower temperatures is inserted as a buffer between a sapphire substrate and the III-nitride semiconductor layer to upgrade the quality of crystal. In forming a SiC buffer layer on a Si substrate, the Si substrate is heated at temperatures of about 1300° C. using hydrocarbon-based gas such as propane (C3H8) before the SiC layer is crystal-grown. The buffer layer functionally prevents strains from propagating by containing defects therein, suppressing the production of defects in the film formed on the buffer layer. Another method for achieving a high-quality thin film has been to control the direction in which defects propagate by pattering the substrate and grown film. This method is shown in FIG. 3 as a prior art disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 12-164929.
On a semiconductor substrate 101 is formed a semiconductor film 102 different in lattice constant therefrom. Then the semiconductor film is patterned by using photo lithography and etching. At this point, facets 103 with given a certain angle to the upper surface of the substrate are formed on the semiconductor film. When a semiconductor film 104 comprised of the same materials as film 102 is grown on the patterned film 102, threading dislocations 105 extending toward the perpendicular direction from the substrate are refracted on the facets 103 to be oriented to the parallel direction with respect to the substrate surface, which suppresses the propagation of the dislocations to the perpendicular direction. These dislocations are again bent toward the perpendicular direction with respect to the semiconductor substrate when grown films extending from two opposing facets meet together. This divides the grown films into a lower defect-density area 106 and a higher defect-density area 107. The fabrication of a device in area 106 enables the formation of a high-performance semiconductor element. Another prior method of directly patterning the substrate has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 12-178740 as shown in FIG. 4. This is fabricated in such a manner that a plurality of facets 202 arranged in [−110] direction are formed on Si substrate 201 with a (001) surface orientation and then a SiC film 203 is grown throughout substrate 201. Facets 202 will orient plane defects 204 produced in SiC film 203 toward (111) and (−1-11) planes, for example, thereby causing defects extending from the opposing facets to disappear together. This method is effective for a hard grown film difficult to pattern, for example, SiC layer. The above method allows decreasing threading dislocations extending to the surface of the grown film to 107/cm2.
Upgrading performances of devices requires further reduction of defects and threading dislocations. In high-output electronic device using III-nitride semiconductor and SiC, for example, a threading dislocation needs to be reduced to 103/cm2 to obtain a sufficient transistor performance in view of suppressing leak current and ensuring withstand voltage. Also in a light emitting device comprised of a III-nitride semiconductor, a defect density in a III-nitride semiconductor film is preferably about 105/cm2 to further improve light-emitting efficiency and lifetime. A presently optimum method is to use a substrate equal or near to a targeted semiconductor film in lattice constant to achieve a lower defect density. A SiC substrate different from GaN in a lattice constant of as small as 3% is available as a substrate for III-nitride semiconductor layer. The SiC substrate is effective as a substrate for high quality SiC film. The SiC substrate, however, is not suited industrially because it is expensive as compared to a sapphire or a Si substrate.
Accordingly such a lower defect density needs to be realized by the use of a sapphire or a Si substrate. It is not enough to use a single effect produced by the above buffer layer or patterning for this purpose. The number of threading dislocations that can be suppressed by the buffer layer only is limited. There always exist finite threading dislocations or defects of 107/cm2 or more on the grown-film surface. Even if a patterning effect is used, it is difficult to control precisely defects, and there still exist a large number of defects that do not disappear. In an example shown in FIG. 3, for instance, a high-defect-density area exists in a part of the surface and, in addition, the asymmetry of opposing facets causes dislocations to extend obliquely relative to the substrate surface after meeting, which may again increase dislocation density on the grown film surface. In an example shown in FIG. 4 as well, since defects are produced at random positions on facets 202, there exist a large number of dislocations and defects that do not meet and reach the surface.
The above description requires use of plural effects, for example, to decrease substantially the threading dislocation and defects. Disclosure in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 6-216037 is an example of a prior art to ensure high quality crystal by combining the buffer layer with pattering. FIG. 5 shows the example of prior art in the publication. This is so constructed that a semiconductor layer 302 different from a semiconductor substrate 301 in lattice constant is stacked thereon, on which is formed a large number of teeth 303 with (111) plane, a buffer layer 304 for suppressing the propagation of threading dislocations is stacked throughout, and a semiconductor layer 305 comprised of the same material as or different material from the layer 302 is stacked. Defects 306 extending from layer 302 are bent by the buffer layer, extend toward [111] direction along the facets, meet the defects extending from the opposing facets, disappear and decrease. Unlike the example of prior art shown in FIG. 4, this prior example defines paths of defects, increasing a probability that defects meet together. However, a plurality of defects concentrate in the same path, which makes a defect density very large at the meeting position of defects. It is more probable that defects bend to the perpendicular direction with respect to the substrate and extends to the surface as the threading dislocation instead of completely disappearing.
Since strain is produced in the buffer layer to increase energy when defects are bent, not all defects are bent, some of them are propagated upward directly. Therefore, a defect density is still as high as 5×106/cm2 on the grown-layer surface.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof


A demagnetization apparatus for use with magnetically based electronic article surveillance systems having a dual status anti-theft marker containing at least one demagnetizable control element which when demagnetized allows the marker to be detected by the system when the marker is present in an interrogation zone. The apparatus includes an elongated magnetic section contained within a housing which exhibits a succession of fields of alternate polarity and at least a portion of which exhibits exponentially decreasing intensities at the working surface of the housing along that portion of the section. The section and a cover plate are orientated such that the external fields near the working surface are sufficient in intensities to demagnetize the demagnetizable element of the marker positioned proximate thereto while being rapidly attenuated a short distance from the section.

EAS systems of the type described above, are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,665,449 (Elder and Wright). With such systems, a dual status marker of the type described above may be sensitized, i.e., the high-coercive force control elements thereof demagnetized, by applying an alternating, diminishing amplitude magnetic field, or by gradually removing an alternating field of constant intensity such as by withdrawing a bulk magnetic eraser of the type supplied by Nortronics Company, Inc. of Minneapolis, Minn. As disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,665,449 such a demagnetization operation may also be effected through the proper selection and arrangement of a series of permanent magnets in which adjacent magnets are oppositely polarized. By selecting the magnets to be of different strengths and by arranging them in an order ranging from highest to lowest (relative to the direction of travel), the magnetic field will appear to diminish in amplitude when passed over a control element. The patent also suggests that magnets of the same field strength may be arranged like inverted ascending steps or like an inclined plane so that the amplitude of the field is progressively diminished to produce the same result, and that it is not ordinarily necessary to demagnetize the control element in the strictest sense. Rather, the magnetic influence of the control element need only be reduced to an extent permitting magnetization reversal of the marker by the applied field.
While such techniques may be useful in many areas with the markers affixed to a wide variety of articles, the magnetic fields associated therewith have been found to unacceptably interfere with magnetic states associated with certain articles, such as prerecorded magnetic video and audio cassettes utilized in video rental businesses and in public libraries. Because of the compact size and popularity of such prerecorded magnetic cassettes, they are frequent targets for shoplifters, and hence likely articles with which anti-theft markers would be used. At the same time however, such affixed markers would be desirably sensitized upon return of the article, and it has been found that prior art demagnetization apparatus such as those described above may unacceptably affect signals prerecorded on the magnetic tapes within the cassettes.
In contrast to the demagnetization apparatus of the art described above in which the intensity of the magnetic fields produced thereby extend in a virtually uncontrolled fashion, the apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,590 (Heltemes) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,758 (Heltemes) provides a succession of fields of alternating polarity which rapidly decrease in intensity only a short, controlled distance from the surface of the apparatus and thus, while being capable of demagnetizing high-coercive force control elements of a marker brought close thereto, would be incapable of appreciably interfering with the magnetic signals recorded on tapes within a cassette to which the marker is affixed.
The Heltemes apparatus utilizes an elongated array of closely spaced poles whose field intensity is substantially similar but whose polarity alternates. This array is typically formed using a series of permanently magnetized elements made from the same material and having substantially similar dimensions. The array is positioned at an incline relative to a working surface such that a high-coercive force control element that is moved relative to the array along the working surface in the direction of increasing distance between the array and the working surface experiences a magnetic field that alternates in polarity and generally decreases in intensity. Used in such a manner, the apparatus causes the control element to become demagnetized. Demagnetization in such a manner is often referred to as "ring-down."
While the Heltemes apparatus is useful in demagnetizing control elements contained in anti-theft markers affixed to prerecorded magnetic tapes without affecting the signals prerecorded on such tapes, the array of alternating poles embodied therein is not designed for optimal ring-down. Optimal ring-down occurs when the alternating magnetic field decreases in an exponential envelope. The Heltemes apparatus relies on the gradually, and typically linearly, increasing distance between a working surface and a series of alternating poles of substantially similar strength to achieve decreasing field intensity at the working surface. Consequently, the length of the series of alternating poles in the Heltemes apparatus is significantly longer than necessary for an optimized magnetic array. In addition, because the first and last magnet elements in the array have only one neighboring magnet element of opposite polarity, the contributions from these end elements can be undesirably large, thus leaving the control element with a net magnetization. Correction of this problem also necessitates a longer array in the Heltemes apparatus.

Small magnet resensitizer apparatus for use with article surveillance systems


Print data received from a computer (1) is converted into first image data in a dot format by a printer emulator (2). The first image data, a second image data from document read circuits (3, 4), and a third image data received through a facsimile communication control circuit (12) are encoded through an encoding circuit (6) according to an identical coding scheme into first through third encoded image data, respectively, which are stored in an image data memory (8). Control circuits (7, 13) control storage in and reading from the image data memory (8). The control circuit (13) stores first through third destination information designating a transfer destination of each of the first through third encoded image data, and controls the system so that each of the first through third encoded image data is outputted to the output circuit designated by the respective destination information based on the first through third destination information. The output circuit is a printer engine (10) or the facsimile communication control circuit (12) connected to a facsimile apparatus at the other end.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-function facsimile apparatus connectible to computers and communication lines, and more particularly to a facsimile apparatus capable of using data from computers for printing and facsimile communications.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An example of prior art multi-function facsimile apparatuses connectible to computers is disclosed in Japanese Patent laid-open publication HEI 1(1989)-238366. This facsimile apparatus is constructed with an interface connected to a host computer, a printer emulator, a facsimile communication control circuit and an image scanner. The printer emulator receives data from the host computer via the interface, and converts the received data into dot data according to a print instruction code from the computer to form data capable of being faxed. The data from the printer emulator is faxed to the address under control of a given facsimile communication control circuit. When a document is read with an image scanner, the read data is faxed to the given address through the facsimile communication control circuit.
However, regarding the above type of facsimile machine, there has not been given any description as to control for temporarily and individually storing data from the host computer and data received from a facsimile apparatus at the other end, in a memory or other storage circuit, and then recording and outputting the data to a common recorder circuit.
In addition, Japanese Patent laid-open publication HEI 1(1989)-293063 describes a multimedia communication system constructed by connecting a personal computer (hereunder abbreviated to "PC") with a facsimile apparatus. Referring to FIG. 1, a communication control circuit 100 of the multimedia communication system is connected to a PC 200 and a facsimile apparatus 300. A PC communication control section 101 transfers text data from the PC 200 to a mail data section 102a or a text data section 102b of a file memory 102. A facsimile communication control section 103 transfers image data from a facsimile apparatus 300 to an image data section 102c of the file memory 102. A common service section 104 controls the file memory 102, and manages the image data, the text data and the mail data. A mail box circuit 105 manages the mail data section 102a, and controls transmission and reception of the mail data.
When the text data from the PC 200 is being transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 300, the common service section 104 reads the text data stored in the text data section 102b to transfer it to the facsimile communication control section 103. The facsimile communication control section 103 then converts the text data to image data as dot data which is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 300 according to a facsimile communication protocol. The mail data stored in the mail data section 102a may also be transmitted to other PCs and the facsimile apparatus 300.
With the multimedia communication system illustrated in FIG. 1, however, the data managed by the common service section 104 are the text data or mail data from the PC 200, and the image data from the facsimile apparatus 300 which are information in different formats. Accordingly, the file memory 102 has completely isolated storage areas for the image data and the text data, and this results in complicated management required for each data. An additional drawback of the prior art is an increased capacity required for the file memory 102 in cases where a large volume of text data or image data is being stored in the file memory 102.

Multi-function facsimile apparatus connectible to computers and communication lines


The disclosure provides a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a manufacturing method thereof, and an LCD device. The LCD panel adopts a structure with multiple electrodes and dual-frequency liquid crystals. When a temperature of the LCD panel is low (below 0° C.), the LCD panel is driven at high frequency, so that it emits more heat. Therefore, a working temperature of the LCD panel is increased without adding a heating element. LCD devices using such LCD panels have wide working temperature ranges, and are well suited to be used outdoors.

Currently, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), such as liquid crystal televisions, smartphones, computers, public display devices, and vehicle display devices, are the most widely used technology in the field of display. The LCD technologies have permeated into people's life. LCD devices have advantages of light and thin body, low power consumption, and ideal display effect. With rapid development of the LCD technologies, the LCD devices gradually transform from indoor displays to outdoor displays.
For outdoor LCD devices, a requirement of wide working temperature ranges must be satisfied. Normal LCD devices cannot be used outdoors because liquid crystal materials are active only within narrow temperature ranges. The liquid crystals even cannot work normally at low temperatures (below 0° C.). Traditionally, a heating element is disposed on the LCD devices to ensure the LCD devices can work normally outdoors. By the heating element, the LCD devices can work at an appropriate temperature even though an ambient temperature is below 0° C. However, the above method may extend boot time, increase costs, and result in inconvenient maintenance.

LCD panel, manufacturing method thereof, and LCD device

TCL CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


The image forming apparatus in which a plurality of ink chambers filled with ink are aligned, said ink chambers being expanded or contracted and ink being discharged from nozzles of the ink chambers onto a recording medium, by applying a voltage to piezoelectric elements provided on the outer perimeter or the outer side of the ink chambers, wherein said piezoelectric elements are arranged in a substantially parallel plane to the nozzle surface; and shorting devices which short the electrodes of said piezoelectric elements are provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus for forming images on a recording medium by expanding and contracting ink chambers by means of piezoelectric elements and discharging ink from nozzles of the ink chambers.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus such as an inkjet printer forms images on recording paper by discharging ink onto the recording paper from a recording head, while relatively moving the recording head and the recording paper. The ink discharging device discharges ink from a nozzle formed in an ink chamber, by deforming the ink chamber by means of a piezoelectric element. However, in ink discharging devices of this kind, there is a problem of accidental drops, and the like, caused by cross-talk between adjacently positioned ink chambers. In order to resolve this problem, a technology for performing share mode driving where adjacent ink chambers are driven at staggered ink discharge timings is known (see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-76084). This image forming apparatus causes the respective pillars on either side of each ink chamber to deform simultaneously, by generating a potential difference in these pillars. This deformation causes the ink chamber to expand or contract, and hence ink is discharged from the nozzle. If an ink chamber is not supposed to discharge ink, then the potential difference is set to zero at the respective electrodes of the pillars of the ink chamber, thereby preventing deformation of the ink chamber. In this way, accidental drops emitted by an ink chamber that is not supposed to discharge ink are prevented.

Image forming apparatus and method of driving ink discharge


A method for preventing or inhibiting non-specific binding reactions between a detection reagent and an antigen in an immunological assay is described. The method involves using tetrameric antibody complexes that can bind to the antigen and are comprised of two monoclonal antibodies of a first animal species linked to two monoclonal antibodies of a second animal species that can bind the antibodies of the first animal species. Preferably, the antigen is an Fc Receptor and the method reduces the binding of a detection antibody with Fc receptors present on the surface of many cells.

Non-specific staining is a major problem in immunological determinations, which measure the presence of an antigen on cells or in solutions or which isolate specific cells or proteins on the basis of binding of detection reagents that specifically recognize these antigens. The specific binding of a detection reagent to its target antigen cannot be distinguished from non-specific binding to other structures that are unrelated to the antigen of interest. Ideally, detection reagents used in immunological determinations specifically recognize the antigens of interest, but do not bind to other unrelated molecules on the same test cells or in the same test solution. Monoclonal antibodies raised against the antigen of interest are used most often, but not exclusively, as detection reagents. Polyclonal antibodies or non-immunoglobulin reagents, e.g., cytokines or synthetic antibody-like molecules are used as well, but less frequently.
A major, but not the only, source of non-specific signals in immunological determinations is the interaction of antibodies with Fc-receptors (FcR) on the surface of various blood cells or present in soluble form in blood serum and plasma. Examples of FcR expressing cells are monocytes/macrophages, NK cells, B cells, and platelets. Examples of Fc Receptors that can bind antibodies or antibody complexes are CD16, CD23, CD32, and CD69 Antibody/FcR interactions are mediated through the constant or Fc part of the molecule. The Fc part is also involved in other non-specific antibody interactions which are not mediated through Fc receptors. Removal of the Fc part of antibodies by chemical or enzymatic protein digestion can effectively remove FcR mediated or other non-specific interactions. Disadvantages of these approaches are that the chemical or enzymatic procedures that remove the Fc part of antibodies can damage the antibody molecule and decrease its stability and performance. Digestion conditions need to be carefully optimized for each individual antibody preparation to achieve minimal damage and maximal recovery. This increases the amount of labour and cost involved. The removal of the Fc region may also reduce detection sensitivity. The reason is that the smaller size of the digested antibodies reduces the amount of fluorochrome, enzyme or other label that can be effectively attached to the detection antibody without inhibiting or eliminating its antigen binding ability.
Desirable approaches to prevent non-specific binding of detection antibodies in immunological determinations prevent FcR and other non-specific interactions by non-modified, intact detection antibodies and can be applied generically without need for optimization for different applications and assay formats.

Tetrameric antibody complexes for blocking non-specific labeling of antigens


A format for accessing content such as a full-length move from an optical disc uses an XML description file stored on the disc to generate one or more screens that a user employs to access the content. The decoding requirements of a hardware or software player are reduced by discarding specific elements of an encoding standard such as MPEG4 that is used to encode the content on the disc. The maximum average and peak bitrates at which the data is transferred are limited to further reduce the demands on the player.

Until now, data-intensive content such as full-length movies has been stored on DVD discs and displayed on devices such as laptop computers, but it has not been stored and displayed with high quality (e.g., DVD quality or better) on miniature hand-held devices such as mobile phones and personal data assistants (PDAs). One of the problems has been to develop a presentation format that provides a fast and efficient system for accessing the content of an optical disc and for playing the audio and video content of the disc back at a high level of reproduction quality and without placing undue demands on the microprocessor in the device.
This invention overcomes those problems.


An isolated DC-to-DC converter comprises a converter section configured to receive an input voltage and produce an isolated output voltage and a controller section configured to control the operation of the converter section to maintain the output voltage at a predetermined value by, at least in part, turning switches on and off at a certain duty cycle at a set switching frequency. The controller section comprises an isolation transformer providing primary and secondary side isolation and an error amplifier having an output coupled to the isolation transformer, the error amplifier providing an error signal that is representative of the difference between an output voltage and a desired output voltage. The converter further comprises an isolation driver coupled to an isolation driver switch, the isolation driver operable to turn on and off the isolation driver switch at the same frequency as the converter section, the switching of the isolation driver switch resulting in the error signal becoming an amplitude modulated error signal that is transferred across the isolation transformer.

DC-to-DC converters change DC electrical power from one voltage level to another. Typically, a DC-to-DC converter converts a supply voltage level of DC power to an output voltage level. For example, 1.5 volts DC from a battery can be stepped up to a higher voltage to operate electronic circuitry. DC-to-DC converters can also provide noise isolation, power bus regulation, etc.
There are various types of DC-to-DC converters including buck converters, boost converters, buck-boost converters, and "Cuk" converters. The buck converters and the boost converters step the input voltage down and up, respectively, and buck-boost converters and Cuk converters can either step the input voltage up or down.
Different designs for DC-to-DC converters exist. Certain DC-to-DC converters have the input ground of a primary side isolated from the output ground of a secondary side, typically using an isolation transformer. Typically, isolation is provided for safety reasons and to prevent current ground loops. One drawback of isolated power supplies is that when the power supply utilizes primary side switching to produce the output voltage, feeding back the output voltage from the secondary side to the primary side to drive a controller on the primary side can be problematic.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a control circuit for a DC-to-DC power converter having lossless or near lossless switching and very few parts to reduce cost. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Control circuit for isolated forward DC-to DC converters


A two-layer secondary carpet backing including a woven scrim layer and a fibrous layer is described. The woven scrim layer is characterized as having a low open area and a flat weave. The two-layer secondary backing is capable of having a non-abrasive, textile back surface. The secondary carpet backing is also capable of having a construction that permits high carpet manufacturing speeds due to high air permeability and is capable of providing high dimensional stability, seam strength, and delamination strength to tufted carpets made therefrom.

Carpets generally comprise a primary backing structure, face yarn, a binder and, in many cases, a secondary carpet backing. Face yarn penetrates the primary backing structure to form tufts projecting from one side, providing a pile surface, and stitches on an opposite side. Binder is present on the stitched side, encapsulating and adhering stitches to the backing structure to anchor the tufts. Secondary carpet backings normally are adhered to the stitched side with the binder. The binder typically comprises more than 80 percent by weight of a ground inorganic solid such as calcium carbonate in a styrene butadiene or ethylene vinyl acetate latex.
Carpets are typically fabricated by tufting face yarn through a primary backing structure with reciprocating needles that carry face yarn back and forth through the structure to form the tufts and stitches, applying a binder formulation, usually as an inert particulate-filled aqueous latex of an organic polymer, to the stitched side, and curing the binder by heating to drive off water or other liquids. The secondary carpet backing usually is laminated to the stitched side, by bringing it and the stitched side of the tufted structure together with binder applied to the stitched side, or with binder applied both to the stitched side of the primary backing structure and to the secondary carpet backing, and curing the binder in contact with the stitched side and the secondary carpet backing. Curing, also commonly referred to as drying, typically involves heating the construction with hot air, as in a carpet finishing oven.
In carpet manufacture, the secondary carpet backing performs several functions. Typically, it imparts dimensional stability to the finished carpet and increases tuft bind. Dimensional stability is the ability of the carpet to resist buckling in use after stretch in. Generally dimensional stability increases when the force required to separate (or peel) the secondary carpet backing from the binder increases. Another carpet performance issue is ease of seaming. The secondary carpet backing must allow the carpet to be joined with seaming tape without distorting the face appearance while forming strong bonds that can withstand installation with a power stretcher. In addition to its contribution to carpet performance, the secondary carpet backing provides aesthetics and, in some cases, isolates the abrasive binder/filler mixture that is used to bind the stitches from the underside of the carpet. Isolating the abrasive binder/filler mixture is important for minimizing scratches to walls and woodwork during installation.
For commercially viable secondary carpet backings, the fabrics must also meet critical requirements in the carpet manufacturing process. For example, the backings must have sufficient integrity that they can be unrolled, coated and laminated to the back of the carpet without significant distortion of the pick line. They must also allow the carpet to be manufactured at line speeds that result in low laminating costs. One carpet backing property that correlates with faster line speeds is air permeability. Consequently, during curing (or drying) of the binder/filler mixture, the backing must not act as a barrier preventing escape of volatilized liquids. Carpets that have incompletely cured binders have less resistance to delamination, lower dimensional stability, and lower tuft binds, and lower resistance to moisture than equivalent carpets with fully cured binders.
These considerations dictate that the ideal secondary carpet backing must satisfy many different requirements. Among others, it must be capable of imparting dimensional stability, forming a strong bond to the carpet binder and to carpet seaming tape, allowing a fast carpet lamination process, and preventing the abrasive binder/filler mixture from causing damage.
Designing secondary carpet backings that meet all of these requirements is complicated, since the structural features that are conducive to good drying (i.e., an open structure) may be in conflict with the features for containing the filler and imparting increased dimensional stability. Studies performed by the inventors have shown that with the conventional leno weave secondary carpet backings that are in use today, it is not possible to predict with certainty the exact contribution of a secondary carpet backing to the dimensional stability of finished carpets because of the wide range of styles, weights and other characteristics of carpets in which secondary carpet backings are utilized. The inventors have also found the interactions of backings and binders within finished carpets when subjected to force are not well defined. Indeed, systematic studies of common secondary carpet backings have shown a lack of correlation between dimensional stability of finished carpets and the properties of the carpet backing fabrics therein, suggesting that the ability of such backings to impart dimensional stability is best gauged from carpet performance itself.
Leno weave is a weave in which the warp yarns are arranged in pairs which are twisted around the filling yarns. The most common secondary carpet backing in use today is an open weave fabric with a leno weave construction and a warp count of 16 ends per inch (wpi) and a fill count of 5 picks per inch (ppi). That product has polypropylene tape yarns in the warp direction and spun yarn in the filling direction. It combines low cost with the ability to provide adequate dimensional stability and delamination strengths in carpets that are manufactured at high line speeds. However, one drawback of using an open weave secondary carpet backing is that the binder/filler mixture is exposed on the underside of the finished carpet. This causes the back side of the carpet to have an unattractive appearance and abrasive texture due to the exposed filler/binder mixture. This abrasive, tough cured binder mixture often causes scratches on walls and woodwork when such carpets are installed.
FIG. 1 exemplifies a conventional leno weave construction. This conventional art does not constitute an admission of priority or that this figure is available as a reference against applicants' technology, or a waiver of any right the applicant may have under applicable statutes or Rules of Practice. As depicted, the construction 100 comprises warps 130 and wefts 120 disposed in a 16 warps per inch (wpi) by 5 picks per inch (ppi) leno weave construction. This provides a substantially open construction allowing for proper air permeability for drying of binding agents applied during carpet construction. For example, the open area of a 16×5 leno weave backing is about 34%. However, while allowing for proper air permeability, the open fabric design also allows the filler/binder mixture to exude from the back of the carpet. This creates an abrasive surface that is often unsatisfactory because of its appearance and tendency to scratch surfaces during installation.
Several approaches to overcoming the abrasiveness and poor aesthetics of the conventional leno 16×5 secondary carpet backing/filled binder system have been proposed. One approach is to increase the warp count and pick count of the 16 wpi by 5 ppi leno weave backing to about 18 wpi by 13 ppi. Although that approach reduces the size of the open areas in the fabric, the open areas are still sufficiently large that the filled binder mixture exudes through the secondary carpet backing during carpet manufacture.
Another approach is to make a secondary carpet backing that has a closed weave so that the filler/binder mixture is encapsulated between the stitched side of the primary backing and the side of the secondary carpet backing that is opposite the side that contacts the floor. One such product of that type is a 24 wpi×15 ppi plain weave fabric woven from 50 mil wide tapes in the warp direction and 40 mil diameter spun yarns in the filling direction. That fabric weighs about 4 ounces per sq yd (osy) and has essentially no open area, that is, no space in the plane of the fabric that is not occupied by a warp or fill yarn. Although that fabric prevents the filler/binder mixture from exuding to the underside of the carpet when it is cured, it does not allow for sufficiently high curing rates for widespread use. Consequently, it has been withdrawn from commercial use.
One key measure related to curing rates is the air permeability of fabric. For the above described 24×15 plain weave fabric, the air flow rate is 80 cfm/sq ft when measured according to ASTM D 737 with a 0.5 inch water head. That figure is about one tenth the air permeability of the conventional 16×5 leno weave secondary carpet backing described above.
Other approaches to improved secondary carpet backings have been proposed. One class of alternative secondary carpet backing constructions involves the preparation of composites of two or more layers. One such attempt is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,817,817 Pickens, Jr. et al. ("the '817 Pickens patent") wherein a needlebonded secondary carpet backing for carpet comprises a closed weave fabric needlepunched with staple fiber. This composite backing affords a textile-like back surface that contains the filler/binder mixture, providing improved aesthetics and preventing the carpet from scratching walls and woodwork during installation. However, such a construction has low air permeability, and is not suitable for making carpets at current high line speeds because the water in the latex layer cannot escape at a sufficiently high rate while the carpet is in the oven.
FIG. 2 exemplifies the '817 Pickens patent. As is illustrated, the composite secondary carpet backing comprises warps 230 and wefts 220, wherein warps 230 and wefts 220 comprise thin, wide tapes or tape yarns. The fuzzy side of the fabric is disposed against the floor side of the backing/carpet construct, and the fibers that are punched through the woven fabric become bonded to the latex binder layer. However, the closeness and dimensions of these tape yarns in the '817 Pickens patent does not allow for sufficient water removal during the curing process. Additionally, the '817 Pickens patent does not teach a relationship between the structure of the woven fabric layer and subsequent performance in carpets.
Another composite secondary carpet backing is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,060,145 and 6,344,254 Smith et al. These patents disclose a modified secondary carpet backing having an open weave scrim in a leno weave construction with a 16 wpi by 5 ppi count (16×5), wherein the woven scrim is bonded to a needled batt of fiber. The 16×5 open weave leno scrim described above is essentially the same as the 16 wpi by 5 ppi commonly used in secondary carpet backings as described above.
To create a less abrasive and more aesthetically pleasing carpet, the composite secondary carpet backings of the '145 and '254 patents combine the 16×5 leno construction with a needled batt of fiber. Like the Pickens, Jr. et al. '817 construction, this composite backing also affords a textile-like back surface providing improved aesthetics and preventing the carpet from scratching walls and woodwork during installation.
Thus, the '145 and '254 patents differ from the Pickens, Jr. et al. '817 construction because of the nature of the woven scrims. More specifically, the large open area in the woven scrim of the '145 and '254 patents leads to higher air flow through the composite backing. For example, with a 2.2 osy needled fiber layer, the air flow is about half that of the 16 wpi by 5 ppi fabric alone. This increased air permeability is cited as a key reason for a faster binder curing rate.
However, while the Smith et al. '145 and '254 patents provide increased air permeability over the Pickens, Jr. et al '817 construction, it is common industry knowledge that carpet laminations constructed with the '145 and '254 composite secondary carpet backings proceed at reduced line speeds compared to laminations where the 16×5 open weave fabric is alone the secondary carpet backing. Further, efforts to increase line speed by raising oven temperatures have been largely unsuccessful because the fibers in the nonwoven batt melt at the higher temperatures. These melted sections of the batt lead to poor aesthetics and a non-uniform carpet appearance and can also lead to decreased carpet properties.
Therefore, it is readily apparent that there currently exists a need in the art for a secondary carpet backings that allows for high carpet manufacturing speeds, provides a smooth textile-like surface that prevents the filler/binder mixture from exuding from the underside of the carpet, and imparts high levels of dimensional stability, delamination resistance, air permeability, and tuft binds to carpets.

Composite secondary carpet backing, method of manufacture thereof, and carpet made therefrom


An apparatus for sensing color blend homogeneity in a mixture having a first and second blend portion includes a light transmissive plate for holding the mixture, a light source for emitting a light beam, and a color sensor optically coupled to the light source. An illumination assembly has a first end optically coupled to the light source and a second end optically coupled to and disposed normal to the light transmissive plate so as to illuminate the mixture disposed on the plate with the light beam. At least one detection assembly is provided, having a first end disposed adjacent the light transmissive plate so as to detect the diffuse reflection from the illuminated mixture. Next, the color sensor collects the diffuse reflecting light from the first and second material blends and transforms the diffuse reflecting light into tri-color signals so as to determine the local and global homogeneity of the first and second material blend portions.

This application relates generally to color blend mixing, and in particular relates to sensing blend color homogeneity.
Modern plastic materials have found a wide range of markets and a variety of applications in diverse manufacturing fields. These plastic materials offer many desirable characteristics such as an excellent finish, desirable electrical, thermal and mechanical properties, low-cost and a variety of colors.
Plastics are typically formed of one or more base polymers or resins, one or more colorants, and other additives. Such additives may include, for example, fiberglass for structural reinforcement, flame retardents, plasticizers, or mold release agents. The plastics are manufactured by initially mixing these components to form a substantially homogeneous polymer blend. The polymer blend then typically undergoes extrusion, or the like, to form a raw product, for example pellets. The raw products are then utilized to produce final polymer products of various forms.
Recently, in the field of polymer design, there has been a demand for color polymer blend techniques that make it possible to faithfully reproduce blend colors. The color of the final product may depend on several factors including the concentration and type of colorant and base resin, temperature history during mixing, and the ultimate degree of constituent inter-mixing achieved during processing. Thus, variations in color between polymer products may arise for a variety of reasons.
For example, color may vary among products due to polymer product formulation or recipe differences. Color variations may exist between lots for a given product formulation or recipe due to machine-to-machine differences. Color differences may exist within lots due to changing raw material characteristics, changing operating conditions, and inaccuracies and other anomalies in processing, including speed rates.
Polymer color is typically manually adjusted by adjusting the amount of colorant for a given production run. The colorant may take any conventional form which affects the color of the polymer product by itself or in combination with other constituents. For example, solid pigments and liquid pigments or dyes may be used for affecting the color of the final product.
In a typical production process, the colorant and base resin are blended together and compounded or extruded in a laboratory machine to generate pellets. The pellets are then injection molded to obtain a plaque with substantially uniform color, which is then conventionally measured in a laboratory spectrocolorimeter. The measured plaque color is compared with a reference or standard plaque color, and differences therebetween are corrected by adjusting the colorant. The sequence is repeated until the plaque color falls within an acceptable range to the reference plaque.
A sample of the finally corrected colorant and resin blend is then compounded on a production scale machine that follows the same procedure as the laboratory machine to produce a color plaque which is again compared with a reference plaque. If required, the color in the production machine is suitably corrected to affect an acceptable match between the measured plaque and the reference plaque.
This process, therefore, requires many steps to achieve a desired color in the polymer pellets which increases processing time and cost. Accordingly, it is desired to improve the process of constituent inter-mixing in the production of a polymer product from base resins and colorants.


The overall performance of water-reducible polymer dispersions, more specifically alkyd dispersions, can be substantially improved by utilizing resins derived from acidolysis reaction products of polyalkylene terephthalates and polyalkylene naphthalates. According to this invention, polymer dispersions can be produced from low acid value polymers and yet have good water dispersibility. When an aqueous coating composition is formulated using the dispersion of this invention, a final coating is formed that has good hydrolytic stability, and when blended with a latex, exhibits improved gloss and wet adhesion.

This invention relates to an aqueous polymer dispersion having a low acid value and low volatile organic level utilizing a polyalkylene terephthalate, or polyalkylene naphthalate, as a raw material for producing the resin. The process for making the dispersion includes an acidolysis reaction of polyalkylene terephthalate, or polyalkylene naphthalate, to produce a low acid value resin, and subsequently performing a monomer modification of the resin followed by combining the modified resin with water in the presence of a base to provide water dispersibility. More specifically, the aqueous dispersion of this invention can be an alkyd dispersion.
It has been known to employ water-reducible alkyds as binders to replace solventborne alkyds in order to reduce volatile organic content (VOC). One way to disperse an alkyd in water is to synthesize a high acid value alkyd in a water miscible solvent followed by neutralization and addition of water. Such alkyd resins and film-forming systems based thereon, however, have the disadvantages of unsatisfactory resistance to water, poor hydrolytic stability, and require considerable amounts of volatile amines and solvents for satisfactory dispersion. Another way to disperse an alkyd in water is to emulsify the alkyd in the presence of large amounts of surface-active agents. However, surface-active agents tend to impair the moisture resistance of the resulting coatings. The aqueous coating compositions produced utilizing the dispersions of this invention exhibit good hydrolytic stability and moisture resistance.
Water-reducible alkyds have also been used in aqueous coating compositions to improve the properties of latex coatings. In many instances, high gloss and wet adhesion have been difficult to achieve with latex coatings. Current water-reducible alkyds, such as those described above, when blended with a latex, may improve wet adhesion and gloss, but negatively impact stability or moisture resistance. The aqueous coating compositions produced utilizing the dispersions of this invention as a secondary binder with latex exhibit improved gloss and adhesion properties compared to unmodified latex coatings. These paints also exhibit improved stability and moisture resistance as compared to current water-reducible alkyd modified latex paints.
It has now been found that the overall performance of water-reducible polymer dispersions, more specifically alkyd dispersions, can be substantially improved by utilizing resins derived from acidolysis reaction products of polyalkylene terephthalates and polyalkylene naphthalates. According to this invention, polymer dispersions can be produced from low acid value polymers and yet have good water dispersibility. When an aqueous coating composition is formulated using the dispersion of this invention, a final coating is formed that has good hydrolytic stability, and when blended with a latex, exhibits improved gloss and wet adhesion.