The present invention relates to methods for selectively enhancing corrosion protection of fabricated metal parts. One method of the present invention includes providing a non-galvanized metal sheet to be processed to form the fabricated metal part; selecting a localized region on the non-galvanized metal sheet; roughening the localized region for acceptance of a protective coating; applying a protective coating to localized region; and fabricating the non-galvanized metal sheet into a fabricated metal part. Another method includes providing a galvanized metal sheet; selecting a localized region on the galvanized metal sheet; applying a protective coating to the localized region; and fabricating the galvanized metal sheet into a fabricated metal part. Yet another method includes selecting a localized region on a fabricated metal part; roughening the localized region for acceptance of a protective coating; and applying the protective coating to the localized region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to selectively enhancing corrosion protection of fabricated metal structures and, more particularly, to methods of applying a protective coating to metal parts using kinetic spraying.
2. Background Art
xe2x80x9cGalvanizingxe2x80x9d refers to a broad category of surface coating processes wherein zinc or zinc-rich alloys are deposited on the surfaces of steel sheets or fabricated metal parts. In the automotive industry, as well as other industries, the use of galvanizing for corrosion protection of steel is ubiquitous. The International Zinc Association estimates that worldwide annual usage of zinc for this purpose exceeds 3 million metric tons. Coils of steel, for example, are frequently provided with galvanized coatings through processes such as hot dipping, electro-galvanizing or galvannealing. Such coil-coated steel is subsequently formed into products such as automobile bodies, architectural materials and other products for commercial and household use. The coil-coated steel can be further finished by additional treatments that include phosphating electrophoretic coatings.
Even with the application of galvanic protective coatings to steel, corrosion may still occur, particularly in localized regions where the mechanical integrity of the coatings may be compromised by such processes as joining, cutting, forming or any other manufacturing process which may diminish the capability of protective layers to provide protection to the steel sheet. Hence, to compensate for these potential deficiencies produced during the manufacturing of the galvanized metal parts, post processes, such as painting or phosphating have been utilized.
Fabricated metal parts suffer from corrosion resistance problems as well. For example, metal fuel tanks have extremely high corrosion reliability requirements. Currently, only metal fuel tanks are capable of meeting the most stringent regulatory requirements for low emission vehicles. Corrosion of metal fuel tanks, however, is a critical concern since a single pit can lead to fuel leakage and attendant system failure. Current practice for corrosion prevention of steel fuel tanks involves use of electro-galvanized (e.g., Znxe2x80x94Ni alloy) sheet steel as the base metal, combined with an aluminum-rich, epoxy paint. At the tank seam element as well as attachment points for inlets and fuel pump, the corrosion performance can be diminished due to possible inherent defects associated with the manufacture of the tank.
There exists a need in the automotive industry, as well as other industries, for a simple, low-cost method for selectively applying a protective coating to metal parts for corrosion resistance of localized regions that may or may not have an existing protective coating. This type of method would be especially advantageous where an original coating protection has been compromised by various manufacturing processes such as cutting or welding. Furthermore, there is a need to provide for enhanced corrosion protection at localized regions of fabricated metal structures that may or may not have an existing protective coating.
The present invention is related to methods for selectively enhancing corrosion protection of fabricated metal parts.
One preferred method of the present invention involves selectively enhancing corrosion protection of a fabricated metal part. The preferred method includes providing a non-galvanized metal sheet to be processed to form a fabricated metal part; selecting a localized region on the non-galvanized metal sheet; roughening the localized region for acceptance of a protective coating; applying a protective coating to the localized region; and fabricating the non-galvanized metal sheet into a fabricated metal part.
If not treated with the protective coating, the localized region becomes a post-fabricated area particularly susceptible to corrosion. Upon applying the protective coating to the localized region, the post-fabricated area is particularly resistant to corrosion. The protective coating is applied by a device capable of impact fusion of solid metal particles. The corrosion protection of the post-fabricated area is enhanced by the selectively deposited protective coating. The protective coating may be a galvanized coating. However, non-galvanized coatings can be utilized as long as corrosion resistance is enhanced (viz. oxidative or high temperature corrosion protection).
In another preferred embodiment, a method includes providing a galvanized metal sheet to be processed to form a fabricated metal part; selecting a localized region on the galvanized metal sheet; applying a supplemental galvanized coating to the localized region; and fabricating the galvanized metal sheet into the fabricated metal part. The application of the galvanizing coating forms a galvanic layer on the surface of the prefabricated metal sheet. If not treated with the supplemental galvanized coating, the localized region becomes a post-fabricated area particularly susceptible to corrosion. Upon applying the supplemental galvanic coating to the localized region, the post-fabricated area is particularly resistant to corrosion. The corrosion protection of the post-fabricated area is enhanced due to the selective application of the galvanic coating. The galvanized coating is applied by a device capable of impact fusion of solid metal particles.
One preferred method includes selecting a localized region on a fabricated metal part; roughening the localized region for acceptance of a protective coating; and applying a protective coating to the localized region. The protective coating is applied by a device capable of impact fusion. According to this method, the fabricated metal part is treated. For example, an element on a fuel tank seam may lack corrosion protection. The method contemplated enhances or restores corrosion protection to the localized region defined by the weldment.
These and other advantages, features, and objects of the present invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reference to the following description.

Method for selective control of corrosion using kinetic spraying


An inflation tool for an external casing packer (ECP) is provided. It allows isolation of each ECP and inflation with mud, cement, or other fluids. The opening for the ECP is isolated by appropriate seals, while a passage in the inflation tool is closed off by a plug which allows internal fluid pressure build-up. A sliding sleeve valve is responsive to built-up pressure and opens to allow access to the ECP. Upon complete inflation of the ECP, the pressure applied is removed, allowing the sleeve to close and the pressure between the seals surrounding the opening to the ECP is equalized with the wellbore. Excess mud or other inflation material can be reversed out by a bypass feature around the plug. A pressure-relief feature in the inflation tool allows further pressure equalization for the string, which was used to run the tool in the hole, to facilitate its removal.

In the past, typical completions would involve a casing which is run in the wellbore and cemented. The wellbore thereafter is extended and a casing or liner is suspended to the uphole casing which had earlier been cemented. Typically, liner hangers were used to suspend the lowermost portion of the casing or liner which is added, generally in a deviated wellbore. These lower casings typically involve the use of openings or slots extending into the horizontal segment of the wellbore. Typically, the slotted casing or liner was run with external packers; hence, the term ECP (external casing packer). In view of the openings or slots in the liner supporting the ECPs, internal mud or cement pressure could not be used within such liners to inflate the ECPs disposed along the length of the liner. Instead, each ECP had to be isolated so that it could then be actuated to expand into contact with the wellbore, isolating the desired zones of slotted casing. Prior designs have been developed to isolate each specific ECP and allow it to be inflated with mud or cement. Such prior designs are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,062. This patent, entitled "Horizontal Inflatable Tool," refers to a tool manufactured by CTC Corporation of Houston, Tex. This tool involved a concept of isolation of an ECP, using an inner workstring, followed by a series of mechanical operations to begin the inflating operation. The problem with prior design tools is that in deviated wellbores, it is difficult to communicate mechanical movement from the surface and know that, reliably, such movement has been translated to an equal amount or degree of movement at the desired location. Hence, the prior systems added a degree of unreliability to the inflation procedure for the ECPs, thus creating uncertainty as to whether each of the ECPs, as desired, had been fully inflated.
The apparatus and method of the present invention provide greater reliability in knowing that the ECP has been properly inflated. Reliability is further enhanced by the hydraulic rather than mechanical operation. Reliability is built into the system through a variety of features which ensure, through pressure-equalizing techniques, the longevity of the seals around the opening for each ECP. Additionally, a provision has been made to allow removal of any excess cement by a reversing procedure. Finally, to minimize the effort required to remove the inflating tool out of the hole, other relief provisions have been incorporated into the design to facilitate pulling out of the hole.


A single firewall or cluster of firewalls with a public IP address is interfaced to an internet public subnet to receive service requests for a cluster of network servers. A first private subnet with a plurality of private IP addresses is interfaced to the single firewall or cluster of firewalls to receive the service requests after passing through a firewall. A plurality of redundant load balancers with a respective plurality of private IP addresses are interfaced to the first private subnet to receive the service requests after passing through the first private subnet. The load balancers are interfaced to a second private subnet. The network servers with respective private IP addresses are interfaced to the second private subnet to receive the service requests from the load balancers. At an initialization time, a private IP address is defined for the network load balancer system within the internet access subnet. When one of the load balancers becomes primary at the initialization time or switches from a standby state to an active state, the network load balancer system private IP address is defined as an alias in an interface table to be recognized by the one load balancer. When the one network load balancer switches from the active state to a standby state, the network load balancer system private IP address previously defined as the alias is released from the interface table.

The Internet is a global network of computers and computers networks (the "Net"). The Internet connects computers that use a variety of operating systems, such as UNIX, DOS, Windows, Macintosh, and others. To facilitate and allow the communication among the various operating systems, the Internet uses a communication language referred to as TCP/IP ("Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol"). TCP/IP protocol supports three basic applications on the Internet                transmitting and receiving electronic mail,        logging into remote computers (i.e. "Telnet"), and        transferring files and programs from one computer to another (using "FTP" or "File Transfer Protocol").

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Technique for addressing a cluster of network servers

International Business Machines Corporation


An emblem that is located within a recess of a cover. The cover may be part of a cartridge which also contains a number of integrated circuit packages that are mounted to a printed circuit board. The emblem is typically attached to the cover by an adhesive. The recess reduces the likelihood of the emblem being removed from the cover. The emblem preferably contains a hologram which can identify a type of cartridge produced by a manufacturer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cover of an electronic cartridge.
2. Background Information
Integrated circuits are typically assembled into a package that is soldered to a printed circuit board. Historically, manufacturers of integrated circuits such as microprocessors have sold the integrated circuit packages to entities that mount the packages to a circuit board. The circuit board is then assembled into a larger system such as a personal computer.
The integrated circuit packages are typically soldered to the printed circuit board. The solder process requires capital equipment such as wave solder tables, etc. Additionally, the solder must be reflowed to upgrade or replace the integrated circuit package that is mounted to the board. Reflowing the solder can degrade the integrity of the printed circuit board. It is desirable to incorporate the integrated circuit packages into a cartridge that can be plugged into a motherboard so that the customer of the integrated circuit does not have to solder the package.
It would be desirable if such a cartridge could be plugged into the circuit board by a consumer, so that the end user can upgrade a system such as a personal computer. Such a cartridge would preferably have a cover to prevent contact between the end user and the integrated circuit packages. The cover may also improve the appearance of the product.
It may be desirable or provide an emblem on the cartridge to both identify the manufacturer and the type of product. The emblem should be attached to the cartridge in a manner that would make it difficult to remove from the product.
One embodiment of the present invention is a cover which has a recess and an emblem that is attached to the recess of the cover. The cover can be incorporated into an electronic cartridge.

Injection mold gate concealment by integrating surface recess and cosmetic label attachment


Cables and methods of manufacturing cables for high speed data communications, the cable including: a first inner conductor enclosed by a first dielectric layer and a second inner conductor enclosed by a second dielectric layer, the inner conductors and the dielectric layers parallel with and along a longitudinal axis; and folded conductive shield material wrapped in a rotational direction along and about the longitudinal axis around the inner conductors and the dielectric layers, including overlapped wraps along and about the longitudinal axis, the conductive shield material comprising a first conductive layer and second conductive layer separated by an inner-shield dielectric layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is data processing, or, more specifically, cables and methods of manufacturing cables for high speed data communications.
2. Description of Related Art
High speed data communications over shielded cables are an important component to large high-end servers and digital communications systems. While optical cables provide long distance drive capability, copper cables are typically preferred in environments that require a shorter distance cable due to a significant cost savings opportunity. A typical copper cable used in environments requiring a shorter distance cable, is a twinaxial cable. A twinaxial cable is a coaxial cable that includes two insulated, inner conductors and a shield wrapped around the insulated inner conductors. Twinaxial cables are used for half-duplex, balanced transmission, high-speed data communications. In current art however, twinaxial cables used in data communications environments are limited in performance due to a bandstop effect.
For further explanation of typical twinaxial cables, therefore, FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of a typical twinaxial cable (100). The exemplary typical twinaxial cable (100) of FIG. 1 includes two conductors (106, 108) and two dielectrics (110, 112) surrounding the conductors. The conductors (106, 108) and the dielectrics (110, 112) are generally parallel to each other and a longitudinal axis (105).
The typical twinaxial cable (100) of FIG. 1 also includes a shield (114). The shield, when wrapped around the conductors of a cable, acts as a Faraday cage to reduce electrical noise from affecting signals transmitted on the cable and to reduce electromagnetic radiation from the cable that may interfere with other electrical devices. The shield also minimizes capacitively coupled noise from other electrical sources, such as nearby cables carrying electrical signals. The shield (114) is wrapped around the conductors (106, 108). The shield (114) includes wraps (101-103) along and about the longitudinal axis (105), each wrap overlapping the previous wrap. A wrap is a 360 degree turn of the shield around the longitudinal axis (105). The typical twinaxial cable of FIG. 1 includes three wraps (101-103), but readers of skill in the art will recognize that the shield may be wrapped around the inner conductors and the dielectric layers any number of times in dependence upon the length of the cable. Wrap (101) is shaded for purposes of explanation. Each wrap (101-103) overlaps the previous wrap. That is, wrap (101) is overlapped by wrap (102) and wrap (102) is overlapped by wrap (103). The overlap (104) created by the overlapped wraps is continuous along and about the longitudinal axis (105) of the cable (100).
The wraps (101-103) of the shield (114) create an overlap (104) of the shield that forms an electromagnetic bandgap structure ('EBG structure') that acts as the bandstop filter. An EBG structure is a periodic structure in which propagation of electromagnetic waves is not allowed within a stopband. A stopband is a range of frequencies in which a cable attenuates a signal. In the cable of FIG. 1, when the conductors (106, 108) carry current from a source to a load, part of the current is returned on the shield (114). Due to skin effect, the current in the conductors to the load displaces on the outer surface of the conductor, and the current return path attempts to run parallel to, but in the opposite direction of, the current to the load. As such, the current on the shield (114) encounters the overlap (104) of the shield (104) periodically and a discontinuity exists in the current return path due to the overlap. The discontinuity in the current return path at the overlap (104) created by the wraps (101-103) acts as a bandstop filter that attenuates signals at frequencies in a stopband.
For further explanation, FIG. 2 sets forth a cross-sectional view of a prior art data communications cable (100), similar to a twinaxial cable. The cable (100) in the example of FIG. 2 only depicts a single conductor (108) for clarity of explanation only, but readers of skill in the art will immediately recognize that two or more conductors may be present in such a cable. The typical twinaxial cable of FIG. 2 includes a shield (114), surrounding a conductor (108) insulated with a dielectric layer (109). Current (204) in the example of FIG. 2 is flowing in the conductor (108) on the 'skin' or outer-edge of the conductor (108) while the return current (208) flows in the opposite direction along the conductive shield (114). The shield (114) includes two conductive layers (206) separated by a dielectric layer. The current return path, attempting to run parallel to the current (204) in the conductor, travels from right to left as depicted by the repeating arrows, and must 'jump' the dielectric layers (208) of the shield (114) to flow closer to the 'skin' of the conductor. Such a 'jump' creates a capacitance, two charged plates separated by a dielectric medium, which periodically repeats along the length of the cable. The cable also has some internal inductance due to various factors, including the repetitive wrapping of a conductive shield around the conductor (108).
For further explanation, therefore, FIG. 3 sets forth a graph of the insertion loss of a typical twinaxial cable. Insertion loss is the signal loss in a cable that results from inserting the cable between a source and a load. The insertion loss depicted in the graph of FIG. 3 is the insertion loss of a typical twinaxial cable, such as the twinaxial cable described above with respect to FIG. 1. In the graph of FIG. 3, the signal (119) is attenuated (118) within a stopband (120) of frequencies (116) ranging from seven to nine gigahertz ('GHz'). The stopband (120) has a center frequency (121) that varies in dependence upon the composition of the shield, the width of the shield, and the rate that the shield is wrapped around the conductors and dielectrics. The center frequency (121) of FIG. 3 is 8 GHz.
The attenuation (118) of the signal (119) in FIG. 3 peaks at approximately −60 decibels ('dB') for signals with frequencies (116) in the range of approximately 8 GHz. The magnitude of the attenuation (118) of the signal (119) is dependent upon the length of the cable. The effect of the EBG structure, the attenuation of a signal, increases as the length of the EBG structure increases. A longer cable having a wrapped shield has a longer EBG structure and, therefore, a greater attenuation on a signal than a shorter cable having a shield wrapped at the same rate. That is, the longer the cable, the greater the attenuation of the signal. In addition to signal attenuation, the bandstop effect also increases other parasitic effects in the cable, such as jitter and the like.
Typical twinaxial cables for high speed data communications, therefore, have certain drawbacks. Typical twinaxial cables have a bandstop filter created by overlapped wraps of a shield that attenuates signals at frequencies in a stopband. The attenuation of the signal increases as the length of the cable increases. The attenuation limits data communications at frequencies in the stopband.

Cable for high speed data communications


An image processing apparatus includes an image data acquisition unit, a development generating unit and a display unit. The image data acquisition unit acquires slice image data with regard to a heart of an object. The development generating unit obtains blood flow perfusion information with regard to a myocardial thickness direction based on the slice image data and generates development data according to a desired development format for displaying the blood flow perfusion information. The display unit displays the development data.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method display a myocardial perfusion image.
2. Description of Related Art
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an imaging method which excites nuclear spins of an object set in a static magnetic field with a radio frequency (RF) signal having the Larmor frequency magnetically and reconstructs an image based on a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal generated due to the excitation.
In the diagnosis of ischemic heart disease, as a method for evaluating myocardial blood flow perfusion by means of MRI, a method is known in which multi-slice dynamic longitudinal relaxation (T1) weighted imaging is performed for obtaining a left ventricular short axis image during the first circulation in synchronized with an ECG (electrocardiogram) after a contrast medium is injected into a vein and enhancing process of the myocardium is observed (myocardial perfusion) (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application (Laid-Open) No. 2006-87626). With regard to the images thus acquired, each of the left ventricular short axis tomographic images is divided into multiple radial regions. Then, the images thus divided are converted into development images in which the regions thus divided are concentrically arranged from the cardiac base part toward the apex cordis part, following which the development images thus converted are displayed.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing MR images of respective sections acquired at respective dynamic time phases by a conventional myocardial perfusion imaging.
FIG. 1 shows an example of MR images 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 1-2, 2-2, 3-2, . . . , 1-30, 2-30, and 3-30, acquired by myocardial perfusion imaging. In this example, the number of slices is a total of three sections consisting of slices 1, 2, and 3 from the apex cordis part toward the cardiac base part, and the number of dynamic time phases is 30.
Then, the myocardiums on the MR images are divided into multiple sub-regions radially, and a dynamic curve is created based upon the average image value in each sub-region. The dynamic curve is a graph representing the image value changing over time. For example, a dynamic curve A is created for the sub-region A. Further, a dynamic curve B is created for the sub-region B.
FIG. 2 shows conventional developments indicating myocardial blood flow information generated based on dynamic curves in respective small regions shown in FIG. 1. The innermost ring represents a lower cross-section of an entire ventricular wall width (divided circumferentially into eight sections). The middle ring represents an intermediate cross-section of an entire ventricular wall width (divided circumferentially into eight sections). The outermost ring represents an upper cross-section of an entire ventricular wall width (divided circumferentially into 8 sections).
As shown in FIG. 2, a dynamic curve is created for each small region with the vertical axis representing the image signal value, and the horizontal axis representing time. Specifically, FIG. 2 shows the dynamic curves A and B that correspond to the small regions A and B shown in FIG. 1, respectively. Furthermore, various parameters are calculated based upon the dynamic curves A, B, . . . and development images are created with colors or a gray scale associated with the parameter values thus calculated. For example, in FIG. 2, the maximum values of the image signals and the times till the maximum gradients of the dynamic curves are calculated as the parameters, and the parameters thus calculated are displayed in the development image 1 and the development image 2, respectively. Such a development image is called a bull's-eye. In the bull's-eye, the inner side of the concentric circular image corresponds to the apex cordis part, and the outer side thereof corresponds to the cardiac base part.
FIG. 3 is a diagram indicating correspondence relationship between myocardial left ventricular short axis MR images and the conventional development representing myocardial blood flow information as shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 3 shows the relations between MR tomographic images of the myocardium in the left ventricular short axis direction and the small regions in the development image. For example, each small region positioned on the inner side of the development image corresponds to a region divided at the apex cordis part of the myocardium. Each small region positioned in the intermediate part of the development image corresponds to a region divided at the intermediate part of the myocardium. Each small region positioned on the outer side of the development image corresponds to a region divided at the cardiac base part of the myocardium.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing symptom of subendocardial ischemia schematically by slicing a heart into rings.
In the heart which has developed subendocardial ischemia, blood is not supplied to the inner side of the myocardium, and the medical condition progresses from the inner side toward the outer side of the myocardium. However, the conventional bull's-eye is created by dividing each slice image only radially, and not in the thickness direction of the myocardium. Accordingly, the conventional bull's-eye does not provide precise information with respect to blood flow perfusion that represents the range of ischemia along the myocardial thickness direction.
In particular, magnetic resonance imaging apparatuses generally allow data to be acquired with a high spatial resolution as compared with a method such as a nuclear medicine examination, thereby providing an advantage of depicting a subendocardial ischemia, which has been reported. However, the conventional development image display lacks information with respect to the myocardium along the thickness direction, leading to a problem in that the subendocardial ischemia cannot be evaluated. This is common problem not only for magnetic resonance imaging apparatuses but for any other diagnostic medical imaging apparatuses which are capable of acquiring image data with high spatial resolutions.

Image processing apparatus, image diagnostic apparatus and image processing method


A TTL-level-output interface circuit includes a biCMOS inverter coupled between a voltage supply terminal and a ground terminal; a first npn transistor coupled between the voltage supply terminal and a TTL interface terminal and a second npn transistor connected in series with the first npn transistor between the TTL interface terminal and the ground terminal; an n.phi. network coupled between the TTL output terminal and the base of the second npn transistor by an n-channel MOSFET, which has its gate connected to the inverter input terminal. When a high input signal is applied to the inverter input terminal, the n-channel MOSFET couples the n.phi. network to the base of the second npn transistor, in order both to limit the base current of the second npn transistor in order to prevent saturation of the second npn transistor, and to enable current to be conducted to the base of the second npn transistor 56 through the n.phi. network from a load connected to the TTL output terminal, for enabling the second npn transistor to conduct current from the TTL interface terminal to the ground terminal. A p-channel MOSFET is coupled between the voltage supply terminal and the junction of the n.phi. network with the n-channel MOSFET. The p-channel MOSFET has its gate connected to the inverter output terminal and functions as a switchable current source for providing a minimum base current to the second npn transistor if there is no load connected to the TTL output terminal when a high input signal is applied at the inverter input terminal.

The present invention generally pertains to electronic circuits that combine MOS and bipolar transistors and is particularly directed to an improvement in a TTL-level-output interface circuit.
For some electronic circuit, high-density MOS transistors for performing multiple logic functions are combined with low-density bipolar transistors for providing output signals at a TTL level in order to provide adequate power for an interfaced circuit load to which power is provided in accordance with said logic functions. TTL-output-level interface circuits that combine MOS and bipolar transistors are described by Nakashiba et al., "A Subnanosecond Bi-CMOS Gate-Array Family", IEEE 1986 Custom Integrated Circuits Conference, pp. 63-66; Nishio, Ogiye and Kadono, "Applications of Hi-BiCMOS Technology", Hitachi Review, Vol 35 (1986), No. 5, pp. 225-230; "How Motorola Moved BiMOS up to VLSI Levels", Electronics, July 10, 1986, pp. 67-70; Lin and Spehn, "Fast, low-power logic array unites CMOS and bipolar", Electronic Design, Apr. 16, 1987; Abramowitz, Kinzer and Tam, "Power-cell library brings high voltage to semicustom ICs", Electronic Design, June 11, 1987, pp. 93-100; "TI's BiCMOS bus interface ICs slash standby current", Electronic Products, June 15, 1987, pp. 17 and 19; and Cohen "NEC's BiCMOS Arrays Shatter Record", Electronics, Aug. 6, 1987, pp. 82-83.
The Nakashiba et al. TTL-level-output interface circuit is described with reference to FIG. 1. This circuit includes a first CMOS inverter 10, a second CMOS inverter, 12, a first npn transistor 14, a second npn transistor 16, a p-channel MOSFET 18, a first n-channel MOSFET 20, a second n-channel MOSFET 22, a third npn transistor 24, a first resistance 26, a second resistance 27, a third resistance 28, an n.phi. network 30, a first diode 32, a second diode 33 and a third diode 34. The n.phi. network 30 includes a fourth npn transistor 36, a fourth resistance 38 and a fifth resistance 40, with the fourth resistance 38 being coupled between the base and the emitter of the fourth third npn transistor 36, and with the fifth resistance 40 being connected between the collector and the base of the fourth npn transistor 36.
The first inverter 10 and the second inverter 12 are each coupled between a voltage supply terminal 42 and a circuit ground terminal 43, and have a common inverter input terminal 44.
The first npn transistor 14 is coupled between the voltage supply terminal 42 and a TTL interface terminal 46 by the resistance 27 and the diode 33 respectively; and the second npn transistor 16 is connected in series with the first npn transistor 14 between the TTL interface terminal 46 and the ground terminal 43.
The first npn transistor 14 has its base coupled to the output terminal 48 of the second inverter 12 for enabling the first npn transistor 14 to conduct current between the voltage supply terminal 42 and the TTL interface terminal 46 when a low input signal is applied at the inverter input terminal 44, and for clamping the first npn transistor 14 in a non-conductive state when a high input signal is applied at the inverter input terminal 44.
The second npn transistor 16 has its base 50 coupled to the ground terminal 43 through the second n-channel MOSFET 22 that has its gate coupled to the output terminal 49 of the first inverter 10 for clamping the second npn transistor 16 in a nonconductive state when a low input signal is applied at the inverter input terminal 44.
The second npn transistor 16 also has its base coupled to the voltage supply terminal 42 via the third npn transistor 24, which in turn has its base connected to the voltage supply terminal 42 by the first resistance 26 and the p-channel MOSFET 18. The p-channel MOSFET 18 has its gate connected to the inverter input terminal 44 so that the third npn transistor 24 is rendered conductive for enabling the second npn transistor 16 to conduct current from the TTL interface terminal 46 to the ground terminal 43 when a high input signal is applied at the inverter input terminal 44. The base of the third npn transistor 24 is biased above circuit ground by the third resistance 28. The second n-channel MOSFET is connected between the base of the third npn transistor 24 and the ground terminal 43, and has its gate connected to the output of the first inverter 10 for clamping the base of the third npn transistor 14 to circuit ground when a high input signal is applied at the inverter input terminal 44.
The fourth npn transistor 36 of the n.phi. network 30 has its emitter coupled to the TTL output terminal 46 by the third diode 34 and its collector 51 coupled to the base of the third npn transistor 24 for limiting the base current of the second npn transistor 16 in order to prevent saturation of the second npn transistor 16.
In an operating n.phi. network, such as network 30, because the base current is negligible, V.sub.c =V.sub.e +n.phi., wherein .phi.=V.sub.b -V.sub.e ; V.sub.b, V.sub.c and V.sub.e are the base voltage, the collector voltage and the emitter voltage of the transistor 36; n=(1+R.sub.2 /R.sub.1); R.sub.1 is the resistance 40 connected between the base and emitter of the transistor 36; and R.sub.2 is the resistance 38 connected between the base and the collector of the transistor 36. Because V.sub.c of the network transistor 36 is always n.phi. greater than V.sub.e, by coupling the emitter of the network transistor 36 to the collector of the second npn transistor 16 and the collector of the network transistor 36 to the base of the second npn transistor 16, and by choosing the values of the resistances R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 such that n=1.5, when V.sub.c of the network transistor 36 is maintained at 3.phi. (approximately 2.1 volts), the collector-to-base voltage of the second npn transistor 16 is maintained at 0.5.phi. (approximately 0.35 volts) and thereby prevents saturation of the second npn transistor 16, which would occur if the base-to-collector voltage of the second npn transistor 16 reached or exceeded 0.4 volts.


A projection display apparatus includes a light valve that modulates illuminating light on the basis of image data to output the modulated light, an illuminating unit including a light source, and a plurality of optical members for illumination that generate the illuminating light on the basis of light from the light source to guide the illuminating light to the light valve, a projection lens that projects the modulated light from the light valve on a projection surface, and allows detection light to enter from a direction opposite to a travelling direction of the modulated light, and an imaging device that is disposed at a location optically conjugated with the light valve, and allows the detection light to enter through the projection lens. The plurality of optical members for illumination have optical property of reducing a noise component that affects the detection light and arises inside the illuminating unit.

In recent years, in a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or any other similar mobile apparatus, the use of a touch panel has made it possible to perform page scrolling or zooming and shrinking of images being displayed on a screen through pointing operation in response to human intuition. Meanwhile, a display apparatus that displays images by projecting them on a screen has been known as a projector over the years.


An apparatus and method for determining stroke volume. The apparatus receives an arterial pressure waveform and is arranged to correct a part of the pressure waveform that relates to a heart beat for an influence of an ectopic heart beat, of atrial fibrillation on the pressure waveform or of changes in the pressure waveform's baseline. The apparatus also comprising means arranged to calculate the stroke volume from the corrected waveform.

An accurate knowledge of the hemodynamic status/cardiac output of the heart of a patient helps medical practitioners assess a patient's medical condition. The constituents of cardiac output (measured, for example, in liters/minute), heart rate (measured, for example in beats per minute) and stroke volume (measured for example in mls) may also provide useful information. The stroke volume, or cardiac stroke volume, is the volume of blood ejected by the left ventricle during systole across the aortic valve forwards into the aorta during each cardiac contraction. This volume normally corresponds to the volume of blood in the left ventricle at the end of the systole minus the pre-systole diastolic volume of the left ventricle. This is particularly true in acute situations, such as, for example, for patients in intensive care units or patients undergoing an operation where for example it is used in fluid and drug management during anaesthesia and after. Knowledge of a patient's cardiac output, or its constituents, may, moreover, be beneficial in less critical or less life threatening situations, such as in situations where the monitoring of the patient is generally desirable.
It has long been known that cardiac output as well a stroke volume and heart rate can be determined based on an analysis of arterial blood pressure waveform. Summaries of previously suggested methods for the determination of the output of the heart are provided in WO 97/00017, a prior patent disclosure of the present assignee, and in A. Rhodes, R. Sunderland, "Arterial Pulse Power Analysis: The LiDCO™ plus System", Functional Hemodynamic Monitoring Update in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, 42, pp. 183-192, 2005, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by this reference.
WO 97/00017 discloses evaluating an arterial pressure waveform by performing a volume transformation followed by an autocorrelation operation applied between a part of the transformed pressure waveform comprising first and second pressure pulses of a patient's heart. An analysis of this nature requires that data representing a second heart beat be first acquired before the data can be analysed and an indication of the patient's hemodynamic status, including stroke volume, heart rate and/or cardiac output, can be provided. The indication of the patient's hemodynamic status can thus only be provided with a slight delay.
It was realised that in acute scenarios it may be desirable for an indication of cardiac output to track the patient's actual cardiac output in real time so that an indication of cardiac output/hemodynamic status can be provided for each heart beat. Such beat-by-beat tracking requires that stroke volume be determined based on pressure data relating to a single heart beat only. It is therefore desirable for data relating to a single heart beat to be extracted from the arterial pressure waveform.

Hemodynamic monitor and method of hemodynamic monitoring


A belt module having a peripheral frame and a network of channels or holes disposed in an upper surface for attaching a high friction material.

Because they do not corrode, are light weight, and are easy to clean, unlike metal conveyor belts, plastic conveyor belts are used widely, especially in conveying food products. Modular plastic conveyor belts are made up of molded plastic modular links, or belt-modules, that can be arranged side by side in rows of selectable width. A series of spaced apart link ends extending from each side of the modules include aligned apertures to accommodate a pivot rod. The link ends along one end of a row of modules are interconnected with the link ends of an adjacent row. A pivot rod journaled in the aligned apertures of the side-by-side and end-to-end connected modules forms a hinge between adjacent rows. Rows of belt modules are connected together to form an endless conveyor belt capable of articulating about a drive sprocket.
The belts may be straight running or in many industrial applications, conveyor belts are used to carry products along paths including curved segments. Belts capable of flexing sidewise to follow curved paths are referred to as side-flexing, turn, or radius belts. As a radius belt negotiates a turn, the belt must be able to fan out because the edge of the belt at the outside of the turn follows a longer path than the edge at the inside of the turn. In order to fan out, a modular plastic radius belt typically has provisions that allow it to collapse at the inside of a turn or to spread out at the outside of the turn.
Apertures slotted in the direction of travel of the belt are commonly provided in the link ends on at least one side of the modules to facilitate the collapsing and spreading of the belt.
In order to provide for conveying of objects up and down inclines without slippage, it has been known to provide the top surface of the belt modules with a high friction surface. There have been many attempts at attaching the high friction conveying surface, which is typically an elastomeric or other high friction material, to the top of the belt module, which is typically formed from a rigid plastic suitable for use in a modular belt.
As proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,893 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,383, the rubber is molded to the flat top surface of the module relying on the thermal bonding between the rubber and the plastic surface. In practice, this bonding does not provide sufficient strength, particularly if the bonding area is relatively small, as is the case for flush grid and radius belts. Further, the thermal bonding requires a suitable chemical formulation for the rubber compound and restricts the number of usable material combinations.
Accordingly, what is needed is an improved structure and method for attaching a high friction conveying surface to the top of a belt.

Module with high friction conveying surface


The present invention is directed to an isolated promoter element that exhibits root abundant expression in Brassica sp. The promoter element has particular utility in driving the transcription of heterologous structural proteins that confer disease immunity or resistance to disease susceptible roots. The word "disease" encompasses any adverse condition caused to a plant by an organism other than itself, such as fungi, bacteria, and insects. Plasmids incorporating the promoter are disclosed.

In canola as well as other crops, various fungal and insect diseases exist that are manifested in the roots of the plant. Although the plant's roots are underground, conventional methods of treatment to prevent or control root diseases come from above ground. These conventional treatments include the application of a variety of chemicals via sprays, granules and the like. These conventional treatments are both labor intensive and costly. Often, the exposed edible portion of the crop plant receives application of the chemical agent that is intended for localization at the roots. On occasion, the conventional treatments require that the applied chemical agent be worked into the ground. However, care must be exercised to avoid damaging the plant's roots. Because conventional treatments are applied from above ground, excess quantities of the chemical agent must be applied to maintain an effective concentration at the portion of the root zone furthest from the application point.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a means for generally or specifically conferring immunity or resistance to fungal or insect diseases on a plant whose roots are susceptible to such a disease.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide the components and a method for conferring disease resistance on the roots of food crops that eliminates conventional treatments and that exhibits minimal or no manifestation in the edible fruit or leafy portions of the plant.
The process of tissue and organ development in plants involves the temporal and spatial expression of a large array of genes that determine the patterns of cell division, elongation and differentiation leading to the final structure and function of the tissue or organ. For example, Kamalay and Goldberg (Cell 19:935, 1980; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 81:2801, 1984) estimated that as many as 25,000 diverse genes may be expressed in the tobacco anther. Of these, as many as 10,000 are anther-specific. While these many genes may not be unique to every organ, many tissue types from several species have been studied to date, and have revealed sets of genes which appear to be either uniquely, or predominantly expressed in individual tissues.
The identification and isolation of genes associated with tissue-specific expression in Brassica species has been less prevalent, but several genes exhibiting tissue- or stage-dependent expression have been isolated and characterized. These include genes unique to or abundant in seed (Simon et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 5:191, 1985; Scofield and Crouch, J. Biol. Chem. 262:12202, 1987; Baszczynski and Fallis, Plant Mol. Biol. 14:633, 1990); leaf (Baszczynski et al., Nuc. Acids Res. 16:4732, 1988; Boivin et al., in preparation); stigma (Nasrallah et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:5551, 1988; Trick, Plant Mol. Biol. 15:203, 1990), microspore and pollen (Albani et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 15:605, 1990; Albani et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 16:501, 1991); and recently, root (Fallis and Baszczynski unpublished; Bergeron et al., in preparation). In the last several years, promoters have been fused to reporter or other agronomic genes for molecular transformation, and the degree and specificity of expression has been measured. Examples include Stockhaus et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:7943, 1987); An et al. (Plant Physiol. 88:547, 1988); Ellis et al. (Plant Mol. Biol. 10:203, 1988); Guerrero et al. (Mol. Gen. Genet. 224:161, 1990); Ohl et al. (Cell 2:837, 1990); van der Meer et al. (Plant Mol. Biol. 15:95, 1990); Vorst et al. (Plant Mol. Biol. 14:491, 1990); Baszczynski et al. (Proc. 3rd ISPMB Internat. Congr., Tucson, Arizona, abstr. 430, 1991); Takaiwa et al. (Plant Mol. Biol. 16:49, 1991); van der Zaal at al. (Plant Mol. Biol. 16:983, 1991).
Several reports have described sequences which direct expression of genes either predominantly in root tissues, or which express in various tissues including roots (Tingey et al., EMBO J. 6:1, 1987; An et al., Plant Physiol. 88:547, 1988; Oppenheimer et al., Gene 63:87, 1988; Conkling et al., Plant Physiol. 93:1203, 1990; Ohl et al., Cell 2:837, 1990; van der Zaal et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 16:983, 1991).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,803,165 (Applebaum) teaches the transformation of the nitrogen fixing organism, Rhizobium japonicum, to express the toxic crystal protein of Bacillus thuringiensis under control of the nif promoter of R. japonicum. U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,194 (Rolfe et al.) further teaches the transformation of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, to express the toxic crystal protein of Bacillus thuringiensis under control of the nifH promoter of B. japonicum. Because the transformed nitrogen fixing bacteria of Applebaum and Rolfe have symbiotic relationships that are confined in nature to the root nodules of the leguminous plants, Applebaum and Rolfe have no applicability to the non-leguminous plants of the world. Further, both Applebaum and Rolfe transform a symbiotic organism and not the plant itself. Accordingly, the seeds of the leguminous plants that were infected with the transformed organism are incapable of carrying the gene expressed by a bacterium in the root nodules of the parent plant. Thus, to utilize the inventions of Applebaum or Rolfe, purchasers of leguminous seed would also be required to purchase an appropriate transformed nitrogen fixing organism to infect their soils.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a means for conferring immunity or resistance to disease on any plant root that is susceptible to disease.
It is also an object of the present invention that the tract of immunity or resistance to a root disease be carried in the seeds of each succeeding generation of plant.

Brassica regulatory sequence for root-specific or root-abundant gene expression


A memory array of PROM, EPROM or EEPROM cells has each cell formed in a trench of a thick oxide layer deposited on a silicon substrate, in a manner that a significant portion of opposing areas of the floating gate and control gate of each cell which provide capacitive coupling between them are formed vertically. This allows the density of the array to be increased since the amount of semiconductor substrate area occupied by each cell is decreased without having to sacrifice the amount or quality of the capacitive coupling. Further, a technique of forming capacitive coupling between the floating gate and an erase gate in a flash EEPROM array cell with improved endurance is disclosed.

This invention relates generally to programmable read only memory (PROM) cell structures and processes of making them, particularly erasable (EPROM), electrically erasable (EEPROM), and flash EEPROM devices.
A main component of one of these types of PROM cell structures is a floating gate whose potential controls the conduction along at least a portion of a field effect transistor ("FET") channel between its source and drain regions in a semiconductor substrate. The floating gate is surrounded by an electrically insulated dielectric. A control or select gate is capacitively coupled with the floating gate through a dielectric layer and acts as a word line to enable reading or writing of a single selected cell in a two-dimensional array of cells. A selected cell is programmed by holding the control gate and its source and drain at appropriate voltages so that an electron travels from the substrate and to the floating gate through an intervening gate oxide layer by a mechanism that is referred to as "hot channel injection". If enough electrons are so injected into the floating gate, the conductivity of the channel of the field effect transistor of which the floating gate is a part is changed. By measuring the conductivity of a selected memory cell device, therefore, it is determined whether a binary "1" or "0" is being stored. Since the floating gate is well insulated, this type of memory device is not volatile; that is, the floating gate retains its charge for an indefinite period without any power being applied to the device.
Most PROMs are made to be erasable so that the state of the individual memory cells can be reprogrammed. The earliest erasable version of such cells is an EPROM which could be erased by exposure to strong ultraviolet light for 15 or 20 minutes. After erasure, the memory cell array can be electrically reprogrammed. More recently, EEPROM devices have been provided that allow the electrical erasure of individual addressed memory cells or designated groups of memory cells. During such erasure, the control gate, source and drain are held at a potential that causes the electrons to tunnel back through the gate oxide to the substrate region, usually the source. This can reverse the effect of an earlier programming by hot channel injection of electrons to the floating gate. Electrically erasable memory arrays which allow a large block of memory cells, or the entire array, to be erased at the same time, are known as "flash" EEPROMs. (That is, the entire memory array, or a large portion of it, is erased in a "flash".)
A specific form of a flash EEPROM structure utilizes a separate erase gate in addition to the control gates. The erase gate is capacitively coupled to the floating gate through a tunnel dielectric which allows electrons to travel through it from the floating gate to the erase gate upon the correct combination of voltages being applied to the control gate, erase gate, source and drain. The gates are generally formed by depositing polycrystalline silicon, which is then doped ("polysilicon"). The three gates are generally constructed from separate polysilicon layers (triple-poly) that are deposited and etched in sequence, along with deposition or growth of an insulating dielectric, usually oxide, between them. Asperities are usually formed on a surface area of the floating gate. The asperities, or roughness, on the surface of the floating gate help to concentrate electric fields to assist emission of electrons from the floating gate, which then travel through the tunnel dielectric and onto the erase gate.
It is currently a goal of many in the development of these types of non-volatile memory devices to provide an array having millions of individual memory cells on a single silicon integrated circuit chip of practical size. Sixteen and 64 megabit memory cells are currently contemplated. This trend requires that the silicon substrate area occupied by each cell be reduced as the number of cells placed on a single chip increases. This scaling down of the cell array structure has encountered several limitations.
One such limitation is the necessity for the capacitive coupling between the floating gate and the control gate to be maintained high in all of the PROM, EPROM and EEPROM devices. Specifically, in the case of a triple-poly flash EEPROM device, that capacitance should be equal to or greater than 70 percent of the total capacitive coupling of the floating gate with that and all other elements of the memory cell. That total capacitance includes coupling with the control gate, mentioned previously, plus coupling with the substrate and erase gate. Reducing the size of typical flash EEPROM cells does not reduce each of these capacitances proportionately, but rather reduces the floating gate/control gate capacitance in much greater proportion. Therefore, in order to maintain the high level of capacitive coupling between the floating gate and control gate, in light of the coupling area being reduced when the cell is made smaller, others have drastically reduced the thickness of the dielectric layer between them. The thin dielectric, usually an oxide layer grown on the floating gate polysilicon, however, has a higher failure rate and is difficult to maintain a high manufacturing yield. These factors limit the amount of adjustment in capacitance that can be provided by the thinner oxide to overcome the effect of the smaller coupling area that results from decreasing the overall cell size. Alternatively, some have added a nitride layer with the thin oxide to overcome these difficulties while maintaining a high level of capacitive coupling. But this technique will not compensate for continued cell size reductions beyond some limit.
Another obstacle to downward scaling of PROM, EPROM and EEPROM arrays is the problem of providing adequate electrical isolation between adjacent cells. The conventional technique is to separate cells by isoplanar oxidation. That is, a thick field oxide is grown on the silicon substrate surface in areas around where the individual memory cells are to be formed, thus providing an electrical separation. This technique suffers from an encroachment of the field oxide into the cell area by a gradually decreasing thickness portion, known as a "bird's beak" because of its shape when viewed in cross-section. This gradually decreasing field oxide thickness region contributes little to isolation of adjacent cells, but takes up a considerable amount of space. Also, stresses associated with the thick field oxide formations along the bird's beak can result in defects, particularly when that transition region is made to be more abrupt. There has been some thought of etching away the bird's beak portion and then forming the cell in the enlarged substrate area formed by the etching, but it is difficult to etch a varying thickness oxide layer without damaging the underlying silicon substrate surface. As a result, the formation of a cell over such regions is not desirable.
Yet another limitation to the downward scaling of the size of a flash EEPROM memory array exists where the floating gate is processed to provide asperities on a surface area that is capacitively coupled to an erase gate through a tunnel dielectric layer between them. Since electrons travel from the floating gate to the erase gate during an erase operation, the asperities need to be formed on the floating gate. This requires, with currently utilized processes, that the polysilicon layer for the floating gates be formed before the polysilicon layer for the erase gates. This usual procedure can be a constraint on scaling, however. Further, this known asperity-enhanced electron tunneling has a limited endurance to the number of memory cell writing and erasing cycles that the erase dielectric can endure. This is thought to be due primarily to the trapping of electrons in the tunnel dielectric in the vicinity of the floating gate asperities.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a technique for scaling down EPROM or EEPROM cell arrays beyond that which is possible by use of current techniques having the foregoing limitations.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an EPROM or EEPROM structure which retains efficient programming, erasing, reading, and immunity to disturbing conditions, even when the memory cells are extremely small.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an EPROM or EEPROM structure with an improved cell isolation and smaller cell size.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an EPROM or EEPROM cell having a planer topology and which has a high degree of insensitivity to misalignment between photo masks which are used to define critical layers.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a flash EEPROM, structure having an improved endurance to repetitive programming and erasing cycles.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide very dense arrays of EPROM or EEPROM cells, thereby to increase the storage capacity of a memory array formed on an integrated circuit chip of reasonable size.

Dense vertical programmable read only memory cell structures and processes for making them


This invention pertains to a food spill catching device comprising a first device body coupled to a second device body by pivotal means. The two device bodies are frictionally movable relative to each other into, and out of, closed position facing each other. The second device body may be held on a table while the first device body is adapted to serve as a shield for protecting a user's clothing from being soiled by food spills while dining at a table.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a food spill catching device adapted to be held on a table for protecting a user's clothing from being soiled by food spills while dining.
2. Description of Prior Art
The best prior art known to Applicant include U.S. Pat. Nos. D338,319 to Bickel; 851,107 to Rink; 4,114,199 to Malan; 4,660,224 to Ashcraft; 4,887,315 to Bezdek; and, 5,062,558 to Stang. However, none of prior art devices are designed to operate without being mounted on a user, to have a clipping means to secure a napkin, to be washable and reusable, and to provide an alternate use as a trivet for a hot food dish.


In a current mode DC-DC converter, the current flowing through a coil is switched and an output characteristic is controlled. The output of the converter is detected and the current flowing through the coil is limited according to the detected output only when the detected output is larger than a predetermined value to reduce the start-up time and improve output voltage regulation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a DC-DC converter for obtaining a predetermined voltage from a direct current power source such as a battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
DC-DC converters have been used widely in systems having a battery or a direct current power supply. FIG. 10 shows an example of a DC-DC converter for use in such systems, which is a boosting type DC-DC converter. A coil 2 and a switching device 5 are connected in series to a power source 1. An anode of a diode 3 is connected to the connection point between the coil 2 and the switching device 5, and a capacitor 4 is connected between a cathode of the diode 3 and a minus terminal of the power source 1. In this DC-DC converter, when the switching device 5 is turned on, a current flows through the power source 1, the coil 2 and the switching device 5. When the switching device 5 is turned off, a current flows through the power source 1, the coil 2, the diode 3 and the capacitor 4. Energy is thereby accumulated in the capacitor 4. This operation is repeated until an output voltage becomes equal to a predetermined voltage. When the predetermined voltage is reached, this operation is stopped. Thereafter, when the output voltage is reduced to a certain level, the operation is repeated again. The output voltage is thereby maintained substantially constantly.
In this kind of DC-DC converter, switching of the switching device is determined depending upon the output voltage. Therefore, it is difficult to anticipate resulting variations in the power supply voltage related to the switching. For this reason, a filter circuit capable of filtering over a range from a low frequency to a high frequency is required. Such a filter circuit is complicated and expensive, requires a large mount space, and is therefore unsuitable for simple products and products designed to be smaller in size. If the filter circuit of a DC-DC converter provided in a camera or the like is simplified, it is possible that the automatic focusing accuracy will be seriously reduced and that a remote control signal or the like will be erroneously accepted or will not be accepted, resulting in failure to achieve necessary functions.
DC-DC-converters designed to solve this problem have been provided. That is, pulse width modulation (PWM) type DC-DC converters in which the on and off times of a switching device are changed according to the output voltage and current mode type DC-DC converters in which a coil current corresponding to the difference between the output voltage and a set target voltage is formed have been proposed and realized as products. In current mode type DC-DC converter among such DC-DC converters, variations in the power supply voltage can be limited particularly effectively and there is practically no need for a complicated expensive filter circuit, because the on-time can be controlled more linearly in current mode type DC-DC converters than in PWM type DC-DC converters. Further, current mode type DC-DC converters can have a current caused to flow through a coil according to the difference between the output current and a set target current, and can therefore avoid excessive current through the coil. Also, even if, for example, the coil is changed, only a section for detecting the coil current may be changed to achieve the desired performance while the same switching frequency and the same on time are maintained.
However, the rising rate of the output voltage from 0 V in current mode type DC-DC converters is lower than that in other conventional DC-DC converters, because of the configuration for causing a current corresponding to the difference between the output voltage and a set target voltage to flow through the coil. Current mode type DC-DC converters also have a drawback in that the output voltage is reduced if the load is increased with respect to a set target value, because the output voltage regulation with respect to variations in the load is such that the output voltage is determined at a point of balance between the load current and the current supplied from the coil.


The present invention relates to a pipeline interior surface cleaning device that is propelled through the pipeline by the operational properties of the transported medium. A speed regulator controls the rate of forward motion of the device and a series of off-axis wheels enables the device to travel in a spiraling motion through the pipeline. A series of sealing members, scraping elements, brushes and magnets loosen and collect particles on the interior pipeline surface as the cleaning device spirals through the pipeline.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the cleaning of the inside surfaces of pipelines used in the transportation of gaseous media, and more specifically to a device that decreases the cleaning time and improves the quality of the cleaning process.
2. Summary of the Prior Art
Currently, there are several procedures and devices for removing impurities from inside and on internal surfaces of pipelines used for transportation of gaseous media. The impurities may include, for example, pipeline system construction residuals such as welding electrodes, various metal objects, etc. In addition, some impurities, such as condensates and impurities from compressor stations arise as a consequence of the abrasive processes as the transported medium contacts the pipeline interior surface.
Devices used for pipeline cleaning are principally made as sliding mechanisms in the pipeline with the utilization of physical properties of the transported media affecting the corresponding mechanisms. They contain a carrying body where the cleaning elements are fixed. The structure and material of the elements corresponds to the cleaning method.
Among the most frequently used are collar type cleaning devices where collars are the crucial cleaning elements, and their circumferential surface fits snuggly within the internal surface of the pipeline. They are suitable for cleaning of pipelines from fluid impurities.
Cleaning devices including two cleaning elements, namely, a collar and a magnetic segment, are more common than the collar-only devices previously described. In these devices, the space between the exterior surface of the collar and the interior surface of the pipeline, which is approximately 100 up to 200 mm, partially restricts the cleaning efficiency of the device. The structure of these magnetic devices determines their ability to remove from the pipeline, in addition to fluid impurities, also metallic components of impurities. As a consequence of the fact prior art devices do not rotate during the cleaning, and are not equipped to break the bond between impurities and the pipeline surface, especially in the case of higher adherence of impurities to the internal wall of the pipeline, these prior art devices have low cleaning efficiency.
Cleaning devices equipped with collars and brushes with metal bristles are comparatively widespread. The utilization of brushes in the cleaning process on one side has favourable influence on the cleaning quality of the internal surface of the pipeline and, in fact, the equipment is able to clean the pipeline from all impurities but, consequently, this increases the load on the collar part of the equipment and therefore has negative influence on its wear.
Prior cleaning devices where the cleaning is accomplished with collars equipped with metal tips at the contact area with the pipeline wall are utilized mainly for the removal of thin impurities as, for example, wax from crude oil pipelines. In this case, it is a special cleaning device and this is accompanied by higher financial costs for its manufacture. Equally as in the case of the previous device, at higher levels of clogging of the pipeline, the collars are excessively loaded and therefore quickly worn down.
Recently, cleaning devices have been produced which, in addition to the previously mentioned cleaning elements, are equipped with a speed regulator for controlling the sliding motion of the cleaning device through the pipeline. The aim of this design is to optimize the speed of the device depending, for example, on the extent of the clogging or on the flow of the transporting medium to thereby achieve higher cleaning quality.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,349 discloses a cleaning device consisting of a body means adapted to be received in a pipe, relative means supported by said body means adapted for coaxial rotation in the pipe. A plurality of brushes circularly spaced around the outer periphery of the relative means are mounted for rotation about an axis directed toward the wall of the pipe. A gas motor means rotates each brush about the axis. The relative means has a flow passage means for delivering gas from a non-relative source carried by the body means to the gas motor means to operate the gas motor means. The axis of each brush is disposed at a small forward angle from a direction radial of the rotative means and with respect to the direction of rotation of the rotative means, whereby the leading edge of each brush applies less pressure against the pipe wall than the trailing edge of the brush, thereby reducing brush wear. The cleaning device also includes a means for biasing each brush against the pipe wall.
Pipeline cleaning devices may consist of one, two, and sometimes three parts connected by hinges. The two- and three-part hinged cleaning devices are suitable, above all, for negotiating smaller diameter pipelines. Simple cleaning devices are used for larger dimensioned pipelines. A common disadvantage of existing pipeline cleaning devices is that their cleaning motion is limited to sliding through the interior of the pipeline.
From among such tools we note the cleaning device described in European Patent No. EP 0 076 434 A1 which discloses a cleaning device having at least one working head fixable in a working position and being movable along defined feed paths through the interior of the pipelines or vessels which are not visible from the outside. Instruments mounted on the at least one working head include rotatable brushes mounted on the working head which apply pressure against the inner wall surfaces to be cleaned. At least one suction nozzle is mounted on the working head and is movable into alignment with a given brush engagement region of a pipeline or vessel. The cleaning device further comprises an injector having a suction side connected to the nozzle, a discharge side and a propulsion nozzle, a propellant line feeding the propulsion nozzle of the injector from outside the pipeline or vessel, and a dust collecting bag connected downstream of the discharge side of the injector.
The shortcomings described above are addressed by the present inventive cleaning device. The device includes cleaning elements that rotate about the longitudinal axis of the device and slide along the interior of the pipeline in a spiraling motion as the device proceeds through the pipeline. The device and the cleaning elements are propelled by the transported medium. The device comprises a carrying body with a shield at the front end of the carrying body. A transfer port at the back end of the carrying body leads to a speed regulator mounted on the shield for controlling the speed of the device. On the carrying body, particularly, on outside circumference walls, there are fixed individual parts of the device which can be removed and replaced. From these parts there are at least two carry and guide parts, at least one sealing and scraping part, one brush, a main magnet, and the revolving mechanism and guiding part. Each sealing and scraping part, carry and guide part, and brush part have circular cross-sectional profile. The outside circumference of the magnet follows the internal circumference of the pipeline, and between these two circumferences there is a gap. Each sealing and scraping part, carry and guide part, are made of flexible material, such as polyurethane and brush have a circular cross-sectional profile. The outside circumference of the magnet is less than the internal circumference of the pipeline, creating a gap. The sealing and scraping part and carrying and guiding parts are made of flexible material, such as a suitable polyurethane material. The placement of carrying and guiding parts stabilizes the device""s motion with regard to its center of gravity. The parts are arranged in the following order from the shield of the device: carrying and guiding part, sealing and scraping part, brush, main magnet, revolving mechanism and the guide, and carrying and guiding part or the set of parts.
According to the invention, the cleaning mechanism will provide, as a practical matter, the removal of all kinds of impurities appearing in pipelines, either of metal origin, as for example impurities arising from the abrasive wearing, impurities which remained in the pipeline systems after their construction, especially welding electrodes and their residual parts, iron scales, or other impurities as, for example, condensates. The structure and mutual arrangement of individual parts of the device are based on the device""s requirement to simultaneously slide and rotate to accomplish the cleaning function of the device. Regulation of the forward speed of the device, in combination with the revolution of the device around its longitudinal axis, will properly clean the internal space of the pipeline from metal particles while evenly distributing the caught particles around the outside circumference of the device.
Additionally, the cleaning motion of the present inventive cleaning device enables it to achieve a high standard of cleaning on the first pass through a pipeline system. Repeated cleanings with the device act as a check cleaning or a final cleaning depending on the level of clogging of the pipeline. The present inventive cleaning device achieves at least comparable quality pipeline system cleaning as the prior art devices,and in less time.


The present invention provides a process for producing a selected paraffin from a reaction mixture containing. (i) an acceptor olefin having the carbon backbone structure of said selected paraffin; PA0 (ii) a donor paraffin having a carbon backbone structure different from that of said selected paraffin; PA0 (iii) less than about 10 mole percent molecular hydrogen; which process comprises the steps of contacting said reaction mixture with a heterogeneous catalyst comprising active carbon in the absence of an added catalytic metal or metal compound to convert at least a portion of said acceptor olefin to said selected paraffin and to dehydrogenate at least a portion of said donor paraffin.

Recent regulatory developments have led refiners to seek methods for reformulating motor gasolines to meet increasingly stringent air quality requirements. These techniques include reducing the olefin and aromatic content of the motor gasoline while maintaining the desired octane rating by increasing the relative content of isooctane (trimethylpentane) and other octane-enhancing additives such as oxygenates.
Commercial isobutane:butene alkylation, catalyzed by a strong mineral acid such as HF or H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, produces a highly desirable motor gasoline blending component which is enriched in high-octane trimethylpentane. Thus with the advent of more restrictive air quality regulations, the known commercial isobutane:butene alkylation processes present a seemingly ideal solution to the problem of reformulating motor gasoline to minimize both evaporative losses from storage as well as pollutants emissions from gasoline engine operations.
Alkylation is a reaction in which an alkyl group is added to an organic molecule. Thus an isoparaffin can be reacted with an olefin to provide an isoparaffin of higher molecular weight. Industrially, the concept depends on the reaction of a C.sub.2 to C.sub.5 olefin with isobutane in the presence of an acidic catalyst producing a so-called alkylate. This alkylate is a valuable blending component in the manufacture of gasolines due not only to its high octane rating but also to its sensitivity to octane-enhancing additives.
Industrial alkylation processes have historically used large volumes of liquid Bronsted acid catalysts such as hydrofluoric or sulfuric acid under relatively low temperature conditions. Acid strength is preferably maintained at 88 to 94 weight percent by the continuous addition of fresh acid and the continuous withdrawal of spent acid. Liquid acid catalyzed isoparaffin:olefin alkylation processes share inherent drawbacks including environmental and safety concerns, acid consumption, and sludge disposal. For a general discussion of sulfuric acid alkylation, see the series of three articles by L. F. Albright et al., "Alkylation of Isobutane with C.sub.4 Olefins", 27 Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 381-397, (1988). For a survey of hydrofluoric acid catalyzed alkylation, see 1 Handbook of Petroleum Refining Processes 23-28 (R. A. Meyers, ed., 1986).
Both sulfuric acid and hydrofluoric acid alkylation share inherent drawbacks including environmental and safety concerns, acid consumption, and sludge disposal. Research efforts have been directed to developing alkylation catalysts which are equally as effective as sulfuric or hydrofluoric acids but which avoid many of the problems associated with these two acids, and alternatives such as Lewis acids, e.g., BF.sub.3, have been explored. While Lewis acids generally pose fewer and less severe safety and environmental concerns than strong liquid acids such as HF and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, it would be desirable to produce paraffin-rich product streams useful as gasoline blending components without the use of noxious and/or corrosive liquid catalyst systems.
The typical petroleum refinery generates numerous olefinic streams, which, upon hydrogenation and optional fractionation, would be useful gasoline blending components. Examples of such streams include the olefinic gasoline and naphtha byproducts of catalytic hydrodewaxing processes such as the MLDW (Mobil Lubricant Dewaxing) and MDDW (Mobil Distillate Dewaxing). Additional examples include olefinic gasoline cuts from delayed coking units (thermally cracked gasoline), as well as from catalytic cracking process units such as a Fluidized Catalytic Cracking (FCC) process. Lighter olefins may be easily dimerized or oligomerized to provide suitable feedstocks, for example in a process such as MOGD/MOGDL (Mobil Olefins to Gasoline and Distillate/ Mobil Olefins to Gasoline, Distillate and Lube Stock), or MOCI (Mobil Olefins to Chemical Intermediates). Examples of processes which product olefinic stocks include the processes taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,922,048 to Harandi and 4,922,051 to Nemet-Mavrodin et al. Additional examples of light olefin dimerization/oligomerization processes include Dimersol (light olefin dimerization), Isopol (selective isobutene isomerization) and Selectopol (selective butadiene polymerization). See Hydrocarbon Processing, Vol. 61, No. 5, May 1982, pp. 110-112, and Hydrocarbon Processing, Vol. 60, No. 9, Sep. 1981, pp. 134-138.
Previously known techniques for hydrogenating olefinic streams required contacting the olefinic stream with molecular hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst at elevated temperature and pressure, for example in the pretreater section of a catalytic reforming process unit. But it is well known that catalytic hydrogenation in the presence of molecular hydrogen poses its own set of safety and environmental concerns, and requires an expensive supply of hydrogen-rich feed gas.
Hydrogenation of selected less highly saturated hydrocarbons by hydrogen transfer from a more highly saturated hydrocarbon has been explored with homogeneous catalyst systems. See for example, D. Baudry, M. Ephritikhine and H. Felkin "The Activation of C--H Bonds in Cyclopentane by Bis(phosphine)rhenium Heptahydrides" J. Chem. Soc. Comm. 1243 (1980), H. Felkin, T. Fillebeen-Khan, R. Holmes-Smith and L. Yingrui "Activation of C--H Bonds in Saturated Hydrocarbons, The Selective Catalytic Functionalisation of Methyl Groups by Means of a Soluble Iridium Polyhydride System" 16 Tetrahedron Letters 1999 (1985), Y. Lin, D. Ma and X. Lu "Iridium Pentahydride Complex Catalyzed Formation of C--C Bond by C--H Bond Activation Followed by Olefin Insertion" 28 Tetrahedron Letters 3249 (1987), R. Crabtree, M. Melles, J. Mihelcic and J. Quirk "Alkane Dehydrogenation by Iridium Complexes" 104 J. Am. Chem. Soc. 107 (1982), D. Baudry, M. Ephritikhine, H. Felkin and J. Zakrewski "The Selective Conversion of n-Pentane into Pent-1-ene via Trihydrido(trans-penta-1,3-diene)bis(triarylphosphine)rhenium" J. Chem. Soc. Comm. 1235 (1982), and M. Baker and L. Field "Reaction of C--H Bonds in Alkanes with Bis(diphosphine) Complexes of Iron" 109 J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2825 (1987). However, these homogeneous catalysts have been found to be unsuitable for industrial application due to several factors, including the inherent difficulties in separating the homogeneous catalyst from the reaction products. Research in the area of hydrogen-deuterium exchange of alkanes over supported metal catalysts has also been disclosed in 108 J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1606 (1986). Alkylation reactions in the presence of solid acid catalysts have also been explored. See A. P. Bolton, Zeolite Chemistry and Catalysis 771 (ACS Monograph 171, 1976).

Process for hydrogenating alkenes in the presence of alkanes and a heterogeneous catalyst


The present invention concerns a method for capturing an image of an iris free of specularities from a spectacle-wearing user for use in an iris recognition identification system, which includes an illumination source and an image capture device. The method comprises illuminating the user's eye from a first illumination position associated with a first optical path, and capturing a first image of the eye; and determining if the first image comprises a specular image in a first region of interest, the specular image being formed by light reflected from the spectacles. If a specular image is present, the method further comprises illuminating the eye from a second illumination position associated with a second optical path different to the first optical path, such that the specular image is shifted to a second region; and capturing a second image of the eye.

The use of biometric identification systems is becoming ever more widespread for uniquely identifying people. The majority of known biometric identification systems use one or more intrinsic physical characteristics of a person for identification purposes. The accuracy of a biometric identification system is dependent on the uniqueness of the selected physical characteristic.
The iris is an example of a unique physical characteristic suitable for use in biometric identification systems. Such biometric identification systems generically referred to as iris recognition technology, have become increasingly popular. One advantage of this technology over other known biometric technologies is that iris recognition technology has the smallest outlier (those user's who cannot use the system) group of all known biometric technologies. For this reason it is considered to be the most suitable biometric identification technology for mass use. Furthermore, due to the speed of comparison of iris recognition identification systems, it is the only known biometric technology well-suited for one-to-many identification.
Known iris recognition identification systems use pattern-recognition techniques to uniquely identify an iris pattern from a captured image of the irides of an individual's eyes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,560 discloses an example of a known iris recognition identification system, and describes in detail how such systems work. The article "How Iris Recognition Works", published in IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, Vol. 14, No. 1, January 2004, authored by John Daugman, who is incidentally the inventor of the afore cited patent, provides a discussion of the underlying principles explaining how iris recognition identification systems work.
In order for iris recognition identification systems to provide accurate identification verification results, a clear and sufficiently high resolution image of the iris and/or irides must be captured, wherefrom the required iris pattern detail may be determined. Unclear images or low resolution images of the iris and/or irides can increase the rate of false negative verification results.
The formation of undesired "optical artifacts" in the captured image of the iris is often a cause for unclear images. Such optical artifacts may relate, for example to specular images and/or reflections (i.e. specularities) formed in the image plane and captured by the iris recognition identification system. When such specularities are present in the iris region of the captured image, this decreases the clarity of the iris image and as a result may increase the rate of false negative verification results.
One source of such undesired optical artifacts is reflective surfaces, such as the optical lenses of spectacles (i.e. eyeglasses, sunglasses or any other form of optical lenses worn on the nose and ears to cover the eyes). Capturing a clear image of an iris from a spectacle-wearing user is a problem for known iris recognition identification systems. One way in which this problem may be understood is to consider light illuminating a spectacle-wearing user's eye. A portion of the incident light is reflected by the spectacles, whilst the majority of the incident light is reflected by the eye (for present purposes we will ignore any absorption of the incident light occurring in either the spectacles or in the tissue of the human eye). Both portions of reflected light are subsequently captured and imaged by an image capture device, such as a camera. The captured image comprises an image of the eye, with an image of the spectacles and/or specular image superimposed on the iris region of the captured image of the eye. This superimposed image of the spectacles and/or specular image decreases the clarity of the iris portion of the captured image, and can have the undesired effect of increasing the rate of false negative verification results generated by iris recognition identification systems.
Currently known iris recognition identification systems require that the user remove their spectacles prior to image capture, to ensure that a clear image of iris may be captured. However, in many applications this solution is unsatisfactory, in particular in un-manned applications. Un-manned applications relate to applications of iris recognition identification systems where the process of iris image capture and iris verification is carried out in the absence of any operator. In manned applications an operator is present instructing the user how to position themselves, and to remove any spectacles such that a clear image of the iris may be captured. In contrast, in un-manned applications there is no operator present to assist the user.
It is an object of un-manned iris identification recognition systems to minimise the required active involvement of the user, and to simplify the image capture process. In this way, user-induced errors in the image capture process may be minimised.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the problem of undesired optical artifacts arising from a spectacle-wearing user, which solution minimises active user participation, to thereby improve the fidelity and usability of iris identification recognition systems in un-manned applications.


Methods and apparatus for non-hydrocarbon design of ultra-low temperature refrigeration systems, which are particularly suited a non-hydrocarbon ultra-low temperature refrigeration system that can safely be transported and applied in the field as needed without the risks associated with hydrocarbon ultra-low temperature refrigeration system are disclosed. An application of the non-hydrocarbon design of ultra-low temperature refrigeration system method and apparatus to freezers and the like is also disclosed.

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for low temperature refrigeration systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a non-hydrocarbon design of ultra-low temperature refrigeration systems.
In refrigeration systems, a refrigerant gas is compressed in a compressor unit. Heat generated by the compression is then removed generally by passing the compressed gas through a water or air cooled condenser coil. The cooled, condensed gas is then allowed to rapidly expand into an evaporating coil where the gas becomes much colder, thus cooling the coil and the inside of the refrigeration system box around which the coil is placed.
In the compressor unit one or more chambers are provided which force the refrigerant from an inlet side at a low pressure to an outlet side at a high pressure. Valves prevent the high pressure gas from escaping back to the low pressure side from the high pressure side. The compressor unit will be partially filled with a refrigerant oil to lubricate and seal moving parts. A small amount of this lubricant continuously circulates throughout the refrigeration system
In some multi-stage refrigeration systems, a first refrigeration system will be used to cool the refrigerant gas in a second stage. A problem which arises in these systems is that compressor oil in the second stage evaporating coil or expansion device becomes too viscous thereby inhibiting its ability to flow and return to the compressor.
To combat this problem, small amounts of hydrocarbons (HC) such as propane, ethylene, or propylene have been mixed with the refrigerant gas in the second, i.e., lower temperature, stage in order to maintain low viscosity of the compressor oil. The foregoing hydrocarbons are generally very compatible and miscible in their liquid form with typical compressor oils of mineral oil and alkyl benzene types at low temperature. This compatibility and miscibility has helped prevent compressor oil from being frozen in the low temperature region.
Due to their flammable properties, use of these hydrocarbons in refrigeration equipment has become a public concern particularly with respect to safe transportation and product application. Flammable refrigerants require additional safety precautions, invite regulatory agency scrutiny, require costly flammability tests, may have negative customer perception, and as stated earlier may complicate transportation needs. There is therefore a need to redesign the low temperature stage of these ultra-low temperature refrigeration systems so that no hydrocarbons are utilized, thus eliminating flammable refrigerant additives while maintaining performance, reliability, agency listings, and manufacturability. A successful design of non-hydrocarbon ultra-low temperature refrigeration systems that allows for shipping and applying such systems in the field without conflicting with safety regulations is desired.
The present invention overcomes the need for using hydrocarbons in a refrigeration system by utilizing refrigerants R134a, R404a, and/or R508b. To achieve desired properties, these refrigerants may be used alone or in a xe2x80x9ccocktailxe2x80x9d mixture. For example, refrigerant R134a has an advantage of being a pure refrigerant but has a high deviation from R508b""s boiling point. Refrigerant R404a has an advantage of having a boiling point that is appropriate for less off-set from the boiling point of R508b but is a mixture of three HFCs (R125+R143a+R134a). Refrigerant R508b may be used at 100% level but may upset the energy balance of a cascade refrigeration system especially at a high ambient temperature level.
It is therefore a feature and advantage of the present invention to provide a non-hydrocarbon ultra-low temperature refrigeration system that can safely be transported and applied in the field as needed without the risks associated with hydrocarbon ultra-low temperature refrigeration systems and the like.
It is another feature and advantage of the present invention to provide a non-hydrocarbon ultra-low temperature refrigeration system that utilizes hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants which expand the temperature glide between the bubble point and the dew point of a mixture. This temperature glide expansion allows the refrigerant liquid mixture to exist at much warmer temperatures in order to xe2x80x9cwetxe2x80x9d the evaporator interior surface for a flushing effect.
It is another feature and advantage of the present invention to provide a non-hydrocarbon ultra-low temperature refrigeration system which reduces the freezing point of the compressor oil and refrigerant mixture below a typical level for a two-stage cascade refrigeration system.
It is another feature and advantage of the present invention to provide a non-hydrocarbon ultra-low temperature refrigeration system that utilizes an oil separator in the low/second stage of the system which balances between the saturation level of the compressor oil in the refrigerant mixture and the efficiency of the oil separator. This oil separator prevents the low temperature refrigerant mixture from becoming overburdened by the oil residue from the compressor while it still achieves the necessary and desired performance for the ultra-low temperature refrigeration system.
There has been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Non-hydrocarbon ultra-low temperature system for a refrigeration system