An inhibition corrosion package for use with an acidic composition, where the package comprises a terpene component; a propargyl alcohol or derivative thereof; at least one amphoteric surfactant; and a solvent. Also disclosed are acidic compositions combining the corrosion inhibition package according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention for use in various industrial operations including but not limited to oil and gas operations. Also disclosed are methods of use of such compositions.

In the oil & gas industry, stimulation with an acid is performed on a well to increase or restore production. In some instances, a well initially exhibits low permeability, and stimulation is employed to commence production from the reservoir. In other instances, stimulation or remediation is used to further encourage permeability and flow from an already existing well that has become under-productive.
Acidizing is a type of stimulation treatment which is performed above or below the reservoir fracture pressure in an effort to restore or increase the natural permeability of the reservoir rock. Acidizing is achieved by pumping acid into the well to dissolve typically limestone, dolomite and calcite cement between the sediment grains of the reservoir rocks or to treat scale accumulation.
There are three major types of acid applications: matrix acidizing, fracture acidizing, and breakdown acidizing (pumped prior to a fracturing pad or cement operation in order to assist with formation breakdown (reduce fracture pressures, increased feed rates), as well as clean up left over cement in the well bore or perforations. A matrix acid treatment is performed when acid is pumped into the well and into the pores of the reservoir formation below the fracture pressure. In this form of acidization, the acids dissolve the sediments formation and/or mud solids that are inhibiting the permeability of the rock, enlarging the natural pores of the reservoir (wormholing) and stimulating flow of hydrocarbons to the wellbore. While matrix acidizing is done at a low enough pressure to keep from fracturing the reservoir rock, fracture acidizing involves pumping highly pressurized acid into the well, physically fracturing the reservoir rock and etching the permeability inhibitive sediments. This type of acid treatment forms channels or fractures through which the hydrocarbons can flow, in addition to forming a series of wormholes. In some instances, a proppant is introduced into the fluid which assists in propping open the fractures, further enhancing the flow of hydrocarbons into the wellbore.
There are many different mineral and organic acids used to perform an acid treatment on wells. The most common type of acid employed on wells to stimulate production is hydrochloric acid (HCl), which is useful in stimulating carbonate reservoirs.
Some of the major challenges faced in the oil & gas industry from using hydrochloric acid include the following: extremely high levels of corrosion (which is countered by the addition of 'filming' type corrosion inhibitors that are typically themselves toxic and harmful to humans, the environment and equipment) reactions between acids and various types of metals can vary greatly but softer metals, such as aluminum and magnesium, are very susceptible to major effects causing immediate damage. Hydrochloric acid produces Hydrogen chloride gas which is toxic (potentially fatal) and corrosive to skin, eyes and metals. At levels above 50 ppm (parts per million) it can be Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDHL). At levels from 1300-2000 ppm death can occur in 2-3 minutes.
The inherent environmental effects (organic sterility, poisoning of wildlife etc.) of acids in the event of an unintended or accidental release on surface or downhole into water aquifers or other sources of water are devastating which can cause significant pH reduction of such and can substantially increase the toxicity and could potentially cause a mass culling of aquatic species and potential poisoning of humans or livestock and wildlife exposed to/or drinking the water. An unintended release at surface can also cause a hydrogen chloride gas cloud to be released, potentially endangering human and animal health. This is a common event at large storage sites when tanks split or leak. Typically if near the public, large areas need to be evacuated post event and a comprehensive, expensive to implement, emergency evacuation plan need to be in place prior to approval of such storage areas. Because of its acidic nature, hydrogen chloride gas is also corrosive, particularly in the presence of moisture.
The inability for acids and blends of such to biodegrade naturally without neutralizing the soil results in expensive cleanup-reclamation costs for the operator should an unintended release occur. Moreover, the toxic fumes produced by mineral & some organic acids are harmful to humans/animals and are highly corrosive and/or produce potentially explosive vapours. Transportation and storage requirements for acids are restrictive and taxing in such that you must haul the products in acid approved tankers or intermediate bulk containers (IBC) that are rated to handle such corrosive products. As well, the dangers surrounding exposure by personnel handling the blending of such corrosive/dangerous products limits their use/implementation.
Another concern is the potential for exposure incidents on locations due to high corrosion levels of acids causing storage container failures and/or deployment equipment failures i.e. coiled tubing or fracturing iron failures caused by high corrosion rates (pitting, cracks, pinholes and major failures). Other concerns include: downhole equipment failures from corrosion causing the operator to have to execute a work-over and replace down hole pumps, tubing, cables, packers etc.; inconsistent strength or quality level of mineral & organic acids; potential supply issues based on industrial output levels; high levels of corrosion on surface pumping equipment resulting in expensive repair and maintenance levels for operators and service companies; the requirement of specialized equipment that is purpose built to pump acids greatly increasing the capital expenditures of operators and service companies; and the inability to source a finished product locally or very near its end use; transportation and onsite storage difficulties.
Extremely high corrosion and reaction rates with temperature increase causes conventional acids to "spend/react or become neutral" prior to achieving its desired effect such as deeply penetrating an oil or gas formation to increase the wormhole or etched "pathway" effectively to allow the petroleum product to flow freely to the wellbore. As an example, hydrochloric acid can be utilized in an attempt to free stuck drill pipe in some situations. Prior to getting to the required depth to dissolve the formation that has caused the pipe/tubing to become stuck many acids spend or neutralize due to increased bottom hole temperatures and greatly increased reaction rate, so it is advantageous to have an alternative that spends or reacts more methodically allowing the slough to be treated with a solution that is still active, allowing the pipe/tubing to be pulled free.
When used to treat scaling issues on surface due to water contamination, conventional acids are exposed to human and mechanical devices as well as expensive pumping equipment causing increased risk for the operator and corrosion effects that damage equipment and create hazardous fumes. When mixed with bases or higher pH fluids, acids will create a large amount of thermal energy (exothermic reaction) causing potential safety concerns and equipment damage, acids typically need to be blended with fresh water (due to their intolerance of highly saline water, causing potential precipitation of minerals) to the desired concentration requiring companies to pre-blend off-site as opposed to blending on-site with field/produced water thereby increasing costs associated with transportation.
Conventional mineral acids used in a pH control situation can cause rapid degradation of certain polymers/additives requiring increased loadings or chemicals to be added to counter these negative effects. Many offshore areas of operations have very strict regulatory rules regarding the transportation/handling and deployment of acids causing increased liability and costs for the operator. When using an acid to pickle tubing or pipe, very careful attention must be paid to the process due to high levels of corrosion, as temperatures increase, the typical additives used to control corrosion levels in acid systems begin to degrade very quickly (due to the inhibitors "plating out" on the steel) causing the acids to become very corrosive and resulting in damage to downhole equipment/tubulars. Conventional acids are also very destructive to most elastomers found in the oil & gas industry such as those found in blow out preventers (BOP's)/downhole tools/packers/submersible pumps/seals etc. Having to deal with spent acid during the back flush process is also very expensive as these acids typically are still at a low pH and remain toxic. It is advantageous to have an acid blend that can be exported to production facilities through pipelines that, once spent or applied, is much higher than that of spent HCl, reducing disposal costs/fees.
Acids perform many actions in the oil & gas industry and are considered necessary to achieve the desired production of various petroleum wells, maintain their respective systems and aid in certain drilling operational functions (i.e. freeing stuck pipe, filter cake treatments). The associated dangers that come with using mineral acids are expansive and tasking to mitigate through controls whether they are chemically or mechanically engineered
Eliminating or even simply reducing the negative effects of acids while maintaining their usefulness is a struggle for the industry. As the public demand for the use of cleaner/safer/greener products increases, companies are looking for alternatives that perform the required function without all or most of the drawbacks associated with the use of conventional acids.
Several operations in the oil industry expose fluids to very high temperatures (some upward of 220° C./392° F.), the compositions used in these various operations need to withstand high temperatures without losing their overall effectiveness. These compositions must also be capable of being applied in operations over a wide range of temperatures while not or at least minimally affecting or corroding the equipment with which it comes in contact in comparison to a conventional mineral acid.
Offshore oil and gas operations are highly regulated due to the environmental concerns which arise from their operations and the potential for spills. The complexity of drilling and completing offshore wells is compounded by both safety issues for workers on such offshore oil rigs and production platforms as well as environmental concerns.
Many countries bordering the waters where offshore drilling and production is routinely carried out have put into play a number of regulations aimed at minimizing the environmental impact of this practice. These regulations include the ban on certain types of chemicals which may be harmful to marine life and the environment. In order to overcome these very restrictive regulations, many oil companies employ very costly containment programs for the handling of certain chemicals such as acids which have a wide array of uses in the industry of oil and gas exploration and production.
Many of the issues related with offshore oil and gas exploration and production stem from the fact that the conditions under which this is carried out are substantially different than those encountered in the same types of operations carried out onshore.
Acidic compositions conventionally used in various oil and gas operations can reach temperatures of up to 220° C. At these temperatures, their reactivity is exponentially increased and, as such, their effectiveness or even their ability to be utilized is greatly decreased. Corrosion is the major concern at high temperatures and is difficult and expensive to control with additional chemistry.
Modified and synthetic acids developed and currently patented are aimed at increasing personnel safety, reducing corrosion effects, reducing environmental damage, retarding the reaction rate and reducing the toxicity profile of HCl. However, it has been found that at temperatures above 90° C. the urea component in a synthetic or modified acid containing such compound tends to ultimately decompose to ammonia and carbon dioxide. The ammonia component will neutralize the acidic component or HCl and render the product non-reactive or neutral. Additionally, there is the risk of wellbore and/or formation damage due to uncontrolled solubilized mineral precipitation due to an increase in the pH caused mainly by the formation of ammonia during the decomposition phase. The advent of newer synthetic or modified acids is intended on providing usage at higher temperatures while still maintaining the performance, safety and environmental advantages and benefits of a urea-HCL modified or synthetic acid system. However, ultimately at these higher temperatures it is most often necessary to utilize additional or purpose developed corrosion inhibition packages and/or components to control corrosion of exposed steel. In that respect, even short exposure times at high temperature are more damaging to steel than longer exposure times at lower temperatures. In keeping with the changing times, there is also a strong desire to develop corrosion packages which are more "environmentally friendly and more effective" than conventional packages.
EP patent application 1 724 375 A2 discloses an aqueous organic acid composition containing a terpene as corrosion inhibitor intensifier said to be especially suitable for use in acidizing subterranean formations and wellbores. The composition is said to substantially reduce the corrosive effects of the acidic solution on metals in contact with the acidic solution. Suitable terpenes are said to include carotene, limonene, pinene, farnesene, camphor, cymene and menthol.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,765,021 teaches an aqueous treatment composition for inhibiting corrosion and acid attack on metallic surfaces that comprises a thiourea organic derivative, a polyalkoxylated terpene nonionic surfactant and an acid. The invention also relates to a process for cleaning industrial metallic equipment, in particular heat exchangers in which a heat transfer fluid, generally based on air or on water, flows, with a view to cleaning them and removing scale and other soiling.
US patent application no. 2003/0166472 discloses a well treatment microemulsion that is formed by combining a solvent-surfactant blend with a carrier fluid. In preferred embodiments, the solvent-surfactant blend includes a surfactant and a solvent selected from the group consisting of terpenes and alkyl or aryl esters of short chain alcohols. The disclosed well treatment microemulsion can be used in well remediation, stimulation and hydrogen sulfide mitigation operations.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,323,417 teaches a method of treatment for inhibiting sulfur-based corrosion or scaling or for removing scaling from a surface including inhibiting corrosion caused by sulfur-containing materials, reducing corrosion caused by sulfur-containing materials, inhibiting scaling caused by sulfur-containing materials in gas, liquid or solid phase or any combination of multiple phases of materials, reducing scaling caused by sulfur-containing materials, and removing scaling caused by sulfur-containing materials. The method involves contacting sulfur-containing materials with a composition containing a turpentine liquid, wherein said turpentine liquid comprises α-terpineol, β-terpineol, β-pinene, and p-cymene.
US patent application no. 2006/0264335 A1 discloses an aqueous organic acid composition containing a terpene as corrosion inhibitor intensifier is especially suitable for use in acidizing subterranean formations and wellbores. The composition substantially reduces the corrosive effects of the acidic solution on metals in contact with the acidic solution. Suitable terpenes are said to include carotene, limonene, pinene, farnesene, camphor, cymene and menthol.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,823 discloses novel derivatives of terpene origin which consist of cycloalkenyls or cycloalkyls having at least seven carbon atoms and possessing surfactant and/or fragrant properties. According to one embodiment, the invention relates to compounds of characteristic formula I in which p and q are integers or decimal numbers and are not equal to zero, O<P<20, preferably, O<P<5, and O<q<100, preferably 1<q<20. It is stated that the invention has particular applicability in detergent and perfume formulations.
Despite the various known corrosion inhibition packages, there is still a need for corrosion inhibition packages for use with modified and synthetic acid compositions in the oil industry which can be used over a range of applications, that are specifically formulated for synthetic and modified acid systems and can be used at ultra-high temperatures (i.e. 220° C.) without having its components degrade, phase out of solution and have a superior safety and environmental profile over known packages during use at those ultra-high temperatures. Moreover, it is desirable to have corrosion inhibition packages that do not undermine the advantages of environmentally and personnel-friendly acid compositions such as various synthetic and modified acid compositions which have fewer deleterious effects than typical conventional mineral and some organic acids. Some advantages of so-called environmentally friendly acid compositions include:
It was unexpectedly discovered that the corrosion inhibition packages according to the present invention exhibit stability when combined with acidic compositions under exposure to elevated temperature (above 150° C. and even up to at least 220° C.). This consequently makes them useful in various industries using acids at these temperatures including, but not limited to, the oil and gas industry.


Recording sheet-type information employed in a special use is set beforehand in a printing apparatus. An information processing apparatus connected the printing apparatus through predetermined communication media inquires of the recording sheet-type information set in the printing apparatus. Since the recording sheet-type information is informed from the printing apparatus, the information processing apparatus indicates the recording sheet-type information informed from the printing apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a server apparatus and an information processing apparatus connected mutually through predetermined communication media.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, when printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network, generally, the printing apparatus performs printing while receiving instruction from a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as only PC). On this occasion, the printing apparatus detects recording sheets stored in paper feed cassette within the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus transmits status information such as sizes of detected recording sheets and/or existence of the recording sheets and so forth to the PC. The PC receives the status information, followed by indicating the status information on a display. Then, an operator of the PC can perform printing to a required recording sheet while selecting the targeted paper feed cassette.
However, in the conventional printing apparatus, there is a problem that although the printing apparatus is capable of detecting about sizes of recording sheets and/or existence of the recording sheets and so forth stored in paper feed cassette, it is impossible to detect about kinds of the recording sheets and so forth.
For instance, when a recording sheet whose back is performed printing processing (hereinafter referred to as "back printed sheet") or a recording sheet which is employed for a special use such as OHP sheet and so forth already stored in the paper feed cassette, the conventional printing apparatus can not detect the kinds of the recording sheets. For that reason, when an operator of the PC desires to print while employing special recording sheets, uncertain method is taken that the operator should select a paper feed cassette due to remembrance of the operator.

Printing apparatus, server apparatus and information processing apparatus


A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip, a moisture resistant ring provided in the semiconductor chip and having a chamfered flat part in a position corresponding to a corner of the semiconductor chip, and a first monitor pattern formed inside the moisture resistant ring. At least a part of the first monitor pattern is disposed inside an n-sided polygonal area (n is a natural number which is 4 or higher than 4) situated within the moisture resistant ring, and outside a quadrangular area situated inside the n-sided polygonal area. The n-sided polygonal area has a vertex at least at each of a first end and a second end of the chamfered flat part, and the quadrangular area has a vertex at least at a middle point of the chamfered flat part.

1. Field
The embodiments discussed herein are directed to a semiconductor device having a pattern for length measurement together with a semiconductor element in the semiconductor chip area, a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device, and a method for designing the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
The processing size of patterns has been reduced in recent years to meet the demand for smaller and more highly integrated semiconductor devices. A stable microfabrication technique is required for this reason. Pattern size measurement, that is, line width management, is extremely important in such microfabrication.
JP-A-8-148490 discusses a technique in which a line width management-specific pattern (monitor pattern) formed on the semiconductor substrate is observed with a length measurement SEM. The monitor pattern is observed to thereby estimate the line width of the pattern of the element of the semiconductor device formed on the semiconductor chip. Such a monitor pattern is formed in a location that does not hinder the chip formation on the semiconductor substrate.
A scribe line is used as a location of the monitor pattern formation area (line width management area). The scribe line is an area for separating the semiconductor chips on the semiconductor substrate.
If the line width management area is provided in the scribe line, it is necessary that the scribe line be wide, since two line width management areas are arranged in relation to the adjacent semiconductor chip. In this case, a problem arises in that the area of the scribe line is increased, decreasing the semiconductor chip area.
JP-A-60-83344 discusses a technique in which the line width management areas are disposed in the four corners in the semiconductor chip (semiconductor chip area) respectively instead of in the scribe line.
However, since the demand for smaller and more highly integrated semiconductor devices is growing, it is becoming difficult to secure the monitor pattern formation place. Therefore, by merely forming the line width management areas in the four corners in the semiconductor chip area, reliable line width management is difficult.

Semiconductor device, method for manufacturing semiconductor device, and method for designing manufacturing semiconductor device


An enclosure has a set of panels forming an outer peripheral skin. A heat exchanger wall is placed within the panels. A first fan arrangement circulates ambient air into a space within the panels and along the exterior surface of the heat exchanger wall and back into the environment. A second fan arrangement circulates air contained within the enclosure against the interior surface of the heat exchanger wall. Heat is transferred through the heat exchanger wall to the ambient air circulated by the first fan. An inner wall is placed adjacent to the interior surface of the heat exchanger wall. The space between the inner wall and the heat exchanger wall forms a space for the air within the interior of the enclosure to circulate by the second fan. The heat exchanger wall provides a barrier isolating the ambient air from the air within the enclosure, preventing dust, humidity and pollutants to enter into the interior of the cabinet in the space surrounding the electronic components.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to the subject of methods and systems of providing cooling to a cabinet or enclosure. The cooling is needed because the cabinet contains electronic components that generate heat. Such cabinets are used in a variety of devices, for example servers, and switching and routing devices used in telecommunications, and in Telephone Company, Internet service provider, and computer network applications. More particularly, the invention relates to a cabinet design that includes an internal air-to-air heat exchanger and fan arrangement that provides cooling for the cabinet while simultaneously preventing dust, humidity or pollutants from the environment from entering the interior of the cabinet where the electronic components are located. This feature is particularly important in the application of electronics cabinets used in outside environments, such as in the case of some types of switching and networking equipment where the cabinets can be located next to roads, on telephone poles and in other harsh environments.
2. Description of Related Art
Integrated telecommunications devices, such as routers, switches, network access servers, remote access concentrators, TI span termination shelves, DSL access multiplexers, and other similar types of devices, often take the form of a medium or large size enclosure or cabinet. The cabinet, sometimes referred to in the art as a "chassis" or "shelf", typically incorporates one or more printed circuit boards or, more commonly, modular cards, with such cards typically being capable of being manually inserted into and removed from the chassis. These printed circuit boards and/or cards incorporate numerous semiconductor-based electronic components such as microprocessors and integrated circuit chips, which generate significant amounts of heat during operation.
Integrated circuit chips, microprocessors, and other similar electronic components are designed to operate within a particular temperature window. Accordingly, the heat generated by such components must be removed from the enclosure they are housed in or else the components will overheat and fail. It is known in the art to provide air flow features by which relatively cooler ambient air is conducted into the chassis, and relatively warmer air generated inside the chassis is exhausted from the chassis though an aperture in the chassis housing, typically using one or more fans. Representative patents addressing cooling and air flow considerations within an electronics device include the following references: Manes, U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,099, Garner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,007 and the patents to Gourdine, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,297,005 and 5,422,787. Gourdine's patents describe a cabinet or chassis in which one or more electronic components are individually isolated and subject to separate airflow in order to maximize the cooling of all the components in the cabinet. The patent to Stockbridge, U.S. Pat. No. 6,301,108, describes a chassis cooling arrangements using ambient air as well as a safety feature in the form of a fire-containment trap door that closes off the ambient air passages in the event of a fire in the chassis.
Cooling arrangements for electronics cabinets using separate air-to-air heat exchangers are known in the art and such products are available from Thermacore. See, for example the following papers: Jon Zuo, Ron Hoover and Fred Phillips, "Advanced Thermal Architecture for Cooling of High Power Electronics", Thermacore International, Inc., 2001; Nelson J. Gernert, "Cooling of Power Semiconductors in Cabinets", Thermacore International, Inc., 2001; and, Z. J. Zuo, E. H. Dubble and S. D. Garner "Compact, Double Side Impingement, Air-To-Air Heat Exchanger", Thermacore, Inc., undated, all of which are available from the Thermacore.com website. A separate air-to-air heat exchanger, such as the HXi Series air-to-air heat exchanger from Thermacore, is expensive and increases the size of the overall system, and thus does not fully address the problems in the art.
The present invention provides an advantage over known systems by integrating the heat exchanger function within the walls of the cabinet, whereby a lower cost, smaller package is produced. Moreover, preferred aspects of this invention provide for air-to-air heat exchange without introducing outside air (which may contain dust, humidity or pollutants) into the interior of the cabinet.

Electronics cabinet with internal air-to-air heat exchanger


A conductor obtained by connecting a plurality of superconductors by normal conductivity or a conductor including superconductors and normal conductors, said low resistance conductor using superconductors characterized in that an apparent specific resistance of said conductor at below a superconducting transition temperature of said superconductors is lower than the specific resistance of copper at that superconducting transition temperature.

As a conductor for carrying electricity, copper is being used the most at the present time. This is due to the facts that the specific resistance at room temperature is about the same degree as with silver and lowest compared with other substances and that it is relatively inexpensive. As the method for reducing the specific resistance of a conductor, there is the method of cooling the conductor. In the case of copper, if cooled to the temperature of liquid nitrogen (77K), the specific resistance becomes about one-seventh or about 2.5×10−9 Ωm.
A superconducting wire has to be cooled to under the superconducting transition temperature, but the electrical resistance is substantially zero making it an ideal conductor. A metal-based superconducting wire is highly perfected as a wire and is being used in MRI systems etc. as magnets, but has not spread widely in use due to the need for cooling to a cryogenic temperature.
On the other hand, oxide-based superconducting materials becoming superconductive at the liquid nitrogen temperature include Bi-based and Y-based materials. Bi-based materials are mainly being developed as tape wires with silver sheaths, while Y-based materials are being developed as tape wires comprised of metal tapes formed on their surfaces with buffer layers and formed on those with superconductive thin films.
These wires are increasingly promising since when high properties are obtained, they can be cooled by easy-to-handle liquid nitrogen. Further, the development and spread of electrical apparatuses using these wires can be expected. Further, as plate-shaped superconductors, NbTi and Cu multilayer plates are being developed and are being used for magnetic shields and other applications.
As oxide superconducting bulk materials having sufficient critical current densities at the liquid nitrogen temperature, materials comprised of monocrystalline REBa2Cu3O7-x (where RE is a rare earth element including Y) in which RE2BaCuO5 is finely dispersed is known. Since such materials are monocrystalline, there are technical limits in the production of large-sized materials. At the present time, only ones of a diameter of around 100 mm are known. Larger materials than this have not been obtained.
Bi-based wires, however, do not give a sufficient critical current density at 77K and in particular suffer from the problems that there is remarkable deterioration of properties in a magnetic field, that they are expensive since silver is used as a sheath material, etc. Y-based wires suffer from problems in the film forming speed in a vacuum, uniformity of properties, etc. and are still in development.

Low resistance conductor, processes of production thereof, and electrical members using same


A collapsible truck rack that can be assembled and disassembled easily without the use of tools. The rack can be stored in the interior periphery of the truck bed so as not to appreciable diminish the capacity of the truck bed for the placement therein of items to be transported. The rack does not increase the profile of the vehicle when in the collapsed position and therefore reduces drag during transport. An X-load is added to reduce shift of the load during turns. An optional brace can be bolted to the top surface of the periphery of the truck bad. An optional canvas cover can be used to cover the collapsed rack to secure and protect the rack when not in use.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of racks for trucks, and particularly to a rack that is both easy to assemble and disassemble, requires no tools and that collapses into the internal periphery of the truck in a way that leaves the bed substantially empty for the placement therein of items to be transported.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Racks for trucks have long been known. They are used to provide the ability to transport more than just what will fit into the bed of the truck, particularly items that are larger than the bed as well as extra storage when the bed is filled with other items. Frequently, the racks also extend over the cab of the truck.
One major drawback to most truck racks is that they are bulky and cumbersome. Typical racks maintain their shape whether in use or not and must be bolted down the truck at various points on the truck when in use and unbolted when there is no need for the rack on the truck. When the rack is not needed, if left on the truck, there is a noticeable and significant increase in drag on the truck and a corresponding reduction in gas mileage.
Removal of the rack will remove the unwanted drag, but typically it is very inconvenient to remove the rack. Firstly, the rack needs to be unbolted. Secondly, the rack needs to be stored in a large area because the profile of the rack is so large. One way to overcome the storage issue is to provide a rack that is collapsible into the body of the truck.
By being collapsible, storage of the rack is less of an issue and the rack can be stored in the bed of the truck. Prior art in the field of collapsible truck racks include U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,131 to Flournoy, Jr. This invention provides for a rack that can be broken down into small parts. This rack does not reach over the cab of the truck. Furthermore, this rack requires a great deal of assembly and disassembly that can be quite time-consuming. When not in use, the rack of the Flournoy, Jr. invention is stored atop the periphery of the truck bed and behind the cab. While this provides storage capacity in the truck bed, the wear due to the heightened profile of the vehicle is not maximally improved and therefore the improved gas mileage due to less drag is not optimized.
Another invention is U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,380 to Aguilar. Portions of this rack are removable, but the entire device does not collapse into an easily-transportable unit. When not in use, the front and rear supports of this rack may be removed and placed in the pickup bed or pivoted downward into the pickup bed. The shape and profile of the supports is such that much of the bed is consumed during storage, thereby minimizing the ability to utilize the bed for the transportation of other items when the rack is not in use.
The rack of U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,731 to Burger is another removable rack. This rack does not extend above the cab and is quite complex in its assembly.
Therefore, a need exists for a collapsible truck rack that when collapsed does not increase drag on the vehicle. Furthermore, the rack when collapsed and stored in the vehicle should not significantly consume any of the storage space in the bed.
It is the object of the instant invention to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art.
It is the primary object of the instant invention to provide a collapsible truck rack that does not require the use of tools to assemble and disassemble and that does not consume an appreciable amount of storage space in the truck bed when collapsed into the storage position.

Collapsible truck rack and method of use


A protection circuit controls charging/discharging of a battery pack in both a high temperature region and a low temperature region. The battery pack is protected from the risk of firing, burning or explosion which occurs in a high temperature region, to secure its safety. Furthermore, the charging and discharging of the battery pack is controlled in a low temperature region, to prevent incomplete charging and to increase the battery capacity efficiency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a protection circuit for a battery pack, a battery pack including the protection circuit and a method of operating the battery pack, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a protection circuit for a battery pack, and a battery pack including the battery pack and a method of operating the battery pack which includes controlling electric-charge/electric-discharge in not only a high temperature region but also a low temperature region, so that electrical-charge/discharge operation is controlled at high and low temperatures and the efficiency and safety are secured.
2. Description of the Related Art
As portable terminals, such as notebook PCs, mobile phones and so on, have been rapidly developed to be small and light, batteries used as driving power sources of these terminals increasingly need to be small and to have a high capacity. Specifically, since a lithium secondary battery has an operating voltage of 3.6V or more, which is higher three times that of a nickel-cadmium battery or a nickel-hydrogen battery, and has a high energy density per unit weight, it has been rapidly expanded in use.
However, when a lithium secondary battery is charged to be 4.5V or more, an electrolyte in the battery is dissolved, so that a gas is generated. Then, the inside pressure of the battery increases by the gas, to leak the electrolyte. Moreover, when the battery is discharged to be under a predetermined voltage, copper as a negative collector starts melting within the electrolyte, to deteriorate the performance of the battery.
Moreover, in light of a chemical characteristic of a battery, there is a high risk of firing, bursting or blasting upon over-charging, over-discharging or over-current by a short between terminals.
Therefore, a secondary battery includes a protection circuit module, together with a bare cell. The bare cell is formed by arranging an electrode assembly formed of a positive plate, a negative plate and a separator in a can formed of an iron or aluminum material, finishing the can using a cap assembly, injecting an electrolyte into the can, and sealing the can.
The protection circuit module prevents accidents from occurring by over-charging, over-discharging or over-current, to secure safety and reliability. After the bare cell is formed, the protection circuit module is positioned outside of the bare cell and is electrically connected to the bare cell.
The protection circuit module includes a protection circuit device and an electrode terminal on one side of a printed circuit board on which a wiring pattern is formed, and an external connection terminal to be connected to a terminal for employing a secondary battery on the other side thereof. The printed circuit board and the bare cell are connected to each other by a positive lead plate and a negative lead plate which respectively connect a positive and a negative terminal of the printed circuit board to a positive and a negative terminal of the bare cell.
After a space between the bare cell and the protection circuit module is filled by resin when the bare cell and the protection circuit module are connected to each other, a secondary battery is labeled or included in an external case, to form a battery pack. A battery pack is arranged in a portable terminal for use.
In a conventional pack, a charging or discharging operation occurs when the battery is connected to an external power source device or load through an external port. A path between the battery and the external port is a high current path used as a charge/discharge path, through which a relatively high current flows.
When a power source device is connected to the external port, a charging operation occurs. Then, a charge path is connected from the external port, charge element, temperature fuse and fuse to the battery.
When a load is connected to the external port, a discharging operation occurs. Then, a discharge path is connected from the battery, fuse, temperature fuse, discharge element and the external port to the load.
That is, the charge/discharge element alternately operates the charge element or discharge element according to a charge or discharge mode.
The battery outputs its internal information to primary and secondary protection circuits. The internal information includes the cell-related information, such as the temperature of a cell, the charge potential of the cell and the strength of an electrical current flowing in the cell. A sensor resistance senses the occurrence of over-charging or over-discharging and over-current and transmits sensing information to the primary and secondary protection circuits.
The primary protection circuit controls the charge/discharge element according to the cell-related information provided from the battery and the sensing information provided from the sensor resistance. The secondary protection circuit controls whether to blow the fuse according to the cell-related information provided from the battery and the sensing information provided from the sensor resistance.
When the temperature of the charge/discharge element is sensed and is above a rated temperature, both ends of the temperature fuse are off, so that the charge/discharge element is prevented from firing, burning or blasting due to an abnormal phenomenon.

Protection circuit for a battery pack to control the operation of the battery pack based on temperature

Gongse-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do


A method for analyzing tire vibration characteristics and an apparatus for carrying out the method, wherein the apparatus includes a stiff frame including a wheel support for supporting a wheel with a tire to be analyzed. A base part is flexibly connected with the frame by elastic means. The elastic means is embodied such that the frame is flexibly supported in one predefined functional direction. An actuator is provided for exciting vibrations into the wheel. The method and apparatus allow separate analysis of the natural vibrations in all four functional directions.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for analysing tire vibration characteristics and an apparatus for carrying out said method.
2. Description of the Related Art
The tyre is the element through which the road and the vehicle exchange forces. If the structure of the tire is rigid, forces are transmitted directly, without any attenuation. If the structure is elastic the forces transmitted can be attenuated, or on the other hand amplified, due to resonances. The tire is a viscoelastic body and, like all viscoelastic bodies, it vibrates when it is excited (by forces or by deformations). It is therefore possible to say that the vibrations felt by the passengers inside the vehicle are influenced or generated by the tire.
Today, development of a tire for a vehicle model is made in accordance with detailed specifications of car manufacturers. During development specific changes with respect to the construction and the materials used have to be made in order to influence the performance of the vehicle. A specific change of tire parameters helps to save development time and costs. In this connection the analysis of the vibration characteristics, in particular the natural vibrations of tires, is important. Nowadays, this analysis is carried out using testing benches.
In known testing benches comprising a wheel support for supporting a wheel with a tire to be analysed the excitation of vibrations is made via the tire surface. In this case a superposition of free tire vibrations with friction effects cannot be excluded.
In another known testing bench as disclosed in KR-A 1020030043366 the introduction of vibrations is made via an element which is arranged in the surface of the tire with positive locking. A vibrator having a stinger at an upper end thereof is mounted on a lower plate of a supporting frame. A wheel with a tire fitted thereon is suspended from levers which transfer vibrations to an accelerometer arranged at the upper plate of the supporting frame. Since the introduction of vibrations is made via the surface of the tire, modulations can occur due to local bending stress.
EP-B1 0 775 902 and 0 775 904 disclose a torsional vibrator capable of torsionally exciting a tire of a wheel and providing measurements of angular vibrations. The wheel with the tire fitted thereon is fastened on a driving shaft of the vibrator. Two acceleration transducers are fastened to the rim in a diametrically opposite position. Two further acceleration transducers are fastened to the tire by means of a clamp fastened to the tire surface. In operation the driving shaft performs angular oscillations and torsionally excites the wheel that thus vibrates in a rotational direction. The accelerometers detect rotational vibrations and provide measurements of angular acceleration of the wheel and of the tire. This known apparatus only permits analysis in one functional direction i.e. rotational vibrations.

Method for analysing tire vibration characteristics and an apparatus for carrying out said method


The invention relates to methods and apparatuses that reduce problems encountered during coating of a device, such as a medical device having a cylindrical shape. In an embodiment, the invention includes an apparatus including a bi-directional rotation member. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method with a bi-directional indexing movement. In an embodiment, the invention includes a coating solution supply member having a major axis oriented parallel to a gap between rollers on a coating apparatus. In an embodiment, the invention includes a device retaining member. In an embodiment, the invention includes an air nozzle or an air knife. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method including removing a static charge from a small diameter medical device.

Medical devices are becoming increasingly complex in function and geometry. It has been recognized that imparting desirable properties to the surface of medical devices, in particular small implantable medical devices, by coating the surface of the device with one or more compounds can enhance the function and effectiveness of the medical device. Traditional coating methods, such as dip coating, are often undesirable for coating these complex geometries since coating solution may get entrapped in the device structure. This entrapped solution may cause webbing or bridging of the coating solution and may hinder the device from functioning properly.
Other techniques, such as spray coating, have also been used to apply coating material to various devices, including medical devices. However, some methods of spray coating can also be problematic. In particular, devices may stick to components of the coating apparatus. Sticking may cause problems manipulating the devices and may result in an increased defect rate. Further, devices to be coated may have or pick up a static charge. A static charge may also lead to problems in manipulating the devices and may also result in an increased defect rate. Problems with sticking and static charges can be greater in the context of stents that are small in size.
Accordingly, there is a need for methods and devices for overcoming problems associated with spray coating procedures.

Method and apparatus for coating of substrates


A bag for carrying and exposing a food item, such as sandwich-type items sold at fast food or convenience stores. The bag includes front, back and gussetted side panels which are interconnected and form a V-shaped closed end and an open end. A pair of lines of weakness or perforations are provided, located on the front panel, extending between the open and closed ends, spaced apart a distance substantially less than the width of the front panel of the bag, which define a ripping strip. A pull tab is provided integral with the end of the ripping strip at the top end of the bag and extending therefrom to facilitate opening of the bag. Thus, the bag can be opened by grasping the pull tab and tearing the ripping strip along the lines of perforation so as to expose the bag interior and a food item therein for removal, application of condiments, and/or reuse of the bag to keep the food item warm or as a place mat to receive the food item for consumption. Moreover, the bag is fabricated of a multi-purpose laminate having layers of tissue, adhesive, polycoat tissue and polyethylene. This laminate functions to enhance moisture and heat retention within the package and imprinting capability.

This invention relates generally to paper bags, and more specifically, to the type used in the convenience food industry to carry a food item, such as a sandwich, and to be opened to expose the bag interior and food item therein.
In the convenience or fast food industry, the bag in which a product is packaged and delivered to the customer is important. Presently, it is believed that the bags can be improved by providing easier and better access for the customer to the item carried therein, by preventing shifting of the food item such that it is preserved in its original, as-packaged condition, and by allowing the customer to reuse the bag in other applications, such as forming the bag into a place mat to allow for easy application of condiments thereon and to receive the food item during the meal.
Bags such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,306,335 to Feigenbutz, are used in the sale of foods such as fried chicken. The Feigenbutz bag includes a ripping strip on the front panel, which is defined by a pair of perforated lines spaced relatively close together and extending from the top edge to the bottom edge of the front panel of the bag. In use, an item of food is placed inside the bag through its open, upper end. The upper end of the bag is then folded over along a crease line and secured against the back panel of the bag by staples, tape or other securing means. The portion of the ripping strip located on the upper, folded back portion of the bag is ripped along the perforated lines to the crease line to form a pull tab, which projects freely and may be readily grasped and pulled down along the front panel to open the bag. When the consumer desires to access the chicken, he or she pulls the pull tab/ripping strip along the perforated lines, and then removes the chicken from the bag through the narrow slot or opening formed by tearing along the perforated lines. While the disclosed bag may be useful for fried chicken, and other food items where shifting of the food items during transport is unimportant, it is not believed useful for other items, such as sandwiches, or other multiple-piece food items which are placed in the bag in a certain position and are intended to remain in relatively the same position until the bag is opened for consumption of the food. Moreover, the ripping strip may be difficult to grasp and separate neatly from the folded over front panel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,996 to Cortopassi, et al. discloses an openable bag construction for carrying and exposing food items, usually sold at fast-food type restaurants. The bag comprises an open top end, a closed bottom end, a front panel, a back panel and a pair of gusseted side panels. A pair of perforated lines are provided at the junctions of each side panel and the front panel. The perforated lines are parallel to each other, extend longitudinally between the open end and the closed end and are spaced apart the width of the front panel. In use, food is placed into the bag through its open end. The top of the bag is then folded closed to ensure that the contents of the bag remain warm. When the consumer desires to remove the food from the bag, he unfolds the top of the bag and pulls the front panel so as to separate the front panel from the side panels along the perforated lines. Since the perforations are located at the junctions of each side panel and the front panel, however, they are not readily visible unless one is specifically looking for them. Thus, since the bag does not incorporate any type of pull tab, the user may not be aware that the bag includes perforations.


A bracket for retaining a sound transducer against a soundboard. The bracket is mountable to architectural frame members and is operable to balance the load of the transducer in the bracket. The bracket includes a spring element that is operable to hold the sound transducer against the soundboard with a specified force.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to acoustic brackets. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to acoustic brackets that hold sound transducers, which impart acoustical energy directly to a solid surface such as a wall or ceiling.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Home theater and audio systems continue to grow in popularity while offering many choices for sound reproduction. Traditional loudspeaker implementations in floor-standing cabinets are widely available. However, customers are increasingly choosing speaker systems that fit within the walls or ceiling of a home or building. Conventional in-wall speakers include a system with a crossover network and standard driver elements such as a woofer and a tweeter. Since the standard driver elements rely on a cone or diaphragm to directly move the air and thus generate sound, openings must be created in the wall to accommodate the system and allow access to the listening area, which may be undesirable in some situations. An alternative to this approach has been developed using sound transducers (such as SolidDrive™ speakers). Sound transducers do not directly move air to generate sound, but instead create sound by oscillating a soundboard (a wall, a ceiling, or other solid surface), which in turn vibrates air molecules to generate sound. Existing transducers are attached to the soundboard with an adhesive and supported by a bracket.
Prior art techniques for mounting sound transducers in walls or ceilings include brackets that utilize foam layers to surround and hold the body of the transducer while it is in operation. Unfortunately, direct contact between the transducer and the foam creates friction and dampens the vibrations of the transducer, thereby limiting the lower frequency response of the audio system. Thus, with prior art bracketing techniques, the performance of the sound transducer is less than optimal.


A sheet processing apparatus includes a pressing unit including a first pressing member and a second pressing member. The pressing unit is configured to sandwich and press a fold part of a folded sheet bundle between the first pressing member and the second pressing member. The sheet processing apparatus also includes a moving unit configured to move a position pressed by the pressing unit in a direction of a fold of the sheet bundle. A position pressed by the first pressing member on the sheet bundle and another position pressed by the second pressing member on the sheet bundle are shifted with respect to each other in the direction of the fold of the sheet bundle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus, an image forming system, and a method of additionally folding a sheet bundle, and particularly relates to a sheet processing apparatus having a function of performing folding processing on a sheet-shaped recording medium such as paper, recording paper, and transfer paper (hereinafter simply referred to as a "sheet" in this specification), an image forming system including a sheet processing apparatus, and a method of additionally folding a sheet bundle executed by the sheet processing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional post-processing apparatus used in combination with an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine binds a saddle stitched booklet by stitching a sheet or a plurality of sheets at its center part and folding the same at the center part with a pair of folding rollers arranged parallel to the direction of sheet folding. In addition, a technique is already known that carries out additional folding with a roller moving along the back of a saddle stitched booklet so as to strengthen a fold of the booklet.
Such an additionally folding technique performs additional folding on the back (a fold part) of a booklet (a sheet bundle) by putting a roller standing by on the outside of the booklet on the back of the booklet and moving the roller.
Known examples of this kind of additionally folding technique are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-207964 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2009-126685.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-207964 describes a folding means for performing folding processing on a sheet or a sheet bundle with a plurality of bound sheets and a fold strengthening mechanism for strengthening a fold of the sheet or the sheet bundle folded by the folding means by pressing the fold. The fold strengthening mechanism and the folded sheet(s) move relatively to each other along the fold and intermittently stop during the move.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2009-126685 describes a sheet folding device that includes folding means for performing folding processing on a sheet-shaped recording medium that is carried in and additional folding means for performing additional folding after the folding processing by the folding means by moving on a fold of the sheet-shaped recording medium in a direction perpendicular to a sheet-ejecting direction and pressurizing the fold. The additional folding means is inclined from the normal of a medium surface of the sheet-shaped recording medium in a direction of force generated in a moving direction when the fold is pressurized.
According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-207964, the fold strengthening mechanism and the folded sheet(s) relatively move along a fold and intermittently stop during the move. Because of this, strength is increased with regard to additional folding; however, productivity is conversely decreased.
According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2009-126685, a direction for applying an energizing force is inclined from the moving direction of an additional folding mechanism for the purpose of load reduction. In this case, because the additional folding mechanism consists of a fixed receiver opposed to a pressurizing roller, a pressuring force against a sheet bundle is generated in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle. This requires a stiffer device, which results in increased size and cost of the apparatus.
Therefore, there is a need for a sheet processing apparatus capable of performing additional folding on a fold part of a folded sheet bundle without reducing productivity or increasing the size or cost of the apparatus.

Sheet processing apparatus, image forming system, and method of additionally folding sheet bundle


An optical scanning device includes a screw shaft, a holing member, a cleaning member, and a drive mechanism. The screw shaft is arranged along a covering. The screw shaft includes a main body portion and two rotary shaft portions provided on opposite ends of the main body portion integrally with the main body portion. A screw groove is formed in the main body portion. A protrusion engaging with the screw groove is formed on the holding member. Rotation of the screw shaft moves the holding member along the screw shaft. The cleaning member is held by the holding member. The drive mechanism drives and rotates the screw shaft, while moving the screw shaft in a direction reverse to a movement direction of the holding member.

The present disclosure relates to optical scanning devices and image forming apparatuses including an optical scanning device.
As image forming apparatuses, such as copiers, printers, etc. an image forming apparatus employing an electrographic process has been known. The electrographic image forming apparatus includes an optical scanning device and a developing device. The optical scanning device emits light for formation of an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor. The developing device develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor to make it a toner image.
The optical scanning device includes a casing to accommodate a polygon mirror, an imaging lens, etc. A light emitting port is formed in the casing to emit light. The light emitting port is blocked with a covering. The covering may be made from transparent glass covering, for example.
Incidentally, the surface of the glass covering may contaminate with toner and the like, or dust or the like may adhere to the surface of the glass covering. When so, the optical characteristics of the optical scanning device may degrade. Degradation of the optical characteristics may cause an image defect. In view of this, the optical scanning device is generally provided with a cleaning mechanism to periodically clean the surface of the glass covering.
A typical cleaning mechanism may include a screw shaft, a holding member, and a cleaning member. The screw shaft is arranged along the glass covering. The holding member is screw inserted in the screw shaft. The cleaning member is held by the holding member. A protrusion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the holding member to engage with a screw groove of the screw shaft. Positive or reverse rotation of the screw shaft causes the cleaning member to reciprocate together with the holding member along the glass covering. Reciprocation of the cleaning member in this manner can clean the surface of the glass covering.
In order to appropriately control the movement of the cleaning member, a sensor may be provided to detect the position of the cleaning member. However, provision of the sensor may increase the cost. For this reason, a predetermined time period is set usually for movement of the cleaning member. When the predetermined movement time elapses, the moving direction of the cleaning member is reversed. In order not to leave a non-cleaned region of the glass covering, the movement time of the cleaning member is set longer usually.
Further, springs are provided on the opposite ends of the holding member of the cleaning mechanism in the axial direction of the screw shaft. When the movement direction of the cleaning member is changed by reverse rotation of the screw shaft, the compression force of one of the springs pushes back the holding member to allow the protrusion of the holding member to engage with the screw groove of the screw shaft.

Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus


Provided are a display substrate, a preparation method thereof, and a display apparatus. The display substrate includes a substrate, an array structure layer disposed on the substrate, a plurality of emitting units and a plurality of ultrasonic transducers disposed at intervals on a side of the array structure layer away from the substrate, wherein the ultrasonic transducers are disposed between adjacent emitting units, and the array structure layer includes a transducer drive circuit connected to the ultrasonic transducer, and the transducer drive circuit is configured to control the ultrasonic transducer to transmit ultrasonic waves and receive voltage signals generated by the ultrasonic transducer receiving echoes.

With a development of science and technology, Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display apparatuses have achieved touch control. Although touch screens of smart devices bring many brand-new experiences to users, users also lose experiences of pressing the physical keyboard.
Touch Feedback technology may make people have an experience of touching real objects when touching the screen. For example, when playing Angry Bird on the touch screen, people will feel an elasticity of rubber bands by stretching a slingshot. Most of the existing haptic feedback apparatuses use projection display or place an ultrasonic apparatus on a back of a display apparatus to project downwards, which does not achieve true integration with the display.

Display substrate, preparation method thereof, and display apparatus


Methods and apparatus for enhancing the resolution of a radar image in the cross-range direction. An example method includes receiving a plurality of received power samples in the cross-range dimension as the radar antenna scans and calculating a window function from the antenna beam response pattern. Then for each of a plurality of positions of the window function along the azimuth axis, multiplying the received response pattern by the window function at that position, yielding a product function for each position. Finally, the method includes calculating an estimated azimuth bin offset, resulting estimated target location, and a reflected power value corresponding to the integral of the product function from the product function of each position. A reconstructed azimuth bin array developed from the estimated target locations and reflected power values is substituted for the original received cross-range received power values, yielding a resolution-enhanced map image.

Airborne radar is used in aircraft navigation to generate a radar map of the ground in the vicinity of the aircraft. In some cases, the antenna aperture area available to an airborne radar device is limited, leading to a relatively large angular width of the anterna's main beam. The width of the beam can result in substantial "smearing" of the map imagery in the cross-range direction, especially in the case of highly reflective targets that are narrow relative to the beam width along the length of the azimuth. In some instances, image smearing can make it difficult for a pilot to identify features on the ground important for the effective use of the imagery.
Signal-processing techniques exist that improve the cross-range resolution of radar ground maps. One commonly used technique uses the gradient in Doppler frequency across the antenna's main beam to sharpen the image. But a disadvantage of this technique is that the gradient in Doppler frequency approaches zero as the pointing direction of the antenna approaches the direction of the velocity vector. Therefore, this technique carries the disadvantage of not being effective in the direction in which the aircraft is travelling.
Another technique for resolution enhancement uses monopulse radar. Processing of monopulse radar signals provides cross-range enhancement independent of direction, but unlike Doppler methods does not provide true resolution improvement. The mono-pulse technique also comes at the cost of significant additional expense and complexity.

Method for cross-range enhancement of real-beam radar imagery


The present invention provides a method and composition regeneration of an aminal that has previously been reacted with a sulfide selected from hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans. The method includes contacting a scavenging mixture which includes an aminal, and an oxidation catalyst with a gas such as air, oxygen enriched air, oxygen, ozone enriched air and ozone. The composition includes an aminal, and an oxidation catalyst. The method and composition are useful for the regeneration of an aminal base sulfur scavenging compound.

Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic, corrosive and malodorous compound. It may be found in a variety of liquid and gaseous media such as natural gas, petroleum, refinery gas streams, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, coal gas streams, gas streams from viscose rayon production, tars and asphalt, shale gas, coke oven gases, ammonia synthesis gas, rubber vulcanization streams, gases from sulfurization plants, turpentine production, pulp and paper mill effluent, sewage, brine drilling mud, land fills, phosphoric acid production gas streams, and other industrial gas streams and effluents. It is also found in the tail gases and liquids of some hydrogen sulfide scrubbing processes such as Claus plants and amine scrubbing units.
Hydrogen sulfide is an undesirable contaminant and its release into the environment is strictly controlled by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Environmental Resources, as well as by other regulatory agencies throughout the world. Hydrogen sulfide not only has an offensive odor, but it has also been linked to the formation of acid rain.
Methods for removing hydrogen sulfide may be generally classified as regenerative and non-regenerative. Regenerative processes are generally more desirable because waste products are recycled. By regenerating sulfur scavenging compounds and thereby recycling the waste products, the cost, both economically and environmentally, of replenishing spent chemicals in the process and disposing of the waste products is lessened or eliminated. It is even more desirable to recover the sulfur scavenged during the hydrogen sulfide scavenging reaction in a useful form.
Various amines and alkanolamines, which may be regenerated, have been used to remove acids, such as hydrogen sulfide from gas streams. U.S. Pat. No. 2,776,870 discloses that aqueous amines and alkanolamines are useful for removing acids from a gaseous mixture. Hydrogen sulfide may be selectively removed from gas streams containing carbon dioxide by use of triethanolamine or methyldiethanolamine.
British Published Patent Specification No. 2103645 discloses that hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide may be removed from a gas mixture by contacting the mixture with a solvent comprising a tertiary amine and a physical absorbent. Suitable physical adsorbents include N-methylpyrrolidone and sulfolane.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,051 discloses a process for removing acidic gases from a gaseous mixture with an amine-solvent liquid absorbent comprising (1) an amine comprised of at least about 50 mole percent of a steric hindered amine; and (2) a solvent for the amine mixture which is also a physical absorbent for the acid gases. Suitable steric hindered amines include various piperidine compounds. Suitable solvents include sulfones and pyrrolidone and piperidone compounds, to name a few.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,512 discloses methods for reducing the levels of hydrogen sulfide and organic sulfides in a hydrocarbon stream by contacting the stream with a composition comprising the reaction products of a lower alkanolamine with a lower aldehyde. Suitable reaction products include mixtures of triazine and bisoxazolidine compounds.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,397 discloses a process and composition for removing hydrogen sulfide and similar sulfides from a gas stream. The gas stream is contacted with a substituted aromatic nitrile having an electron-attracting substitutent on the aromatic ring at least as strong as a halogen and an organic tertiary amine in an inert organic solvent, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. The spent contacting solution may be regenerated by heating the solution above the decomposition temperature of the reaction products to separate the sulfides from the liquid phase absorbent solution.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,519 discloses a continuous process for removing acid gas components from a gas stream by counter-currently contacting the stream with an aqueous solution of a mixture of N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) with imidazole or a methyl substituted imidazole. The gas is de-absorbed from the MDEA and the imidazole by reducing the pressure and causing the gas to flash.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,838 discloses a process for removing acid gases from a gaseous stream by contacting the stream with an aqueous scrubbing solution containing a hetero amine comprising either a five- or six-membered ring having a pKa no greater than about 8. Preferred hetero amines include imidazole and piperazine compounds.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,128,049 discloses a method for reducing the hydrogen sulfide content of hydrocarbon-containing fluids and aqueous solutions by injections of a dilute solution of a scavenging agent. Suitable scavenging agents include hexahydro-1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine and various other compounds.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,003 describes a regenerative method where an N--C--N compound is regenerated from a product of a sulfur scavenging reaction, in which said N--C--N compound removes a sulfur atom from a sulfur compound to form the original N--C--N compound.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,622,273 discloses a regenerative method for the removal of hydrogen sulfide from a gaseous stream wherein the gaseous stream is contacted with a solution containing, by weight, from 0.005 to 20 percent of a ferric ion complex, from 25.0 to 99.945 percent of water and from 0.05 to 10.0 percent of a buffering agent selected from the group consisting of alkali metal carbonate.
There are numerous patents dealing with the removal of hydrogen sulfide from liquid or gas streams with various metal chelates through redox reactions with a higher oxidation state of the metal followed by oxidative regeneration through the use of air. As a sampling: U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,621 deals with iron chelates for the removal of hydrogen sulfide from water; U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,194 deals with iron chelates with alcohol as a crystal modifier; U.S. Pat. No. 4,436,714 deals with the use of metal chelates followed by electrolytic regeneration. All of the patents related to the use of metal chelates have in common the use of the metal ion to directly oxidize hydrogen sulfide to a higher oxidation state. A draw back of this technology is the long contact time required in order to achieve efficient removal of hydrogen sulfide from the gas streams and the cost of the reactants. Another drawback is the tendancy of the metal chelates to precipitate out of solution with pH changes or over time due to the relative instability of the chelated metal ions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,287 describes a method of oxidizing hydrogen sulfide in gases to elemental sulfur by a continuous polyvalent metal catalytic liquid phase oxidation with catalysts such as iron chelate solutions in which the solution is stabilized by incorporating a general purpose biocide at a level below the kill concentration of the biocide. Typical biocide concentrations were in the range of low parts per million by weight of solution. This is different from the present invention in that the aminal compounds are not general purpose biocides, although at least one has been used as a fungicide. None of the biocides described are known to reduce the levels of hydrogen sulfide. Additionally, the levels of biocide used were far too low to achieve a measurable reduction of hydrogen sulfide, even if they were reactive.
There is a long-felt need in the art for improved, economic methods for regenerating sulfur scavenging compounds. Regenerating such compounds is not only environmentally desirable, but is also cost efficient and may reduce or eliminate the need for expensive processing equipment. In addition, since the scavenging compounds are regenerated, the need for purchasing replacement scavenging compound is greatly reduced.
An even greater benefit may be realized when the scavenged compounds are converted to a commercially useful form. The regeneration of sulfur compounds in such form provides a further financial incentive for the scavenging of such compounds and even further reduces the burden on waste disposal systems.

Method and composition for the regeneration of an aminal compound


EMI filter 20 includes input terminal Vin, output terminal Vout, resistor component R1 and diodes D1 and D2. Resistor component R1 is composed of polycrystalline resistor component Rp and ring resistor components R11 and R12. Polycrystalline resistor component Rp is connected between input and output terminals Vin and Vout. Ring resistor components R11 and R12 are provided on one and the other sides of polycrystalline resistor component at a prescribed distance, respectively. Further, diode D1 has cathode and anode electrodes connected to input terminal Vin and reference potential Vss, respectively. Likewise, diode D2 has cathode and anode electrodes connected to output terminal Vout and reference potential Vss, respectively. Ring resistor components R11 and R12 are rectangular in shape to electromagnetically couple to polycrystalline resistor component Rp. When a high frequency signal is applied to input terminal Vin, an electric current flowing through polycrystalline resistor component Rp generates magnetic fields so that ring resistor components R11 and R12 electro-magnetically induce an electric current.

EMI filters to suppress noise generated from electronic devices are more widely used in various applications as semiconductor integrated circuits are increased in integration and provided with high performance. In addition to suppressing noise, EMI filters enhanced with ESD protection have been recently developed for the ESD protection to prevent elements of the EMI filters from destruction due to external high-voltage surges. Various types of EMI filters are available for ordinary signal lines, high-speed signal lines and power lines: an RC type composed of resistor components and capacitors, an LC type composed of inductors and capacitors, an inductor type, a capacitor type, etc. Since Zener diodes have a highly protective capability for external high-voltage surges, such Zener diodes are applied for ESD protection. Capacitive components of ESD protective diodes are used for capacitors and filters composed of such capacitors and resistor components suppress noise at ordinary time when no ESD occurs, so that low-pass filters and the like have been developed (as disclosed in Vishay Inc., Data Sheet "CTF701-HS3 (2 Line EMI-Filter with ESD-Protection).
In the case of the RC type EMI filters or the like, however, where a resistor component that exhibits a small impedance in a low frequency band is used for the purpose of reduction of an insertion loss, a large current flows through the resistor component and ESD protective diodes at the occurrence of external high-voltage surges, so that required ESD endurance cannot be sustained. On the other hand, where a resistor component that exhibits a large impedance in a low frequency band is used, required ESD endurance can be sustained but a required insertion loss cannot be maintained.


A moldable composition and method of making the same, the composition including a binding mixture and filler in the form of crystalline, irregular, approximately polygonally shaped particles. The binding mixture preferably includes polyvinyl-based binders such as polyvinyl alcohol, water, a cross-linking agent such as borax, and a humectant such as propylene glycol. Furthermore, a cellulose-based thickener may be added to the binding mixture, as may a pH-adjusting compound such as sodium carbonate. The crystalline particles preferably are ground styrene having a maximum dimension ranging from one-half to three millimeters.

My invention relates generally to moldable compositions that simulate snow, both in color and structural appearance, but not in temperature. It also relates to methods of making the same. My compositions allow a user, typically a child, to make snow-like objects at room temperature.
The compositions are formed generally from a clear or translucent filler and a binding mixture. The preferred filler is crystalline polystyrene, having particles formed of solid, non-expanded polystyrene preferably crushed or ground to have a crystalline or irregular, approximately polygonal shape and sorted to have a size ranging from about one-half millimeter to three millimeters across. The binding mixture includes polyvinyl alcohol reacted with a cross-linking agent, and it preferably further contains a high percentage of humectant so that the compositions do not dry out if left exposed to air.
My compositions are particularly well-suited for use by children as a tactile toy, similar to modeling clay. They are easy to form and shape, but require a certain degree of care in doing so, particularly if a uniform outer surface of the shaped material is to be maintained. Rapid squeezing or stretching of the compositions tends to cause surface cracks and to make the shaped material look more airy or gel-like. While these properties of the compositions are interesting in their own right, for many modeling projects they are to be avoided. Slow and deliberate forming of the compositions tends to avoid these surface blemishes, or at least continually compensate for the blemishes.
My compositions are stretchable, malleable, and joinable. In this respect, U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,063, incorporated herein by reference, discloses prior art compositions of interest. However, my compositions look and feel very different from this prior art composition. In particular, it is believed that the crystalline structure of the filler particles used in my compositions, and the interaction between the binding mixture and the complex, pointed structure of the filler particles, make my compositions feel and behave very different from these prior compositions.
When squeezing or molding my compositions, there is a noticeable granular structure and resistance to movement as the crystalline filler particles interact with each other. In the prior art compositions, the spherical expanded beads appear to slide past each other much more easily, making for a very different feeling composition. The prior art compositions also failed to exhibit the snow-like cracking and blemishing discussed above.
In discussing the present invention herein, reference is made to the similarities between my compositions and snow. For accuracy, the type of snow referred to is what is known by snow skiers as "corn snow" or "spring snow." It is similar in appearance and texture to what is found in the ice-and-flavoring frozen treat commonly known as a "snow cone."
A snow cone is made up mostly of crystalline pieces of solid ice, together with water in a liquid state. When squeezed or compacted, it makes a tight, compact ball, mostly white in color, with a dark hue imparted by the liquid water. It is not, however, moldable to the extent of my compositions, which can be formed easily into thin sheet-like structures having thicknesses ofjust a few millimeters.
My invention also includes a method of making the present compositions. This method is believed to produce consistent quality in the compositions, and provide the manufacturer with an efficient and safe process for formulating the compositions, using standard handling and manufacturing equipment.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a modeling composition that simulates the look and feel of snow.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing a modeling composition that is efficient and reliable.
Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be understood more readily after a consideration of the drawings and the Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment.

Artificial snow and method of making the same


A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion and a pair of sidewall portions extending inward in a tire radial direction from both edges of the tread portion. At least one of the sidewall portions is provided with a vent line and a recessed portion adjacent to each other in the tire radial direction. The vent line protrudes from a sidewall outer surface and extends in a tire circumferential direction. The recessed portion is recessed from the sidewall outer surface at a first depth. A serration pattern, in which a plurality of ridges extending in the tire radial direction are arranged in the tire circumferential direction, is formed in the recessed portion. Each of heights of the ridges is smaller than the first depth.

The following Patent Document 1 proposes a pneumatic tire in which vent lines are provided on the outer surface of the tire. The vent lines include a first vent line and a second vent line arranged spaced apart from the first vent line on the outer side in a tire radial direction. Serration is formed between the first vent line and the second vent line. In the serration, ridges are arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other in a tire circumferential direction. Each of the ridges extends between the first vent line and the second vent line.


A method for reducing power consumption, adapted to a network system comprising a server provided with a domain name and being able to operate in a reduced power mode. When a request for the domain name is received, a wake-up signal is sent to the server for switching the server to a normal mode, and an IP address corresponding to the server name is then assigned in response to the inquiry request.

The invention relates to a network system, and in particular to a network system and method for reducing power consumption of a network server.
Data transmitted through a network can be text, audio, image, and even video files which require wider transmission bandwidth.
Presently, personal computers connect to the Internet through cable or asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) modems. With the expanded bandwidth, users have increasingly employed home network servers for hosting websites or email servers.
The number of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses provided to computer devices, however, is limited and fixed, and addresses are not always available. Thus, a provisional IP address (i.e. dynamic IP address) is randomly provided, by an Internet service provider (ISP), to a computer device whenever the computer device connects to the Internet through a modem. After the connected computer device disconnects from the Internet, the dynamic IP address will be provided to another computer device connected to the Internet. To build a network server using a dynamic IP address, a domain name server able to dynamically regulate domain names and corresponding relationships for IP addresses is required. When a personal computer acting as a network server connects to the Internet, the computer transmits its own IP address provided by an ISP to the domain name server, and the domain name server then links the IP address and a previously registered domain name by the Internet user. Thus, the domain name server can respond to request for the domain name of the personal computer with the provided IP address.
Although personal computers can act as network servers using a broadband connection, the frequency of service requests for same is much lower than for enterprise servers acting as network servers. Further, the personal computers must always remain active but are generally idle, resulting in needless power consumption.

Network system and method for reducing power consumption


Portable shelters, shelter systems, and methods of deployment of such shelters are described. The shelters or housing units may be deployed in emergency housing situations and may be grouped into systems of shelters. One particular embodiment comprises a rigid top frame structure, a rigid bottom frame structure, and one or more collapsible support arms connecting the top frame structure to the bottom frame structure. The frame structures and the collapsible support arm(s) are sized and configured to form a shelter frame when the collapsible support arm(s) are in a fully extended position, and the top frame structure is brought into proximity with the bottom frame structure when the collapsible support arm(s) are in a collapsed position. Methods of rapid deployment of the shelters and systems of shelters are also described.

Until now, humanitarian aid organizations, disaster relief agencies, and most governments were missing a critical tool for emergency recover efforts—readily deployable housing for displaced individuals and families. After most natural and man-made disasters, housing needs can be broken into three main periods: short-term housing, medium-term housing, and long-term housing. A few types of specific disasters can be forecast, such as hurricanes, which create a different housing need and a fourth period: pre-event sheltering. The general housing needs during and between those periods are drastically different. Currently, there are no emergency housing systems that can address all four periods and yet be flexible enough to transition from one housing period to the next as needs change, creating a housing gap that exacerbates recovery efforts and increases victims' misery.
For example, when Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana and Mississippi coastal regions of the United States in August 2005, many residents of those states were left with houses submerged under water or without homes or shelter of any type. After residents in more northern parts of Mississippi were having power returned to their homes, many on the Mississippi Gulf Coast were still living in tents in the parking lots of destroyed retail stores. In Louisiana, many houses also were destroyed in the southeastern parishes, and many New Orleans residents, who were unable to evacuate before the storm, were stranded at the Louisiana Superdome or New Orleans Convention Center in detestable conditions.
After Hurricane Katrina, one government agency attempted to provide housing assistance in the form of trailers, housing vouchers, leased cruise ship cabins, etc. to those most affected by the storm. However, each of these systems has major drawbacks.
Specifically, regarding the housing vouchers, they proved to be inadequate at sheltering large populations for several obvious reasons. First, a housing voucher requires an individual or a family to be relocated to other areas of the affected region in order to shelter them in existing housing units. During a large displacement of the population due to a disaster such as Hurricane Katrina, regional housing quickly reaches capacity, so the remainder of the displaced population is moved out of the region. In the case of Katrina, families from New Orleans were relocated as far away as Boston and Phoenix. By redistributing a large number of people in such an abrupt and rapid manner, regional infrastructure is overwhelmed and cannot maintain day-to-day operations. Housing vouchers present numerous problems with fraud, abuse, and the cost of living in the varying locations to which families are displaced.
Cruise ships were leased after Katrina for a relatively high nightly cost on a per person basis and for a maximum stay of six months. While these ships do allow a number of people to stay in a compact, self-sufficient area for an extended time period, the cruise ships are limited to deep-water ports for deployment, can only handle a small amount of the population from a major disaster, and must be leased or rented from private or foreign fleets.
One governmental agency was widely criticized for the slow and inadequate response in providing temporary housing to residents in need in Mississippi and Louisiana and for the high cost of the travel-type trailers provided to residents. The subject trailers cost approximately $65,000.00 each for purchase and setup on site. This price did not include transportation costs of each trailer to the deployment site or the removal costs of each trailer once it is no longer needed. Also, the trailers are not designed for long-term storage and are too bulky to efficiently store in large numbers. Moreover, the trailers were of the type that one truck could only pull one trailer, which resulted in the trailers being individually delivered to individuals and families in Mississippi and Louisiana using individual pickup trucks, which resulted in slow deployment of these trailers to those residents in need of temporary housing.
Therefore, it is clear that past solutions have many flaws without even taking into consideration the sheer costs associated with each. As such, there exists a need for housing for similarly displaced individuals and families.

Portable shelters, related shelter systems, and methods of their deployment


An at least partially flexible sealed package having an opening assembly, said opening assembly further comprising a sliding component and a lifetime indicator; the movement of said sliding component serving to open a seal of said package; the arrangement being such that the movement of said sliding component activates said lifetime indicator due to the relative motion between said sliding component and at least part of said lifetime indicator; such that said lifetime indicator can thereby providing a visual indication of the expiry status of the product within said package from the time of opening onwards.

Consumer awareness of product freshness has led to the widespread practice of addressing this issue by means of appropriate product labeling. Where relevant, the label will typically provide information related to the freshness and suggested storage method of the product. This information may include a date of manufacture, a "sell by" date, or a "best before" date. A "sell by" date specifies by which date the product should have been sold to the consumer. A "best before" date specifies by when the product should be disposed of by vendor or consumer.
The recommended storage method typically specifies whether the product is to be stored in the refrigerator or freezer and whether this storage method is to be used from the time of purchase or from the time of first opening. The former method is typically used for dairy products, whereas the latter method is usually more appropriate for jams, sauces conserves and liquid medications. For some items the labeling will also specify for how long the product may be kept after it has first been opened. The reasoning behind this is that if the product is produced and packed under conditions that eliminate deterioration, such deterioration will only occur following this first opening. Alternatively, product deterioration may commence at manufacture, but be dramatically accelerated once it is exposed to air. In either case, it is important to monitor the time since opening and not just the marked shelf-life.
A number of products have been developed and commercialized that implement the concept of active labeling. These products contain a chemical system or liquid migration system which provides a color change over time, either as a function of elapsed time since activation, or by integrating time and temperature since activation. The latter are termed TTIs (time-temperature indicators) whereas the former primarily indicate the passage of time. Herein both types of indicator are referred to generically as "lifetime indicators" or simply "indicators". The specifications of a TTI can be set to emulate those of the foodstuff in the package. Thus, given that the TTI placed on the package and activated as the food is produced, the TTI gives an accurate indication of the food freshness which takes into account the vagaries of the distribution chain. In particular, if the product has not been maintained at the appropriate temperature through a part of the distribution chain, the TTI may give the consumer an indication thereof.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,292,916, 5,053,339 5,446,705 and 5,633,835 describe color changing devices for monitoring the shelf-life of perishable products. These devices are initiated by physically bringing into contact reactive layers so that the reaction will start, and this action can only conveniently be performed at the time of packaging. This approach is suitable for monitoring the degradation of foodstuffs which lose freshness throughout the entire distribution chain. U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,223 describes a process for attaching timing indicators to packaging, including the step of setting the timer clock at the exact time of production.
There is a substantial proportion of food and drug stuffs, and other perishables for which significant degradation starts to occur only when the package is opened. U.S. Pat. No. 6,373,786, by the present author, hereby incorporated by reference, addresses this issue for rigid containers incorporating a rigid cap or closure. Said patent describes the integration of a lifetime indicator into the cap or closure, such that the first opening of the cap activates the lifetime indicator. In this manner, the thus incorporated lifetime indicator will show the elapsed time or time-temperature integral since the container was first opened. However, while said patent provides a good solution for rigid containers such as bottles and cartons which have a closure, many types of food, drugs and other perishables are packaged in at least partially flexible packaging such as plastic bags or shrink seal packages, and for these packages attaching the existing timers and TTIs is likely to produce misleading results in that they have no simple and foolproof means of activation at the time of opening the package.
It is therefore the intention of the present invention to obviate the shortcomings of the above-mentioned solutions by providing a simple and appropriate means of activating a lifetime indicator on first opening of an at least partially flexible package for foodstuffs medicines and other perishables, which have long shelf lives but deteriorate after opening. Thus, in the present invention, a key element is the use of an opening method which activates the lifetime indicator.

Package showing elapsed time since opening