A thermal sleeve and method for protecting a temperature sensitive electronic member against exposure to heat. The thermal sleeve includes a tubular wall with an inner surface bounding an inner cavity extending along a central longitudinal axis between open opposite ends and a reflective outer surface. The thermal sleeve includes a positioning member constructed of a separate piece of material from the tubular wall, with an annular portion attached to the tubular wall and at least one resilient finger extending radially inwardly from the annular portion. The at least one finger extends radially inwardly along a plane from the fixed end along an arcuate path to a free end configured for abutment with a wiring harness attached to the temperature sensitive electronic member. The free end of the finger is radially expandable along the plane toward the annular portion to automatically adjust to an outer envelop of said wiring harness.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to tubular sleeve assemblies that provide thermal protection to an electronic object contained therein, and more particularly to a tubular sleeve assembly including a positioning member to maintain the assembly in a selectively releasable, fixed position about the electronic object contained therein.
2. Related Art
Sensors used in automotive applications, such as oxygen sensors which provide data to control engine operation and performance, are often mounted within the engine compartment of a vehicle where they are subject to harsh environmental elements including intense radiant heat, sources of abrasion and vibration during vehicle operation. Due to the harsh environmental elements, it is advantageous, and in many cases a requirement, to cover the relatively delicate, temperature sensitive sensors with protective sleeving in an effort to dampen vibration, provide protection against abrasion and shield radiant heat from reaching the sensor. Such sleeves generally comprise an elongated, cylindrical tube extending between opposite, open free ends. The cylindrical tube includes a damping inner layer of a nonwoven material, for example, polyester felt and a reflective outer layer comprising, for example, an aluminum foil layer laminated to an outer surface of the inner layer.
Due to the configuration of the aforementioned protective cylindrical sleeve and its harsh environment, it is typically difficult to assemble the sleeve about the sensor and elongate wire harness connected thereto in a manner which allows the sleeve to be reliably secured and maintained in a desired position, while at the same time being readily removable for servicing of the sensor. Adhesives, tape and interference fits of an entirety of an inner surface of the cylindrical wall of the sleeve are used to effect attachment to the wire harness and to the sensor, but each of these mechanisms suffer various disadvantages. Adhesive attachment of the sleeve about the sensor, while generally secure, at least initially, permanently attaches the sleeve to the sensor, and thus, complicates servicing the sensor at a future time, and in addition, the adhesives can breakdown over time, thereby causing the sleeve to become dislodged from its desired protective position about the sensor. As a result, while in its initially bonded position, this method does not allow for easy removal of the sleeve for servicing of the sensor or reuse of the sleeve, as it requires destroying the bond joint of the adhesive. In addition, tape and interference fits can be unreliable in view of the heat and vibration encountered within the engine compartment, with tapes further being particularly burdensome to apply. Further, friction fits of an entirety of a sleeve inner surface suffer from variances in component tolerances, and difficulty of assembly, particularly if the interference is too great, or if the sleeve needs to traverse increased diameter obstacles along the path of assembly, such as a connector, for example. Further mechanisms are also known, such as using end caps made from separate materials from the tubular sleeve to position the sleeve about an elongate member of a fixed, predetermined diameter, wherein the end cap facilitates locating and maintaining the tubular sleeve in its intended position about the wire harness. Although generally effective in locating and maintaining the tubular sleeve in its assembled position, known end caps are typically suitable for use about wire harness having a specific diameter, and thus, they are not useable over a range of wire harness diameters, thereby requiring differently sized end caps for different applications.

Thermal sleeve with self-adjusting positioning member, assembly therewith and method protecting a temperature sensitive member therewith


Novel diphenyl ether compounds of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein X represents a hydrogen atom or a nitro group, process for preparing the same and diphenyl ethers of the general formula: ##STR2## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, alkenyl group or alkynyl group, and Y represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or the group ##STR3## wherein R' is defined as R above, by reacting 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl-3,4-dinitrophenyl ether with a compound of the general formula: EQU RYH (III). wherein R and Y have the same meanings as defined above, respectively. The latter diphenyl ether compounds of the general formula (II) are useful as herbicides.

This invention relates to diphenyl ether compounds expressed by the general formula ##STR4## wherein X represents a hydrogen atom or a nitro group, and also to a process for preparing the same and diphenyl ethers expressed by the general formula ##STR5## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, alkenyl group or alkynyl group, and Y represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a nitrogen atom or an imino group, characterized by reacting 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl-3,4-dinitrophenyl ether with a compound expressed by the general formula EQU RYH (III)
wherein R and Y have the same meanings as defined above, respectively.
A number of compounds as expressed by the general formula (II) are known to show the excellent herbicidal activity.
For instance, Japanese Laid-Open patent application Nos. 49-236, 50-37740 and 51-79721 deal with processes of preparing compounds of the just-mentioned type. Then, reference is made particularly to the process of the invention, so as to illustrate the preparation of the compounds expressed by the foregoing general formula (II).
(A) Preparation Process Described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 49-236
2,4-Bis(2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)benzene is obtained by condensation reaction of 3,4-dichlorobenztrifluoride with resorcinol and then nitrated to give 2,4-bis(2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)nitrobenzene. The nitrated product is reacted with alcohols, thiols or amines under alkaline conditions to allow interchange reaction of the phenoxy group in ortho position to the nitro group, whereby an intended compound is obtained.
(B) Preparation Process Described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 50-37740
2-Chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl-3-chlorophenyl ether is obtained by condensation reaction of 3,4-dichlorobenztrifluoride with metachlorophenol and then nitrated to give 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl-3-chloro-4-nitrophenyl ether. The nitrated product is reacted with thiols under alkaline conditions to allow interchange reaction of the chlorine atom in ortho position to the nitro group, whereby an intended compound is obtained.
The two production processes which are considered to be the prior art of the invention have been described but these processes are not satisfactory and involve various problems to be solved. The process (A), for instance, requires 2 moles of 3,4-dichlorobenztrifluoride to obtain one mole of the active compound. In order to effectively utilize the starting compounds, the 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenol produced in the final interchange reaction must be recovered for reuse, which results in complicate reaction process and increased production cost.
With the process (B), on the other hand, the nitration reaction of 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl-3-chlorophenyl ether inevitably involves contamination of the intended product with its isomer of 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl-2-nitro-5-chlorophenyl ether. In addition, since the 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl-3-chloro-4-nitrophenyl ether product remains liquid at a normal temperature, it is difficult to separate the isomer having a very similar properties from the product, thus lowering the purity of a final product.


Fastener installation apparatus, for installing fasteners such as blind rivets of the type which includes a washer-like member (13) which is free to fall away from the installed fastener, is provided with temporary retaining means for temporarily retaining the washer-like member on the installation apparatus after installation of the fastener. The temporary retaining means comprises a pair of gripping faces (42, 42) which project forwardly from the reaction faces (25, 25) of a pair of members (40 or 48) which are part of the nosepiece of the apparatus. The gripping faces (42, 42) close together automatically to grip the washer-like member as the installation apparatus installs a fastener, and draw apart again to release the washer-like member as the installation apparatus returns to be ready to receive a further fastener for installation.

The invention relates to fastener installation apparatus, and more particularlY to apparatus for installing fasteners of the type comprising a first member, a second member, and a third member, the fastener being installed bY the application of force to the second member relative to the first member, the reaction to the force on the second member being applied to the first member through the third member, the third member being free from the first and the second members on completion of the installation of the fastener
The fastener installation apparatus will comprise a first part for engaging the third member to transmit reaction force therebY to the first member, and a second part for engaging the second member to apply force thereto relative to the first member.
More specificallY, the fastener may be of the tYpe in which the first member comprises a tubular shell, the second member comprises a stem inserted into the tubular shell, force being applied to the stem with respect to the shell in order to install the fastener, the reaction to the force on the stem being applied to the shell through the third member which comprises an annular member in contact with the shell and through which the stem also passes.
The installation apparatus for installing such a fastener will normally comprise a first part in the form of an annular face for contacting the annular third member and surrounding an aperture into which the fastener stem is inserted, and a second part comprising stem-engaging means for engaging the stem when the latter is inserted into the aperture.
The third member of the fastener, which is part of the fastener assembly before installation but is free of the installed fastener on completion of installation, acts as a temporary engagement interface between the first part of the installation apparatus and the first member of the fastener. This removes the need for the first part of the apparatus to engage directly with the first member of the fastener.
One example of such a fastener is that marketed under the trademark CHERRY-MAX, and described in British Patent specification No. 1 490 508. In this fastener pulling force is applied to the stem with respect to the shell to cause the stem to move longitudinally with respect to the shell to install the fastener. The annular third member takes the form of a washer assembled on the stem and in contact with the end of the shell. The thrust, which is the reaction to the pull on the stem, is applied by the annular face of the installation apparatus to the end of the shell through the washer, which is also in contact with the annular face of the installation apparatus. On the completion of installation, the stem breaks off level with the end of the shell and the washer is free of the installed fastener.
Another example of such a fastener is a development of the previous example, in which the washer is provided with an annular rim projecting towards the associated shell. On installation of the fastener, the reaction force between the annular rim and the shell deforms the shell so as to form a lock between the shell and the stem. This type of washer is referred to as a lock creator, and fasteners embodying it are known under the trademark LOCK CREATOR MBC or MBC LC.
A further example of such a fastener is that marketed under the trademark COMPOSILOK-II, and described in European Pat. Publication No. 0 152 531. In this fastener the stem and shell are in threaded engagement with each other, and force is applied to the stem with respect to the shell to cause the stem to rotate with respect to the shell, to install the fastener. The annular third member takes the form of a drive nut also threaded on the stem and in contact with the end of the shell. The torque reaction to the rotational force applied to the stem is transmitted by the friction between the drive nut and the shell. On the completion of installation, the drive nut is free of the installed fastener, in threaded engagement with a broken-off portion of the stem.
Fasteners incorporating such intermediate third members are advantageous in that the third member can be shaped and/or dimensioned on one side to engage appropriately with the associated first member of the fastener, at the same time as having the other side of shape and/or dimensions appropriate to engage with standardized first part of the installation apparatus. It is easier and cheaper to manufacture a range of fasteners with third members of different designs, than it is to manufacture a range of fastener installation apparatus with different designs of the first part thereof. This enables the same fastener installation apparatus to install fasteners of different sizes or types of first member. In addition, the presence of the third member during the installation process may, in some circumstances, protect the shell of the fastener and/or the surrounding workpiece in which it is installed from accidental damage by the first part of the installation apparatus.
The disposable lock creator, which is provided as part of each fastener assembly, has to function only once and is then thrown away, and is relatively cheap to manufacture. It replaces a previous similar annular rim which was an integral part of the installation tool annular face, which is expected to function many tens of thousands of times, and is therefore more difficult and expensive to manufacture and to replace, but is subject to wear and vulnerable to damage.
However, the use of fasteners incorporating such intermediate third members has a disadvantage. Since at the completion of .the installation of each fastener the third member is free from the installed fastener, the third member, such as the washer, or lock creator, or drive nut (with a piece of broken-off stem still in threaded engagement with it), then falls away from the installed fastener. It thus causes contamination of the surroundings of the installed fastener. It may fall on a factory workbench or a workshop floor, or it may fall down inside the body of an automobile, aeroplane or aerospace vehicle in which the fastener has just been installed. This may be a hazard, and in many applications this may be so dangerous that the use of such fasteners is not possible.


The present invention is drawn to a layered organic device, and a method of forming the same. The method includes steps of applying a first solvent-containing organic layer to a substrate and removing solvent from the first solvent-containing organic layer to form a first solidified organic layer. Additional steps include applying a second solvent-containing organic layer to the first solidified organic layer and removing solvent from the second solvent-containing organic layer to form a second solidified organic layer. The first solidified organic layer can be crosslinked, which suppresses negative impact to components in the first solidified organic layer when the solvent of the second solvent-containing organic layer is deposited on the first solidified organic layer.

Advanced organic/polymeric devices frequently consist of a stack of organic/polymeric thin layers, each one performing a specific function aimed at improving the device performance or achieving the desired device functionality. In some cases, such devices utilize nanoscale features (inorganic and/or organic nanocrystals and/or molecules) at desired sites within the thin film stack. In polymeric devices, these layered structures are usually formed from a polymer solution or dispersion by spin-casting or other coating and printing processes, followed by removal of the coating solvent, and then subsequent deposition of another layer being deposited on the previous layer. When new layers are applied which also include a solvent, frequently, the solvent from the freshly deposited layer can dissolve or partially dissolve the underlying layer(s), or introduce other changes to the properties of the organic layer, e.g., swelling, chemical modification, density change, washing out of desired components, etc. resulting in loss of the desired structure and/or corresponding device functionality. For example, in a device that utilizes precisely positioned or area positioned nanocrystals, when applying subsequent layers, these nanocrystals can be redistributed (after desired deposition) within the organic layer.
Because of the problems associated with layered deposition within these types of devices, it would be desirable to provide methods of depositing layers with minimal negative impact on previously applied layers.

Layered electro-organic devices with crosslinked polymer and methods of preparing the same

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A shield connector assembly comprises an electrically insulative connector body, and an electrically conductive shielding shell fitted onto the electrically insulative connector body. The shield connector assembly further comprises two electrically conductive lock blocks having engagement elements which are to be subjected to connection with mating connectors. The lock blocks are individually attached to opposite ends of the connector body onto which the electrically conductive shielding shell is fitted, thereby surely contacting the electrically conductive lock blocks to the electrically conductive shielding shell.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a shield connector assembly comprising an electrically insulative connector body and an electrically conductive shielding shell.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a conventional shield connector assembly of this type as represented by U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,125, an electrically conductive shielding shell of a hollow type is fitted onto an electrically insulative connector body in such a manner as to enclose the outer periphery of the connector body, and an electrically conductive framework is formed of a zinc die-cast or aluminum die-cast product such that the three component parts are integrally formed. Engagement elements are formed on protrusion portions at opposite ends of the electrically conductive framework in such a manner as to be erect upwardly therefrom, so that the engagement elements may be subjected to connection with mating connectors. Mounting holes are formed in the protrusion portions and the shield connector is mounted on a wiring board through the mounting holes.
However, since the electrically conductive framework, which is formed of an aluminum die-cast product or zinc die-cast product, is large in size and heavy in weight, the whole shell connector is increased in weight. Moreover, the elongated frame elements constituting the framework are frequently warped.
This warp occurs particularly frequently when, for example, the framework is being plated. Warped frameworks are difficult to engage with an electrically insulative connector body. Therefore, such warped frameworks are discarded as inferior products. This causes a poor yield of product and eventually results in high-cost. This warp problem of the framework becomes more significant as the number of contacts is increased and the connector body and framework are made narrower.
Furthermore, since the connector assembly is of a framework structure, the shell, which can be inserted therein, is physically limited to one kind. This means that every time the number of contacts is different, a different framework is necessary to prepare. This is uneconomical, indeed.


A seatbelt assembly for motor vehicle occupant restraint applications of the three point type in which a lap belt section is formed of two layers of seatbelt webbing. The system may be implemented in connection with single or dual seatbelt retractors. A loop tongue is provided which is releasably affixed to a seatbelt buckle and has at least one slot which allows the free movement of webbing through the tongue between the use and storage conditions of the seatbelt system. An end of the webbing is also attached to the tongue. The system is operated by an occupant in a manner like a conventional three point restraint system using a single releasable attachment. Through the use of a pair of thicknesses of webbing in the lap belt section of the restraint system, control of reduced chest deflection and pelvic excursion may be provided.

Significant advancements have been made in motor vehicle crash protection in recent decades. These improvements have been provided through numerous technologies. Particularly significant have been advancements in the area of occupant restraints. Occupant restraints can be divided into passive and active categories, with the most widely employed passive restraint system in the form of pyrotechnically inflated airbags. These devices can be used for frontal and side impact scenarios, as well as other crash conditions. Active restraint systems most commonly take the form of a manually fastened seatbelt restraint system. A combination of active and passive restraint systems, enhanced vehicle crashworthiness, and other features have led to safer vehicles.
Active type seatbelt systems in typical use in modern passenger motor vehicles are of the so-called three point variety. These systems include a lap belt portion which extends across the lower torso of the occupant and an upper or shoulder belt section passing diagonally across the upper torso of the occupant. The system is fastened and released using a single buckle. In order to provide enhanced comfort and convenience, and accommodate various operators and use conditions, seatbelt webbing retractors are provided. These devices stow a length of webbing on a rotationally biased spool that provides retraction and extraction of webbing. Active seatbelt systems are maintained in a stowed condition when the vehicle is unoccupied, and does not interfere with occupant ingress and egress. These belt systems are manually donned as the occupant fastens the belt to a buckle, extending the shoulder belt and lap belt sections across the occupant.
Today's three point belt systems may be of a type using a single belt retractor in which one end of the belt is anchored to the vehicle, and the other is affixed to the retractor spool. In such systems, a sliding latch plate or tongue is used which is slid along the webbing to provide an appropriate length of the lap and shoulder belt sections for a particular user. Another type in wide-spread use is a dual retractor system in which the tongue is affixed to two separate lengths of webbing, one of which provides the shoulder belt section and is coupled to a shoulder belt retractor, and another length of webbing provides the lap belt section and is coupled to a lap belt retractor.
Numerous additional components and systems have been developed and implemented to enhance the comfort and convenience, and occupant protection provided by belt restraint systems. For example, a host of retractor control systems are used to allow the occupant to extend and retract the webbing from the retractor during normal use, but which lock upon a detected vehicle deceleration, which is known as an emergency locking retractor function. Webbing pretensioners are provided to preload the belt restraint system by taking up webbing slack upon the detection of an actual or imminent vehicle impact. Many of the pretensioner systems are pyrotechnically activated and therefore may be fired only once, generally upon the detection of an actual vehicle impact. Categories of these devices include pyrotechnic lap pretensioners (PLP) which are typically linear stroke devices at the anchor side of a lap belt mounted to the seat or floor pan. Pyrotechnic buckle pretensioners (PBP) are also typically linear stroke devices and are mounted to the buckle of a three point belt system. Retractor pretensioners act on the retractor spool to cause rapid retraction of belt webbing. A new generation of retractors includes so-called pre-pretensioners which are typically electric motor driven and provide retraction of webbing upon the detection of an imminent vehicle impact and operate in a reversible manner.
The technology of controlling occupant kinematics during vehicle impacts has also undergone fundamental advancements. Automotive engineers seek to provide a high degree of control of the occupant kinematics during an impact over a variety of impact types and severities, as well as for different occupant classifications of size, weight, and occupant position. The degree of displacement or excursion of the occupant during impacts is managed in order to reduce belt loads and the severity of occupant impacts with other structures within the vehicle. Single retractor systems pose an additional design challenge. Since the belt tongue may slide along the belt webbing during an impact, belt forces may cause the webbing to move through the belt tongue and thereby change the effective lengths of the lap and shoulder belt sections. There is a desire to reduce this "load redistribution" between the lap and shoulder belt sections.
Even through the use of dual retractor systems, it is a challenge to provide a desired degree of control of excursion of the occupant's lower torso. Excessive excursion of the occupant's lower torso can result in high femur loads being applied as the occupant engages the vehicle instrument panel and adjacent structure during a frontal impact. Excessive lower torso excursion may also result in "submarining" in which the occupant partially slides under the lap belt section, which is undesirable. Furthermore, in order to reduce the severity of occupant injuries in dynamic events, there is a desire to decrease chest deflection which can be achieved by reducing shoulder belt loads. At the same time, reducing femur loads requires earlier coupling between the occupant and the lap belt.
In addition to continuously striving for enhanced occupant protection, automotive engineers further seek to reduce the complexity, weight and packaging volume requirements of automotive components as vehicles become more fuel efficient. Furthermore, when performance enhancements are provided for belt restraint systems, it is desirable to maintain the ease with which the system is donned and released.


Apparatus and method are provided for the treatment of potable water. A non-pressurized chlorinator has a first chamber which receives solid calcium hypochlorite tablets. A portion of the potable water flows into the first chamber to produce a chlorine solution in a second chamber of the chlorinator. An eductor is connected in a potable water flow line and draws the chlorine solution from the second chamber to chlorinate the water. A third chamber in fluid communication with the second chamber includes level sensors to control the flow of water into the chlorinator. The use of pumps for injection of chlorine into the potable water supply is eliminated thereby providing a highly reliable and cost effective system. The system is particularly advantageous in that it does not rely upon the use of chlorine gas nor is it necessary to transport or store highly unstable liquid chlorine.

This invention pertains to a method and apparatus for the treatment of potable water supplies. More particularly, the invention pertains to the use of solid calcium hypochlorite as a disinfecting agent for the treatment of municipal water supplies.
Municipal water production facilities currently use chlorine gas as the primary disinfectant. In October, 1992, chlorine was reclassified by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) from a non-flammable gas to a poison-inhalation hazard. This reclassification results in transportation restrictions. A vehicle transporting hazardous materials such as chlorine must not be parked on or within five feet of the traveled portion of public street or highway except for brief periods when the necessities of operation require the vehicle to be parked and make it impracticable to park the vehicle in any other place. Unless there is no practicable alternative, a motor vehicle which contains hazardous materials must be operated over routes which do not go through or near heavily populated areas, places where crowds are assembled, tunnels, narrow streets, or alleys.
In response to these regulatory requirements, distributors of chlorine have determined that they cannot meet the regulatory requirements and therefore, are unwilling to make such deliveries.
In addition to increased regulations governing the transportation of chlorine, the United States Uniform Fire Code requires that each chlorine system be designed to handle the accidental release of gas from the entire contents of the largest single source of gas (Uniform Fire Code Sections 80.301-80.306). The cost of installing such equipment at municipal production well sites is excessive. With mounting restrictions on transporting, handling, and storing chlorine gas, it is important that alternative methods of disinfection be developed for municipal water production facilities.
One alternative method of disinfection is liquid sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). However, upon investigation, a number of disadvantages of this disinfectant have been discovered. Sodium hypochlorite is not very stable at the solution concentrations typical for water disinfection. During storage, this instability results in a loss of strength within a few weeks. In addition, along with the product degradation, chlorites and chlorates are formed. It is believed that in the future, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations may control these disinfection byproducts.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide a method and apparatus for treatment of potable water which does not use chlorine gas or liquid sodium hypochlorite.
Solid calcium hypochlorite (Ca(OCl).sub.2) is not subject to the aforementioned transportation restrictions and has the advantage that it has a shelf life of over two years during which time the chemical retains its full strength. More specifically, calcium hypochlorite can be shipped as a relatively stable solid containing 70% or more available chlorine.
Solid calcium hypochlorite is commonly utilized to treat swimming pools. In conventional methods of application in swimming pools, tablets are placed in the pool skimmer or in dissolving baskets around the pool. The level of residual chlorine is not easily controlled with these approaches and therefore they are not suitable for application to the production of potable water.
In addition to the basket and skimmer devices, other devices have in the past been developed for using solid soluble material for treating water. Several such devices are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,845. However, these prior devices, as well as the one described in the '845 patent, are not suitable for use in water production operations.
Apparatus which has been designed for use with solid calcium hypochlorite are commercially available but are not insertable into a pressurized system. Typical solid calcium hypochlorite feeders utilize a pump on the outlet of the feeder to pump the chlorine solution formed from the solid calcium hypochlorite. These chlorinators have the further disadvantage that the influent to the device would have to exactly match the effluent flow capacity of the pump. Otherwise, cavitation occurs in the pump or flooding of the chlorinator could occur. If flooding occurs in the chlorinator, the solid calcium hypochlorite liquefies. In addition, calcium buildup occurs in the pump impeller housing resulting in impeller or seal damage.
In the prior systems, batches of chlorine solution are produced from the solid calcium hypochlorite and the batch is pumped into the water.
It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for the treatment of potable water which will not require the use of chlorine gas or other hazardous material.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for treatment of potable water utilizing an unpressurized chlorinator tank.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for the treatment of potable water in which maintenance of the apparatus is reduced.

Water treatment method and apparatus for adding calcium hypochlorite to potable water


A damper and a speaker apparatus includes the damper, which suppresses damage to an oscillatory system from an excessive input signal, enabling an efficiency increase of the speaker apparatus. As a damper has a planar surface, undue deformation of the oscillatory system due to an excessive input signal is suppressed, and damage to the oscillatory system can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the deformation of a corrugation portion by a normal input signal is hardly prevented, a reduction in sound pressure of the speaker apparatus with respect to an input signal is suppressed, enabling an increase in efficiency. Furthermore, the planar surface is extended at a height in a thickness direction different from that of an attachment portion. Thus, rising portions are deformed when a voice coil bobbin is oscillated, enabling suppression of rupture of the damper in the vicinity of a boundary between the planar surface and the attachment portion.

There has been proposed a speaker apparatus including a frame, a voice coil bobbin, a diaphragm connected to the voice coil bobbin, and a damper for fixing the diaphragm to the frame (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). The conventional speaker apparatus described in Patent Literature 1 includes restrictive protrusions for preventing excessive movement of the voice coil bobbin and prevents contact between the voice coil bobbin and other members.


A laser processing method for removing glass by melting, evaporation or ablation from sheet-like glass substrate for forming microscopic concavities and convexities. Diffraction grating and planar microlens array obtained thereby.

Silicate glass composed primary of SiO.sub.2 is highly transparent and can easily be molded (deformed) at high temperatures. Sheets of silicate glass, which have been formed with holes or concavities and convexities by microscopic topographic processing, are widely used as glass substrates for optical components used for optical communications and display devices.
In order to make a hole in a sheet of silicate glass according to microscopic topographic processing, it has been the general practice to process the sheet of silicate glass with wet etching (chemical etching) using an etchant of hydrofluoric acid or the like, or dry etching (physical etching) such as reactive ion etching.
However, wet etching suffers problems with respect to management and processing of the etchant. Dry etching requires pieces of equipment such as a vacuum container, needs a large-scale apparatus, and is not efficient because a pattern mask has to be produced by complex photolithography.
Laser beams have an intensive energy, and have heretofore been used to increase the temperature of a surface of a material to which the laser beam is applied thereby to ablate or evaporate a portion of the material to which the laser beam is applied, for processing the material in various ways. Since the laser beam can be focused Unto a very small spot, it is suitable for microscopic topographic processing of a material.
Then, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 54-28590 (1979), there is disclosed processing of a glass substrate surface by radiating it with a laser beam while moving a table in X-Y directions, on which table is fixedly mounted the glass substrate already heated to 300 through 700.degree. C.
Although, as mentioned above, the concavities and convexities of desired shape can be formed on the glass surface by moving the table in X-Y directions, the concavities and convexities cannot be created if it is for instance a microscopic pattern such as of a diffraction grating.
Moreover, the movement of the table generates dust, which results in defects in the products and decreases productivity thereof.
As another method of manufacturing a planar microlens array etc., a stamper method has been already known, in which lens material is injected into a mold frame and the molded patterns are transplanted on the glass substrate and baked, however, it requires accurate positioning during the pattern transplanting process and the baking process, and it takes time.
As another method of manufacturing a planar microlens array etc., it has been proposed to obtain a convex lens by forming concavities arc shaped in cross-section on the glass substrate surface with a wet etching and injecting plastic material of high refractive index into the formed concavities, thereby forming the convex lens with the concavities, however, the wet etching has the problems as mentioned above.
Then, it is conceivable to form the concavities into which the plastic of high refractive index is injected by radiating a laser beam through a mask, however, since the laser beam has tendency of going straightforward and it has almost same intensity within area of one spot after passing through the openings of the mask, then the wall of the concavity formed on the glass substrate comes to be about perpendicular to the glass substrate, whereby it is impossible to obtain the cross-section of perfectly continuous arc shape. Therefore, it cannot be mounted onto apparatus requiring extremely high accuracy, such as a liquid crystal display, as it is, and it needs more or less treatment by wet etching and takes time.
Laser beams are generated by an infrared laser such as a CO.sub.2 laser, a Nd:YAG laser, a laser comprising a Nd:YAG laser combined with a wavelength conversion capability for producing a laser beam whose wavelength ranges from a near-infrared region through a visible region to an ultraviolet region, and an ultraviolet laser such as an excimer laser such as an ArF or KrF laser. If the CO.sub.2 laser of long wavelength is used, cracking due to thermal strain occurs violently. If the ultraviolet KrF laser (wavelength of 248 nm) is used, cracking occurs around the area where the laser beam is applied, therefore it is not suitable for the microscopic topographic processing. Thus, the use of the ArF excimer laser of wavelength of 193 nm is optimum as the laser beam for glass processing, however, even when such an ArF excimer laser is used, because of absorption by air, it is needed to replace the air with absorption-free gas such as Ar, etc. or to keep a vacuum in order to allow the laser beam to reach as far away as possible.

Method of changing the surface of a glass substrate containing silver, by using a laser beam


A magnetic ranging system utilizes the natural shape of magnetic fields for steering and/or landing of one wellbore in relation to another wellbore.

As the easy-to-access and easy-to-produce hydrocarbon resources have been depleted over the last century, more and more difficult wells remain. Also, as global hydrocarbon demand is continuously growing, meeting this demand requires development of more advanced recovery procedures, often referred to in industry as complex recovery completions and production techniques. These techniques include, for example, Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage ("SAGD"), Thermal Assisted Gravity Drainage ("TAGD"), Toe to Heel Air Injection ("THAI"), Vaporized Hydrocarbon Solvent ("VAPEX") production and Fire Flooding. Such techniques address the mobility problem of the heavy oil wells by thermally and/or chemically altering the viscosity of the bitumen to allow for easy extraction.
While each of the complex completion techniques offer a solution to the issue of heavy oil extraction, they all rely on a common challenge facing wellbore construction—the precise placement of adjacent local cased wellbores. With SAGD and TAGD, injector wells must be precisely placed within a few meters of the production well, with the injector well being placed a few meters on top of the producer. Traditionally, this has been accomplished by placing both the injector and producer wellhead within a few meters at surface. The second well drilled in the well pair subsequently "follows" the in-situ cased wellbore using some magnetic ranging method.
However, due to issues such as location footprint constraints, infield drilling requirements and producer well replacement, it is often desired that a new producer or injector well be re-drilled from a separate location. This location is often selected so that the end of the lateral insitu well is approached by a new drilling well from the opposite direction. However, due to the increased wellhead to wellhead distance and the uncertainty associated with traditional surveying based on gravity and earth's magnetic fields, the precise distance between the two wells cannot be achieved. Also, in the case of the THAI method, it is required that the toe of the horizontal cased wellbore be intersected with a directional well, a requirement which cannot be met using traditional surveying techniques alone.
To address the precision wellbore placement requirement of these "opposite approach azimuth" complex completion methods, industry standard magnetic ranging tools have been deployed, such as the Magnetic Guidance Tool ("MGT") and Rotating Magnetic Ranging Service ("RMRS"). However, these techniques are not optimal, as the accuracy of the system at the range required for the particular application is limited. This limitation translates into operational inefficiency in practice, as sidetracks are often necessary to deliver the intersection or precise separation that is required. These operational inefficiencies can also translate into inefficiency in the completion and production of the well, as the well separation and/or intersection point are less than optimal.
In some complex wellbore construction projects, the primary objective is not hydrocarbon production, but rather hydrocarbon transportation. In hydrocarbon transportation projects, two wellbores drilled from opposite directions are often intersected to produce a common wellbore. This 'utube" communication between wellbores allows the deep subterranean borehole to be completed with a common casing string and used as a pipeline for hydrocarbon transportation. While similar projects have been completed in the past with conventional magnetic ranging techniques, the same inefficiencies associated with these techniques as described above has led to cost overruns and general operational efficiency.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved downhole ranging techniques to overcome these and other shortcomings in conventional approaches.

Method and system for magnetic ranging and geosteering


A new Bath Water Retainer and Toy for diverting bath water back into the bath tub while providing entertainment to a bathing child, thereby preventing water damage to the floor surrounding the bath tub. The device includes a first L-shaped member which removably couples to a bath tube edge, a water retaining wall along the edge of the first L-shaped member and projecting orthogonally, a second L-shaped member pivotally secured to the first L-shaped member providing a ledge within the interior portion of the bath tub for the child to place toys upon, a water collecting tray which captures water from the first L-shaped member and dispenses it through a water outlet nozzle in a stream, and at least one water wheel secured to the vertical portion of the second L-shaped member which receives the stream of water and rotates providing entertainment to the bathing child.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to Bath Tub Devices and more particularly pertains to a new Bath Water Retainer and Toy for diverting bath water back into the bath tub while providing entertainment to a bathing child, thereby preventing water damage to the floor surrounding the bath tub.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of Bath Tub Devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, Bath Tub Devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art Bath Tub Devices include U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,619; U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,564; U.S. Design Pat. No. 264,158; U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,639; U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,675 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,257.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new Bath Water Retainer and Toy. The inventive device includes a first L-shaped member which removably couples to a bath tub edge, a water retaining wall along the edge of the first L-shaped member and projecting orthogonally, a second L-shaped member pivotally secured to the first L-shaped member providing a ledge within the interior portion of the bath tub for the child to place toys upon, a water collecting tray which captures water from the first L-shaped member and dispenses it through a water outlet nozzle in a stream, and at least one water wheel secured to the vertical portion of the second L-shaped member which receives the stream of water and rotates providing entertainment to the bathing child.
In these respects, the Bath Water Retainer and Toy according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of diverting bath water back into the bath tub while providing entertainment to a bathing child, thereby preventing water damage to the floor surrounding the bath tub.


Disclosed herein is a light-emitting device including: a plurality of light-emitting elements which emit light with light intensities according to the levels of driving currents; a plurality of current generation circuits which are provided in correspondence with the plurality of light-emitting elements, have a plurality of current sources, and combine currents output from the plurality of current sources to output the combined currents as the driving currents; and a plurality of memories which store control signals for controlling the currents output from the plurality of current sources; wherein the levels of the currents of the plurality of current sources are different from one another, and wherein at least one of the plurality of memories is commonly connected to the current sources corresponding to predetermined current in at least two of the plurality of current generation circuits.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a light-emitting device using a light-emitting element formed of an organic electroluminescence (EL) material and an image forming apparatus using the light-emitting device.
2. Related Art
A light-emitting device having a plurality of light-emitting elements has been suggested. In the light-emitting device, unevenness of brightness among the plurality of light-emitting elements may occur due to the characteristics of the light-emitting elements or a difference in performance between transistors for controlling the light-emitting elements. In order to suppress the unevenness of the brightness, for example, a technology for correcting gradation data of the light-emitting elements is disclosed in JP-A-2005-283816. In this technology, the gradation data of the light-emitting elements is corrected according to brightness ratios of the light-emitting elements which are measured in advance and the light-emitting elements are driven according to the corrected gradation data.

Light-emitting device and image forming apparatus


In a spread spectrum modulating device according to the present invention transmission data are converted into parallel data by a serial-parallel converting circuit, which are held by a latch circuit and assign upper digit addresses.. Lower digit addresses in the memory are assigned by a counter.. Parallel data outputted by the memory are converted into analogue signals by a D/A converter, which analogue signals are multiplied by a carrier by a multiplier to obtain a spread spectrum signal.. Owing to the construction described above, a simple and small scale construction can be realized for the spread spectrum modulating device.

An example of a prior art multiplex communication device by a spread spectrum communication system effecting high speed data communication is indicated in FIGS. 9 and 10.
FIG. 9 represents a transmitter, in which reference numeral 1 is a serial-parallel converter; 2-1.about.2-n are multipliers; 3-1.about.3-n are PN code generators; 4-1.about.4-n are BPSK modulators; and 5 is an adder.
In the transmitter described above, inputted high speed data A re converted into parallel data sets (B1), (B2), . . . , (Bn) by the serial-parallel converter 1. Each of the parallel data sets (B1), (B2), . . . , (Bn) is inputted to one of the inputs of each of the multipliers 2-1, 2-2, ..., 2-n, respectively. On the other hand, each of different PN codes (C1), (C2), . . . , (Cn) outputted by the PN code generators 3-1, 3-2, . . . , 3-n is inputted to the other input of each of the multipliers 2-1, 2-2, . . . , 2-n, respectively. Outputs (D1), (D2), . . . , (Dn) of the multipliers 2-1, 2-2, . . . , 2-n are inputted to the BPSK modulators 4-1, 4-2, . . . , 4-n, respectively, to modulate a high frequency carrier signal (E). High frequency signals (F1), (F2), . . . , (Fn) are outputted by the BPSK modulators 4-1, 4-2, . . . , 4-n, respectively, to be inputted to the adder 5. A spread spectrum signal (G) n-fold multiplexed is outputted by the adder 5 to be transmitted.
FIG. 10 represents a receiver, in which 7-1.about.7-n are convolvers; 8-1.about.8-n are multipliers; 9-1.about.9-n are PN code generators; 10-1-10-n are detectors; and 12 is a data demodulator.
In the receiver described above, received signal (H) is distributed to the convolvers 7-1, 7-2, . . . , 7-n to be inputted to one of the inputs of each of them.
On the other hand, each of PN codes (K1), (K2), . . . , (Kn) outputted by the PN code generators 9-1, 9-2, . . . , 9-n is applied to one of the inputs of each of the multipliers 8-1, 8-2, . . . , 8-n, respectively. A high frequency carrier signal (L) is inputted to the other input of each of the multipliers 8-1, 8-2, . . . , 8-n. Each of outputs (I1), (I2), . . . , (In) of the multipliers 8-1, 8-2, . . . , 8-n is inputted to the other input of each of the convolvers 7-1, 7-2, . . . , 7-n, respectively.
Outputs (J1), (J2), . . . , (Jn) of the convolvers are inputted to the detectors 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-n. At this time, a correlation spike is produced at the output of each of the convolvers from each of data channels with a same timing. Outputs (M1), (M2), . . . , (Mn) of the detectors 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-n are inputted to the data demodulator 12. Reproduced data (N) are outputted by the data demodulator 12.
In the prior art multiplex communication device described above, synchronization of the carrier is required and in addition a plurality of convolvers (or matched filters) serving as correlators are necessary.
For this reason a construction described below has been proposed as a spread spectrum multiplex communication device capable of demodulating data by means of a single correlator.
FIGS. 4 and 5 represent a transmitter and a receiver, respectively, constituting an example of the spread spectrum (SS) communication device described above.
As indicated in FIG. 4, the transmitter is composed of a serial-parallel converting circuit 101, a group of selectors 102, a group of delay devices 103, an adder 104, a PN code generator 105, a high frequency carrier generator 106 and a multiplier 107.
As indicated in FIG. 5, the receiver is composed of a convolver 201 serving as a correlator, a multiplier 202, a high frequency carrier generator 203, a PN code generator 204, a high pass filter (HPF) 205, an amplifier 206, a detector 207, a binary pulse generating circuit 208, a sounder pulse detecting circuit 209, a sampling pulse generating circuit 210, an information detecting circuit 211 and a parallel-serial converting circuit 212.
Now the operation of the device described above will be explained. At first, in the transmitter, transmission data a are converted into signals of a plurality of channels by the serial-parallel converting circuit 101. Here, for the sake of simplifying the explanation, it is supposed that the number of the channels is N. Further the transmission data a are converted into signals having a lower transmission speed by the serial-parallel converting circuit 101 at its outputs. The transmission data a are converted into parallel data having a transmission speed equal to 1/N of the transmission data a or a transmission speed arbitrarily lower than it. The spread spectrum modulation (SS modulation) is effected, depending on the polarity of each of the channels from the serial-parallel converting circuit 101.
The SS modulation described above is carried out e.g. according to either one of following two systems.
1. CSK (Code Shift Keying) system: system, by which two kinds of PN codes (PN1 and PN2) are outputted selectively, depending on the polarity of the data (signal),
2. OOK (On Off Keying) system: system, by which it is selected, depending on the polarity of the data (signal), whether a PN code should be outputted or not.
In order to realize the SS modulation operation by the two systems described above, the spread spectrum modulator is constructed by the PN code generator 105 for generating the PN codes (PN1 and PN2) and the group of selectors 102 for effecting the selection described above, depending on each of the outputs of the serial-parallel converting circuit 101. The output of each of the selectors in the spread spectrum modulator is inputted to each delay device of the group of delay devices 103. SS modulated signals (information channels), for which arbitrary amounts of delay different from each other are set, are obtained from the outputs of the delay devices by using the phase of the PN code (here it is supposed to be PN1) of the sounder channel serving as a data demodulating synchronization signal as the reference. This aspect is indicated in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 represents differences between the CSK system and the OOK system for different delay amounts (.tau..sub.1 .about..tau..sub.4), in the case where it is supposed that there are four information channels 11.about.14. S represents the sounder channel. It represents further that the transmission speed of the transmission data is transformed into a transmission speed lower than it of the different information channels. Here it is transformed into 1/4 of the original transmission speed. N SS modulated signals of the information channels obtained by the different delay devices and the signal of the sounder channel are added by the adder 104 in an analogue manner (multiplexing) and the output of the adder 104 is multiplied by the output of the high frequency carrier generator 106 by means of the multiplier 107 to obtain a multiplexed SS signal.
Then, in the receiver, the multiplexed SS signal is inputted to one of the inputs of the convolver 201 as a received signal.
A PN code high-frequency-modulated by multiplying a PN code (here the PN code (PN1), which is in a relation inverted in time with respect to the PN code (PN1) used in the transmitter, is used) by the output of the high frequency carrier generator 203 by means of the multiplier 202 is inputted to the other input terminal of the convolver as a reference signal.
The convolver carries out a correlation operation between the received signal and the reference signal to obtain a high frequency correlation output.
In FIG. 7, correlation peaks separated in time, corresponding to the different PN codes of the different information channels, which are in different phase relations with respect to the phase of the PN code of the sounder channel explained, referring to FIG. 6, are obtained.
Here a state is indicated, where correlation peaks, which are self correlations for the sounder channel and all the information channels, are obtained.
Consequently, in the case where no correlation is obtained for either one of the CSK system and the OOK system (CSK system . . . mutual correlation, OOK system . . . no correlation), no correlation peaks are produced.
Although the device is described for the case where convolvers are used for the correlators, no problem is produced also when matched filters are used therefor.
However the place where the reference signal is generated is replaced by a pattern on the matched filters and therefore it is unnecessary.
Then the output of the convolver is detected by the detector 207 through the high pass filter 205 and the amplifier 206 and converted into a signal in the base band information band to obtain a pulse train of logic level in the binary pulse generating circuit 208.
Further, in the binary pulse generating circuit 208, a threshold value is set so as to be able to separate the correlation peaks from the spurious level in the optimum manner.
Since the correlation output corresponding to the sounder channel produces always periodical correlation peaks, the reference time signal is obtained by detecting the correlation peaks by the sounder pulse detecting circuit 209.
The reason why such a time signal serving as a reference is necessary for making the spread spectrum code synchronization in the usual DS-SS system unnecessary.
That is, the device described above realizes not a system, by which data are reproduced by effecting phase synchronization between the PN code of the received signal and the reference signal on the convolver, but an asynchronous system, in which a mere code synchronizing process is omitted.
Sampling pulses for sampling the correlation pulses corresponding to the different information channels are produced in the sampling pulse generating circuit 210 on the basis of the reference time signal, which is the output of this sounder pulse detecting circuit 209.
In the case where convolvers are used for the correlators, since the received signal and the reference signal correspond to each other, the correlation peaks are produced at the gate delay time/2. That is, in this way, the correlation outputs corresponding to the delay amounts (.tau..sub.1 .about..tau..sub.4) of the different information channels with respect to the phase of the PN code of the sounder channel on the transmitter side indicated in FIG. 3 are produced, separated in time also by about (.tau..sub.1 /2.about..tau..sub.4 /2).
Consequently the sampling pulses are produced, taking this property described above into account. In this way the data train of each of the information channels is reproduced by sampling the correlation outputs corresponding to the different information channels in the information detecting circuit 211 on the basis of the sampling pulses.
The data obtained here are those having a transmission speed identical to the lower transmission speed after the serial-parallel conversion on the transmitter side.
Then the transmission data are reproduced by converting these N parallel data trains into serial data in the parallel-serial converting circuit 212.
The outline of this series of operations is indicated in FIG. 8.
Since the device described above, in particular the transmitter, uses a group of delay devices, a group of selecting circuits, an adder, etc., it has a problem that the circuit construction is complicated and has a large scale.


In a television camera device, in which a camera head and a camera control unit for processing the video signal output from the camera head and also transmitting camera head control signals to the camera head are connected together by a camera cable, a voltage obtained by full-wave rectifying a single-phase AC is supplied from the camera control unit through the camera cable to the camera head, and in the camera head an AC voltage is produced from the full-wave rectified voltage for using the AC voltage as a drive source for a lens servo-system of the camera head.

This invention relates to a television camera device, which comprises a camera head and a camera control unit for converting video signals obtained from the camera head into corresponding television signals and also for supplying camera head control signals to the camera head.
The television camera device which is used in the studios of television broadcasting stations usually comprises a camera head including an image pick-up tube and a camera control unit for producing a television signal by combining a video signal obtained from the camera head and sync. signals and also for supplying control signals for controlling the optical system, for instance diaphragm and zooming control signals, to the camera head. The camera head is connected to the camera control unit through a camera cable. The camera cable that is used transmits a number of different signals independently of one another, and is usually a multi-core cable, which is heavy and sometimes troublesome when moving the camera head.
In order to eliminate such inconvenience, it has been thought to transmit signals in the form of a multiplexed signal so as to permit use of a thinner and lighter cable. In this case, while the transmission of signals in the multiplexed form between the camera control unit and camera head is possible, there is a problem in the power supply from the former to the latter. Power may be supplied either through an AC or a DC system. In the case of the AC system, it may be thought to supply AC power from the camera control unit to the camera head without using any exclusive transmission line to this end but by making use of, for instance, shield conductors employed in the camera cable. This attempt, however, is prone to electric shock accidents since the shield conductors are usually grounded. To prevent this, it is necessary to provide an insulation transformer or the like within the camera head, and such an insulation transformer increases the bulk and weight of the camera head.
In the case of the DC system, it is necessary to provide a DC-to-AC converter in the camera head since the diaphragm mechanism, zooming mechanism, etc. in the optical system of the camera head require AC power for driving them. The provision of the DC-to-AC converter in the camera head which has a limited space is again undesired from the standpoint of reducing the size and weight of the camera head.


The present invention is related to the fabrication of at least a part of a Cu-containing layers or a Cu-containing pattern used for the electrical connection of active or passive devices as well as integrated circuits. Such Cu-containing patterns and/or layers are formed on an activated surface of a substrate by means of immersion of said substrate in an electro less Cu plating solution. Such a solution typically comprises: a source of copper Cu (II) ions; a reducing agent; an additive to adjust the pH of said aqueous solution to a predetermined value; and a chemical compound for complexing said Cu ions, said chemical compound having at least one part with chemical structure COOR1xe2x80x94COHR2, R1 being a first organic group covalently bound to the carboxylate group (COO), R2 being either hydrogen or a second organic group. Further disclosed is a method for depositing Cu on an activated surface and particularly on an activated surface of a Cu diffusion barrier layer.

The present invention is related to metal deposition processes as used for instance for the formation of conductive patterns connecting active or passive devices as well as integrated circuits. Particularly, such conductive patterns can be formed at least partly by means of an electroless deposition technique.
Currently, copper is being introduced in ULSI metallization schemes as a replacement for aluminum due to its lower resistivity and better electromigration resistance. Copper electroplating is the most popular deposition technique today. To avoid contamination of the surrounding insulating layers and/or the substrate, copper is mostly deposited on a Cu diffusion barrier layer. However, to allow electroplating, first a conductive seed layer has to be formed on top of the barrier layer(s) in order to get reliable electroplated copper deposition. Usually, a sputtered copper layer is used for this purpose. However, for dual damascene type processing with very high aspect ratio openings in dielectric layers such as trenches, via holes and contact holes, the step coverage of sputtered (classical or by means of an Ion Metal Plasma) barrier layers and Cu seed layers is expected to become the limiting factor for subsequent filling with e.g. electroplated copper. As a consequence, alternative deposition routes for copper seed layer formation can be attractive for future device technologies. Electroless copper deposition has the potential of becoming a viable alternative because it can deliver high step coverage depositions at a very low cost. The principle of electroless metal deposition is based on the generation of electrons at a catalytically active or an activated surface in contact with a solution of metal ions in the presence of a suitable sacrificial electron donor. These electrons are capable of reducing the metal ions leading to the deposition of the metal on the activated surface. Because this process does not occur on non-activated layers, the resulting deposition technique is inherently selective. Furthermore, in principle, it should be easy to integrate such a process in currently available copper electroplating tools (which are already on the market or will be so in the near future), provided amongst others that the electroless plating solution is stable at room temperature for at least about two weeks and the process margins of the plating solution are not too tight. Nowadays most electroless copper plating solutions do not meet these specifications. They have often a limited stability and can only be effectively used in a limited pH range which makes them very sensitive for slight variations in the composition of the plating solution as such variations result in small variations in the pH but often lead to a large decrease in the deposition rate.
Moreover, most available electroless copper plating baths do not fulfill the stringent requirements for copper plating in sub-micron high aspect ratio features onto the typical Cu diffusion barrier layers used in ULSI processing. Typical barrier layers are Ti, TiN, Ta, WNx, TaN, Co and any combination thereof, and other Cu diffusion barrier layers known in the art. One of the problems of electroless copper deposition on barrier layers and particularly on e.g. TiN is the evolution of copious amounts of hydrogen gas which is detrimental for the quality of the copper layer formed because it leads to severe blistering of the copper layer. The use of cyanide as a hydrogen suppressor, as practiced in many commercial copper plating solutions, is not acceptable in this business due to safety issues. Another problem related to the state-of-the-art plating solutions is the bad adhesion of electroless deposited copper on such barrier layers.
Moreover, most electroless copper plating solution compositions are based on salts containing mainly sodium as the counterion. These high levels of sodium ions in the plating solutions can introduce severe reliability problems, particularly when sodium reaches the semiconductor device junctions, as this is known to be a production yield killer in semiconductor device manufacturing. Therefore as a further requirement the level of sodium ions in the plating solution should be very limited or negligible.
Nowadays, electroless copper plating solutions often use EDTA as the complexing agent and formaldehyde as the reducing agent. The complexing agent is required to keep Cu(II) ions in solution at the relatively high pH values at which formaldehyde operates as a reducing agent. Recently, the trend is to move away from strong complexants such as EDTA. Due to their strong complexing power for many metal ions, more stringent requirements for the environment are expected for plating solutions based on strong complexing agents. Consequently, there is a need for other more environmentally acceptable complexing agents.
It is an aim of the invention to provide a plating solution for electroless copper deposition which is substantially sodium free (low level sodium) and which comprises an environmentally friendly complexing agent. The plating solution should have a long life-time after make-up (thermal stability) of at least two weeks at room temperature and should be easy to replenish to keep the plating characteristics well within specifications over the plating periods. Furthermore, slight variations in the composition of the plating solution may cause only small variations in the Cu deposition rate on an activated surface of a substrate immersed in the plating solution.
It is another aim of the invention to provide a method to form Cu-containing layers on an activated surface of a substrate by means of an electroless deposition technique using the plating solution of the present invention. This plating solution and deposition method should be such that the formation of hydrogen gas during the plating period is avoided or severely limited. Particularly, this method has to result in a sufficiently high deposition rate at low temperatures.
A further aim of the invention is to provide a Cu seed layer on a diffusion barrier layer, said diffusion barrier layer may act simultaneously as a wetting layer. Particularly when a Cu-containing layer is deposited on a barrier layer, the Cu-containing layer has to be formed with good adhesion on the diffusion barrier layer. Seed layers have typically a thickness below 300 nm.
Still a further aim of the invention is to provide a Cu plating solution suitable to form a relatively thick Cu-containing layer on a barrier layer or on a seed layer. This is particularly useful to fill up openings with high aspect ratios in insulating layers such as via holes, trenches and contact holes like e.g. in damascene architectures. The Cu-containing layers formed have typically a thickness between 200 nm and 2 xcexcm.
The present invention is related to the fabrication of at least a part of a Cu-containing layer or a Cu-containing pattern used for the electrical connection of active or passive devices as well as integrated circuits. Such Cu-containing patterns and/or layers can be formed on an activated surface of a substrate by means of immersion of said substrate in an electroless plating solution. Therefore, in an aspect of the present invention, an aqueous solution for electroless deposition of Cu on a substrate is disclosed, said solution comprising:
a source of copper Cu (II) ions;
a reducing agent;
an additive to adjust the pH of said aqueous solution to a predetermined value; and a chemical compound for complexing said Cu ions, said chemical compound having at least one part with chemical structure COOR1xe2x80x94COHR2 (as can be seen in FIG. 2a)), R1 being a first organic group covalently bound to the carboxylate group (COO), R2 being either hydrogen or a second organic group. Examples of such first or second organic groups are hydrocarbon groups, while for instance the chemical compound for complexing the Cu ions can be selected from the group consisting of diethyltartrate, diisopropyltartrate and dimethyltartrate. The pH of the plating solution ranges typically from 11 or 11.5 to 13.5, while the temperature at which the solution can be applied ranges from 10 to 50 degrees C., or 45 degrees C. or below, or from room temperature to 40 degrees C. Examples of a reducing agent are formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, hydrazine, amine boranes, alkali metal borohydrides, alkali metal hypophosphites or a derivative of one of the aforementioned reducing agents.
In an embodiment of the invention, a Cu plating solution is disclosed based on an organic based complexing agent, wherein the ratio between the concentration of said source of copper Cu (II) ions and the concentration of said complexing agent in said solution is in the range from 1/5 to 5/1 or from 1/10 to 10/1 or from 1/25 to 25/1.
In another embodiment of the invention, a Cu plating solution is disclosed wherein the complexing agent is a chemical compound with chemical structure COOR1xe2x80x94CHOHxe2x80x94CHOHxe2x80x94COOR1, R1 being an organic group covalently bound to the carboxylate group (COO). For instance, hydrocarbon groups can be used as organic groups. Particularly, a chemical compound selected from the group consisting of diethyltartrate, diisopropyltartrate and dimethyltartrate can be selected.
In another aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed for forming a Cu-containing layer on a substrate comprising the steps of:
preparing an aqueous solution comprising a source of copper Cu (II) ions, a reducing agent, a chemical compound for complexing said Cu (II) ions, said chemical compound having at least one part with chemical structure COOR1xe2x80x94COHR2, R1 being an organic group covalently bound to the carboxylate group (COO), R2 being either hydrogen or an organic group, and an additive to adjust the pH of the solution to a predetermined value;
immersing said substrate in said aqueous solution for a predetermined period to thereby form said Cu-containing layer at least on an activated surface of said substrate. For instance, this Cu-containing layer can be formed on a Cu diffusion barrier layer formed on the substrate.
In an embodiment, a method for filling an opening in an insulating layer is disclosed, wherein, after forming at least one opening in an insulating layer formed on a substrate, a barrier layer can be formed on at least one inner wall of said opening. Examples of such openings are via holes, contact holes, and trenches. Examples of such barrier layers are layers of Ti, or TiN, or Ta, or tungsten nitride, or TaN, or Co or a combination thereof. Particularly this barrier layer can also act as a wetting layer like e.g. a TiN layer with a Ti layer thereon. A Cu-containing metal, i.e. an alloy of or pure Cu, is deposited using the electroless plating solution of the present invention. This electroless deposition can be performed in a chamber of an electrodeposition tool. The electroless deposition can be performed in at least one deposition step to thereby completely fill the openings. Alternatively, first a thin Cu-containing seed layer can be formed using the electroless deposition method of the present invention, thereafter a second Cu-containing metal can be deposited on said seed layer using a different Cu deposition technique as e.g. electroplating of Cu to thereby completely fill the openings.

Method for depositing copper or a copper alloy


A support apparatus 10 suitable for supporting a child""s car seat 12 on a vehicle seat 14, such that the seat 12 has a required inclination. The apparatus 10 includes first and second planar members 16, 18 pivotally interconnected along one edge by a hinge arrangement 20. A bracing arrangement is engageable between the first and second members 16, 18 to provide a required relative inclination, and hence inclination of the seat 12.

This invention concerns support apparatus and particularly but not exclusively support apparatus for a child""s car seat; and a method of mounting a child""s car seat in a vehicle.
Conventionally babies and young children are carried in vehicles and particularly cars on a child""s car seat. Such seats generally rest on the vehicle seat and are strapped thereto or held in place by the vehicle""s seat belt. For young babies such seats are often rear facing, whilst seats for older children are generally forward facing. With such car seats, and particularly the seats for babies, it is intended for the seats to rest at a particular inclination, and this is often with the base of the car seat horizontally aligned. The inclination of vehicle""s seats varies from vehicle to vehicle, and sometimes between front and rear seats. Accordingly, in many instances children are carried at an incorrect inclination such that the child seat does not provide the desired comfort, support or security for the child.
The term xe2x80x9cchild""s car seatxe2x80x9d when used in this specification is to be understood as covering seats as outlined above for use in cars and/or other vehicles.
According to the present invention there is provided support apparatus, the apparatus comprising first and second members each providing a respective support surface, the first and second members being pivotally interconnected such that the relative inclination between said members can be varied, the apparatus being locatable on a vehicle seat to support a child""s car seat thereon.
The first and second members are preferably interconnected along respective first edges thereof. The first and second members may be substantially planar.
The apparatus may comprise a support arrangement engageable between the first and second members to maintain a required relative inclination.
The support assembly may be arranged to permit one of a number of relative inclinations to be selectively maintained. The support arrangement may extend between respective opposite second edges of the first and second members.
The support arrangement may comprise a first part extending from the first member and a second part extending from the second member, the first and second parts being pivotally interconnected, and desirably movable between a substantially collinear alignment providing maximum relative inclination, and a substantially parallel alignment with the first and second members substantially parallel to each other, whereby to permit storage.
The first and second parts may be substantially planar and may be narrower than the first and second members.
A bracing arrangement preferably extends between the support arrangement and a one of the first and second members, to retain a required relative inclination. The bracing arrangement may extend from the interconnection between said first and second parts, and the bracing arrangement may be pivotally mounted to said interconnection.
The bracing arrangement may comprise one or more elongate members, and where a plurality of elongate members are provided they may be interconnected and may be provided in a parallel alignment. A plurality of formations may be provided on said one of the first or second members, with which formations the bracing arrangement is selectively engageable.
The first and second members may be formed of plastics material mouldings, and the formations may be integrally formed with said one of the first or second members.
The first and second members preferably have a width in the order of the width of the underside of a child""s car seat.
The invention also provides a child""s car seat incorporating a support apparatus according to any of the preceding 10 paragraphs on the underside of the car seat.
The apparatus may be integrally formed with a part of the car seat.
The invention also provides a method of mounting a child""s car seat in a vehicle, the method comprising locating a support apparatus according to any of said preceding ten paragraphs on a vehicle seat, adjusting the relative inclination between the first and second members to a required amount, locating the car seat on the support apparatus and mounting the car seat to the car.


A multipurpose, non-fluid, electronic level mechanism featuring an inhibitor, and emitter and a receiver. The inhibitor is mounted from the inhibitor bracket and in operation blocks a laser from the emitter to the receiver, unless the device is at a level position on a selected surface. If the device is at a level position on the selected surface, the laser from the emitter passes through an aperture in the inhibitor and is receiver by the receiver, which indicates that the device is level on the exterior of the device's body.

1. Field of the System
The present system pertains to construction equipment and more particularly leveling apparatuses and electronic laser levels for use in leveling objects at a variety of angles.
2. Description of Concurrent Art
Levels are commonly used home and professional construction projects. Concurrently, the most commonly used level is a liquid level, which is generally a tube filled with liquid to the point where a small air bubble is still present. When a common level is laid horizontally at rest, the air bubble will align with the center of the tube when the device is horizontally level. In many embodiments, there is usually some sort of marking feature located on the center of the level and disposed to help determine when the device is level. If the device is not level the bubble will move to one side of tube, making it easy for the operator to determine which way to adjust the object they are attempting to level. These devices can be time consuming to use, inaccurate and difficult to read, particularly in dimly lit environments.
Electronic levels employ various sensing elements and circuitry such as accelerometers and sudden motion sensors to determine whether a device is level. Often these devices rely on internal circuitry to determine the angle of the device. Various forms of electronic levels exist that suffer from disadvantages of a lack of portability, inaccuracy in determining the angle; of the device, or fragile designs that are unsuitable for many practical uses.


A valve control system for an internal combustion engine which does not require synchronization with the engine rotation is disclosed. The system includes an actuator having a coil electrically energized by a control unit causing a stator to magnetically attract an armature where the armature is coupled to a plunger by an actuator spring. The plunger pushes against a pivoted actuator arm having an inner and outer housing which are biased into extension by an arm spring. The actuator arm contacts and forces a slidable latch member into an inactive position and a latch spring returns the latch member into an active position. The system includes an outer rocker arm which is engageable with an engine poppet valve, and an inner rocker arm which is engageable with a cam lobe and the latch member which rotatably links and unlinks the inner and outer rocker arms. The system is adapted wherein the engine poppet valve remains closed when the inner and outer rocker arms are unlinked when the latch member is in the inactive position and wherein the engine poppet valve opens and closes in response to the cam lobe when the inner and outer rocker arms are rotatably linked when the latch member is in the active position. In an alternate embodiment, the plunger contacts a first arm of a pivoted bellcrank and a second arm contacts the latch member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a valve operating apparatus for an internal combustion engine and, more specifically, to an apparatus to cause the engine valve to operate or not to operate depending on the energization state of a solenoid actuator.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Variable valve control systems for multiple valve engines wherein the intake and/or exhaust valves can either be selectively actuated or actuated at selected lift profiles, are well known in the art. Example systems are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,151,817 and 4,203,397 the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference except those portions which also incorporate by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,817 discloses a primary rocker arm element engageable with a first cam profile, a secondary rocker arm element engageable with a second cam profile, and means to interconnect or latch the primary and secondary arm elements. U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,397 discloses an apparatus to selectively engage or disengage an engine poppet valve so as to connect or disconnect the valve from the rest of the valve gear using a latch mechanism thereby causing the valve to operate or remain stationary.
Latchable rocker arm mechanisms known in the prior art do not provide for a relatively low activation force when the mechanism is to be shifted from either an active state to an inactive state or visa versa. Solenoid actuators, when used with the prior art mechanisms, provide a high force level in order to effectuate the actuation of the latchable rocker arm with some type of motion amplification mechanism such as a bellcrank. It would be desirable, especially for packaging, to provide a latchable rocker arm that requires a low level of solenoid force to effectuate a shift of an engine valve from an active to an inactive state and visa versa without the need for a synchronization system for timing with the rotation of the engine.

Engine valve control system using a latchable rocker arm activated by a solenoid mechanism


A method for improving filterability, while maintaining or improving antifoaming performance, of a lubricating oil in an engine or other mechanical component lubricated with the lubricating oil by using as the lubricating oil a formulated oil. A method for improving antifoaming performance, while maintaining or improving filterability, of a lubricating oil in an engine or other mechanical component lubricated with the lubricating oil by using as the lubricating oil a formulated oil. The formulated oil has a composition including a lubricating oil base stock as a major component, and at least one antifoam agent, as a minor component. A lubricating oil having a composition including a lubricating oil base stock as a major component, and at least one antifoam agent, as a minor component. The antifoam agent is a silicone composition having a highly branched functionalized silicone backbone. The lubricating oils are useful as automotive gear lubricating compositions.

A major challenge in oil formulation is simultaneously achieving desired lubricant antifoaming performance and filterability in filtered applications.
Defoamants are added to lubricants to prevent foam generation in service. Foam is a concern of lubricant end users due to: interference with lubricant-level monitoring; concern over entrained air interfering with lubricant film thickness; cosmetic issues (foam is easily visible and can indicate contamination); potential for spill-over (slippery spots); and the like. In particular, foam is a significant concern in gear oils as it prevents accurate measurement of the lubricant level.
The current state of the art is the use of methylated silicones namely polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMSs). However, the PDMSs have a low refractive index, high density, high Si content, and are removed by common filter material (including cellulosic and glass fiber media).
Despite advances in lubricant oil formulation technology, there exists a need for an oil lubricant that can effectively achieve both good lubricant antifoaming performance and filterability in filtered applications.

Method for improving lubricant antifoaming performance and filterability

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company


Symmetrical differential capacitive sensors are disclosed. Methods of making and using symmetrical differential capacitive sensors are also disclosed.

Nano-positioning is one of the foundations on which the modern nanotechnology is developed. High quality nano-positioning stages usually employ a close-loop feedback circuit in control electronics to ensure a desired position on a sub-nanometer (nm) scale. This requires position sensors, which directly measure the position of the stage. Several sensors are now commonly available for this purpose. For example, optical interferometers have been the standard for calibrating linear displacements, and are used in some translation stages as the position sensors. However, the relatively complex structure of this type of sensor makes it less desired in compact designs. Another mainstream nano-position sensors using direct metrology are gap-varying capacitive sensors with 0.01 nm resolution such as Physik Instrumente's gap-varying capacitive sensor (e.g., PI's D-015, D-050, and D-100 sensors). The resolution of this kind of capacitive sensor can out-perform high quality optical interferometers, and is believed to be the most sensitive position sensor in the marketplace. However, the physical design of this type of sensor is bulky due to the fact that the coupling area must be huge compared to the gap. Therefore, the dynamic range of this type of sensor is usually limited to at most a few hundred micrometers (μm).
Another disadvantage of gap-varying capacitive sensors (and perhaps of many other position sensors) is that the sensor response is not truly linear to the measured displacements. For example, Physik Instrumente's gap-varying capacitive sensors are gap-varying two-electrode capacitors. Consider the idealized approximation for the capacitance of parallel-plate capacitors, which is proportional to A/d, where A is the coupling area and d is the gap between the electrodes. Consequently, its capacitive response to the displacement, which causes "d" to vary, is nonlinear. The reason that Physik Instrumente's gap-varying capacitive sensors are able to claim linear responses is through a digital linearization algorithm, which means that the sensors are calibrated with polynomial approximations, and use the polynomial functions to digitally linearize the nonlinear capacitive responses.
In addition to the nonlinear capacitive response, since the sensors respond to the variation of the gap, the dynamic range is limited by the area. For longer travel distances, the area must be larger so that the polynomial approximations can be valid, and the area can not keep growing.
Efforts continue to develop nano-positioning sensors that do not have the problems associated with known nano-positioning sensors. In particular, efforts continue to develop nano-positioning sensors (i) having a sensor response that varies linearly to displacement of a sensor component, (ii) that can be made much smaller compared to known gap-varying capacitive sensors, and (iii) that can detect sub-nanometer displacements while having a potentially unlimited travel ranges for various applications.

Capacitive sensors for nano-positioning and methods of using the same