Sound is processed for therein enhancing wanted sound with respect to unwanted sound. The sound is distributed over a plurality of parallel pass bands. In each channel, possibly with excepting the lowest frequency channels, the envelope of the respective signals in that frequency band is detected. Next, the envelope, or in the lowest frequency channels, the signal itself is preferentially filtered for enhancing signals at the fundamental frequency of the wanted sound. Subsequently, as far as applicable, the signal filtered is modulated with the envelope found for the channel in question and all channel outputs are summed.

The invention relates to a method for processing source sound for therein enhancing wanted sound with respect to unwanted sound, said method comprising the steps of:
distributing said source sound over a plurality of bandpass filters in as many channel in parallel; PA0 in each channel applying a respective filter means for preferentially filtering the wanted sound with respect to the unwanted sound in that channel's frequency band; PA0 aggregating output signals of said channels to an enhanced output sound. PA0 feeding each bandpass filter's output to an envelope detecting means to feed that channel's filter means; PA0 feeding each respective filter means' output to an envelope modulating means to generate that channel's output signal. PA0 bandpass filter means at a frequency of the associated channel; PA0 envelope detecting means fed by the channel's bandpass filter means; PA0 comb filter means fed by the channel's envelope detecting means fed by the channel's; PA0 envelope modulating means fed by the channel's filter means;
First, the wanted sound may be speech, or more generally, such sound to which a particular pitch may be attributed. Sound having no such pitch is left out of consideration as a target for being enhanced. Now, sound enhancing is improving the signal-to-noise ratio, wherein the noise may be another sound or voice than the one to be enhanced, music, noises generated by identifiable objects such as machines, or just physically present noise, of which the source is unknown or indistinct. Such enhancing intends to make the wanted sound better comprehensible, more agreeable or otherwise more suitable. It would be feasible to enhance the sound of a particular musical instrument with respect to other instruments. The result of the enhancing may be used per se. Another application would be to subtract the enhanced signal from the source signal for subsequently using or further processing of the subtraction result.
The described straightforward method may succeed for low frequencies that are coupled to the pitch of the signal in question, whether wanted or unwanted. Higher harmonics, however, cause problems of various nature. First, the phase of such higher harmonics is less precisely coupled to the basic pitch period; in extreme cases, the phase itself is subject to noisy phenomena. Therefore, such methods would attribute to these latter noisy phenomena a certain harmonic structure. This would, in its turn, cause disturbances in the higher frequency range of the wanted signal, and effectively attenuate higher-frequency components thereof. This effectively would render the recited solution imperfect with respect to the objects recited supra.

Method and apparatus for sound enhancement with envelopes of multiband-passed signals feeding comb filters


A sag corrector apparatus for providing voltages temporarily (ride-through) to a load during momentary electrical disturbances in the power supply line. In one embodiment, the disclosed apparatus compensates for voltage sags by using a variable duty cycle boost converter to boost the sagged line voltage to resemble desired voltage levels during occurrence of voltage sags. The boosted voltage available to a connected load during a sag depends on a sequence of operation of various control pulses. Duty cycle of the boost converter is controlled by changing the width (duration) of the control pulses. To prevent voltage shoot-throughs from over-boosting, an energy clamp circuit is provided to dissipate excess energy. Embodiments of the sag corrector circuit can be additionally integrated with power protection functions.

The five commonly observed power supply line disturbances are voltage surges, voltage sags, overvoltage, under-voltage, and brownouts. Of these, voltage sags account for 90-95% of events, particularly in commercial and industrial facilities. Voltage sags are voltage reductions in the nominal line voltage. Typically, voltage sags are characterized by drops of between 10%-90% of nominal (system) line voltages. The drops in voltage typically last from a cycle (16.6 millisecond) to a second or so, or tens of milliseconds to hundreds of milliseconds.
The reason for occurrence of voltage sags can be due to faults on the grid, and also due to high starting currents drawn by electrical loads (e.g., motors, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, etc.) at startup. Another reason for occurrence of voltage sags is faults in the power provider's transmission or distribution lines. Voltage sags occurring at high voltages typically spread through the electrical utility network and are transmitted to lower voltage systems via line transformers. Additionally, voltage sags can occur frequently in some locations that experience severe weather phenomenon such as lightning, wind, and ice. For example, lightning strikes a power line and continues to ground, which results in a line-to-ground fault. The line-to-ground fault in turn creates a voltage sag and this reduced voltage can be seen over a wide area. The amplitude of a voltage sag is the value of the instantaneous line voltage during a voltage sag. Generally, voltage sags are followed by a short duration increase (i.e. inrush) in the line current upon to nominal voltage levels due to discharge of reactive impedance in the load during the sag.
Power protection equipment to date has focused primarily on protecting downstream (i.e. from the perspective of the power supply) electrical equipment from damage. Further, since typical power protectors are simple inexpensive electrical devices, having little or no power electronics for fast dynamic control, these devices have not been used to provide ride-through during an electrical line disturbance. Examples of typical power protectors include (but are not limited to) Metal Oxide Varistors (MOVs), relays, thermistors such as Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistors or Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) thermistors, etc.
For example, MOVs are used for protection against lightning strikes. NTC thermistors or PTC thermistors are inserted for protection against inrush current, and relays are used to cut out equipment in case of damaging overvoltage events. However, neither relays nor thermistors are able to provide ride through functionality. Ride through functionality involves providing temporary electrical energy to synthesize normal operating conditions for a connected load or electrical equipment, during the occurrence of momentary electrical disturbances such as voltage sags. Such a functionality can be provided by a single device, or a combination of electrical components connected in a certain arrangement. A ride-through device that is in common use is an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), or a voltage sag corrector, such as the dynamic sag corrector. However, these devices generally do not provide any protection functionality.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that what is needed is a device that protects against common disturbances and also allows the machine/load/equipment to keep operating through frequently occurring disturbances (e.g., voltage sags). Voltage sags are voltage reductions in the line voltage.
From various electrical power grid measurements, it has been determined that voltage sags are statistically distributed in a manner such that a vast majority of sags retain at least 50% of the nominal line voltage value and last no more than 2-3 seconds. Conventionally, a typical sag correction device would involve the use of an inverter to inject the additional voltage needed, during the occurrence of a voltage sag, with a normal bypass arrangement to restore back to normal operating line conditions when the sag is over. However, such sag correction devices are typically very expensive.
Another possibility is to use an ac chopper arrangement to boost the incoming line voltage to an appropriate value. Such a boost converter arrangement is well known to practicing engineers. However, boost converters suffer from a significant limitation in terms of speed of response—driven by a 'right half plane' zero in the control characteristics. Further, the need for gate drives and control logic to interconnect each element of the ac switches, adds to cost and 'real estate' in a product that is preferred to be compact and low-cost.
What is proposed in this disclosure is a low-cost arrangement of transient voltage surge protection devices such as MOVs, relays for sustained overvoltage and under-voltage protection, and an arrangement of semiconductor devices such as MOSFETs and diodes—along with their control, power supply and gate drive circuits, that provide protection against the common disturbances, as well as ride-through for connected equipment, in the presence of frequently occurring power disturbances—i.e. voltage sags. Thus, there is clearly a need for a combined inexpensive device that integrates protection and ride-through functions and does so without sacrificing the cost of the typical power protector.

Voltage sag corrector using a variable duty cycle boost converter


A braze material for repairing an article, and particularly industrial gas turbine engine nozzles formed from nickel-base superalloys. The braze material is composed of a nickel-base braze alloy that is preferably in powder form and dispersed in a suitable vehicle, such as a binder that forms a slurry with the powder. The braze alloy is formulated to be capable of withstanding the high temperature operating environment of an industrial gas turbine nozzle, and to have a melting temperature below the recrystallization temperature of the superalloy to be repaired. A desirable composition for the braze alloy, in weight percent, about 14 to 24 chromium, about 6 to 15 cobalt, about 0.7 to 2.5 boron, about 1.0 to 2.0 titanium, about 0.6 to 1.0 aluminum, about 1.0 to 1.4 tungsten, about 0.4 to 0.6 columbium, about 0.5 to 0.7 tantalum, and up to about 0.7 iron, with the balance being nickel and incidental impurities.

High temperature cobalt-base and nickel-base superalloys are used in the manufacture of high temperature operating gas turbine engine components, including the nozzles, combustors, and turbine vanes and blades. During the operation of such components under strenuous high temperature conditions, various types of damage or deterioration can occur. For example, erosion and cracks tend to develop at the trailing edge of nozzles during service due to stresses that are aggravated by frequent thermal cycling. Over time, the severe operating conditions of the nozzles can develop cracks that measure up to one millimeter wide and fifty millimeters long. Because the cost of components formed from high temperature cobalt and nickel-base superalloys is relatively high, it is typically more desirable to repair these components than to replace them.
Repair methods for nozzles formed from superalloys specially adapted for their operating environment have included gas tungsten arc welding techniques. However, a more recent and cost effective approach that has been adopted for the repair of superalloy components is termed activated diffusion healing, or ADH, which involves a vacuum brazing operation. The ADH process employs an alloy powder or mixtures of powders that will melt at a lower temperature than the superalloy component to be repaired. If two powders are combined, one of the powders is formulated to melt at a much lower temperature than the other powder, such that upon melting a two-phase mixture is formed. The vacuum brazing cycle causes the braze powder mixture to melt and alloy together and with the superalloy of the component being repaired. A post-braze diffusion heat treatment cycle is then performed to promote further interdiffusion, which raises the remelt temperature of the braze mixture.
With the advent of higher strength and more highly alloyed superalloys, improved repair materials have been required that are specialized for the particular superalloy to be repaired. It is often the intent to provide a braze alloy that will result in a repair characterized by high strength and a microstructure that is closely matched with the microstructure of the article being repaired. As a result, a considerable variety of braze alloy materials have been developed for use in the ADH process and other braze repair techniques. While many highly suitable repair materials have been formulated to perform well with various high strength cobalt-base and nickel-base superalloys, the prior art lacks a braze repair material that is especially formulated to repair nozzles formed from certain superalloys. Of primary concern here, braze repair materials for nozzles must be uniquely tailored to the mechanical and environmental properties required for the particular nozzle to be repaired, whose property requirements will depend on the type of engine and its application, whether aerospace or industrial.


A reward program is a type of “loyalty marketing” that typically utilizes a formal scheme to promote or encourage specific actions or behavior by a target audience. For instance, credit card companies have been known to offer “cash back” rewards to cardholders for using a particular credit card over some other form of payment. As another example, airlines are known to offer “frequent flier” mile rewards for electing to fly on a particular airline. The frequent flier miles can be traded in for travel discounts. Loyalty marketing concepts can also be applied to website applications. For instance, a website reward program can allow visitors an opportunity to earn virtual awards, e.g.: badges, titles, points, etc. Visitors can also earn awards that translate into real-world benefits, such as discounts, vouchers, etc.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a method of creating awards profiles for website visitors. The awards issued to website visitors in the form of awards profiles are typically badges earned when the website visitors perform or participate in various incentive-programs offered by the websites.
2. Description of the Related Art
A reward program is a type of "loyalty marketing" that typically utilizes a formal scheme to promote or encourage specific actions or behavior by a target audience. For instance, credit card companies have been known to offer "cash back" rewards to cardholders for using a particular credit card over some other form of payment. As another example, airlines are known to offer "frequent flier" mile rewards for electing to fly on a particular airline. The frequent flier miles can be traded in for travel discounts.
Loyalty marketing concepts can also be applied to website applications. For instance, a website reward program can allow visitors an opportunity to earn virtual awards, e.g.: badges, titles, points, etc. Visitors can also earn awards that translate into real-world benefits, such as discounts, vouchers, etc.


A connector includes a first housing, a second housing and a releaser. The second housing is attached with the first housing. An accommodating part is provided in the first housing. A first projection is provided in the accommodating part. A detector is accommodated in the accommodating part. A lock portion is provided in the detector and is engaged with the first projection. The releaser releases the lock portion from the first projection when the second housing is attached with the first housing.

The present invention relates to a connector which enables the detection of its fitting condition.
Conventionally, as a connector which enables the detection of a fitting condition of a pair of housings thereof, there has been known a connector which includes a pair of connector housings and a fitting detection member that is built in one of the connector housings (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).
In this connector, a lock arm is provided on one of the connector housing which is elastically deformed towards a deflection space by the other connector housing. An elastic arm is provided on the detection member, and this elastic arm is elastically deformed in association with a deflecting action of the lock arm. In addition, a restriction receiving portion is provided on the elastic arm, and this restriction receiving portion is locked on a locking portion on the one connector housing when the elastic arm is deformed so as to be restricted from being pushed into the deflection space. Then, when the pair of connector housings are properly fitted in or on each other, the elastic arm is elastically restored to its original state in association with the lock arm is restored to its original state, whereby the detection member is allowed to be pushed into the deflection space.
Consequently, in such a state that the pair of connector housings are properly fitted in or on each other, since the detection member can be pushed into the deflection space, the operator can detect that the pair of connector housings are in the proper fitting state.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication Number 2004-71288
In the connector described above, however, since the elastic arm of the detection member extends in a width direction of the detection member so as to project from a width direction of a deflection space as a result of the deflecting action of the lock arm on the one connector housing, the space has had to be ensured to permit the extending action of the elastic arm, calling for enlargement of the connector in size.


A method for signifying a selected cumulative scrubbing action between a device and a surface, the cumulative scrubbing action being signified by a signaling element, wherein the signaling element is configured to provide an observable signal when the selected cumulative scrubbing action has been provided to the surface. The method may comprise applying scrubbing action to the signaling element to release and/or expose at least a first portion of an indicator, and observing the device and/or surface for the signal. The present disclosure also relates to signaling elements and devices for use according to the methods of the present disclosure, and to methods of preparing the same.

In many applications, including the disinfection of skin surfaces, the cleansing of household and/or hospital surfaces, and the cleanup of hazardous materials, scrubbing action plays an important role in providing an acceptable result. For example, certain cleansing agents must be sufficiently scrubbed in order to provide acceptable cleansing. As such, it is often not acceptable to merely ensure that certain agents (e.g., cleansing agents) have been applied to a surface. Rather, it is important to ensure that an adequate scrubbing action has also been applied.
There is thus a need in the art for a reliable and efficient method for confirming if an adequate scrubbing action has been achieved on a surface, while also determining where on the surface the adequate scrubbing action has been provided.

Method and devices for signifying scrubbing action


An apparatus for the controlled cooling of chemical tanks containing a chemical which must be kept at a first prescribed temperature includes at least one heat-exchanger coil immersed inside a chemical tank and through which there is made to circulate a flow of an inert gas. The apparatus includes a storage system for storing and cooling a prescribed volume of inert gas at a second prescribed temperature lower than the first prescribed temperature, feeding means for feeding the storage means with inert gas coming from a main supply line, and valve means interposed between the storage means and an inlet of the at least one heat-exchanger coil for controlling the supply of cooled inert gas to the heat-changer coil.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for the controlled cooling of chemical tanks.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In microelectronics industry, the manufacturing of integrated circuits involves several steps of liquid-based or "wet" etching: the silicon wafers are immersed in rather capacious tanks (to allow the simultaneous processing of several wafers) containing a chemical solution whose composition and temperature depend on the particular material to be etched.
In some cases the etching process is carried out at temperatures higher than the room temperature (21.degree. C.): the etching solution must be maintained within a temperature range from 28.degree. C. to 38.degree. C., for which purpose means for heating the etching solution are necessary.
There is a class of materials for which the etching process is carried out at room temperature. In this class, some materials, such as silicon, react with the etching solution generating heat (i.e., the reaction is exothermic). If no cooling means are provided, the heat generated by the reaction causes an increase in the temperature of the etching solution which modifies (increases) the reaction speed, and the etching process goes out of control. As a result, several wafers must be rejected.
Also, as evident, cooling means are necessary when the etching process is carried out at temperatures lower than the room temperature.
According to the known art, the cooling means include teflon coils which are immersed in the etching solution and through which water is made to flow. The coils are connected to an external tank to which a refrigerating system is associated. A temperature sensor immersed in the etching solution controls the refrigerating system to maintain the etching solution in the desired temperature range.
The problem is that, with use and handling due to cleaning, microfractures are created in the teflon coils, through which the water leaks out contaminating the etching solution with ions present in the water. Such ions deposit on the silicon wafers and give rise to defects that cause the wafers to be rejected.
In the published European Patent Application No. 507387 a device for heating chemical tanks is described which includes a pair of heat-exchanger teflon coils, immersed in the etching solution, through which an inert gas such as pure nitrogen is made to flow. The coils are connected to respective heating units which are fed with the inert gas from a main supply line. The use of an inert gas as the heating element instead of water assures that, even in presence of microfractures in the teflon coils through which the gas can leak, the etching solution is not contaminated.
In view of the state of the art described, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for the controlled cooling of chemical tanks used for wet etching of semiconductor wafers, which is safe and reduces the chance of contamination of the etching solution.

Apparatus and method for the controlled cooling of chemical tanks

Consorzio per la Ricerca sulla Microelttronica nel Mezzogiorno


The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising dosage units of pyridoxamine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and methods for their use in limiting the progression of renal disease and/or diabetic complications in human diabetic patient.

Nephropathy develops in 30 to 40 percent of patients with Type 1 diabetes, and in an estimated 10 to 15 percent of patients with Type 2 diabetes. An early sign of the disease includes the loss of protein (particularly albumin) into the urine ("proteinuria" or "albuminuria"). As renal damage progresses, patients lose the ability to effectively filter the blood in the glomerulus and can progress to the need for dialysis or transplantation. Diabetic nephropathy, and in particular dialysis and transplantation, is costly both in terms of medical treatment and in lost productivity. Treatment that prevents or limits the development or progression of diabetic nephropathy will meet a significant medical need and provide significant cost savings to the health care system.
Increased levels of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in the glomerular basement membrane are regarded as a major contributing factor in the development of diabetic nephropathy. Circulating levels of AGEs are elevated in diabetic patients and increase dramatically when renal function begins to decline. A large body of evidence has demonstrated that pyridoxamine, a potent AGE inhibitor, can dramatically inhibit the progression of kidney disease in treated animals compared to untreated control animals.

Pyridoxamine for the treatment of diabetic intermediaries and post-amadori inhibition


A method of evaluating stabilization fluids for use in a subterranean formation having a clay composition is disclosed. The method features providing a plurality of replicant core samples representative of the composition of a subterranean formation. A plurality of stabilization fluids are introduced to the plurality of replicant core sample such that an eluted mixture is extracted from a second end of each replicant core sample. Afterwards, at least one property of the eluted mixture from each replicant core sample is determined.

The production of oil and gas from subterranean formations which contain clays and other fines is often impeded by the unstable nature of these materials. Clays and fines when in an undisturbed condition are stable and cause no obstruction to the flow of hydrocarbons through the formation. However, when these materials are disturbed by contact with an aqueous fluid that is foreign to the formation, the clays can swell and the fines can migrate through the capillary flow channels in the formation resulting in a reduction of formation permeability, which is sometimes referred to herein as formation damage.
Attempts to diminish the damaging effects of introduced aqueous fluids upon subterranean formations have included treating clay contained in the formations to prevent or reduce swelling resulting from exposure to aqueous fluids. This method of control has featured the addition of various salts to the aqueous fluids utilized in the treatment of subterranean formations. Inorganic salts such as potassium chloride, calcium chloride, and ammonium chloride have been dissolved in an aqueous fluid utilized to treat a formation. The solubilized salts enter into a cation exchange with the charged layers, which comprise the clays. While these salts often do diminish the reduction of formation permeability, they can be detrimental to the performance of other constituents of the treatment fluid. For example, the salts, which are typically admixed with the aqueous fluid before admixture of any viscosifying or gelling agents to the aqueous fluid, may have a detrimental effect upon the viscosity yield by the gelling agent upon hydration in the aqueous fluid.
Furthermore, such salts, and particularly those containing chloride ions, are finding environmental objections and are therefore preferably to be avoided. Accordingly, there is interest in finding new and better additives by which a subterranean formation can be protected from the damaging effects of foreign aqueous fluids wherein the treating fluid used can be prepared simply and without detrimental effects to fluid constituents.


The invention relates to an improved structure of a decorative light string, which includes an electrical wire to connect with many bulb assemblies for decorative lighting. The bulb assembly includes a light bulb holder with a dint to receive a LED bulb and a base with a dint to receive the holder together with the LED bulb under a corrective direction. By use of the invention, the light string lights without high heat and prevent from any accident of fire and damage.

Conventional decorative light string has been used for a long time which includes an electrical wire connecting with a plurality of light bulbs. The known bulbs are almost filament-bulbs (1), as shown in FIG. 1. These bulbs will be very hot after being used for a period of time. Therefore, the heat of the filament-bulbs is possible to burn something around them, that might hurt a user who carelessly contacts the bulbs or cause a terrible accident of fire.


Improved ice luge trays and methods for use and assembly thereof. The ice luge trays include a trough and a lid that fits above the trough. The trough, with the lid disposed thereon, is configured to be filled with water and placed in a freezer to form an ice block. The lid includes features that forms a channel extending along or through the ice block. The tray is mounted on a support structure to enable a beverage to be chilled as it flows down the channel under gravity, and delivered to a drinking vessel or directly into the mouth of a user.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to chilled beverage dispensing and, more particularly, to apparatus, systems, and methods relating to ice luges for chilled beverage dispensing.
2. Description of Related Art
Ice luges are commonly used at celebrations, parties, and other events to provide an entertaining way to rapidly chill and dispense beverages to guests. Typically, an ice luge consists of one or more large blocks of ice including one or more channels carved or otherwise formed within the ice block(s) in various different patterns or configurations. The ice block(s) is configured or positioned such that a liquid entering the input flows through the channels under gravity, ultimately exiting an output of the ice block(s). In use, a serving of a desired beverage is poured into the input, while the user places his/her mouth adjacent the output, awaiting the travel of the beverage through the channels and, ultimately, into the user's mouth. As the beverage travels through the channels formed within the ice block(s), the beverage is chilled such that, by the time the beverage reaches the output, it is sufficiently chilled for consumption.

Ice luge apparatus, systems, and methods for chilled beverage dispensing


A method for identifying business service recommendations includes: storing merchant profiles, each profile including data related to a merchant including a merchant identifier and transaction for a plurality of payment transactions; receiving, a data file including a plurality of merchant entries, each entry including data related to a merchant including a merchant identifier and firmographics; identifying a specific merchant entry where the merchant identifier corresponds to a merchant identifier in a specific merchant profile; calculating transaction scores for the specific merchant entry based on the transaction data in the specific merchant profile; identifying a related merchant entry where the firmographics correspond to the firmographics in the specific merchant entry and where the merchant identifier is not included in a merchant profile; and identifying one or more business service recommendations for the merchant related to the related merchant entry based on transaction scores and firmographics in the related merchant entry.

In many places, small businesses are staples of their community. Small businesses are often owned by local residents who are native to the area, that hold a desire to give back to their community by way of offering quality goods and services to their fellow residents. However, as large, national and international business chains continue to grow, these large businesses often move in to the territory served by these small, local businesses. The large businesses, having such a large infrastructure, often have the ability to sell goods and services for lower profit margins, and can many times undercut the local small businesses. The result is that these small business can often struggle to survive when a large, national or international business moves in to the area.
In some instances, small businesses find unique goods or services to offer that are not provided by larger businesses, which can provide for sufficient revenue to help maintain a profitable business. However, some small businesses may lack the technology or ability to locate such goods or identify services that they may offer local consumers in an effort to distinguish themselves from other businesses. In addition, small businesses may also often be unaware of internal services that may be utilized or improved that can decrease overhead, increase production, or otherwise provide positive value and increase net profit for the business, such as information technology, inventory, and management services.
Thus, there is a need for a technical solution to identify business services that may be utilized by small businesses that can decrease overhead, increase profits, increase consumer services, or otherwise improve the small business.

Method and system for targeting small businesses


A sheet conveying device includes a tray having a bottom surface. The tray holds at least one sheet therein, and has a recess formed in the bottom surface. A rotating member moves between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the rotating member contacts a sheet held in the tray, and in the second position, the rotating member is separated from the tray. The rotating member selectively rotates to convey a sheet held in the tray in a when the rotating member is in the first position. An operative portion moves in and out of the recess in the bottom surface of the tray, and movement of the operative portion corresponds to a movement of the rotating member into the second position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet conveying device comprising a positioning member configured to place sheets held in a tray in position and an image recording apparatus including the sheet conveying device.
2. Description of Related Art
Known sheet conveying devices separate sheets stacked in a tray one by one and convey the sheets to a recording section. In such sheet conveying devices, as a pickup roller is driven with its roller surface contacting a sheet, sheets are conveyed from the tray to a predetermined conveying direction while being separated one by one by friction. A known sheet conveying device includes a pickup roller rotatably supported at an end of an arm, which is configured to move pivotally. In the sheet conveying device, a few sheets remaining in the tray may be conveyed simultaneously. Feeding of a plurality of sheets simultaneously may be called multiple sheet feeding. To prevent multiple sheet feeding by reliably separating sheets, a friction member having a predetermined frictional coefficient is positioned on a sheet mounting surface of the tray. The friction member is positioned to face the pickup roller on the sheet mounting surface. The friction member will reduce the possibility of multiple sheet feeding because the frictional force applied between the tray and the sheets becomes greater than the frictional force applied between the sheets.
When the tray becomes empty as the last one sheet remaining in the tray is conveyed, the pickup roller and the friction member contact each other. In this case, contact and friction between the pickup roller and the friction member apply excessive loads to the pickup roller. To prevent excessive load to the pickup roller, a known image recording apparatus, e.g., an image recording apparatus described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20070081199, corresponding to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2007-62965, discloses a moving device configured to raise the pickup roller away from the friction member when the tray becomes empty. The moving device reduces excessive loads applied to the pickup roller.
However, the sheet conveying device including the moving device may not convey sheets, depending on the sizes of sheets in the conveying direction, as the moving device raises the pickup roller before the leading edge of a sheet reaches a conveying device positioned downstream of the pickup roller in the conveying direction.

Sheet conveying devices and image recording apparatuses including the same


An elongated poster support arrangement comprising an elongated extrusion having an uppermost wall, a first tapered sidewall and a second tapered sidewall. The first and second sidewalls angularly extend from the uppermost wall. A central support wall is arranged between the first and the second tapered sidewalls to define a first longitudinal chamber between the first tapered sidewall and the central support wall and also to define a second longitudinal chamber between the second tapered sidewall and the central support wall. An arrangement of gripping members is loosely disposed within the second longitudinal chamber. The second chamber is arranged to receive a poster therein for pinched securement between the gripping members and the central support wall.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices for supporting posters from an overhead surface, and more in particularly to an extrusion which readily receives posters, and which extrusion may be readily attached to a ceiling rail or dis-attached from that ceiling rail in a simple manner. This application incorporates by reference co-pending application Ser. No. 10/616,419 filed Jul. 9, 2003, and Ser. No. 10/660,909 filed Jun. 4, 2004 and Ser. No. 10/616,439 filed Jul. 9, 2003, and also is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 10/616,433 filed Jul. 9, 2003 now abandoned.
2. Prior Art
In the merchandising field particularly as it relates to customers in department stores and shopping malls and the like, poster advertisements are critical. They are changed frequently and often moved around in order to advertise goods and to catch the customer's attention. Setup and the support assembly of these posters has to be very simple to permit the attachment and removal of posters and advertisements from a ceiling rail by relatively low paid employees of that merchandiser or store. stepladder or careful, difficult alignment and manipulation of a tool by which the poster is attached to a ceiling rail or removed from a ceiling rail.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a poster support arrangement which will safely grasp and hold a poster inserted therein in a safe and efficient manner.
It is still yet a further object of the present invention to provide a poster support arrangement which will permit the simple removal of the poster support arrangement from an overhead ceiling rail.
It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a poster support arrangement which will permit the poster to be removed therefrom and a new poster inserted without damaging the poster or the support arrangement in a manner not shown or suggested by the prior art.


A method and system for enabling personal digital assistants (PDAs) and protecting stored private data. Specifically, one embodiment in accordance with the present invention includes a removable expansion card about the size of a postage stamp which plugs into a slot of a personal digital assistant. The removable expansion card, referred to as a personality card, is capable of storing all of a user's private information and data which is used within their personal digital assistant. By removing the personality card from the personal digital assistant, all of the user's private information and data may be removed from the personal digital assistant. Furthermore, the personal digital assistant may also be rendered totally or partially useless once the personality card is removed from it. There are several advantages associated with a personality card system in accordance with the present invention. For example, one of the advantages is that a user is able to restrict access to their stored private information and data by simply removing their personality card from their personal digital assistant. Furthermore, as personal digital assistants equipped with personality card slots become increasingly more common, a user will be able to continually carry around their personality card and enable a spare and locally available personal digital assistant with their private information when desired.

Computers and other electronic devices have become integral tools used in a wide variety of different applications, such as in finance and commercial transactions, computer-aided design and manufacturing, health care, telecommunication, education, etc. Computers along with other electronic devices are finding new applications as a result of advances in hardware technology and rapid development in software technology. Furthermore, the functionality of a computer system or other type of electronic device is dramatically enhanced by coupling these type of stand-alone devices together in order to form a networking environment. Within a networking environment, users may readily exchange files, share information stored on a common database, pool resources, and communicate via electronic mail (e-mail) and via video teleconferencing. Furthermore, computers along with other types of electronic devices which are coupled to the internet provide their users access to data and information from all over the world. Computer systems have become useful in many aspects of everyday life both for personal and business uses.
Included within this broad category of computers and electronic devices is the personal digital assistant (commonly referred to as a PDA). Specifically, as the components required to build a computer system have been greatly reduced in size, new categories of computer systems have emerged. One of these new categories of computer systems is the personal digital assistant. A personal digital assistant is a portable computer system which is small enough to be held in the hand of its user and can be "palm-sized."
Since personal digital assistants are very small, full-sized keyboards are generally not efficient input devices. For instance, personal digital assistants using keyboards usually have keyboard devices that are so small that a user typically cannot touch-type on them. Many personal digital assistants employ a stylus and a digitizer pad as an input system. The stylus and digitizer pad work well for personal digital assistants because the arrangement allows a user to hold the personal digital assistant in one hand while writing with the stylus onto the digitizer pad with the other hand. A small on-screen keyboard image can also be used for data entry. Because of the elimination of the keyboard, personal digital assistants are very portable and tend to be carried by the user wherever they go, including on travel.
Furthermore, the personal digital assistant is usually a battery powered device that is typically used as an electronic organizer having the capability to store and display a wide range of information which can include numerous addresses and telephone numbers of business and personal acquaintances, financial information, daily appointments, along with various other personal information. In this manner, the personal digital assistant is able to consolidate a variety of information which is easily accessible by its user. Therefore, personal digital assistants are very useful and powerful devices.
It should be appreciated that even though there are many advantages associated with personal digital assistants, one disadvantage is that anyone in possession of someone else's personal digital assistant typically has unrestricted access to the variety of personal and private information stored within it. As such, if a personal digital assistant is misplaced or lost and falls into the wrong hands, the stored private information may be accessed and used for purposes detrimental to the owner of the personal digital assistant. Therefore, the private information stored by a personal digital assistant is typically accessible by any potential user of the device. Second, as personal digital assistants become more ubiquitous, it would be desired to take advantage of this fact to provide methods to make personal digital assistant usage easier.

Method and system for enabling personal digital assistants and protecting stored private data


A process for dehydrating a natural gas or refinery gas containing water and BTEX using a liquid desiccant (glycol) and including regeneration provides the following steps:. (a) absorption of the water and the BTEX by contacting the gas with the liquid desiccant which has been regenerated in step (c), producing a dry gaseous effluent and the liquid desiccant charged with water and BTEX; PA1 (b) separating the charged liquid desiccant into a vapor containing a portion of the BTEX and a liquid phase containing mainly desiccant charged with water and BTEX; PA1 (c) regenerating the liquid desiccant in a distillation zone from which a vapor containing water and BTEX and regenerated liquid desiccant are extracted, the latter being sent to absorption step (a); PA1 (d) condensing the vapor from the distillation zone and separating it into three phases: a gaseous effluent containing BTEX, a liquid hydrocarbon phase containing BTEX, and an aqueous liquid phase; and PA1 (e) washing the gaseous effluent by absorbing the BTEX in a fraction of regenerated desiccant liquid removed from a point in the process and returning the desiccant to a point in the regeneration zone of step (c).

Dehydration of a gas, for example a natural gas or a refinery gas, is a conventional operation. It allows the dew point of the gas to be controlled, to prevent the formation of hydrates or ice during transport or use of the gas; it can reduce the risk of corrosion, etc. . . . .
To this end, the gas is currently brought into contact with a hydrophilic liquid desiccant; of these, glycols are very widely used. Triethyleneglycol (TEG) is used most frequently in almost 95% of cases, because of its high affinity for water, its chemical stability and its low cost. However, for certain applications, monoethyleneglycol (MEG), diethyleneglycol (DEG) or tetraethyleneglycol (T4EG) may be preferred.
In a conventional gas dehydration unit using a liquid desiccant, for example glycol, as shown in the accompanying FIG. 1, the wet gas enters via line 1 at the bottom of an absorption column A1, operating under pressure, where it contacts a counter-current of liquid desiccant introduced overhead via line 3. During contact, the water contained in the gas is absorbed by the desiccant. The dehydrated gas leaves absorption column A1 overhead at high pressure via line 2. The desiccant charged with water leaves the bottom of column A1 and is sent via line 4 to the head of a regeneration unit R1 where it is used as a cooling fluid. After heat exchange, the desiccant charged with water is sent to a flash separation drum S1 where the pressure is lower than in absorption column A1. In some cases, the desiccant charged with water is first sent to the flash separation drum before using it as a cooling fluid at the head of regeneration unit R1. A large portion of the gas absorbed at high pressure by the desiccant is separated from the liquid phase in drum S1. The gas can either be discharged into the atmosphere via line 5 or used as fuel gas during the desiccant regeneration step, in which case it is sent to the burner of reboiler R2 of regeneration apparatus R1.
The liquid desiccant containing water, but separated from the gas absorbed at high pressure, leaves the flash separation drum via line 7. After passage through at least one heat exchanger E1, it is sent via line 7 to thermal regeneration apparatus R1, in which a portion of the water absorbed by the desiccant is vaporised and eliminated overhead via line 8, while the regenerated desiccant which leaves via line 3 passes through exchanger E1 and is sent via a pump P1 through cooler E4 then to the head of absorption column A1.
It is known, however, that the water cannot be completely separated from the desiccant using a thermal route at atmospheric pressure since the desiccant degrades at a temperature below its normal boiling point. As an example, TEG boils at about 285.degree. C., but a limit of 204.degree. C. is generally applied during regeneration to limit degradation. At this temperature, the purity of the regenerated TEG is close to 98.7% by weight.
When greater purity is desired for the liquid desiccant (glycol) in order to produce more effective dehydration of the gas, a conventional method consists of following the thermal reconcentration step by a stripping step using a gas which is dry or contains a small amount of water, for example a portion of the gas stream which has been dehydrated by the desiccant, as described in particular in United States patent U.S. Pat. No. 3,105,748.
A further technique consists of following the reconcentration step by a stripping step using a liquid stripping agent at ambient temperature and pressure and forming a heteroazeotrope with water. This configuration, which is described in French patent FR-B-2 698 017 in particular, comprises:
1. a reboiling step for the liquid desiccant charged with water; PA1 2. a desiccant distillation step comprising at least one distillation stage; PA1 3. a stripping step for the liquid desiccant which has been partially regenerated during steps 1 and 2, using the vaporised stripping agent; PA1 4. a step for condensing the vapour leaving distillation step 2, to generate two liquid phases, one being mainly water, the other being mainly stripping agent; PA1 5. heating the liquid phase which is rich in stripping agent from step 4, said heating regenerating a vapour phase which is richer in water than said liquid phase and a liquid phase which is depleted in water; PA1 6. returning the liquid phase constituted essentially by stripping agent from step 5 to step 3. PA1 a gas which always contains BTEX; PA1 a solution containing water and TEG, which can be regenerated without risking BTEX emissions. PA1 (a) a step for absorbing water and BTEX by contacting said wet gas with the liquid desiccant which has been regenerated in step (c), producing a dry effluent gas and a stream of liquid desiccant charged with water and BTEX; PA1 (b) a step for separating said charged liquid desiccant into a vapour containing mainly methane, water vapour and a portion of the BTEX, and a liquid phase containing mainly the liquid desiccant charged with water and BTEX; PA1 (c) a step for regenerating said liquid desiccant, comprising a reboiling zone and a distillation zone, in which the charged liquid desiccant is sent to said distillation zone, from which a vapour containing water and BTEX and said regenerated liquid desiccant are extracted, which latter is sent as the desiccant to the inlet to said absorption zone of step (a); PA1 (d) a step for condensing the vapour from said distillation zone, followed by separation into three phases: a gaseous effluent containing BTEX, a liquid hydrocarbon phase containing BTEX and an aqueous liquid phase; and PA1 (e) treating at least said gaseous effluent containing BTEX in a washing zone by absorbing the BTEX with a fraction of the regenerated liquid desiccant which is taken from a point in the process and returning said desiccant, having absorbed the BTEX, to a point in the regeneration zone of step (b), the gaseous effluent leaving said washing zone having been freed of BTEX.
In dehydration processes, when the treated natural gas or refinery gas contains aromatic compounds (BTEX): at least one of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene), during the absorption phase, the desiccant--generally TEG--which is also a solvent for aromatic compound, becomes charged with BTEX.
Because of the boiling points of BTEX at atmospheric pressure, i.e., in the range 80.degree. C. to 144.degree. C., little of these compounds are separated from the desiccant in the flash separation drum described above, which operates at low pressure and high temperature. The majority of the aromatic compounds are separated from the desiccant when it is heated in the regeneration column.
The vapours emitted by a TEG reboiling unit can have a very high total aromatic content (more than 30%). By way of indication, a particular composition (treatment of a natural gas field at Whitney Canyon, Wyoming, United States) is given below (% by weight):
______________________________________ Water 45.2% Nitrogen 7.7% Benzene 4.6% Toluene 15.6% Ethylbenzene 0.9% Xylene 12.7% Other hydrocarbons 13.3% ______________________________________
The composition of the discharge varies depending on the nature of the gas to be treated, the temperature and the flow rate of the TEG circulating in the facility. This discharge must be reduced in order to comply with new regulations regarding the emission of toxic substances into the atmosphere. As an example, in the United States, the "Clean Air Act Amendment" of 1990 drastically reduces the acceptable levels of BTEX discharged into the atmosphere on American territory. All units discharging more than 100 tonnes/year of BTEX or 25 tonnes/year of any combination of these 4 compounds are monitored and regulated.
In order to comply with the new regulations on the emission of toxic substances into the atmosphere, the manufacturers concerned have modified existing gas dehydration units using the following techniques:
Vapour incineration, which can be carried out in a flame incinerator supplied with fuel gas produced by the unit, which has the disadvantage of requiring very high investment.
Vapour condensation to produce water and BTEX and gravity separation in a three-phase separation drum is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,867,736 and shown schematically in FIG. 2. In this technique, the gaseous discharges leaving overhead of thermal regeneration apparatus R1 are sent via line 8 to a condenser C1, usually an air-cooled exchanger. The various fluids leaving condenser C1 are sent to a three-phase separation drum B1 where a liquid phase containing mainly water is evacuated via line 11, and a liquid phase containing mainly hydrocarbons is extracted as a side stream via line 10, separation occurring under gravity. The gaseous phase leaving three-phase drum B1 via line 9 is composed of water vapour and contains a residual amount of hydrocarbons which frequently exceeds the environmental limits, as will be seen in Example 2 below.
An industrial process is known which uses two condensers like C1 and two three-phase drums like B1. Such a process can treat the vapours emitted by flash separation drum S1 and by regeneration column R1.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,762 describes an improvement over the above process which can eliminate the aromatics dissolved in the liquid water extracted from the three-phase drum.
In another technique, a primary condenser is installed in the vapour circuit, followed by a screw-type compressor. The non condensable vapours are reintroduced into the treatment unit.
In a further technique, a gas is dried and treated using a solvent composed of a glycol, N-methyl caprolactam and water. The concentration of the glycol (preferably TEG) is in the range 80% to 97%. This method is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,811.
Finally, gas permeation has been described for this application, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,188. A mixture of water and TEG circulates inside a bundle of hollow fibres in a chamber. The wet gas containing BTEX is sent to the chamber. Only water mixed with glycol passes through the membrane. The following is recovered at the chamber outlet:

Gas drying process using glycol, including purification of discharged gas


A semiconductor fabrication method. First, a semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a trench in the semiconductor substrate. The trench includes a side wall which includes {100} side wall surfaces and {110} side wall surfaces. The semiconductor structure further includes a blocking layer on the {100} side wall surfaces and the {110} side wall surfaces. Next, portions of the blocking layer on the {110} side wall surfaces are removed without removing portions of the blocking layer on the {100} side wall surfaces such that the {110} side wall surfaces are exposed to a surrounding ambient.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to trenches for forming capacitors, and more specifically, to trench widening technologies.
2. Related Art
In the prior art, a capacitor can be formed by first forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate. In order to increase the capacitance of the capacitor, the trench can be widened. However, there is a risk of merging neighboring trenches during the widening process. Therefore, there is a need for a trench structure (and a method for forming the same), in which trench widening does not result in trench merging.

International Businesss Machines Corporation


A novel black toner for color digital copying machine is provided, which comprises a binder resin having dispersed therein toner particles comprising carbon black having an average primary particle diameter of 35 m.mu.m to less than 50 m.mu.m as a colorant in an amount of 2 to 6 parts. In a preferred embodiment, the average primary particle diameter and content of carbon black are determined such that there exist the following relationships (1) and (2) between the image density (ID) of an image developed with toner particles and the developed amount of toner (TMA) and the image density (ID) is in the range represented by the following relationship (3): EQU ID.ltoreq.8/3(TMA)+4/5 (1) EQU ID.gtoreq.5/3(TMA)+1/2 (2) EQU 1.2.ltoreq.ID.ltoreq.1.7 (3). wherein TMA represents the amount of toner in mg supplied per unit cm.sup.2 of photoreceptor when an electrostatic latent image corresponding to a solid image is developed; and ID represents a value determined by means of a Macbeth densitometer.

In the digital copying system, the dot area ratio per pixel is changed by means of a digital copying machine to form an electrostatic latent image according to the dot area ratio, and toner particles are then attached to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image. In this case, the amount of the toner particles to be attached to the electrostatic latent image depends on the dot area ratio. Thus, the amount of the toner attached varies with the area ratio, enabling gradation recording to be effected in response to the amount of the toner attached.
However, most conventional copying machines have employed an analog system. Accordingly, the development of toners has been intended for analog copying machines. Thus, the development of black toners for digital copying machine has been slow.
In the case where conventional black toners for analog copying machine are used for digital copying machine, when the amount of the black toner developed is changed in response to the dot area ratio, a phenomenon occurs in which the optical density of toner image doesn't vary any longer, i.e., the optical density of toner image reproduced doesn't show linear change with respect to the change in the amount of toner developed, even if the amount of toner attached exceeds a predetermined value.
The reason for this phenomenon is believed to be because that since black toners for analog copying machine which have heretofore been used comprise carbon black in toner particles in a large amount as more than 6% by weight to enhance the optical density for the purpose of optimizing the gentleness, softness and letter reproducibility of toner image, the proportion of the background to be covered by carbon black is soon saturated in the region to which a small amount of toner is attached, resulting in the saturation of the image density of the toner image thus obtained.
Then, when it is attempted to solve the foregoing problem by reducing the content of carbon black in the toner particles, another problem arises. That is, as carbon black there has heretofore been used one having a relatively small particle diameter produced by furnace process. However, the content of carbon black in a toner comprising such carbon black with a relatively small particle diameter is reduced, the region in the toner particles free of carbon black increases, making difference between the transmittance of long wavelength light and short wavelength light. The resulting developed black image exhibits a brownish red tone, making it impossible to provide an excellent black reproducibility.

Black toner for color digital copying machine


A method of operation of marine locks includes the steps of supporting a first column of water within a lock chamber upon a vertically movable first floor, supporting a second column of water within a balance chamber upon a vertically movable second floor, supporting the first and second floors upon a confined volume of compressed air communicated between the lock chamber and the balance chamber and causing the first floor to rise or fall by application of upward or downward hydraulic pressure on the first floor while causing the second floor to move in the opposite direction by application of contrary hydraulic pressure on the second floor. Lock systems to perform the new methods are disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
This application relates to improved marine lock systems and to new methods for operation of such lock systems. More particularly, it concerns unique marine lock systems that, unlike conventional lock systems, do not require vast quantities of high side water for their operation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional marine lock systems operate on the basis of allowing water from a high side to flow by gravity into or out of the lock chamber until surface elevations are equal. Thus, in the case of a ship entering from the high side, gates are opened to allow the ship to enter the chamber. The gates are then closed and water it allowed to flow out of the chamber to the low side until the chamber surface elevation is equal to the low side level. The low side gates are then opened to allow the ship to exit into the lower elevation body of water. The result of this is that the volume of water required to fill the chamber is detrimentally lost to the low side, typically, from a fresh water source into a saline water body, with an obvious environmental loss.
Ships entering from the low side are lifted by means of water being allowed to flow in the same direction, from high to low, effectively using for each operation a vast amount of water to expand or reduce a column of water in the lock chamber with each locking cycle between the high side and low side. By way of example of the magnitude of water required by such conventional methods of lock operation, in the case of the Panama Canal, this averages 52 million gallons of fresh water per ship. The fresh water available for such operations is a limited resource and canal locks compete for it against many other essential needs.
In contrast, balanced lock systems (BLS) do not depend on flow of water from a high side source for elevation changes. Instead, a BLS lock chamber confines a water column of relatively fixed volume which, per se, is moved in operation of the lock system between the high and low levels.
Although BLS have no significant use in world-wide existing canals and other waterways, they have long been known as shown by U.S. Pat. Nos. 457,528; 557,564; 557,566 & 2,103,871 and G.B. patent No. 4,476/1887. This indicates that, while the ability of BLS to conserve water has certainly been long apparent to concerned persons, their real world use has been almost or totally repressed, by inefficient and complicated mechanisms that have been know heretofore to raise and lower very large, fixed volume water columns repeatedly between marine lock high and low levels. The present invention addresses this long existing problem and provides the world with a new efficient and uncomplicated balanced lock systems and methods.


An optical system for an internal drum readout apparatus is disclosed. The optical system includes a hollow cylindrical segment defining a central axis, a support structure configured and adapted to translate along the central axis, a mirror mounted on the support structure for translational movement therewith and for rotational spinning around the central axis, a light source mounted to the support structure for providing a beam capable of being directed along the central axis which in turn is directed against the medium thereby producing a stimulated light, a detector coaxially aligned with the central axis, the detector being configured and adapted to absorb stimulated light direct toward and reflected off of the angled mirror, and a shroud mounted on the support structure for blocking stimulated light not directed toward the angled mirror, wherein the stimulated light not directed toward the angled mirror would otherwise degrade the medium prematurely.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure is directed to an axially oriented optical system and method of using the same, and more particularly, the present disclosure is directed to an apparatus for improving the computed radiography image generated by the axially oriented optical system and the method for using the same. The present disclosure is also directed to a method of using the optical system disclosed herein.
2. Background of Related Art
Previously, scanners of X-ray exposed phosphor plates performed their function on a flat-bed or the external surface of a rotating drum. These systems have problems that increase the cost and reduce the quality of the X-ray image. The undesirable results obtained with a flat-bed or rotating drum system are caused by the continuous changing of the angles and distances of the light beam paths used for stimulating the phosphor of the X-ray exposed phosphor plate. Also, the collection of the stimulated light is performed with a different path and angle for each position on the phosphor plate, thereby requiring complicated and expensive compensation measures. Additionally, the complications with attendant increases in cost are exacerbated when existing systems for supporting the phosphor plates do not maintain a fixed positioning during the scanning procedure.
Accordingly, many, if not all, of these deficiencies have been overcome in U.S. Pat. No. 6,291,831 to Koren, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. As seen in FIG. 1, the Koren Patent discloses a scanning apparatus 10 including a fixed, hollow cylindrical segment 12 having a central, longitudinal axis 16, the interior of which forms a concave surface for intimate contact with a medium for recording and/or readout 14 (e.g., a phosphor plate), a support structure forming a transport (not shown) for translational movement along the axis, a light source 18 (e.g. laser) mounted on the transport for movement therewith and for providing a beam capable of being directed along the axis, and a slanted mirror 26, angled 45° with respect to the axis and mounted on the transport for translational movement therewith and for rotational spinning around the axis.
According to the Koren Patent, the scanning operation involves the mounting of laser 18 and slanted mirror 26 in such a manner so that slanted mirror 26 bends a beam of light 90° and is capable of rotating the beam of light. Accordingly, the beam of light can then be manipulated to form a rotating spot on phosphor plate 14 which follows a path of a portion of a circle on phosphor plate 14. The transport 38, including optical system 10a having light source 18 and spinning mirror 26, and its subsequent movement to traverse phosphor plate 14 is coordinated with the rotative movement of the spot such that when the spot reaches the end of phosphor plate 14, transport 38 is moved the distance of one pixel in order for the next scan to be conducted. According to the Koren Patent, readout of a previously X-ray exposed phosphor plate is obtained a 635 nm laser 18 stimulating the crystal layer of phosphor plate 14 causing it to radiate light at 390 nm as the beam spot on the phosphor plate 14 makes its scan. The rotating mirror 26 receives the emitted light around its outer periphery for reflection onto a Schott type filter 24 which is transparent to 390 nm light and absorbent to 635 nm light. The light passing through filter 24 is applied to detector photomultiplier tube 20, which converts the light to an electrical signal that is amplified and gated to represent one pixel on the circular scan and converted to a digital number representing the brightness of the pixel.
In view of the aforementioned improvements and benefits of the Koren Patent over the prior art device, a need exists for an improved scanning apparatus which further reduces distortion, cost and the overall complexity of the operation while simultaneously improving the accuracy and quality of the resulting scan.

Method and apparatus for improving a computed radiography image


Transconductance filter circuits. A transconductor includes two inputs for receiving two differential voltages, and a first output terminal and a second output terminal for outputting two differential signals. A first capacitor array includes at least one first switch capacitor unit controlled by a first signal, and a first equivalent capacitor coupled between the first output terminal and the second output terminal when the first signal is enabled. two second capacitor arrays each includes at least one second switch capacitor unit controlled by a second signal, two second equivalent capacitors respectively coupled between the first output terminal and a ground level, and between the second output terminal and the ground level when the second signal is enabled. The capacitance of the first equivalent capacitor exceeds that of the two second equivalent capacitors connected in serial.

The disclosure relates in general to transconductance filter circuits. In particular, the disclosure relates to a transconductance filter circuit for digital video disk (DVD) systems.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional GM-C filter. A conventional GM-C filter comprises a transconductor GM and two capacitor arrays 10. In practice, frequency banks of the GM-C filter are switched using capacitor switches S1˜Sn. For example, read signals generated by a read circuit of a disc drive are in different frequency banks when the disc drive operates at different speeds. In FIG. 1, capacitor switch circuits S1˜Sn are arranged in an array, connected between output terminals Vo+ or Vo− of transconductor GM and a ground level. Switch transistors M of capacitor switch circuits S1˜Sn are respectively turned on or turned off according the logic level of bit control signals V1˜Vn. Capacitance of capacitors C1˜Cn are respectively c, 2c, 4c, . . . , 2nc. Capacitors with larger capacitance are larger. As capacitor switch circuits controlled by most significant bits (MSB) of a set of control signals are turned off, stray capacitance is larger due to W=Gm/C. The stray capacitance generated by switch transistors limits the range of the operating frequency bank of the conventional transconductance filter circuit.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of another conventional GM-C filter. The difference between FIG. 2 and FIG. 1 is that the capacitor arrays 10′ are connected between output terminals Vo+ or Vo− of transconductor GM, capacitance of capacitors C1′˜Cn′ in capacitor switch circuits S1′˜Sn′ are respectively c/4, 2c/4, . . . , 2nc/4. As the capacitance of capacitors are ¼ of that in FIG. 1, the total size of the capacitors in FIG. 4 is relativly smaller. In addition, the equivalent capacitance of each capacitor switch circuit S1′˜Sn′ is the same as that of corresponding capacitor switch circuits S1˜Sn. Using capacitor switch circuit S1′ as an example, the equivalent capacitance of two capacitors C1′ with capacitance c/4 connected in parallel is c/2, which is the same with that of two capacitors C1 with capacitance c connected in serial in FIG. 1. As the capacitor switch circuits controlled by least significant bits (LSB) of control signals is turned on, the output of capacitor switch circuits is influenced by the stray capacitance generated by bottom metal-dielectric-metal BMIM, deteriorating frequency response in high frequency operation.


Disclosed is an active matrix substrate which includes a display area and a terminal area located outside the display area. The terminal area includes extraction wirings connected with signal lines and scanning lines of the display area. A testing terminal for making contact with a probe of a prober and a connection terminal on which a chip is mounted are provided on each of the extraction wirings. The terminals are connected with the extraction wirings through contact holes. Even when an area of the testing terminal is larger than an area of the connection terminal, an opening area of a second contact hole for the testing terminal is reduced to an area smaller than an opening area of a first contact hole for the connection terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an active matrix substrate and a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to a structure of a terminal area located outside a display area of an active matrix substrate and a liquid crystal display device including the active matrix substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Liquid crystal display devices have advantages such as a thin thickness, a lightweight, and low power consumption and have been widely used as display devices of audio/video (AV) devices, Office Automation (OA) devices, and other such devices. A liquid crystal display device has a structure in which a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between an active matrix substrate and a counter substrate. The active matrix substrate is a substrate on which thin film transistors (TFTs) and pixel electrodes are formed. The counter substrate is a substrate in which color filters, a black matrix, and the like are formed. The liquid crystal display device displays information by controlling orientation directions of liquid crystal molecules with electric fields generated by electrodes provided on at least one of the substrates. Hereinafter, the active matrix substrate is also referred to as a "TFT substrate".
As shown in FIG. 8, a TFT substrate 2 includes a display area 4a in which a plurality of scanning lines 12 and a plurality of signal lines 11 are formed. The scanning lines 12 are substantially orthogonal to the signal lines 11. Each area surrounded by adjacent two of the scanning lines 12 and adjacent two of the signal lines 11 includes a pixel electrode 13 and a TFT 14 which are formed thereon. Each TFT is connected with one of the scanning lines and one of the signal lines. The scanning lines 12 and the signal lines 11 are connected with extraction wirings 7a formed on a terminal area 4c (located outside the display area 4a). A connection terminal 8a on which a chip-on-glass (COG) chip is mounted and a testing terminal 9 for making contact with a probe of a prober are provided on each of the extraction wirings 7a.
FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic views showing a structure which includes an extraction wiring and a connection terminal and a testing terminal which are formed thereon. FIG. 9A is a plan view and FIG. 9B is a cross sectional view taken along an X-X line shown in FIG. 9A. In the case of a reverse stagger liquid crystal display device, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a metallic film 16 serving as the extraction wiring is formed on a transparent insulator substrate 15. The metallic film 16 is covered with an insulator film 17. The insulator film 17 includes a first contact hole 10a formed in a position corresponding to the connection terminal 8a and a second contact hole 10b formed in a position corresponding to the testing terminal 9. The connection terminal 8a and the testing terminal 9 which are made of, for example, an indium tin oxide (ITO) film 18 are formed in the positions in which the contact holes are formed.
The above-mentioned terminal structure is disclosed in US 2004/0239857 A1 (reference-1). For example, the reference-1 discloses that rectangular-shaped contact holes are provided in rectangular-shaped terminals as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B.
The TFT substrate 2 is bonded to a counter substrate 3 by a seal member provided around the display area 4a and a liquid crystal layer is enclosed between the substrates. As a result, the display area 4a of the TFT substrate 2 is not influenced by external environments. However, the terminal area 4c located outside the display area 4a is exposed to an outside as a matter of convenience of COG chip mounting and operation check using a prober. Therefore, respective constituent, members of the terminal area 4c, that is, the connection terminal 8a, the testing terminal 9, the extraction wiring 7a, and the like may be easily influenced by the external environments. The influence of the external environments on the connection terminal 8a is relatively small because the connection terminal 8a is covered with a bump by chip mounting. On the other hand, the testing terminal 9 is easily influenced by the external environments because the testing terminal 9 is being exposed even after chip mounting.
As shown in FIG. 9B, the insulator film 17 is formed on the metallic film 16 serving as the extraction wiring 7a. The first contact hole 10a and the second contact hole 10b which are provided in the insulator film 17 are filled with the ITO film 18. The ITO film 18 serves as the connection terminal 8a and the testing terminal 9. Therefore, at first glance, it appears that the metallic film 16 is not exposed in the structure shown in FIG. 9B. However, a portion of the metallic film 16 which is exposed may be actually caused near the opening ends of the first contact hole 10a and the second contact hole 10b. As a result, the metallic film 16 may be exposed to external air and corroded.
This cause will be described with reference to FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, 11A, and 11B. FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C are sectional views showing steps of producing the terminal area 4c. FIGS. 11A and 11B are enlarged views showing a region surrounded by a broken circle 31 shown in FIG. 10C.
Steps of producing the terminal area 4c will be briefly described. First, the metallic film 16 is formed on the transparent insulator substrate 15 made of glass, plastic, or the like (FIG. 10A). The metallic film 16 is patterned to form the extraction wirings 7a together with the scanning lines and the signal lines.
Next, the insulator film 17 made of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, or the like is formed. A mask pattern is formed on the insulator film 17. Exposed potions of the insulator film 17 are etched by a wet etching method or a dry etching method to form the first contact hole 10a and the second contact hole 10b (FIG. 10B).
Next, the ITO film 18 is formed. The ITO film 18 is patterned to form the connection terminal 8a covering the first contact hole 10a and the testing terminal 9 covering the second contact hole 10b (FIG. 10C).
At this time, when the ITO film 18 is deposited in the first contact hole 10a and the second contact hole 10b by a physical method such as a sputtering method, a gap 19a in which the ITO film 18 is not deposited may be caused near the opening ends of the contact holes as shown in FIG. 11A. This is because a side wall of the first contact hole 10a and a side wall of the second contact hole 10b are substantially vertically formed.
As shown in FIG. 11B, when the contact between the ITO film 18 and the insulator film 17 is poor, a gap 19b may be caused between the ITO film 18 and the, insulator film 17. In particular, an area of the testing terminal 9 is larger than an area of the connection terminal 8a, so an area of the second contact hole 10b becomes larger than an area of the first contact hole 10a. Therefore, a circumference of the second contact hole 10b becomes longer than a circumference of the first contact hole 10a, so that it is more likely to cause the gap 19b with the testing terminal 9 than to cause the gap 19b with the connection terminal 8a.
When moisture or the like which is included in external air penetrates from the gap 19a or 19b, the metallic film 16 of the extraction wiring 7a is corroded. In particular, when the metallic film 16 is made of base metal such as Al, the corrosion proceeds by battery reaction or the like. As a result, a resistance value between the extraction wiring 7a and the connection terminal 8a and a resistance value between the extraction wiring 7a and the testing terminal 9 increase. At worst, it is likely to break the extraction wiring. This phenomenon reduces the reliability of the liquid crystal display device and shortens the life thereof.
In addition, the reference-1 describes that another metallic film is formed between the metallic film of the lower layer and the ITO film of the upper layer to suppress the exposure of the metallic film of the lower layer. However, this method complicates a manufacturing process and thus hinders a reduction in price of the liquid crystal display device.

Active matrix substrate and a liquid crystal display device including the active matrix substrate


In the method for kick-down switching speed optimization in a motor vehicle with an automatic transmission, the kick-down upshift point is determined as a function of the load conditions and the road inclination in each case.

For changing gear in an automatic transmission a certain delay time is allowed for before the switching is completed. During this, the engine speed increases until the load is taken up by the coupling being engaged from the coupling being disengaged. The reasons for the delay time are clutch filling times and ramp times until the switching pressure required for the change has been built up.
In vehicles with powerful engines the engine speed difference that occurs, having regard to the clutch filling times including the load take-up, can be as much as about 1200 r/min.
The maximum attainable engine speed in kick-down upshift gear changes can therefore assume various values which are affected by the load condition of the vehicle and the road inclination.
The problem arises that in an unladen vehicle moving downhill, kick-down (KD) upshifts take place in the range of the engine cut-off speed, i.e. the maximum permissible engine speed. The reason for this is the negative driving resistance, by which the vehicle is additionally accelerated.
In such a case the kick-down upshift must take place and adjusted earlier, i.e. at lower output speed. In the loaded condition and driving uphill, in contrast, the KD switching speed is lower as a result.
Accordingly, the optimum condition, namely equal KD switching speed for any kick-down upshift, cannot be achieved.
In the prior art kick-down shifts are triggered when predetermined output speeds are exceeded. These output speed thresholds can be stored in switching programs or be defined as discrete parameters.
The purpose of the present invention, starting from the aforesaid prior art, is therefore to provide a method for kick-down switching speed optimization in a motor vehicle with an automatic transmission, such that in kick-down upshifts the engine is prevented from exceeding the maximum permissible speed. In addition, premature upshifting is to be prevented.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Kick-down switching speed optimization for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle


An injection molding machine includes supporting plates, molds coupled to the supporting plates, and a coupling guide device to guide the coupling of the molds and the supporting plates. The coupling guide device includes a first coupling guide recess and a first coupling guide protrusion provided at center portions of the molds and the supporting plates so as to be coupled to each other, and a second coupling guide recess and a second coupling guide protrusion provided at the molds and the supporting plates, spaced apart from the first coupling guide recess and the first coupling guide protrusion, so as to be coupled to each other. The second coupling guide recess is formed lengthwise in a direction toward a periphery from the center portions of the molds and the supporting plates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to an injection molding machine, and more particularly, to an injection molding machine having a guide device to guide coupling of molds and supporting plates and assembling of the molds.
2. Description of the Related Art
An injection molding machine is a machine that produces a molded product by injecting molten resin into a cavity defined by molds at a high pressure and solidifying the resin.
An injection molding machine generally includes molds to define a cavity, supporting plates to support the molds, and a high pressure cylinder to inject molten resin into the cavity. At least one of the supporting plates is moved to achieve coupling or separation of the molds.
When producing a molded product of a different size or shape by use of an injection molding machine, the molds mounted to the supporting plates can be replaced. The replacement of the molds is realized in such a manner that the existing molds are removed from the supporting plates and then new molds are mounted to the supporting plates. At this time, because the molds are so heavy, a crane or the like is used for the replacement work. A plurality of bolts are tightened to securely fix the molds to the supporting plates. Such a work is identically applied also when the molds are to be partially modified or repaired.
However, in the above conventional injection molding machine, because moving the heavy molds is difficult, aligning centers of the molds with centers of the supporting plates when the molds are mounted to the supporting plates is difficult. Also, because the centers of the molds may deviate from the centers of the supporting plates in the process of tightening the bolts, mounting the molds to correct positions is difficult. Also, if the molds are thermally deformed, assembling errors may be generated in the mold mounting process. The assembling errors of the molds may cause a problem of misalignment of the centers of the molds assembled with each other, and as a result may create defects of molded products.


The invention relates to methods and reagents for diagnosing and assessing the prognosis of multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS). It is a common cause of persistent disability in young adults. In patients suffering from MS, the immune system destroys the myelin sheath of axons in the brain and the spinal chord, causing a variety of neurological pathologies. In the most common form of MS, Relapsing-Remitting (RRMS), episodes of acute worsening of neurological function (exacerbations, attacks) are followed by partial or complete recovery periods (remissions) that are free of disease progression. There is a clinical need for a simple serological assay that predicts: i) whether patients diagnosed as having RRMS have a high risk for rapid disease progression that results in high levels of inflammatory lesions in the CNS, as seen using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or in accumulation of clinical disabilities, and therefore might require aggressive disease modifying therapy (DMT); or ii) whether patients diagnosed as having RRMS will have a regular or relatively slow MS disease progression with less MRI activity and less accumulation of disabilities, thereby requiring less aggressive therapy.

Method for evaluating risk in multiple sclerosis


A dual-barrel powder dispenser is provided. The dual-barrel arrangement may offer a highly-accurate, and highly efficient system and method for dispensing a consistent amount of powder. A controller in communication with the interface may determine the speeds at which each barrel rotates in order to dispense a volume and weight of powder from a hopper to a receptacle. A scale may monitor and determine the total weight of powder dispensed into the receptacle resting on the scale. The entire assembly may be self-contained in a single integrated body.

Experienced hunters may calibrate their firearm or sighting device for a particular trajectory pattern specific to a given weight. Mass-produced and packaged ammunition, however, can have inconsistent and varying weights for each bullet, even within the same production run and package. As a result, the varying weights typical to commercially produced ammunition can result in inconsistent and inaccurate shooting. These variances may be small and therefore undetectable even by an enthusiast in the field without additional equipment and analysis. Powder dispensers allow outdoor enthusiasts, such as hunters and marksmen, to weigh, fill and case their own ammunition. Each individual casing is typically weighed and measured to load the ammunition with a desired weight.
Highly accurate scales may be used to measure an exact powder weight for a casing. The fine granularity of the powder, however, still makes measuring and dispensing the exact weight within a tolerable range difficult. Traditional powder dispensers may use scales, volumes, and other measuring devices to dispense powder quickly, at the cost of accuracy. Other devices may be tuned to slowly dispense a powder for a more accurate volume, however, at the cost of expediency. Previous solutions requires the use of separate and independent devices, which required an enthusiast user to operate the two dispensers independently in series to load a single cartridge. Such ad-hoc systems, however, are time consuming, costly, and cumbersome.


An adjustable divider assembly for a pan, drawer or other storage unit of a refrigerator is constituted by multiple, pivotally interconnected sections which can be selectively angled relative to each other and/or varied in length to establish a desired configuration for compartmentalizing the storage unit. The adjustable divider assembly can carry various spaced magnets which are attracted to a metallic property of a support surface of the storage unit to retain the divider assembly in the desired configuration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of refrigerators and, more particularly, to an adjustable divider used to selectively separate a storage unit in a refrigerator.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the art of refrigerators, it is widely known to employ a plurality of shelves and compartments, including drawers, bins and pans, to store a wide range of food products. For instance, in a fresh food compartment, shelves, drawers, pans, removable bins and the like are commonly found both in the body of the compartment and on the inside of the door for storing food items. When storing the food items, it is generally undesirable to enable excessive shifting. This is particularly true in connection with door supported food items in order to prevent the food items from falling when the door is abruptly opened or closed. To address this concern, it is known to employ retainers in connection with door supported shelves, bins, dairy compartments and the like to divide the storage zones, while limiting the potential shifting of the food items.
While retainers of this kind have been advantageously employed in connection with shelves and other storage zones on refrigerator doors, little has been done in effectively providing dividers for use in connection with refrigerator drawers, bins and the like. That is, a typical slidable drawer or bin in a refrigerator defines a single compartment for the storage of food items which are generally laid on top of one another or simply allowed to shift within the compartment over time. Obviously, such an arrangement does not represent an efficient and effective overall storage configuration. Although the storage compartment could be molded or otherwise formed with one or more dividers in order to establish multiple storage zones, it would be desirable to have an adjustable divider which could be used to selectively section off and reconfigure the overall storage region of a refrigerator drawer, bin or the like storage unit for improved organizational purposes.

Adjustable divider assembly for refrigerator storage unit


A gimbaled-shoulder friction stir welding tool includes a pin and first and second annular shoulders coupled to the pin. At least one of the annular shoulders is coupled to the pin for gimbaled motion with respect thereto as the tool is rotated by a friction stir welding apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to friction stir welding tools. More specifically, the invention is a friction stir welding tool having at least one gimbaled shoulder contacting a workpiece.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many friction stir welding (FSW) apparatus utilize a welding tool that has two spaced-apart shoulders fixedly mounted to a welding pin that is rotated about its axis by the FSW apparatus. The two shoulders rotate with the pin and ride on the respective front and back (or top and bottom) of the workpiece being welded. If the thickness of the workpiece varies as the welding tool is moved therealong, the leading edge of one or both shoulders tend to dig into the workpiece which causes excessive weld flashing to develop along the weld.

Gimbaled-shoulder friction stir welding tool

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


A logic analyzer data processing method used in a logic analyzer having a control circuit adapted to read in test data from a test sample, a memory controlled by the control circuit to store the test data received from the test sample, and a display adapted to display the test data fetched by the control circuit from the memory, the method including the step of enabling the control circuit to drive a compressor to compress the test data received form the test sample before storing it in the memory, and to decompress the compressed test data before transmitting it from the memory to the display.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to logic analyzers and, more specifically, to logic analyzer data processing method, which decompresses test data obtained from test samples before storing in memory so that memory can store more test data.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 illustrates the arrangement of a logic data analyzer according to the prior art. The logic analyzer comprises a logic analyzer main unit 10′. The logic analyzer main unit 10′ comprises detection devices 11′. Each detection device 11′ has multiple lead-wires 111′ and a clip 113′ at the end of each lead-wire 111′ for fastening to a respective pin of the test sample (for example, digital circuit). The detection devices 11′ detect high/low potential status of every pin of the test sample at a fixed time interval, and then transmit test data to a computer 16′ through a transmission interface (for example, USB interface, LPT interface, or the like) 15, enabling test data to be displayed on the display screen 161′ of the computer 16′. FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of the prior art logic data analyzer. The logic analyzer main unit 10′ comprises a control circuit 17′ and a memory (for example, SRAM) 18′. When received test data from the test sample 13′, the control circuit 17′ stores received test data in the memory 18′. When the memory space of the memory 18′ used up, the control circuit 17′ fetches storage test data from the memory 18′, and then transmits fetched test data to the computer 16′ through the transmission interface 15′ for display on the display screen 161′ of the computer 16′. Because the memory 18′ has a limited data storage space, it may not be able to store a complete series of test data. When the user debugging the digital circuit (test sample) based on an incomplete test result, the debugging work may take much time, or may be unable to proceed.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a logic analyzer data processing method that eliminates the aforesaid problem.


The present invention relates to a process for separating pyrite from sulfide ores and coal during flotation separation which comprises the depressing of pyrite with from about 0.05 to 0.75 kilograms per ton of concentrate solids, using a pyrite depressant compounds selected from the group consisting of EQU R1--S (CH.sub.2').sub.n PO (OH).sub.2 (I). where. n is between 2 and 4, and PA1 R1 is selected from a group consisting of hydrogen (H) and amidine, and ##STR1## where Ro is a lower alkyl having carbon atoms in a range of 3 to 8 with 3 to 6 being preferred and a final pH in a range of 4 to 9 depending on the ore being processed, and therafter recovering the flotation concentrate thus obtained. As to group (I) compounds, 2-S thironium-ethane phosphonate (TEPA) as a pyrite depressant is surprisingly effective in pyrite removal, being substantially independent of the pH values of the treated ore or coal, compatible with conventional collector reagents such as xanthates in the case of copper sulfide bearing ores as well as being substantially unobtrusive in not depressing other useful ore sulfides, including but limited to chalcopyritoe, bornite, chalcosite, etc. Group (II) are more pH sensitive.

The need to depress pyrite during flotation of sulfide ores and/or coal is well-known. With particular regard to the former, diverting the pyrite into waste material, significantly upgrade; the concentrates of the result in ores as well as reduces smelting costs since there less sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid produced as byproducts. With particular regard to the need to depress pyrite in coal, calorific content is improved with its removal, as well as proving a concomitant reduction in sulfur emissions, enabling the user to more easily meet Federal and State regulations.
While a vast array of reagents for pyrite depression have been proposed and reported, we are unaware of use of 2-S thiouronium-ethane phosphonate (TEPA) as a pyrite depressant during both coal and copper sulfide flotation operations, and moreover, we are surprised by the effectiveness thereof in such operations.

Pyrite depressant useful in floation separation