(N-organylaminoorganyl)triorganylsilanes and (N,N-diorganylamino-organyl)triorganyl silanes are prepared in exceptional yield and high purity by reacting a cyclic or acyclic amine with low water content with a haloorganylsilane.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for the production of (N-organylaminoorganyl)- and (N,N-diorganylaminoorganyl)trioorganylsilanes from corresponding (triorganylsilylorganyl) halides and N-organyl- or N, N-diorganylamines, and (N-cyclohexylaminomethyl)trimethoxysilane and [N,N-bis-(N′,N′-dimethylaminopropyl)aminomethyl]triorganylsilane obtainable by means of this method.
2. Background Art
(N-organylaminoorganyl)- and (N, N-diorganylamino-organyl)triorganylsilanes can be produced at present by means of three different methods.
Aminoalkyl-substituted silicon compounds having an alkylene bridge containing at least three C atoms positioned between the nitrogen and the silicon atom are obtained by hydrosilylation of corresponding unsaturated amine compounds with organosilicon compounds containing hydrogen atoms bonded to the silicon atom. Any free NH groups present on the amine-containing olefin component must be blocked by protective groups before the hydrosilylation reaction in order to avoid undesired secondary reactions.
Furthermore, (aminoorganyl)silanes can be converted into substituted (N-organylaminoorganyl)- and (N,N-diorganylaminoorganyl)triorganylsilanes by nucleophilic substitution reactions with the aid of organyl halides. A disadvantage of this method is the tendency of the organyl halides to undergo uncontrolled multiple alkylations.
The method for the production of (N-organylaminoorganyl)- and (N,N-diorganylaminoorganyl)triorganylsilanes by means of the reaction of (haloorganyl)silanes with corresponding amines is economically more advantageous than the two abovementioned methods. In particular, the ready availability of (chloroalkyl)silanes, which are obtainable by means of photochlorination of alkylsilanes or hydrosilylation of corresponding halogen-substituted olefins with Si-H-containing compounds, and are used, for example, as intermediates for the synthesis of a multiplicity of organofunctional silanes, proves to be advantageous. Furthermore, in this procedure, it is possible to employ a large number of similarly readily available primary and secondary amines for the synthesis of the (N-organylaminoorganyl)- and (N,N-diorganylaminoorganyl)triorganylsilanes which permits a very wide range of use of the method and therefore economical product changes with existing industrial production plants.
British patent GB 686,068 A discloses (amino)-, (N-organylamino)- and (N,N-diorganylaminomethyl)- or (N,N-diorganylaminoethyl)triorganylsilanes. Furthermore, GB 686,068 A also describes a method for reacting corresponding (chloromethyl)- or (bromomethyl)triorganosilanes with ammonia or a primary or secondary amine at temperatures of at least 50° C. for the production of (aminoorganyl)-, (N-organylaminoorganyl)- and (N,N-diorganylaminoorganyl)triorganylsilanes. As a rule, the (chloromethyl)- or (bromomethyl)triorganosilanes were initially introduced into a flask or autoclave, depending on the boiling points of the amine compounds used, and heated to temperatures above 100° C., particularly 110-130° C. In the case of higher-boiling amines, (e.g. cyclohexylamine) the sequence of mixing was the opposite and the (chloromethyl)- or (bromomethyl)triorganosilanes were added to the heated amine. The reaction time was from 2 to 8 hours depending on the amine compound to be reacted.
The (aminomethyl)silane derivatives are prepared by the method described in German Laid-open application DE 18 12 564 A1, by reacting a (chloromethyl)- or (bromomethyl)silane derivative with ammonia or a primary amine. The reaction is effected at temperatures of 80 to 100° C. for a period of 2 or 3 hours, the amine having been introduced initially in its entirety, in a molar excess of 1:3.2 to 1:6.
The methods described in GB 686,068 A and DE 18 12 564 A1 have very long reaction times, e.g. several hours. The yields obtained are low. The products are not obtained in the required purity and have to be purified by a complicated procedure before their further use. For example, the products obtained by the method described contain large amounts of ionogenic chloride or bromide. Without purification, their industrial use is limited. They cannot be used, for example, in sealing compounds which are applied to metallic surfaces, due to considerably greater corrosion due to the halides present.
In particular, the hydrochlorides or hydrobromides of the amines used in the synthesis, or the hydrochlorides or hydrobromides of the desired compounds are considered here as chloride- or bromide- containing impurities. In this context, it was surprisingly found that mixtures of (aminomethyl)silanes and the abovementioned hydrochlorides or hydrobromides can lead in some cases to very exothermic decomposition of the desired compounds with breaking of the Si—C bond and formation of correspondingly N-methylated amines at relatively high temperatures, as are necessary, for example, during the production and also for the distillative purification of the desired compounds. The N-methylamines thus formed influence the course of the synthesis in an undesired manner. This effect appears to correlate with the basicity of the amine compound: the less basic the (aminomethyl)silane, the more readily does this decomposition reaction occur. For this reason and also from the point of view of safety, low halide contents of the (aminomethyl)silanes described here are necessary. Although a number of methods for the reduction of halide contents in alkoxysilanes are known and are based, for example, on the precipitation of the dissolved halide by addition of alkali metal or alkaline earth metal alcoholate salts (e.g. EP 0 702 017 A1, DE 693 06 288 T2, DE 195 13 976 A1), superstoichiometric amounts of the salts are required for simple and efficient reduction of the halide content, since the desired complete removal of halide cannot be achieved by stoichiometric amounts. Disadvantageously, however, all (aminomethyl)silanes investigated to date tend under these conditions, such as the simultaneous presence of free alcohols and strong bases, to undergo decomposition reactions, for example, the breaking of the Si—C bond already described above. An alternative method which is said to permit reductions of chloride contents in alkoxysilanes by introduction of ammonia is described in German Laid-Open Application DE 199 41 283 A1, but here (aminoalkyl)alkoxysilanes are explicitly excluded from the field of use thereof. Furthermore, the heating of the completely premixed solution of silane and amine, described in DE 18 12 564 A1, is questionable from the point of view of plant safety owing to the exothermic reaction of the two components.
It has now been surprisingly discovered that the decomposition of (aminomethyl)silanes takes place not only in the presence of hydrochlorides, or of alcohols and bases, but the presence of alcohols alone is sufficient to bring about the formation of corresponding N-methylamines. The N-methylated amine derivatives thus formed compete during the reaction with unmethylated amine still present for reaction with the (halomethyl)silane and finally lead to the formation of (N-methylaminomethyl)silanes, which cannot be separated from the desired compounds by distillation. In order to avoid this undesired secondary reaction, alcohols must be absent from the reaction mixture. If at least one of the organyl radicals on the silicon atom is an alkoxy group, only amines having a low water content may be used in the method, since otherwise alcohols are liberated by preliminary reaction of the silane with water present in the amine.

Method for the production of silicon compounds carrying amino groups


A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a first rotating electric machine starting the internal combustion engine, a power control unit for operating the first rotating electric machine, a power storage device for supplying electric power to the power control unit, and a control device controlling the power control unit such that a voltage of the power storage device does not fall below a lower limit. When a change condition including a condition that the internal combustion engine is being operated is met, the control device sets the lower limit at a value lower than while the internal combustion engine is at a stop. Preferably, the change condition further includes a condition that a magnitude of voltage change of the power storage device is less than or equal to a first threshold value in addition to the condition that the internal combustion engine is being operated.

A hybrid vehicle using an engine and a motor in combination as drive sources has mounted thereon a large-capacity power storage device. Such a power storage device is managed such that overdischarge or overcharge does not occur.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-017001 (PTD 1) discloses a technique for effectively utilizing a power storage device of relatively small capacity. This document discloses a hybrid electric vehicle in which a power storage device whose charging/discharging is controlled by a control circuit is used, wherein selection can be made among three running modes of a fixed-speed running mode, an accelerated running mode and a decelerated running mode, and a charging management range between a charging upper limit and a charging lower limit for the power storage device is changed in accordance with each running mode.


A graph-based data cataloging system, product and method that structures expert knowledge and statistically driven data analytics into a system-based framework for finding and relating enhanced metadata on subject-relevant, curated datasets from disparate, externally held data sources is shown. Displayed across a knowledge graph of nodes of datasets linked by their metadata attributes, the system simplifies the search and retrieval of multiple datasets of relevance to a user's technical, content, and resource-driven needs.

In recent years, the proliferation of data driven approaches and technologies has led to an exponential growth in the quantity of structured and unstructured data available for exploitation. Yet little has emerged to identify data that is usable with a given technique and relevant to a given problem set. Digital catalogs of ready-to-use datasets are few and far between. Where they exist, dataset curation focuses largely on a dataset's structural attributes, their licensing rights, or on the fact they exist at all, minimizing the relative utility and usability of a dataset's content to basic crowdsourced keyword tags. Most curation efforts reflect the efforts of technically savvy curators with limited subject matter expertise compiling blog lists of URLs across social media and other data specific sites (e.g., Quora, GitHub, Reddit, Data Science Central). Where databases exist, whether in academia or elsewhere, they are built predominately on relational structures—inhibiting the ability to index and link datasets—and tend to reflect single subject matter expertise or types of data content providers.
Four distinct, but related challenges affect the development of capabilities to identify usable datasets of relevance.
Paradox of Data Searches—Despite the vast and growing stores of datasets, those that will simultaneously work with a user's chosen technological approach and provide the insight and detail of relevance to help with decision making are relatively few and far between. Possible solutions should enable users to find data of relevance in a timely manner, using processes that leverage expert knowledge in organizing information and semantic search techniques to optimize the relevancy of search results.
Content Quality—A dataset curation system is only as good as the quality of the datasets it makes searchable. As fake websites, news sites, journals, and accounts grow across connected networks, assuring the quality of datasets has become paramount to any search process. In any new approaches, traditional back end processes to identify and block fake sites, questionable metadata or malicious code, should be enhanced with a hybrid method of pattern recognition algorithms and human quality assurance editing to block or identify unsubstantiated claims, questionable evidence or data collection methodologies, or controversial or "biased" content to fully inform users of the choices before them.
Need for Multiple Datasets—Rarely does one dataset provide sufficient content on its own to fuel data driven insight. Most data projects need multiple datasets with interconnected content that are compatible to their technical approach. Current curation efforts created as blogs on media sites or within relational database structures do not provide the means to identify combinations of usable and relevant datasets based on common attributes. Emerging systems should take full advantage of graph databases, and develop indices to link datasets that are consistent with standard indexing practices in the library and curation sciences.
Ingest Costs—Data is not free. Even data that is open and public costs time, energy, and resources to Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL). In addition to data quantity and relevance, cleanliness, duplications, usability, and dataset content impact final costs and ultimately, the quality of any derived insight. Curation systems should provide methods to help users determine what combinations of datasets will best meet their needs before making their choices.
The development of graph databases, knowledge graph visualizations, and semantic searching and recommendation algorithms, among other machine techniques, provides a unique, novel foundation for data curation systems. Thus, there is a need for a technology solution that leverages these technologies along with subject matter and technical expertise into a system that enables its users to find datasets of direct relevance to their technical and content driven needs.

Method and system for identifying and discovering relationships between disparate datasets from multiple sources


There is provided an electronic device including a flat-plate-like main unit including a keyboard, a flat-plate-like display unit which includes a display surface and is configured to move between a first state to be superimposed on the main unit and a second state to stand up from the first state, a hinge which connects the main unit and the display unit to each other in a manner that the display unit is movable with respect to the main unit, the hinge being provided in a center of the main unit in a left and right direction, a heat source and a cooling fan across the hinge in an inside of the main unit, and a heat pipe which connects the heat source and the cooling fan to each other and avoids an attaching portion of the hinge with respect to the main unit.

The present disclosure relates to an electronic device.
In the related art, JP 2009-230244A, for example, discloses a device including a main unit over which a keyboard for inputting information is provided and a display unit over which a display for displaying information is provided, the device being configured to slide and tilt up/tilt down the display unit with respect to the main unit by use of a slide mechanism and a tilt-up/tilt-down mechanism.


A keyboard apparatus is provided for small and lightweight computers and the like. Keyswitches and a keyboard assembly comprise a sheet member having a plurality of key faces fixed thereon in a conventional keyboard arrangement. A plurality of cutouts are provided in the sheet member, partially surrounding each key face. A living hinge member is provided in the sheet member at one side of each key face. Each living hinge member includes a base section, an intermediate section, and a key face section. The former two and the latter two sections each interface at a living hinge. Depressing the key face causes the key face section to pivot about the living hinges to operate a corresponding set of electrical contacts, indicating operation of the key. A conventional rubber spring may transmit the pivot motion of the key face to the electrical contacts. The living hinges are made to have a greater resilience and flexibility than those of the sections, such as by scoring, scribing, perforation, or other suitable treatment. Accordingly, the intermediate section is able to serve as a torsion bar, advantageously limiting the key's freedom to twist under the user's finger pressulr.

GENERAL BACKGROUND ART
Keyboards are essential input devices for many applications, including for personal computers. As described above, such personal computers are often designed to be transportable and have been occupying less cubic volume over time. An example of such a portable personal computer is described in coassigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,198,991, incorporated by reference herein for the purpose of describing the computer per se and the connections between the computer and a folding keyboard, and such description will not be repeated here.
The miniaturization of data processing equipment, for portability and ease of use, is becoming increasingly important. However, there are some factors which place practical limits on the miniaturization which could theoretically be achieved.
The limiting factor for reducing the size of portable data processing equipment is generally the keyboard. A keyboard requires sufficient size, in terms of horizontal dimensions, for the keys. Keys are constrained to at least a certain minimum size, because they must have a size and spacing commensurate with the size of an average operator's fingers and hands.
Keyboards also requires mechanics, for converting keystrokes to electrical signals representative of operation of the keys. Some minimum thickness must be provided for these components. Also, the keys preferably have enough vertical displacement to give the user a good tactile feel.
Some conventional keyboards, particularly full-size desktop computer keyboards, have used mechanics such as "chimneys," sleeves that slide up and down. Such structures provide the advantage that all parts of the key are stable pressing down. That is, the key is constrained to a single, vertical translational degree of freedom, so the key presses down in a vertical fashion.
Another conventional structure that of using scissors that use two members that pivot at the center and are attached at one end and the other end of them slides a lot, one can achieve pressing anywhere on the key (pressing the key vertically up and down.
Prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,147, Mochizuki et al., assigned to Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, reduces the thickness of the keyboard by the use of scissors-like pivotally connected support levers with pivot connections at one end of each lever to respectively the base and the key, and sliding pivot connections at the opposite ends. A conventional nonlinear rubber spring or "dome" is used to transmit the keystroke to electrical contacts to make the connection, indicating operation of the key.
These mechanisms are fine for desktop keyboards, when there is vertical space to be had. However, they are less suitable for portable computers. Such computers are designed for small size and light weight. In particular, reducing the thickness, and producing a "thin" keyboard, has been an important design objective. For such thin keyboards where there is little vertical space, other mechanisms have been used.
A typical portable data processor, or "portable personal computer" or "personal digital assistant", has a keyboard panel and a display panel, and the data processor is incorporated within one of the panels. The two panels are then folded together so that the bottom of the keyboard panel and the back of the display panel form an outer case for the folded unit. By reducing the thickness of the keyboard, the thickness of the overall folded unit may also be reduced, making the folded portable data processing unit easier to handle and to carry.
Prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,453, Chiu et al., unassigned, illustrates a keyboard having reduced thickness when folded, by moving otherwise conventional plunger keys to depressed positions when folding is to occur.

Thin keyboard having torsion bar keyswitch hinge members

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention provides a synthetic resin composition having better weather resistance than ever, and an automotive interior/exterior material using the same.

Since a synthetic resin is degraded by light and not endurable for a long-term use, stabilization by adding a hindered amine compound or an ultraviolet absorber is prevailing.
Various hindered amine compounds, in addition to the exemplified compounds disclosed in the following Patent Documents 1 to 5, have been proposed.
Similarly, various ultraviolet absorbers, such as benzotriazole type ultraviolet absorbers, benzophenone type ultraviolet absorbers, and benzoate type ultraviolet absorbers, have been known. For example, Patent Document 6 has proposed phenyl benzoate and alkyl benzoate as benzoate type ultraviolet absorbers.
Furthermore, it has been broadly known that a highly stabilized resin composition can be obtained by a combined use of additives. For example, the following Patent Documents 7 to 11 have proposed a combined use of a certain hindered amine compound and a benzoate type ultraviolet absorber.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No. 46-42618    Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 48-65180    Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-62651    Patent Document 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 1-113368    Patent Document 5: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2-166138    Patent Document 6: Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No. 41-565    Patent Document 7: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-310667    Patent Document 8: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-106577    Patent Document 9: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-136271    Patent Document 10: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-159945    Patent Document 11: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-210987    Patent Document 11: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-054105

Synthetic resin composition and automotive interior/exterior material

Abstract: The synthetic resin composition contains a hindered amine compound (A) having a partial structure represented by the following general formula (1):

Abstract: in an amount of 0.01 to 20 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the synthetic resin; and a benzoate compound (B) represented by the following general formula (2):

Abstract: in an amount of 0.01 to 20 parts by mass with respect to the same, at a component mass ratio of (A)/(B) between 1/1 and 1/5.

Abstract: In the synthetic resin composition according to the present invention, the component mass ratio of the hindered amine compound (A) to the benzoate compound (B), namely {(A)/(B)}, is preferably between 1/2 and 1/4.


This invention is a system and method for securely and robustly transferring a file from one computer to another without having a prearranged encryption key. Data is transferred by first generating some random numbers on each computer and undertaking some cryptographically secure handshaking in which a session key is determined. Then the file is broken up into blocks and encrypted with a chaining block cipher and transmitted. The blocks have headers which identify the them, and allow for detection and correction of transmission errors. Before retransmitting a block, an initialization vector is sent to synchronize the cipher modules. The random numbers are generated with keystroke timings combined with a pseudorandom number generator to expand the supply.

This invention relates to computer communications.
Communications channels are commonly used to transfer data from one computer to another. These channels might use coaxial cable, telephone lines, or radio waves.
Frequently, the computers are secure in that they can be locked up and access can be limited to authorized persons. But the communications channels which connects them may not be secure. An eavesdropper with access to the wires or airwaves can monitor and record messages exchanged by the computers.
There are various methods in the prior art for establishing secure communications. One is to limit access to the communications channel. Another is to encrypt files that are sent on the channel.
A drawback to file encryption is that it usually requires the user to remember a password, or to transmit a key or password to another user.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,770 describes a method for exchanging keys for secure transmissions. The mathematical technicalities are as follows. Select a large prime P and a number G which generates the full group of units mod P or a sufficiently large subgroup thereof. When computers A and B wish to exchange data, they choose random numbers a and b, respectively. A sends G a mod P to B, and B sends G b mod P to A. Both can then compute G (ab) mod P and use it as a cryptographic key. This method is commonly referred to as Diffie-Hellman key exchange.
Ideally, such a system of generating keys would be built into a computer network so that all of the network traffic is secure. However, it is difficult to implement such security in an existing network because it has to implemented at a low level and networks tend to have diverse and complicated compatibility requirements.
Furthermore it is often the case that not all of the network traffic has to be secure from eavesdroppers, but only selected files which have to be transmitted. In that case, file encryption protocols are much more easily implemented, and meet the security requirements. But they have the disadvantage that the user has to deal with passwords. Usually the user sending the file has to take the extra step to enter the password, memorize it, and tell the user at the other end who must also take an extra step to enter the password and decrypt the file.
In the prior art, encryption methods can operate with or without feedback. The feedback idea is as follows. Encryption of a long message usually proceeds sequentially from the beginning of the message to the end, a few bits or bytes at a time. At each stage, it is possible to modify the cryptographic key or next plaintext block based on previous bits in the message. This modification is called cipher feedback. It is sometimes also called chaining.
In practice it is often convenient to distinguish between the original cryptographic key and the accumulation of feedback changes. The mechanism for doing this is to maintain an auxiliary vector in addition to the key. The cipher feedback affects the vector, but not the original key. Both the key and the vector are used to encrypt the message. The vector must be initialized somehow, but its initial value does not need to be secret.
Encryption methods with cipher feedback have the advantage that they are much more secure. For example, feedback prevents repeated plaintext blocks from showing up as repeated ciphertext blocks. Conceptually, it can be regarded as using the message itself to lengthen the password. The method works because decryption is also sequential, and portions of the message are decrypted before they are needed to modify the cryptographic vector.
An apparent drawback to cipher feedback is that decryption must process the ciphertext in correct sequence, and without errors. If the ciphertext is transmitted over a communications channel that is susceptible to errors, it is not at all obvious how to implement cipher feedback encryption. Bad data might have to be resent through the channel, but the bad data may have already caused a faulty modification of the cryptographic key. If the computer at the other end uses a faulty bit for feedback, then subsequent decryptions will fail.
One of the best file transfer protocols in the prior art is ZMODEM, a protocol developed and placed in the public domain by Omen Technologies. It works roughly as follows. If A wants to send a file to B, they communicate by sending frames to each other. A frame is a self-contained piece of information that is easily recognized and interpreted by another computer. To send the file, A and B send each other one or more frames as part of the initial handshaking, then A sends a sequence of data blocks containing the file contents, and finally A and B exchange frames to indicate completion of the transfer.
There are additional frames with special meanings, such as for cancelling the transfer or for requesting that a data block be resent. The frames have checksums to insure the accuracy of the frame commands and data blocks.
In ZMODEM jargon, a transmission starts when A sends a ZRQINIT frame to B. B responds by sending a ZRINIT frame. These frames include some bits for various options. A proceeds by sending a ZFILE frame with the file name and other file particulars. Unless A receives a frame from B requesting something different, A continues to send ZDATA frames with data blocks incorporating the file data, and finishes with a ZFIN frame.
Each frame includes a checksum used by the computer at the other end to check its validity. If a data block appears to have been corrupted, the receiver can send a ZRPOS frame requesting that the transmission be restarted at a particular point. Likewise, if a transfer was partially completed on an earlier connection, B can send a ZRPOS frame requesting that A skip to a later point in the file.


An arrangement for cutting an optical fibre comprises a fibre cutter for cutting the fibre. A motor is provided to operate the cutter. To start a cutting movement, the motor is controlled by a control unit in response to a start signal. The start signal is generated when the fibre is located in the cutter. A detector is connected to the control unit to detect when the fibre snaps off and in response thereto cause the control unit to generate a stop signal to stop the cutting movement. If no fibre snap off is detected, the cutting movement is automatically stopped at a predetermined position of the cutter.

Today, optical fibres are cut by means of hand-operated fibre cutters. Such cutters comprise a fixture for receiving a fibre as well as mechanical means for tensioning, bending and nicking the fibre.
With such a hand-operated cutter, it is impossible for an operator to ensure successive identical cuts. Also, it will be necessary to frequently readjust the cutter due to the rough treatment of the cutter by the operator.

Arrangement for cutting an optical fibre


An integrated device includes a voltage mode transmit driver for matching an output impedance to an output transmission line based on a binary code, an input termination module configured for matching an input impedance to an input transmission line based on an input impedance calibration value using thermometer-based decoding. The voltage mode transmit driver includes, for each differential output signal, a resistor network circuit having pull-up circuits and pull-down circuits for changing the voltage on the differential output signal, and having binary weighted resistance values relative to each other. The input termination module includes pull-up circuits and pull-down circuits having inverse hyperbolic resistance values relative to each other, and using thermometer-based decoding to ensure a linear change in input impedance during transitions in the input impedance calibration value. A calibration circuit generates the binary code and the input impedance calibration value based on replicas of the pull-up and pull-down circuits.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to driver circuits in digital systems for adjusting input impedance and output impedance of respective receivers and transmitters relative to a prescribed impedance of a transmission line.
2. Background Art
Newer processor architecture designs require transfer of data between large integrated circuits at higher speeds. These higher speeds require that the integrated circuits have input/output impedances that precisely match the prescribed impedance of the PC board traces interconnecting the integrated circuits. In particular, impedance matching is needed to minimize signal reflections caused by a change in impedance at the interface between a signal trace on the PC board and an integrated circuit chip. For example, HyperTransport™ technology specifies a data rate of 1.6 Gbps between each wire pair based on a double data rate using an 800 MHz clock. Hence, precise impedance matching is needed between the signal traces (typically 50 Ohms) and the terminating devices to ensure data integrity in the high-speed digital systems, as well as reliability, faster speeds, and minimal power consumption.
One known technique to provide a matching impedance is to implement a driver circuit on the integrated circuit chip. The driver circuit is configured for providing a controlled, predetermined output impedance that reduces the effects of reflections on the transmission line. Two types of driver circuits can be implemented, namely a voltage mode driver circuit, and a current mode driver circuit. The voltage mode driver circuit typically have a relatively low output impedance, whereas current mode driver circuits have a relatively high output impedance.
Current mode driver circuits tend to be preferred because they do not require accurate accurate voltage mode references; however, a current mode driver circuit must draw from the supply a greater amount of current to implement a given logic voltage swing in comparison to a voltage mode driver circuit. Hence, power consumption is substantially higher in a current mode driver circuit than a voltage mode driver circuit.
Hence, a voltage mode driver circuit provides the advantage of reduced power consumption and a lower output impedance that tends to be closer to the 50 ohm impedance of the transmission line. The voltage mode driver circuit requires a high-precision voltage source that swings between two voltage values ("rails") that represent the respective logic values. Hence, one disadvantage is that the voltage mode driver circuit requires accurate voltage references. The voltage mode driver circuit also is coupled in series with a precision resistor (i.e., a resistor having a tolerance of about 1 percent) having a resistance that matches the transmission line impedance.
However, a problem in implementing a voltage mode driver circuit is that substantial variations in process or manufacturing techniques, voltage supply, and operating temperatures may cause substantial variations in the silicon structure which that implements the digital driver circuitry that includes the voltage mode driver. Consequently, a voltage mode driver circuit on an integrated circuit, when interconnected among different components on a PC board, may encounter in the impedance variations by as much as 50 percent.
Hence, process variations during fabrication and temperature variations can change input/output impedances by a sufficient degree that static impedance matching techniques are insufficient.

Voltage mode transceiver having programmable voltage swing and external reference-based calibration


The present invention provides a polymerizable monomer composition particle and a resin particle, both of which display a narrow particle diameter distribution. A process for producing a resin particle comprises the steps of: passing two liquids through a static type in-line mixer having a liquid-dividing mechanism standing in a static state, wherein the two liquids are formable into two phases including one of the two liquids as a dispersing phase component and the other as a continuous phase component; then passing the two liquids through a high speed shearing type dispersing machine having a liquid-shearing mechanism which revolves at a high speed, thus dispersing a fine liquid drop of the dispersing phase component into the continuous phase component; and forming a resin particle from the resultant liquid drop.

A. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a production process and a production apparatus for a resin particle to provide a fine resin particle in a state where its particle size is uniform, and further, the invention relates to a product of the resin particle.
B. Background Art
In recent years, a resin particle is widely used in various fields. Specific examples of the use of the resin particle are as follows: clearance holding materials (spacers for liquid crystal display elements), slipping agents, functional carriers, toners, and functional fillers that control the fluidity or gloss properties of paints. As to the resin particle as utilized for these uses, its particle diameter needs to be controlled depending on the uses.
An example of methods to easily obtain the resin particle is a suspension polymerization method, in which a dispersing phase component such as a polymerizable monomer composition insoluble in a continuous phase component such as water is dispersed in the form of a liquid drop into the continuous phase component, and the liquid drop is then polymerized, thus obtaining a resin particle.
The conventional suspension polymerization method has a problem in that the particle diameter distribution of the liquid drop as dispersed in the continuous phase component is broad.
For example, the above-mentioned various uses often need a fine resin particle with an average particle diameter of less than 10 .mu.m. However, there is a problem in that: where the particle diameter is lessened simply by mechanical operation, the distribution of the applied force in the system tends to be non-uniform, and therefore, the formation of fine particles is greatly increased, but particles of which the dispersing is only slowly promoted also remain and large-sized particles are allowed to also be present, so the resultant particle diameter distribution is broad.
Conventionally, there is also a process in which: a resin is dissolved into a solvent, the resultant solution is dispersed into a water base continuous phase, and the solvent is volatilized, thus obtaining a resin particle; or a process in which: a resin as melted by heating is dispersed into a heated water base continuous phase to regulate the particle diameter, and the water base continuous phase is then cooled, thus forming a resin particle. However, it is similarly indicated that there is a problem in that the resultant particle diameter distribution is broad.

Production process, production apparatus, and product of resin particle


Provided is an elastic fiber treatment agent, containing; a hydrocarbon resin (A); and a hydrocarbon oil (B). The hydrocarbon resin (A) contains a polymer having a structural unit, as a main structural unit, derived from at least one monomer selected from aromatic olefin and aliphatic diolefin, the polymer being partially hydrogenated or fully hydrogenated. It is preferred that the hydrocarbon resin (A) contains a polymer having a structural unit derived from aromatic olefin as a monomer, the polymer being partially hydrogenated or fully hydrogenated, and the aromatic olefin is at least one selected from indene and methylstyrene. Thus, the elastic fiber treatment agent of the present invention imparts excellent unraveling properties to elastic fibers and has excellent adhesiveness to hot melt adhesives, enables the production of stretchable sheets exhibiting good adhesiveness even when processed at a high draft ratio, and is suitable for obtaining soft feel sanitary products.

Elastic fibers have been used for stretch clothing including legwear, innerwear, and sportswear because of their high stretch characteristics. A large amount of elastic fibers are used particularly in sanitary products (sanitary materials) such as disposable diapers and sanitary napkins.
Disposable sanitary products such as disposable diapers and sanitary napkins need to be stretchable to give a comfortable fit to wearers. Specifically, disposable diapers have been devised in various ways to make the waist, legs, torso, and other parts stretchable. Woven fabrics having stretchability (stretch fabrics) may be used for disposable products but are costly for this usage. Generally, yarn-shaped or band-shaped stretchable members are bonded in an elongated state to non-stretchable members such as non-woven fabrics or plastic films to make the non-stretchable members stretchable, thereby forming members called stretchable sheets or gathers (for example, Patent Document 1). Specifically, rubber bands or polyurethane elastic fiber yarns are used as members to be bonded to non-stretchable members to impart stretchability to the non-stretchable members, and hot melt adhesives are used for bonding.
Patent Document 2 discloses various additives to be used in polyurethane elastic fibers to improve hot melt adhesiveness.
Patent Document 3 discloses an oil agent to achieve both of unraveling properties of polyurethane elastic yarns and hot melt adhesiveness.


A system and method for authorizing a direct debit transaction is provided. A remotely accessible server receives a request from a clearing entity to conduct a direct debit transaction against a financial account of a consumer on behalf of a merchant, and checks whether the consumer has previously approved a debit against the account on behalf of the merchant. If the consumer has previously approved a debit on behalf of the merchant, an authorization message is generated and transmitted to the clearing entity. If the consumer has not previously approved a debit on behalf of the merchant, an electronic prompt is generated to an electronic device of the consumer requesting the consumer to approve or deny the debit. In response to the consumer indicating approval, a debit authorization message is generated and transmitted to the clearing entity, and a database is updated to indicate approval by the consumer.

Direct debits are commonly used to conduct various types of financial transactions. In the remainder of this specification the term "direct debit" should be interpreted to include any financial transaction in which one entity directly withdraws or collects funds from a financial account of another entity, or instructs an acquirer to withdraw or collect such funds on behalf of the entity. Common examples of direct debit transactions are pre-authorized debit transactions, debit orders, "bill pay" transactions, and the like.
In the case of a direct debit transaction, one entity, typically a merchant payee, withdraws or collects funds from a financial account of another entity ("the consumer"). The merchant instructs its acquiring bank to collect an amount directly from an account previously designated by the consumer. The funds are then transferred from the account of the consumer to an account designated by the merchant. Direct debit transactions are typically, once appropriately authorized, automatically processed by an electronic payment system or network.
In many cases, direct debits are used for conducting recurring financial transactions. The payment amounts may be fixed, such as loan installments or rental fees, or variable, such as mobile phone bills and utility bills. Direct debits may also be used for irregular or once-off payments, such as mail order or point of sale (POS) transactions.
A potential drawback of direct debits is that this type of transaction may present the risk of an unscrupulous party inappropriately obtaining funds from an account of a consumer. For example, a fraudulent party may have hoodwinked the consumer into unwillingly authorizing direct debits.
Furthermore, details of a direct debit transaction may be relatively difficult to modify. The administrative steps that need to be completed in order to modify a direct debit instruction, for example, the payment amount, the date of the payment, or the selected account to debit, may be time-consuming and may, in some cases, not be allowed by an issuing or acquiring bank. Successfully cancelling a single or recurring direct debit may also be time-consuming and/or cumbersome.
The present invention aims to alleviate at least some of the aforementioned problems.

System and method for authorizing direct debit transactions


Two forms of load bearing or transmitting structures are disclosed wherein each uses magnetism to hold a key in one of two bodies to prevent movement therebetween. One embodiment is a clevis, wherein the clevis pin is instrumented as a load cell and a magnetic key resides in a slot in a portion of the clevis pin which protrudes outside of one of the clevis legs. In another embodiment, torque is transmitted between a shaft and a coupling by means of keys that are held in keyways by magnetism thereby to provide a torque coupling between the shaft and coupling members.

There are numerous mechanical assemblies for bearing or transmitting forces where it is necessary to establish and maintain a physical relationship between two associated components by means of a third "locking" component such as a key or pin. As one example, a clevis pin is often held in place between the two legs of a clevis by means of a Cotter pin. The Cotter pin prevents the clevis pin from moving relative to the clevis or shackle. As another example, a shaft may be coupled to another shaft or a collar by means of a key or set of keys. Here, the key prevents relative rotational movement of the two components it "locks" together. In both of these examples, the third component; i.e., the Cotter pin or the key, is held in place either by a friction fit or by mechanical deformation after being set in place. In either case, disassembly of the system typically requires the use of tools and often requires replacement of the locking component, particularly if the system is reassembled numerous times. This disadvantage is particularly significant in the case of load and torque sensing systems used either in a design process or in a monitoring role where disassembly is frequent and/or components are fragile and/or expensive.

Load and torque sensing systems utilizing magnetic key for mechanical engagement


A surface-coated cutting tool comprising: a hard substrate; a lower layer which is formed on a surface of the hard substrate, contains a composite compound consisting of at least one element selected from Ti and Al, and at least one element selected from N and C, and has an average thickness of 0.1 to 3 μm; and an upper layer having an average thickness of 1 to 13 μm, which is formed on the lower layer and having a texture in which fine grains of crystalline Ti (C,N) based compounds or fine grains of crystalline (Ti, Al)(C, N) based compounds are dispersively distributed in a matrix of a carbon based amorphous material containing W.

There are well-known cutting tools such as inserts, drills, miniature dills, and insert type end mills. An insert is attached to a tip of a cutting tool and is used for turning, planing of iron and steel materials such as various types of steel and cast ion, or of nonferrous materials such as Al alloys or Cu alloys. A drill and a miniature drill are used for drilling, and solid type end mill are used for facing, grooving, shoulder-working. An insert type end mill is removably attached with the insert and is used for a cutting operation the same as the solid type end mill.
As the above-described coated hard metal tool, there is a well-known coated hard metal tool comprising a hard metal substrate, an adhesion bonding layer, and an amorphous carbon based lubricant coating deposited on the substrate with the adhesion bonding layer in-between, respectively constituted as follows.
(a) The hard metal substrate is composed of tungsten carbide (hereafter referred to as WC) based cemented carbide or titanium carbonitride (hereafter referred to as TiCN) based cermet.
(b) The adhesion bonding layer is formed by a sputtering apparatus using a Ti target as a cathode (evaporation source) in a reaction atmosphere comprising a mixed gas atmosphere of nitrogen and Ar or mixed gas of resolved hydrocarbon gas, nitrogen and Ar. The adhesion bonding layer consists of one or both selected from a titanium nitride layer (hereafter referred to as TN) and a titanium carbonitride (hereafter referred to as TiCN) layer and has an average thickness of 0.1 to 3 μm.(c) The amorphous carbon based lubricant coating is deposited by a sputtering apparatus using a WC target as a cathode (evaporation source) in a reaction atmosphere of a mixed gas of resolved hydrocarbon gas and Ar. The lubricant coating contains, based on an analysis using an Auger electron spectrometer,
W: 5 to 20 atomic % and
a balance consisting of carbon and unavoidable impurities, and has an average thickness of 1 to 13 μm.
Moreover, it is known that the above-described conventional type coated hard metal tool can be formed in accordance with the following steps using a deposition apparatus which is exemplified by a schematic plan view of FIG. 5A and schematic front view of FIG. 5B. The above-described hard metal substrate is placed in a deposition apparatus comprising a sputtering device equipped with a Ti target as a cathode (evaporation source), and a sputtering device equipped with a WC target as a cathode (evaporation source). While heating an interior of the apparatus, for example, at 300° C., a reaction gas is introduced into the apparatus. The reaction gas may be a mixed gas of 1 Pa, being composed of nitrogen and Ar mixed in a proportion of e.g., nitrogen flow rate: 200 sccm, and Ar flow rate: 300 sccm. Alternatively, the reaction gas may be a mixed gas of 1 Pa, being composed of resolved C2H2 gas, nitrogen, and Ar. For example, C2H2, nitrogen and Ar may be introduced into the apparatus by a proportion of C2H2 flow rate: 40 sccm, nitrogen flow rate: 200 sccm, and Ar flow rate: 300 sccm. In the reaction atmosphere, the cathode (evaporation source) of Ti target is applied with an electric power of 12 kW (frequency: 40 kHz) for sputtering, and the above-described hard metal substrate is applied with a bias voltage of e.g., −100 V. As a result an adhesion bonding layer having a predetermined thickness and comprising one or both selected from a TN layer and TiCN layer is formed by a generation of a glow discharge. Next, while maintaining the heating temperature of the interior of the apparatus at e.g., 200° C., hydrocarbons such as C2H2 and Ar in a proportion of C2H2 flow rate: 40 to 80 sccm, Ar flow rate: 250 sccm are introduced into the apparatus, thereby replacing the reaction atmosphere composed of the mixed gas of nitrogen and Ar, or the mixed gas of degraded mete, nitrogen and Ar by a reaction atmosphere of e.g., 1 Pa, being composed of a mixed gas of a resolved hydrocarbon gas and Ar. Then, the above-described hard metal substrate is applied with a bias voltage of e.g., −20V, and the WC target as a cathode (evaporation source) is applied with an electric power of output: 4 to 6 kW (frequency: 40 kHz) for sputtering. Under these conditions, an amorphous carbon based lubricant coating of a predetermined thickness is deposited on the above-described adhesion bonding layer (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication H07-164211, and Published Japanese translation No. 2002-513087 of PCT International Publication).
Specifically, as the above-described coated hard metal tool used for cutting of a workpiece of the above-described non-ferrous material, there is a known coated hard metal tool in which a coating comprising a hard lower layer and a lubricant upper layer is deposited on a hard metal substrate. The hard metal substrate is composed of tungsten carbide base (hereafter referred to as WC) cemented carbide or titanium carbonitride-based cermet (hereafter referred to as TiCN), and the coating has the following constitution
(a) A hard layer as the lower layer is composed of a composite nitride of Ti and Al [hereafter referred to as (Ti, Al)N] which has an average thickness of 1.5 to 10 μm and satisfies a compositional formula; (Ti1-ZAlZ)N, where Z ranges from 0.40 to 0.60 by atomic ratio.(b) An amorphous carbon based lubricant layer as the upper layer is deposited by a sputtering apparatus using a WC target as a cathode (evaporation source) in a reaction atmosphere of a mixed gas of resolved hydrocarbon gas and Ar. The amorphous carbon based lubricant layer contains, based on an analysis using an Auger electron spectrometer,
W: 5 to 20 by atomic %,
and a balance consisting of carbon and unavoidable impurities, and average thickness of 1 to 10 μm.
It is known that the (Ti, Al)N layer as the hard layer of the surface coating of the coated hard metal tool is given a high-temperature hardness, and heat resistance by the Al component, and high-temperature strength by the Ti component. By the multiplier effect of the hard layer and the coexisting lubricant upper layer of amorphous carbon, the coated cuffing tool exhibits excellent cutting performance in an operation of continuous cutting or of interrupted cutting of a workpiece such as the above-described non-ferrous material or the like.
In addition, it is known that the above-described coated hard metal tool may be produced using a deposition apparatus exemplified by a schematic explanatory view of FIG. 6 (see Published Japanese translation No. 2002-513087 of PCT International Publication). The deposition apparatus comprises an arc discharge device equipped with Ti—Al alloy of a predetermined composition as a cathode (evaporation source), and a sputtering device equipped with a WC target as a cathode (evaporation source). After placing the above-described hard metal substrate in the apparatus, the hard lower layer and the lubricant upper layer may be deposited as follows.
(a) Firstly, as the above-described lower layer, a hard layer composed of the above-described (Ti, Al)N layer is deposited on the hard metal substrate under conditions comprising: heating the interior of the apparatus at 500° C. by a heater; in that state, by a condition of e.g., electric current: 90 A, generating arc discharge between an anode and the Ti—Al alloy as the cathode (evaporation source); simultaneously, as a reaction gas, introducing nitrogen gas into the apparatus to obtain a reaction atmosphere of e.g., 2 Pa; and applying a bias voltage of e.g., −100 V to the above-described hard metal substrate.(b) Next, as an upper layer, an amorphous carbon based lubricant layer is deposited on the hard layer composed of the above-described (Ti, Al)N layer under the conditions comprising: heating the interior of the apparatus at e.g., 200° C.; introducing a mixed gas of hydrocarbon such as C2H2 or the like and Ar by a proportion of C2H2 flow rate: 40 to 80 sccm, and Ar flow rate: 250 sccm; thereby obtaining a reaction atmosphere having a pressure of e.g., 1 Pa and being composed of a mixed gas of resolved hydrocarbon gas and Ar; applying a bias voltage of e.g., −20V to the above-described hard metal substrate; and applying an electric power of output, 4 to 6 kW (frequency: 40 Hz) for sputtering to the cathode (evaporation source of the WC target).

Surface-coated cutting tool made of hard metal and manufacturing method for same


A circuit to improve the SN characteristic of a tracking error signal. This tracking error detection circuit is formed as a push-pull system utilizing a quadrant type photo-detector and provided with 4 gain control amplifiers 20, 22, 24, and 26, 4 bottom envelope circuits 28, 30, 32, and 34, a pair of subtracting circuits 36 and 38, adding (subtracting) circuit 40, offset circuit 42, and gain control circuit 44. Bottom envelope circuits 28, 30, 32, and 34 are configured with a capacitor-type peak-hold circuit, for example, whereby bottom envelopes of RF signals SA, SB, SC, and SD given from light receiving areas A, B, C, and D of a photo-detector via gain control amplifiers 20, 22, 24, and 26 are detected, and bottom envelope signals SAbtm, SBbtm, SCbtm, and SDbtm representing the waveforms of the respective bottom envelopes are output.

FIG. 11 shows basic workings of the optical disk device.
Optical disk 10 is a donut-shaped disk (disc) having a hole at the center, and tracks are created using trains of pits arranged concentrically on its signal recording plane (lower plane in FIG. 11) 10a. During playback, spindle motor 12 rotates optical disk 10 at a prescribed linear velocity by means of a CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) method, for example.
Movable optical pickup 14 is provided opposite signal recording plane 10a of optical disk 10 in the radial direction. Optical pickup 14 focuses and irradiates laser beam LB onto signal recording plane 10a of optical disk 10, detects a reflected beam of light from signal recording plane 10a, applies photoelectric conversion to it, and generates an electric signal having a waveform corresponding to the bumps of the pit trains. The electric signal output from optical pickup 14 is supplied to RF amplifier 16, and a regenerative data signal, a tracking error signal, and a focus error signal are generated by said RF amplifier 16. Regenerative data signal SM output from RF amplifier 16 is input to a signal processing part (not illustrated) and receives necessary signal processing, such as decoding and error correction. Tracking error signal TE and focus error signal FE output from RF amplifier 16 are sent to pickup servo 18. The pickup servo 18 performs tracking control for positioning regarding beam spot SP of laser beam LB on a track (pit train) or for following it and focusing control for focusing beam spot SP on the pits appropriately.
An example photo-detector serving as a photoelectric conversion part built into optical pickup 14 is shown in FIG. 12. The photo-detector is of a quadrant type for a push-pull system, wherein, for example, 4 photo-conversion parts configured with photodiodes or light receiving areas A, B, C, and D are arranged while separated from one another by assembling them from 4 diagonal directions. Beam LB′ of the returned light or reflected light from signal recording plane 10a of optical disk 10 is focused and incident to the light receiving areas (A, B, C, and D) of the photo-detector through a detection optical system, such as an optical lens, and electric signals (will be referred to as RF signals, hereinafter) SA, SB, SC, and SD are generated according to the respective quantities of light or the intensities of light received by respective light receiving areas A, B, C, and D. Furthermore, these RF signals are voltage signals applied with I–V conversion within pickup 14, and they use the level of reference voltage Vc given as a bias voltage to the pickup from the outside as a reference. Waveforms of RF signals SA, SB, SC, and SD are shown schematically in FIG. 13.
In said photo-detector, RF signals SA and SD obtained from light receiving areas A and D located on the left side of the center line in parallel with the direction of the track are of the same phase, RF signals SB and SC obtained from light receiving areas B and C located on the right side are also of the same phase, and RF signals SA and SD and RF signals SB and SC are of opposite phase.
When beam spot SP of laser beam LB is positioned at the center of the track (when on-track) on signal recording plane 10a of optical disk 10, reflected beam LB′ from signal recording plane 10a is incident onto the center parts of the light receiving areas (A, B, C, and D) of the photo-detector, and the levels of RF signals SA and SD obtained from light receiving areas A and D on the left and the levels of RF signals SB and SC obtained from light receiving areas B and C on the right become approximately the same.
However, as beam spot SP deviates from the center of the track in the radial direction, reflected beam LB′ is incident onto positions deviated either to the left or the right from the center parts of the light receiving areas (A, B, C, and D) of the photo-detector, so that the levels of RF signals SA and SD on the side of light receiving areas A and D on the left and the levels of RF signals SB and SC on the side of light receiving areas B and C on the right become different. For example, when beam spot SP deviates inward along the radial direction, the focus position of reflected beam LB′ is offset further toward the left side of the light receiving areas (A, B, C, and D), and the levels of RF signals SA and SD on the side of light receiving areas A and D on the left become higher than when they are on-track, while the levels of RF signals SB and SC on the side of light receiving areas B and C on the right become lower than when they are on-track. In contrast, when beam spot SP deviates outward in the radial direction, the focus position of reflected beam LB′ offsets further toward the right side of the light receiving areas (A, B, C, and D), and the levels of RF signals SB and SC on the side of light receiving areas B and C on the right become higher than when they are on-track, while the levels of RF signals SA and SD on the side of light receiving areas A and D on the left become lower than when they are on-track.
The basic configuration of a conventional tracking error detection circuit of a push-pull system is shown in FIG. 14. Said tracking error detection circuit has a pair of adding circuits 100 and 102, a subtracting circuit 104, and low-pass filter 106. Adding circuit 100 on one side takes the sum (SA+SD) of RF signals SA and SD from light receiving areas A and D on the left side of the photo-detector (FIG. 12), and the other adding circuit 102 takes the sum (SB+SC) of RF signals SB and SC from light receiving areas B and C on the right. Subtracting circuit 104 takes the difference {(SA+SD)−(SB+SC)} between the added signals. Low-pass filter 106 removes high-frequency elements, that is, RF signal elements, from the difference signal output from subtracting circuit 104 and outputs tracking error signal TE.
In the case of an optical disk device, the accuracy of the tracking error signal determines the precision of the tracking servo. Typically, when the optical pickup is to undergo jumping from the track currently being tracked to another track, if the tracking error signal is not accurate, a long time is required from when the tracking servo is activated near the target track until it becomes on-track, or on-track becomes difficult to achieve.
Waveforms of RF signals SA, SB, SC, and SD obtained from light receiving areas A, B, C, and D of the photo-detector (FIG. 12) during a track jump are shown schematically in FIG. 15. Sine-wave-like level change Ste appears at the bottom of the waveform of each RF signal because beam spot SP of laser beam LB irradiated from optical pickup 14 to signal recording plane 10a crosses a track part and an inter-track mirror part (flat part where no pits are present) alternately in the radial direction at a fixed speed. That is, when beam spot SP crosses the track part, intensity modulation or diffraction is maximized by pits (light intensity of the reflected beam is thus minimized), and the intensity modulation is minimized (light intensity of the reflected beam is thus maximized) when beam spot SP crosses the mirror part. Normally, a portion of beam spot SP overlays on adjoining tracks even when it is at the center of the mirror part, and the overlaid parts are subject to intensity modulation. Thus, the maximum point of the bottom level of an RF signal never becomes as high as the top level, and the high-frequency modulated element also remains near the maximum point.
In the case of the conventional tracking error detection circuit (FIG. 14), tracking error TE representing the positional error of beam spot SP in the radial direction can be obtained by applying prescribed operations (push-pull operations) using operation circuits (100, 102, and 104) to RF signals SA, SB, SC, and SD obtained from respective light receiving areas A, B, C, and D of the photo-detector. However, during low-speed playback, the frequencies of the RF signals and the frequency of the tracking signal elements are close to each other, so that it is difficult to separate the signals using the low-pass filter, resulting in a problem that RF signal elements RFn are likely to remain in tracking signal TE as shown in FIG. 16. On the other hand, during high-speed playback, although the signals can be separated using the low-pass filter because the frequencies of the RF signals and the frequency of the tracking signal element are not close to each other, there is a problem that the SN characteristic becomes deteriorated since tracking signal TE becomes attenuated drastically (approximately ½) by the low-pass filter as shown in FIG. 17.
In the case of a general optical disk, such as a CD (Compact Disc) and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), EFM (Eight to Fourteen Modulation) is utilized as a method for modulating data to be recorded on the tracks, and the lengths of pits are restricted to fall within the range of 3T–11T (T represents one bit length) so as to satisfy the 2, 10 RLL (Run-length Limited) code requirement, that is, the length of "0" continues 2 times or more but not more than 11 times. Therefore, although the channel clock frequency is 4.32 MHz when a CD is played back at 1× speed, the frequencies of the RF signals become maximum, that is, 720 kHz, at the location 3T/3T, and they fall down to 196 kHz or so at the location 11T/11T. It is desirable that such RF signal elements in the tracking error signal by small enough to be ignored in order to achieve tracking servo accurately.
However, in the case of the conventional tracking error detection circuit, it is usually difficult to separate or cut RF signal elements of 196 kHz or so relative to tracking error signal TE obtained from tracking modulation element Ste of 10 kHz even when they are put through low-pass filter 106.
In addition, during the conversion into a digital signal, the amplitude of tracking error signal TE is increased using operation circuits (100, 102, and 104) or a special gain control amplifier (not illustrated) in order to match the input range of an AD converter (not illustrated) of the latter stage. However, because the RF signal elements are also amplified, the gain cannot be increased sufficiently. In addition, because the RF signal elements are mixed, the digital signal is not very precise.
On the other hand, during a playback of a CD at 30× speed or a DVD at 6× speed or faster, bands for the RF signals reach 10 MHz or higher. Thus, when the bands for the operation circuits 100, 102, and 104 are only several MHz or so, those operation circuits function as low-pass filters. Thus, not only are the RF signal elements attenuated, but tracking modulation element Ste from which tracking error signal TE is obtained is also attenuated to ½, that is, reduced to one half, and the SN drops by 6 dB as a result.
Although the example pertains to a push-pull system utilizing a quadrant type photo-detector, similar problems are also found for conventional tracking error detection circuits in other methods.
The present invention was developed in light of such conventional problems, and its objective is to present a tracking error detector by which a tracking error signal from which high-frequency elements are cut sufficiently can be obtained.
Another objective of the present invention is to present a tracking error detector by which a tracking error signal with an excellent SN ratio can be obtained.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to present a tracking error detector by which a tracking error signal which can be digitized easily can be obtained.


A first dielectric layer is formed over a PFET gate and an NFET gate, and lithographically patterned to expose a PFET area, while covering an NFET area. Exposed PFET active area is etched and refilled with a SiGe alloy, which applies a uniaxial compressive stress to a PFET channel. A second dielectric layer is formed over the PFET gate and the NFET gate, and lithographically patterned to expose the NFET area, while covering the PFET area. Exposed NFET active area is etched and refilled with a silicon-carbon alloy, which applies a uniaxial tensile stress to an NFET channel. Dopants may be introduced into the SiGe and silicon-carbon regions by in-situ doping or by ion implantation.

Various techniques for enhancing semiconductor device performance through manipulation of carrier mobility have been investigated in the semiconductor industry. One of the key elements in this class of technology is the manipulation of stress in the channel of transistor devices by employing lattice mismatched materials in source/drain regions. Such lattice mismatched materials may be advantageously employed to generate stress on a semiconductor device, for example, by applying biaxial stress or uniaxial stress in a channel of a metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) to improve performance, for example, by increasing an on-current.
The effect of uniaxial stress, i.e., a stress applied along one crystallographic orientation, on the performance of semiconductor devices, especially on the performance of a MOSFET (or a "FET" in short) device built on a silicon substrate, has been extensively studied in the semiconductor industry. For a p-type MOSFET (or a "PFET" in short) utilizing a silicon channel, the mobility of minority carriers in the channel (which are holes in this case) increases under uniaxial compressive stress along the direction of the channel, i.e., the direction of the movement of holes or the direction connecting the drain to the source. Conversely, for an n-type MOSFET (or an "NFET" in short) devices utilizing a silicon channel, the mobility of minority carriers in the channel (which are electrons in this case) increases under uniaxial tensile stress along the direction of the channel, i.e., the direction of the movement of electrons or the direction connecting the drain to the source. These opposite requirements for the type of stress for enhancing carrier mobility between the PFETs and NFETs have led to prior art methods for applying at least two different types of stress to the semiconductor devices on the same integrated chip.
Thompson et al., "A 90-nm Logic Technology Featuring Strained-Silicon," IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, Vol. 51, No. 11, pp. 1790-1797, November (2004) discloses a p-type filed effect transistor (PFET) employing embedded SiGe in source/drain (S/D) regions, which provide a compressive uniaxial stress along a channel between the embedded SiGe source/drain regions. The compressive uniaxial stress along the channel enhances mobility of holes, and as a consequence, increases the on-current of the PFET.
Ang et al., "Enhanced Performance in 50 nm N-MOSFETs with Silicon-Carbon Source/Drain Regions," IEDM Technical Digest 2004, pp. 1069-1071, Digital Object Identifier: 10.1109/IEDM.2004.1419383, discloses an n-type filed effect transistor (NFET) employing embedded silicon-carbon (Si:C) in source/drain (S/D) regions, which provide a tensile uniaxial stress along a channel between the embedded silicon-carbon source/drain regions. The tensile uniaxial stress along the channel enhances mobility of electrons, and as a consequence, increases the on-current of the NFET.
In order to utilize the benefits of enhanced on-current from a PFET and an NFET, SiGe source/drain regions and silicon-carbon source/drain regions need to be formed on the same semiconductor substrate. However, the integration of both SiGe source/drain regions and silicon-carbon source/drain regions is challenging since SiGe source/drain regions need to be formed only for PFETs and silicon-carbon source/drain regions need to be formed only for NFETs.
In view of the above there exists a need for methods for forming hole mobility enhanced PFETs and electron mobility enhanced NFETs on the same semiconductor substrate.
Particularly, there exists a need for methods, i.e., an integration scheme, for forming SiGe source/drain regions and silicon-carbon source drain regions on the same semiconductor substrate.

Local stress engineering for CMOS devices

International Business Machines Corporation


An electric hand power tool includes a cylindrical device section, a control element displaceable about the cylindrical device section, and an electric scanning device disposed at the device section and configured to determine a rotary position of the control element. The scanning device is configured to optically scan the rotary position.

Electric hand power tools often comprise an electric drive motor which causes a tool or tool holder to rotate by means of a transmission. An energy supply for the electric hand power tool can be provided using an energy store connected to the hand power tool, for example a battery or rechargeable battery, or by an electric supply network, for instance, via an electric supply line.
In order to be able to make the electric hand power tool as compact as possible, control elements are preferably designed in such a manner that they only slightly change an outer contour of the electric hand power tool. This ensures accessibility of the electric hand power tool to workpieces, even under restricted spatial conditions.
For this purpose, a control element which can be moved substantially around the drive train in a rotating or pivoting movement is occasionally provided in the region of the often cylindrical drive train. Such a control element is usually electrically scanned using a sliding contact which is fastened to the control element and opens or closes contacts of a scanning printed circuit board according to a rotary position of the control element. The scanning printed circuit board extends substantially in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the control element and is limited in the radial direction, on the inside and outside, by a circle line.
Production and mounting of the scanning printed circuit board are complicated, which may increase production costs of the electric device. Furthermore, the contacts and the sliding contact are exposed to moisture and dirt which may arise in the region of the electric hand power tool.
The disclosure is based on the object of specifying an electric hand power tool having an improved scanning apparatus.


The claimed invention provides a self-actuating lenticular display assembly that places the lenticular image in intimate contact with the lenticular lens while maintaining the lenticular image separate from the lenticular lens to form the lenticular display. The lenticular display assembly further comprises a rigid back plate placed behind the lenticular display so that the lenticular image moves in a parallel plane between the lenticular lens and the rigid back plate, a motor that accomplishes movement of the lenticular image in relation to the lenticular lens, alignment mechanisms that allow the lenticular image to be incrementally adjusted in relation to the lenticular lens, and different means for maintaining intimacy between the lenticular image and the lenticular lens, thus eliminating undesirable “soft spots” that may occur. Alternative embodiments are also presented that relate to, among other features, a flexible, removably attached back plate, a “dwell” feature provided near the mid-point of image excursion, and a mechanism that permits selection of a desired image display sequence.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method and device for displaying signage systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improvement in displaying lenticular images.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A lenticular lens as used in this field is a sheet of transparent material having one side composed of a contiguous array of cylindrical lenses known as lenticules, and the other side being generally flat. U.S. Pat. No. 5,757,545 issued to Wu et al. discusses the structure of a lenticular lens. Lenticular images that are typically used in conjunction with the lenticular lenses are composite images composed of several different independent images interlaced into the same space. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,364,274 and 5,494,445 issued to Sekiguchi discuss the process of making a lenticular image.
Viewing a lenticular image through a lenticular lens, collectively known as a lenticular display, is well known in the prior art. A lenticular display allows a viewer to perceive multiple images appearing individually within the same dimensional space or plane. It is also possible for a person viewing a lenticular display to perceive a three dimensional visual effect within the same plane due to the parallax shift associated with the distance between the viewer's eyes viewing a slightly different image presented by the lenticular display.
A lenticular image is typically either imprinted directly to the back side of the lenticular lens or fixedly mounted to the back side of the lens to form the lenticular display. U.S. Pat. No. 5,710,666 issued to McDonald discloses a viewer that holds a lenticular image behind a lenticular lens. Similarly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,850,913 and 5,941,382 issued to Fantone et al. discloses a display box utilizing a lenticular image viewed through a lenticular lens. In order to perceive the different images presented in lenticular displays of this type, the angle at which the viewer observes the lenticular display must be changed. Thus, as the viewer's angle of observation changes, the discrete images contained within the lenticular image are seen as different images or a sequence of related images as animations or morphs. To allow a stationary viewer to perceive the different images presented in a lenticular display of this type, the lenticular display must be moved in order to achieve the necessary angle change. Alternatively, the movement of the viewer can be relied upon to change the angle of observance of a stationary lenticular display of this type. FIG. 1 illustrates a lenticular display of this typical prior art type where the lenticular image is fixedly attached to the lenticular lens. Thus, a signage display system utilizing a typical lenticular display for advertising or other such purposes, must therefor be moved if one desires to display the different lenticular images to a stationary viewer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,118,879 issued to Simons discloses an animated display device having illuminating means in which shutter film and program film are continuously maintained in complete contact. To accomplish this, a rigid platen having a convex surface that carries the shutter film is mounted within a housing disposed in facing contact with the convex surface of the platen. Tensioning springs are used to hold the shutter film against the convex platen. Drive means are provided for moving the program film relative to the platen so as to alter the alignment of the shutter film and program film to change the image projected by the device. This display device is of rather complex structure consisting of many expensive parts, is rather cumbersome to install, and is not adaptable for use with existing standard signage display systems and light box displays.
Therefore, there exists a need for an effective self-actuating lenticular display assembly that can be used with existing and standard signage display systems and light box displays. It is the primary object of this invention to fill this need.
Another objective of the claimed invention is to provide a self-actuating lenticular display that is less expensive and complex to manufacture.
Another objective of the claimed invention is to provide a self-actuating lenticular display that is relatively light and has a thin profile.
Another objective of the claimed invention is to provide a self-actuating lenticular display that provides means to reduce "soft spots" which may occur during operation of a self-actuating lenticular display.

Device for displaying lenticular displays


An apparatus for caring for infants, having, an infant body support structure, an air nozzles mounted on infant body support structure, and located at the end or sides of infant body support structure, above the space designated to the head of the infant, to provide an air flow of disinfected air parallel to a part of the bottom designated to support the back and the head of the infant, to protect the infant from airborne infections.

Premature born or ill infant is spending significant time after his or her birth in sophisticated patient care apparatus in a hospital. Patient care apparatus, such as incubators, are used to provide a special, tightly controlled environment for premature infants in the hospital. An incubator for an infant provides conditions for special care and protects the infant from infections. The U.S. Pat. No. 3,610,716 describes an isolator crib bank having a module for filtering air delivered to ganged cribs for neonates. This invention teaches an isolator crib bank for use in the hospital. The isolator crib bank is bulky, energy consuming and can be used only in hospital environment. After releasing from the hospital premature infants may require special care because they are very sensitive to infections and very often experienced serious, life threatening complications after contracting respiratory infections.
Conventional apparatus for caring for infants after releasing from the hospital provide support for infant body, and means for preventing an infant, from falling out. Among these conventional apparatuses for caring for infants are different types of cribs and bouncers. There are number of apparatus for caring for infants, such as cribs, and bouncers which provide safe and comfortable positioning of the infant. The U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,534 discloses a safety pad or mattress such as for use in a crib, which prevents sudden infant death syndrome by ensuring an oxygenated breathing space for the infant. According to this patent, an embedded air tube is interconnected with an air pump which circulates fresh, i.e., oxygenated, air in the breathing space of the infant. While the U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,534 teaches a pad or a mattress which prevents sudden infant dead syndrome, it does not teach a prevention of an infant from disease contracted from airborne infections.
The U.S. Pat. No. 7,404,219 discloses portable infant bed with side wall ventilation. The side wall has a vent positioned at a level near the sleeping surface, the vent permitting air to pass freely through the side wall. While the U.S. Pat. No. 7,404,219 teaches an infant bed with improved passage of air across the child sleeping surface, it does not teach an infant bed protecting an infant from airborne infections.
These conventional apparatus for caring for infants, where the infant spends most of his or her time, lack of means for protection of the infant from contracting respiratory infections.
There are a number of means which reduce risk of contracting of airborne infection in adults. Among these means are different types of masks and protective gear. The U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,941,949; 6,945,249; 4,488,547 disclosed the examples of face masks.
The disadvantage of known protective masks and protective gear is that they cannot be used in infants because they have resistance to breathing, create uncomfortable feeling, sense of isolation from the environment, and could be dangerous to infants.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to teach the apparatus for caring for infants preventing from contracting respiratory infections.
Accordingly, there is presently a need for an apparatus for caring for infants that reduces or eliminates some of the risks associated with respiratory infections.
The present invention has been developed in response to the problems and needs in the present state of art that have not yet been solved by currently available apparatus for caring for infants. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide an apparatus for caring for infants protecting an infant from airborne infections.


A diode with low substrate current leakage and suitable for BiCMOS process technology. A buried layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A connection region and well contact the buried layer. Isolation regions are adjacent to two sides of the buried layer, each deeper than the buried layer. The isolation regions and the buried layer isolate the connection zone and the well from the substrate. The first doped region in the well is a first electrode. The well and the connection region are electrically connected, acting as a second electrode.

The present invention relates in general to a diode providing electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection, and in particular to a diode manufactured by bipolar complementary metal oxide semiconductor (BiCMOS) processes.
Among ESD protection devices, a diode has one of the simplest structures. Properly forward biasing a diode during an ESD event requires only a small silicon area for effective protection. FIG. 1 is a cross section of a conventional diode formed with a heavy-doped P-type (P+) region and an N-type well (NW).
FIG. 2 shows a conventional diode string, connected between high voltage (Vhigh) and low voltage (Vlow) power lines, serving as an ESD protection device. The conventional diode string consists of several diodes connected in series. As shown in FIG. 2, a parasitic Darlington amplifier is formed in the diode string by the series-connected parasitic PNP bipolar transistors (BJTs), resulting in substrate current leakage forward to the grounded P-type (P) substrate. This substrate current leakage becomes more severe when operating temperature or diode number in the diode string increases.
There are several solutions for substrate current leakage. FIG. 3 shows a conventional circuit schematic suppressing substrate current leakage, in which the bias circuit 8 conducts a small amount of forward current to a lower portion of a diode string. Experimental results from the circuit indicate that, at high temperature, substrate current leakage still occurs at significant magnitude.
Another solution involves modification of the structure of each diode. By lowering the common-base gain of each parasitic BJT, the overall current gain of a Darlington amplifier is decreased, reducing substrate current leakage. Alternatively, eliminating formation of a Darlington amplifier, the substrate current leakage of a diode string may be substantially diminished. FIG. 4 shows a diode string with diodes of an exemplary diode structure. In comparison with the diode of FIG. 1, each diode in FIG. 4 has not only a P+ region and an NW, but also a deep NW under the NW. The common-base current gain of each parasitic BJT is reduced by the enlarged base width thereof. The overall current gain of a Darlington amplifier is accordingly decreased, and the substrate current leakage is reduced.
FIG. 5 shows another diode string in which, for each diode, the P-type well (PW) is completely enclosed by an NW and a deep NW. Through a wire connection, the voltage potentials of the NW and the deep NW are the same as that of the anode of the enclosed diode. In FIG. 5, because the base and emitter of each parasitic PNP BJT are at the same voltage potential and the emitter, the PW, has much lower doped concentration, the common-base current gain of each parasitic PNP BJT is decreased, such that each parasitic PNP BJT is difficult to activate. Furthermore, the Darlington amplifier is not formed, due to the modification of the diode structure, improving substrate current leakage.
The diodes in FIGS. 4 and 5 are suitable for CMOS semiconductor processes providing formation of a deep NW. However, with regard to a diode string with ESD protection for SiGe BiCMOS processes, the diode string in FIG. 6 is generally utilized. In FIG. 6, each diode has a heavy-doped N-type (N+) buried layer 94. Because the emitter, the PW 90, has a much lower doping concentration, the common-base current gain of each parasitic PNP BJT is decreased. Furthermore, the Darlington amplifier is not formed, due to modification of the diode structure. Both results improve substrate current leakage.


A fiberoptic multi-parameter sensing system for monitoring turbomachinery system shaft static and dynamic torques, vibration modes and associated operation status includes a multi-furcated fiber bundle based optical splitter configured to transmit light to a surface of at least one turbomachinery system shaft through a plurality of optical fiber bundles disposed at a plurality of locations in proximity to the surface of the at least one shaft, in which the plurality of locations together are arranged in a substantially axial direction between the ends of the at least one shaft. The system further includes an array of high-temperature bifurcated fiber bundle based reflectance probes to receive reflectance signals from the shaft surface and send to an array of photosensitive detectors, configured to detect dynamic light reflected from the at least one turbomachinery system shaft surface in response to the transmitted light during rotation of at least one turbomachinery system shaft and generate dynamic reflected light signals there from. A sensing mechanism is configured to determine a torque or vibration on at least one turbomachinery system shaft in response to the dynamic reflected light signal signatures based on time-domain and frequency-domain signal processes.

The invention relates generally to a fiberoptic multi-parameter sensing system and method for monitoring a turbomachinery system operation status, and more particularly to a system and method capable of providing simultaneously static and dynamic torque and vibration sensing from a turbomachinery system.
The measurement of the turbomachinery torques that varies along its shafts provides key information for design engineers to validate and improve the system efficiency. Also, mechanical misalignment, the rubbing motion between rotor and stator, distortion of shafts, slippage of couplings, and other random forces are normally causes for rotors and shafts suffering from static and dynamic torques, and flexural and torsional vibration that lead to most of fault events. Torques and vibrations are some of the critical parameters that may be measured to monitor power generation efficiency or degradation in a turbomachinery system, which may comprise a steam turbine, generator, load gear, and gas turbine. They can be measured by resistive strain gages, stationary proximity, magnetostrictive, and magnetoelastic sensors. These rotary based sensors must be mounted onto or in proximity to the rotor and shaft surface, which may not always be possible because of the space limitations. The operation of these conventional measurement technologies unfortunately suffers from the variation of the environmental conditions such as temperature, pressure, clearance, moisture, and electromagnetic interference. Since a typical turbomachinery system operates at temperatures from about 100° F. to about 1200° F., and under high humidity, it is exposed to varied torsional or flexural vibrations, and radial thermal expansion conditions due to large dynamic mechanical deformation and flexural and torsional vibrations. They all affect the accuracy and life of these sensing devices. Such sensing devices are therefore not reliable for long-term operation in large turbomachinery.
Rotor and shaft torque sensing include determining the amount of power a turbine, or other rotating device, generates or consumes. In the industrial world, ISO 9000 and other quality control specifications are now requested to measure torque during manufacturing, especially when fasteners are applied. There presently exists no practical sensing system that can measure both static and dynamic torque of a turbomachinery system, such as steam turbine rotor and shaft surface whenever the sensing location requires that sensing occurs under harsh conditions.
Known optical-based torque sensing techniques employ free-space-based laser beam deflection methods to measure torque by reflecting a laser beam from a micro-mirror that is embedded onto a shaft surface. Such devices are difficult to interface in a steam turbine environment due to the absorption of the laser beam by the steam, and also due to the optical surface maintenance requirements of the micro-mirror which is sensitive to the steam flow environment as well as the mechanical alignment and vibration.
Similar optical interference-based vibration measurement systems are known for measuring mechanical deformation and displacement but these systems are not designed for a turbomachinery system to provide steam turbine rotor shaft mechanical deformation associated with vibration detection because the thermal induced expansion makes it difficult to maintain optical focus and signal integrity in a dynamic environment.
All of the current technologies such as stationary proximity, resistive strain gages, magnetostrictive and magnetoelastic sensors, are not robust enough to survive in a turbomachinery system, such as a steam turbine environment, for the life of the machine, and all are temperature sensitive. Such a thermal-sensitive property has caused serious reliability issues and are the cause of inaccuracies.
Another problematic issue related to current technologies is directed to the installation parameters of these conventional torque/vibration-sensing devices in the turbomachinery system, such as steam turbine environment, including without limitation, moisture, pressure, fluctuated electromagnetic field interference, temperatures of 100° F.-1200° F., and rotor flexural or torsional vibration. A strain gage, for example, needs to be mounted on the rotor surface, and a magnetostrictive sensor needs to be mounted close to the shaft surface with a gap or clearance less than a few hundred micrometers. Temperature fluctuations in a turbomachinery system, such as different stages of a steam turbine, induce significant transient rotor thermal expansion and flexural or torsional vibration. In a harsh environment, reliable torque and vibration measurements among steam turbine-generator, generator-load gear, and load gear-gas turbine sections and among individual steam turbine stages will allow performance to be monitored and maintenance outages to be more optimally scheduled, maximizing turbine availability and output.
Further, flexural and torsional vibrations caused by shifts of load in the steam turbine-generator, generator-load gear, and load gear-gas turbine can produce transient oscillations that exceed steady state stress levels under full load conditions. Such transient nonlinear vibrational events can induce bearing wearing, bending deformation of shafts and high torque loading, and threatens the stability of a steam turbine power generation system, among other effects. Conventional vibration sensing technology such as accelerometers, strain gages, proximity probes and tachometers may be limited either by steam turbine harsh environment conditions including without limitation, temperature, pressure, steam, dust particles, moisture and high flow rate, or by their nature as contact and electrical sensing devices.
Under normal shaft operating conditions that correspond to stable equilibrium status, the observed low-frequency random vibration signal although small, could be the result of the rubbing motion between rotor and stator, distortion of shafts, slippage of couplings and other random forces. Flexural vibration modes are caused mainly from a rotating system mechanical misalignment, temperature distribution and unbalance; while the torsional vibration may be due to shaft loading condition variation-induced torque dynamics and transient rotating speed variations. External unknown excitation forces, transient power switching and unstable global system operation can also induce transient nonlinear vibration modes that could have high vibration amplitudes. In addition, deterioration of the turbine blades will reduce output and can be monitored via a reduction in torque and vibration frequency variations.
In view of the above, it would be both advantageous and beneficial to provide a practical solution for an online turbomachinery system, such as a steam turbine, torque and vibration analysis for improving power generation performance as well as power generation efficiency control and optimization. This solution should provide a reliable means of measuring static and dynamic torque, linear and nonlinear vibrations from rotating shafts or a reliable means of fault event diagnostics and prognostics. Reliable torque and vibration measurements between turbine sections and between individual turbine stages in a turbomachinery system will allow performance to be monitored and maintenance outages to be more optimally scheduled, maximizing turbomachinery system power generation efficiency. It would be further advantageous if the system and method of static and dynamic torque sensing for a turbomachinery system could be easily adapted to also reliably measure linear and non-linear shaft vibration characteristics.

Turbomachinery system fiberoptic multi-parameter sensing system and method