A perpendicular magnetic recording disk includes a template layer below a Ru or Ru alloy underlayer, with a granular Co alloy recording layer formed on the underlayer. substrate. The template layer comprises nanoparticles spaced-apart and partially embedded within a polymer material, with the nanoparticles protruding above the surface of the polymer material. A seed layer covers the surface of the polymer material and the protruding nanoparticles and an underlayer of Ru or a Ru alloy covers the seed layer. The protruding nanoparticles serve as the controlled nucleation sites for the Ru or Ru alloy atoms. The nanoparticle-to-nanoparticle distances can be controlled during the formation of the template layer. This enables control of the Co alloy grain diameter distribution as well as grain-to-grain distance distribution.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to perpendicular magnetic recording media, such as perpendicular magnetic recording disks for use in magnetic recording hard disk drives, and more particularly to a continuous-media type of perpendicular magnetic recording disk with a granular cobalt-alloy recording layer having controlled grain size.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a "continuous-media" perpendicular magnetic recording disk, the recording layer is a continuous layer of granular cobalt-alloy magnetic material that becomes formed into concentric data tracks containing the magnetically recorded data bits when the write head writes on the magnetic material. Continuous-media disks, to which the present invention is directed, are to be distinguished from "bit-patterned-media" (BPM) disks, which have been proposed to increase data density. In BPM disks, the magnetizable material on the disk is patterned into small isolated data islands such that there is a single magnetic domain in each island or "bit". The single magnetic domains can be a single grain or consist of a few strongly coupled grains that switch magnetic states in concert as a single magnetic volume. This is in contrast to continuous-media disks wherein a single "bit" may have multiple magnetic domains separated by domain walls.
FIG. 1 is a schematic of a cross-section of a prior art perpendicular magnetic recording continuous-media disk. The disk includes a disk substrate and an optional "soft" or relatively low-coercivity magnetically permeable underlayer (SUL). The SUL serves as a flux return path for the field from the write pole to the return pole of the recording head. The material for the recording layer (RL) is a granular ferromagnetic cobalt (Co) alloy, such as a CoPtCr alloy, with a hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) crystalline structure having the c-axis oriented substantially out-of-plane or perpendicular to the RL. The granular cobalt alloy RL should also have a well-isolated fine-grain structure to produce a high-coercivity (Hc) media and to reduce intergranular exchange coupling, which is responsible for high intrinsic media noise. Enhancement of grain segregation in the cobalt alloy RL is achieved by the addition of oxides, including oxides of Si, Ta, Ti, Nb, B, C, and W. These oxides (Ox) tend to precipitate to the grain boundaries as shown in FIG. 1, and together with the elements of the cobalt alloy form nonmagnetic intergranular material. An optional capping layer (CP), such as a granular Co alloy without added oxides or with smaller amounts of oxides than the RL, is typically deposited on the RL to mediate the intergranular coupling of the grains of the RL, and a protective overcoat (OC) such as a layer of amorphous diamond-like carbon is deposited on the CP.
The Co alloy RL has substantially out-of-plane or perpendicular magnetic anisotropy as a result of the c-axis of its hexagonal-close-pack (hcp) crystalline structure being induced to grow substantially perpendicular to the plane of the layer during deposition. To induce this growth of the hcp RL, intermediate layers of ruthenium (Ru1 and Ru2) are located below the RL. Ruthenium (Ru) and certain Ru alloys, such as RuCr, are nonmagnetic hcp materials that induce the growth of the RL. An optional seed layer (SL) may be formed on the SUL prior to deposition of Ru1.
The enhancement of segregation of the magnetic grains in the RL by the additive oxides as segregants is important for achieving high areal density and recording performance. The intergranular Ox segregant material not only decouples intergranular exchange but also exerts control on the size and distribution of the magnetic grains in the RL. Current disk fabrication methods achieve this segregated RL by growing the RL on the Ru2 layer that exhibits columnar growth of the Ru or Ru-alloy grains.
FIG. 2 is a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image of a portion of the surface of a prior art CoPtCr—SiO2 RL from a disk similar to that shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows well-segregated CoPtCr magnetic grains separated by intergranular SiO2 (white areas). However, as is apparent from FIG. 2, there is a relatively wide variation in the size of the magnetic grains and thus the grain-to-grain distance. A large grain size distribution is undesirable because it results in a variation in magnetic recording properties across the disk and because some of the smaller grains can be thermally unstable, resulting in loss of data. FIG. 2 also illustrates the randomness of grain locations. Because the nucleation sites during the sputtering deposition are randomly distributed by nature, there is no control of the grain locations. The amount of Ox segregants inside the RL needs to be sufficient to provide adequate grain-to-grain separation, but not too high to destroy the thermal stability of the RL. The typical content of the Ox segregants is about 20% in volume, and the grain boundary thickness is typically between about 1.0 and 1.5 nm.
To achieve high areal density of 1 to 5 Terabits/in2 and beyond, it is desirable to have high uniformity (or tighter distribution) of the grains within the RL, mainly for the following three structural parameters: grain diameter (i.e., the diameter of a circle that would have the same area as the grain), grain-to-grain distance (i.e., the distance between the centers of adjacent grains or "pitch") and grain boundary thickness. Narrower distribution of these three structural parameters will lead to narrower distributions of magnetic exchange interaction and magnetic anisotropy strength, both of which are desirable.
Thus the prior art RL shown in FIG. 2 is far from ideal. First, the grains have an irregular polygonal shape with a large size distribution. The average grain diameter is about 8-11 nm with a relatively large size distribution of about 18-22%. The distribution information is obtained by measuring neighboring grain-to-grain distances in high resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) or TEM images and then fitting with a lognormal function. Distribution value as referred to in this application shall mean the width of the lognormal function. Second, the location of the grain centers is highly random, which means there is no short range or local ordering, i.e., no pattern within approximately 3-5 grain distances. Third, the thickness of the grain boundaries (the Ox segregants seen as white areas in FIG. 2) has an even wider distribution. Typical grain boundary thickness is 0.9-1.2 nm with a distribution of about 50 to 70%. Because the intergranular exchange is an exponential decay function of boundary thickness, the large distribution of boundary thickness leads to large fluctuation of exchange between grains and thus a significant signal-to-ratio (SNR) loss. According to Wang et al, "Understanding Noise Mechanism in Small Grain Size Perpendicular Thin Film Media", IEEE Trans Mag 46, 2391 (2010), a large distribution of boundary thickness can cause 3 to 10 dB SNR loss, and small-grain media suffer even more SNR loss than large-grain media.
What is needed is a continuous-media perpendicular magnetic recording disk that has a granular cobalt alloy RL with additive oxides with well-segregated magnetic grains with a narrow distribution of grain diameter and grain boundary thickness.

Perpendicular magnetic recording disk with template layer formed of nanoparticles embedded in a polymer material


A computer system for automatically classifying or declassifying military, intelligence, government, or industrial documents. Inputs to the system are classification or declassification guidelines, which describe the sensitive information, and the document(s) that need to be processed, all of which are in electronic format (e.g., output from word processor or other digital format). A database is created by a software program from the classification guidelines or rules, which is then stored in the computer system. The document(s) to be processed are searched and the database is used to identify classified portions of the documents, using a second software program (driven by the rules for determining classification levels), and the sensitive material is identified and the document(s) is modified to show the proper classification markings. This system will significantly reduce the time and manpower required to properly classify/declassify the larger number of sensitive documents in government/industry facilities or those currently being produced.

The U.S. government currently creates thousands of classified documents each year. In addition, there is a backlog of currently classified documents that are due to be declassified by virtue of regulations allowing release after a predetermined time period set at the time of initial classification. Finally, there is considerable demand (e.g., under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)) for release of sensitive documents (or portions thereof).
The present process for classifying documents is both time consuming and labor intensive. Typically, a person associated with the program under which the document was produced must review the document to be classified and search through it to identify material called out in the classification guidelines document produced by the program office. This process can be complicated, due to the sometimes complex conditions which can lead to a classification decision. For example, certain documents become classified when a series of different technical parameters are present in the document, even though each parameter by itself may not be classified. The review process for proper document markings of the security classification may take from a few hours to several weeks, depending upon the document length and complexity of the classification guidelines.
The system described herein will allow the classification/declassification process to be done automatically, using computer programs to convert the requirements provided in the security classification guidelines into search logic conditions which are utilized in scans of the document by additional software programs to identify classified material. This automated system inserts proper classification markings into the electronic version of the document, so that a final draft of the document can be rapidly produced for final approval and release by an appropriate program office official.

Document automated classification/declassification system


A rotary cutting deck for a mower includes a cutting deck supported by wheels at three of the four corners of the deck. The other corner of the cutting deck, namely a corner of the deck that is close to the mower, is supported by a corner suspension that lifts upwardly with a biasing force sufficient to elevate that corner of the deck above the ground. This corner suspension takes the place of the caster wheel that would normally support this corner of the deck, and thus permits the deck to be moved closer to the side of the mower, thus reducing overall mower width without decreasing the width of the cutting swath.

This invention relates to a rotary cutting deck for a mower. More particularly, this invention relates to a suspension for elevating at least one corner of the cutting deck above the ground, thereby eliminating the need for a wheel to support that corner of the cutting deck.
Mowers are known for mowing large areas of grass, such as those in parks, golf courses, athletic fields, and the like. Many such mowers comprise a self-propelled traction frame that is part of a vehicle on which the operator sits as the mower is operated. At least one cutting deck, and often a plurality of cutting decks, are attached to the traction frame to cut a swath of grass as the traction frame moves forwardly. In a typical configuration, such a mower often has a front cutting deck extending forwardly of the traction frame and two side or wing cutting decks extending laterally from the sides of the traction frame.
The cutting decks are normally equipped with ground engaging wheels to allow the cutting decks to roll over the ground as the traction frame moves forwardly. A lift arm extends between the traction frame of the mower and the cutting deck to allow the cutting deck to be selectively lifted off the ground and placed in a transport position. In the case of the wing decks, the transport position comprises one in which the wing decks are folded up against the sides of the traction frame. When the cutting decks are not so lifted off the ground and placed in their transport position, they roll over the ground and xe2x80x9cfloatxe2x80x9d relative to the traction frame to allow the cutting decks to follow the ground contours.
In some prior art designs, the wing decks on such a mower are supported by a pair of outrigger wheels attached to the wing deck adjacent the outer front and rear corners of the wing deck. The inner front and rear corners of the wing deck carry no wheels at all. Instead, whatever support is provided from The traction frame, such as the lift arm, is used to keep the inner front and rear corners of the wing deck elevated above the ground. U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,667 to Goman et al. shows wing decks of this type, i.e. wing decks supported by only a pair of outrigger wheels on the outer corners of the frame and a support arm extending from the traction frame.
In decks of the type just described, the Applicants have found that using just a single pair of outrigger wheels on the outside of the wing deck presents problems in achieving a consistently good quality of cut. It should be kept in mind that such wing decks often cut over hilly, uneven terrain in which the wing deck rolls about a longitudinal axis through the wing deck. The Applicants have found that when cutting over this type of terrain, the lack of inner support wheels results in a variation in the height of cut over the width of the path being cut by the wing deck. In other words, the grass cut over the inside of the cutting deck might be cut higher or lower than the grass being cut over the outside of the cutting deck where the support wheels provide a more consistent height of cut. Since this variation in the height of cut can often be seen with the naked eye and detracts from the appearance of the cut grass, it is a disadvantage and desirably should be avoided.
Some mowers are known in which the wing deck is supported by wheels adjacent all the corners of the deck. The Applicants have found that this avoids the height of cut variation described above when only a pair of support wheels are used. However, using four support wheels adjacent each corner of the deck has problems of its own.
First, at least some of the support wheels are typically caster wheels, i.e. wheels capable of pivoting about a vertical support axis as they roll over the ground. Because of the varied and uneven terrain over which the mower operates, all of the support wheels, and particularly the caster wheels, wear quickly and must be periodically replaced. This is a disadvantage.
Moreover, it is desirable that a particular mower be as narrow as possible when the mower has the cutting decks placed in their transport position with the wing decks folded up along the sides of the mower. By minimizing the width of the mower in its transport configuration, the mower is more maneuverable and also fits within as tight a space as possible. This requires that the wing decks be close to the traction frame. When caster wheels are used on the inner corners of the wing decks, these caster wheels may be too close to the frame to avoid interfering with the frame. Thus, the wing deck must typically be moved out from the frame a little further than the designer might prefer in order to accommodate the inner caster wheels. Again, this also is a disadvantage.
One aspect of this invention relates to a rotary cutting deck for a mower. The cutting deck has at least one rotary cutting element rotating about a substantially vertical axis in a substantially horizontal cutting plane when the cutting deck and rotary cutting element are in operation. The cutting deck when coupled to the mower has two corners that are closest to the mower and two corners that are furthest from the mower. A plurality of spaced support wheels are carried adjacent at least the two corners of the cutting deck that are furthest from the mower. A corner suspension is connected to at least one of the two corners of the deck that are closest to the mower. The corner suspension comprises at least one upwardly biased connecting link attached to the at least one corner of the cutting deck, the bias on the connecting link being sufficient to elevate the at least one corner of the cutting deck above the ground without using a support wheel adjacent the at least one corner.
Another aspect of this invention relates to a rotary cutting deck for a mower. The cutting deck has at least one rotary cutting element rotating about a substantially vertical axis in a substantially horizontal cutting plane when the cutting deck and rotary cutting element are in operation. An attachment is provided on the cutting deck for coupling to a pivotal lift arm extending laterally outwardly from one side of the mower. The cutting deck when so coupled to the lift arm has inner front and rear corners that are closest to the mower and outer front and rear corners that are furthest from the mower. Three support wheels are carried adjacent the inner front, the outer front and the outer rear corners of the cutting deck. A corner suspension comprises at least one upwardly biased connecting link attached to the inner rear corner of the cutting deck. The bias on the connecting link is sufficient to elevate the inner rear corner of the cutting deck above the ground without using a support wheel on the inner rear corner.
Yet another aspect of this invention relates to a rotary cutting deck for a mower. The cutting deck has four corners. Ground engaging wheels are located adjacent three of the four corners of the deck. A corner suspension is provided for the fourth corner of the deck. The corner suspension includes an upwardly biased connecting link acting between the mower and the fourth corner of the deck. The connecting link is biased to lift upwardly on the fourth corner of the deck with a biasing force sufficiently strong to elevate the fourth corner of the deck above the ground. The corner suspension takes the place of a ground engaging wheel on the fourth corner of the deck.


An apparatus and method for selecting a keyboard key based on a position of a presence of a conductive object on a sensing device and a pre-defined area of the keyboard key. The apparatus may include a sensing device and a processing device. The sensing device may include a plurality of sensor elements to detect a presence of a conductive object on the sensing device. Multiple keyboard keys are assigned to pre-defined areas of the sensing device. The processing device is coupled to the sensing device using capacitance sensing pins, and may be operable to determine a position of the presence of the conductive object, and to select a keyboard key based on the position of the conductive object and the pre-defined areas of the sensing device.

Computing devices, such as notebook computers, personal data assistants (PDAs), and mobile handsets, have user interface devices, which are also known as human interface device (HID). One such user interface device is a keyboard. Keyboards include a set of input keys for the computing device. The input keys may be standard typewriter keys, such as the alphabetic letters and numbers. The input keys may also include several specialized keys, such as Enter, Control, Alt, Delete, Escape, Cursor keys, and the like.
FIG. 1A illustrates a resistance matrix of a conventional keyboard. Conventional keyboard 100 includes a keyboard architecture using a resistance matrix. The resistance matrix includes multiple rows (X0-X2) 101(0)-101(2), and multiple columns (Y0-Y2) 102(0)-102(2). All the rows 101(0)-101(2) are each connected to a pull-up resistor (e.g., 103(0)-103(2)), and all the columns 102(0)-102(2) are each connected to a pull-down transistor (e.g., 104(0)-104(2)), such as an N-Channel MOSFET (NMOS). Above the resistance matrix there are multiple buttons 105(0)-105(8) (e.g., keyboard keys). Upon pressing a button, the corresponding row and column (X, Y) will be shorted together. For example, the row X will read "0," otherwise the row X is "1."
One example of the resistance matrix for a PC is a PS/2 keyboard. The PS/2 keyboard typically has between 101 and 104 keys that are uniquely positioned in a resistance scan matrix. The scan matrix consists of M rows and N columns, all of which are electrically isolated from each other. On average, the number of rows (M) is no greater than 8, and the number of columns (N) is no greater than 20. Each key sits over two isolated contacts of its corresponding row and column in the scan matrix. When a keyboard key 108 is pressed, the two contacts 106 and 107 are shorted together, and the row and column of the keyboard key 108 are electrically connected, as illustrated in FIG. 1B.
The PS/2 keyboard may include an embedded controller that performs a variety of tasks, all of which help to cut down on the overall system overhead. The PS/2 controller may monitor the keys and report to the main computer whenever a keyboard key is pressed or released. FIG. 1C illustrates scan results for no keyboard keys pressed on a conventional resistance scan matrix. The controller writes a scan pattern 109 out to the column lines consisting of all 1s and one 0 which is shifted through each column. In FIG. 1C no keyboard keys are pressed, resulting in all is in the scan results 110 being read at the row lines. FIG. 1D illustrates scan results for a keyboard key 111 pressed on a conventional resistance scan matrix. The controller writes a scan pattern 112 out to the column lines consisting of all 1s and one 0 which is shifted through each column. The scan results 113 are then read at the row lines. If a 0 is propagated to a row line, then the key 111 at the intersection of that column and row has been pressed.
The conventional resistance scan matrix designs described have large pin counts because every row and every column is connected to a pin. The pin count for these conventional resistance matrix keyboards is the sum of the number of rows and the number of columns. For example, the PC keyboard needs at least 21 pins to build a resistance scan matrix. Having a large pin count, may increase the die area of the circuit, or alternatively, or may decrease the robustness of the circuit by decreasing the possibility of additional functionality in the same circuit with limited pins. Also, the resistance scan matrix keyboards cannot be built in very small areas because it is limited by the pull-up resistor and mechanical button for each keyboard key. For example, the mechanical button of each keyboard key may have an area of about 0.5 centimeters (cm)×0.5 cm, the total keyboard area will be at least 25.25 cm2 for a keyboard having 101 keyboard keys (e.g., 101×0.5 cm×0.5 cm=25.25 cm2).
Another conventional keyboard may include a virtual keyboard. Virtual keyboards are a representation of a keyboard displayed on a touch screen. Tapping the "virtual keys" with a stylus or finger is the same as pressing a real key on a keyboard. For example, a PDA may supply keyboard functionality by providing a keyboard displayed on the touch screen of the PDA, instead of including the mechanical keyboard keys on the assembly of the PDA. This design, however, may take up too much precious real estate on the display.
Another example of a conventional virtual keyboard is a representation of a keyboard projected onto a flat surface such as a desktop. Using fingers as with a normal keyboard, an optical or electronic beam is used to pick up the tapping of the keyboard keys of the projected image. Such a device enables PDAs and other small handhelds to create a full-size keyboard. One example of this type of virtual keyboards is a virtual laser keyboard (VKB). The VKB works by using both infrared and laser technology to produce an invisible circuit and project a full-size virtual QWERTY keyboard on to any surface. The virtual PC keyboard behaves exactly like a real one: direction technology based on optical recognition enables the user to tap the images of the keys, which feeds into the compatible PDA, Smartphone, laptop or PC. QWERTY refers to a standard English-language typewriter keyboard (sometimes called the Sholes keyboard after its inventor), as opposed to Dvorak, foreign-language layouts (e.g. "keyboard AZERTY" in French-speaking countries), a space-cadet, or APL keyboards.

Capacitance sensing matrix for keyboard architecture


A substantially transparent conductive layer is provided on a support, the layer comprising a conductive ionic liquid and a conductive metal network distributed therein.

Indium tin oxide (ITO) is commonly used as a transparent conductive layer in display devices, but it has a number of drawbacks. Thick coatings of ITO, which have low surface resistivities, have significantly reduced optical transmission and are not flexible. Bending the coating causes the ITO film to crack so reducing conductivity.
Many applications, such as flat panel displays, require inexpensive transparent conducting layers, but a bus bar is required to transport current over large area displays.
An alternative means of providing a substantially transparent conductor capable of transporting current over large areas is to use a patterned thin metallic conductor, which is also flexible.
One drawback to this approach is that for supplying closely packed devices, e.g. pixel elements of a larger display device, the use of such a common transparent front plane only provides a non-uniform field. This drawback can be improved by the addition of a second layer of a material of lower conductivity, e.g. a conducting polymer.
A common failing of conducting polymers is that they strongly absorb throughout the visible region, thereby damaging optical transmission.
Photographically generated silver conductive tracks are known in the prior art.
GB 0585035 describes a process for making conducting tracks, using a silver image formed by traditional photographic methods which is then put through an electroless-plating process. This may or may not then be followed by an electroplating step to create conductive tracks.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,223,525 describes a process for making conductive tracks using a silver image formed by traditional light exposure methods, in which the silver image is then enhanced by electroless-plating using a physical developer to form conductive tracks.
Silver meshes with continuous conducting polymer layers are also known in the prior art.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,613 describes the use of conductive polymers as a transparent conductive thin film, for use as an antistat in photographic products.
WO 2004/019345 and WO 2004/019666 describe the use of a non-continuous metal conductor in conjunction with a continuous conducting polymer layer which is flexible.
US 2004/0149962 describes the use of conductive polymers as transparent conductive layers within a non-uniform conductive metal entity and though this example is more flexible all conductive polymer molecules are significantly coloured compounds, which therefore reduces their optical transmission when coated.
US2005/0122034 describes the use of a layer containing transparent metal oxides in an organic material in conjunction with a layer containing a netlike structure comprising a thin metal line. Metal oxides generally have high refractive indices which as dispersed particles introduce scattering losses.
It is an aim of the invention to improve the electrical field uniformity in a non uniform conductive metal entity without reducing the optical transmission or limiting the flexibility.


Disclosed are oral compositions comprising a nonionic surfactant and/or amphoteric surfactant, an anionic surfactant, free pyrophosphate ions or tetrasodium pyrophosphate, free fluoride ions, and one or more aqueous carriers. The compositions may also contain an alkali metal bicarbonate salt and xylitol.

Dental calculus, or tartar as it is sometimes called, is a deposit which forms on the surface of the teeth at the gingival margin. Supraginival calculus appears principally in the areas near the orifices of the salivary ducts; e.g., on the lingual surfaces of the lower anterior teeth and on the buccal surfaces of the upper first and second molars, and on the distal surfaces of the posterior molars.
Mature calculus consists of an inorganic portion which is largely calcium phosphate arranged in a hydroxyapatite crystal lattice structure similar to bone, enamel, and dentine. An organic portion is also present and consists of desquamated epithelial cells, leukocytes, salivary sediment, food debris, and various types of microorganisms.
As the mature calculus develops, it becomes visibly white or yellowish in color unless stained or discolored by some extraneous agent. This is undesirable from an aesthetic standpoint.
Mechanical removal of calculus periodically by the dentist is routine dental office procedure. A variety of chemical and biological agents have also been suggested to retard calculus formation or to remove calculus after it is formed. Pyrophosphate salts are chemical agents known to have the ability to retard calculus formation as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,184, to Parran, Jr. et al., issued Mar. 12, 1991, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Agents used to retard the growth of tartar may cause increased oral desquamation levels. To keep the desquamation levels at an acceptable level, the amount of surfactant or amount of surfactant and tartar control agent is lowered. The lowering of the amount of surfactant results in decreased foam levels, which commonly causes negative aesthetics due to the lower foam levels experienced during brushing.
It has been discovered by the present inventors that oral tartar control compositions can be formulated with a combination of surfactants which increase consumer acceptance by increasing foaming levels while maintaining acceptable oral desquamation levels. It has also been discovered that these compositions can also contain an alkali metal bicarbonate salt and xylitol, while maintaining the improved level of foaming.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a tartar control composition which contains a combination of surfactants. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a consumer acceptable tartar control composition which does not increase oral desquamation levels.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent from the detailed description which follows.
All percentages and ratios used are by weight of the total composition, and all measurements are made at 25.degree. C., unless otherwise specified.


A control system for an electric machine powered from a DC source, wherein controlled motoring and controlled braking are achieved with a single current regulator control, even when the DC source cannot accept charging current and/or the induced motor voltage exceeds the DC bus voltage. The motor control circuit comprises a DC source connected to a DC bus, a current control circuit for modulating switching devices connected across the DC bus, an energy exchange capacitor connected across the DC bus, a load resistor, a switching circuit effective when activated to interrupt a connection between the DC source and the DC bus and to connect the load resistor across the DC bus in parallel with the capacitor, and a logic circuit for activating the switching circuit during motor braking under conditions for which the modulation of the switching devices is ineffective to control the braking current.

Numerous applications require controlled motoring and braking of an electric machine. In automotive and other applications powered by a rechargeable DC source, such as a storage battery, the control requires at least a pair of switching devices connected across the DC bus for supplying regulated current to the armature windings of the machine during motoring, and at least a pair of associated rectifiers for returning generated current to the battery during braking. When the generated voltage is less than the battery voltage, the switching devices may be modulated to aid the induced voltage in the manner of a boost converter. Typical automotive applications include propulsion and active suspension; see, for example, Murty et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,679, issued on Feb. 25, 1992, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
Under certain conditions, such as when the battery is fully charged and/or when the motor speed is such that the induced voltage (back-EMF) exceeds the DC bus voltage, the braking force cannot be conveniently controlled. In the latter case, the rectifiers conduct almost continuously since the DC bus voltage is limited substantially to the terminal voltage of the battery. In the case of the fully charged battery, the generated current must be supplied to an alternate load, such as a bank of load resistors connected in parallel with the battery, as in the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,679.
In applications where controlled braking is essential, it is known to regulate the generated current by modulating the conduction of a resistive load circuit connected across the DC bus. See, for example, the braking control disclosed in Murty et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,575, issued on Mar. 28, 1989, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. In an application requiring both motoring and braking, however, this approach requires separate current controllers for motoring and braking, and circuitry for controlling transitions between the two modes of current control.

Single current regulator for controlled motoring and braking of a DC-fed electric motor


A musical shoe construction 10 including a plurality of piezo electric sensor disks 40 imbedded in and disposed around the periphery of the heel and toe portions of a rubberized sole element 23 of the lower shoe portion 22. Each of the sensor disks 40 is associated with an individual oscillator circuit 41 to produce a distinctive musical tone in response to the application of an external force to one or more of the sensors 40.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of shoe constructions in general, and in particular to a shoe construction having sound generating capacity.
2. Description of Related Art
As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,771,556; 5,402,590; 5,421,107; and 5,483,759, the prior art is replete with music generating shoe constructions which produce a repetitive musical pattern.
While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are more than adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and practical musical shoe construction wherein the frequency and sequence of the musical tones that are produced by the shoes are governed and controlled by the person wearing the shoes.
As anyone who is familiar with the prior art shoe construction is all too well aware, the repetitive nature of the musical tones generated by the shoe or shoes becomes less attractive over time to the point wherein the repetition becomes a nuisance.
As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a longstanding need for a new and improved type of musical shoe construction that not only is capable of generating a variable musical tone pattern, but one that is dictated by the person wearing the shoe and the provision of such a construction is a stated objective of the present invention.


A photo sensor module includes a holder made of resin and a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element accommodated in the holder. A printed circuit board is fixed to a flat side wall portion of a motor. The resin holder has a guide portion which is formed integrally therewith and which comes into contact with an end surface and a bearing-holding portion of an end bell. The printed circuit board is fixed in a state in which the guide portion is sandwiched between the bearing-holding portion and the printed circuit board while being brought into contact with the end surface of the end bell, whereby the photo sensor module is positioned in thrust and radial directions of the motor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical encoder device for a small-sized motor which optically detects rotation of a motor shaft.
2. Description of the Related Art
In some cases, there arises demand for attaching, to a small-sized motor, a device for detecting the rotational speed and position of the motor. A small-sized motor equipped with an optical encoder device used as such a detection device has been used in applications which require rotation control such as automotive electrical components and OA apparatuses (e.g., a printer).
FIG. 8 illustrates a conventional technique of attaching an optical encoder device to a motor (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2003-199297). As shown in FIG. 8, a pair of through holes are formed in a flat side surface (a lower surface in FIG. 8) of a motor so as to allow connection to a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board includes a pair of contact pins adapted to be inserted into the pair of through holes, as well as electronic components such as a photo sensor module and a connector.
After the contact pins are inserted into the through holes by means of pushing and moving the printed circuit board in a direction of an arrow from the lower side in the drawing, a fixing clamp is fitted onto the motor from the upper side in the drawing. That is, the fixing clamp is pushed and moved in a direction of an arrow from the side of the motor opposite the printed circuit board, and pegs of the fixing clamp are inserted into corresponding guide holes formed in the printed circuit board, whereby the printed circuit board is assembled. A code wheel is secured to a shaft end of the motor.
As described above, when the illustrated printed circuit board is employed, a motor having female terminals (through holes) on its side surface is used, and the female terminals and the printed circuit board are connected via the contact pins standing on the printed circuit board. Since the printed circuit board cannot be supported by means of contact pressure of the contact pins applied to the female terminals, an expensive metal fixing clamp is used. However, the complicated shape of the fixing clamp considerably increases cost. Since the positioning between the code wheel and the sensor is realized by a plurality of components cumulatively assembled (such as the motor and the code wheel, the clamp and the motor, the clamp and the board, and the board and the sensor), anxiety arises in relation to positioning accuracy.
In a case where a printed circuit board must be attached to a motor, the motor is typically of a type in which male terminals (motor terminals) project from the end face of an end bell, rather than the side surface of the motor, along the axial direction of the shaft (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2006-129692). However, in the case of a motor having a small diameter, such as 20 mm, the male terminals hinder mounting of various components onto the board, which is restricted in dimensions. According to a known technique which can solve such a drawback, a motor of a type in which male terminals project from a side surface (flat surface) of the motor is used, and a printed circuit board is attached to the male terminals. Since the connection between the printed circuit board and the motor is established by means of soldering to the male terminals, the printed circuit board can be fixed to the motor. However, since the printed circuit board is fixed by means of soldering only, the resistance of the printed circuit board to external force is insufficient. Therefore, a thick glass epoxy board which is high in strength but expensive must be used for the printed circuit board. Even in such a case, a resultant structure cannot be said to have a sufficient degree of robustness. The positional relation between the code wheel and the photo sensor module is important. However, the conventional encoder devices do not have a portion for structurally positioning the photo sensor module. Therefore, the conventional encoder devices require external positioning performed by use of a jig or the like, and concerns arise in relation to workability and positioning accuracy.

Optical encoder device for small-sized motor


A laser level includes a level-adjusting device and a laser transmitter device mounted on the level-adjusting device. The level-adjusting device includes a horizontal flat board movable by a plurality of motor modules to a desired condition, a cross rotatable circle including an outer circle rotatable about a first rotation axis and a concentric inner circle rotatable about a second rotation axis perpendicular to the first rotation axis, and a connecting post connecting the horizontal flat board to the cross rotatable circle and supporting the laser transmitter thereon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laser level, and more particularly to a laser level with improved leveling adjustability.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Because of excellent linearity, a laser level is commonly used to measure or verify the horizontality or perpendicularity of an object by emitting and receiving a laser beam. As the cost of laser transmitter decreases ceaselessly, the laser level is getting more and more common in architecture/construction projects or installation of large machines.
A conventional laser level generally comprises a level-adjusting device and a laser transmitter mounted on the level-adjusting device. The level-adjusting device adjusts the leveling of the laser transmitter whereby the laser transmitter can project a laser beam in a correct direction.
The level-adjusting device can do direction adjustment in either an active manner or a passive manner. In passive adjustment, leveling adjustment is done by means of gravitation or buoyancy of liquid, while in active adjustment, adjustment of leveling is performed through mechanical driving.
FIGS. 1-3 of the attached drawings illustrate a conventional level-adjusting device 110 for adjusting leveling of an object 116, such as a laser transmitter, mounted thereon. The level-adjusting device 110 comprises a base 113, a plurality of posts 111 extending upright from the base 113, a mounting plate 112 supported by the posts 111, a rotatable spherical body 114 mounted in an opening defined in the mounting plate 112, and a shaft 115 extending through the spherical body 114, connected to the object 116, and driven by a motor 118 so as to permit rotation of the object 116 upon actuation of the motor 118. The shaft 115, together with the object 116, is slightly moved relative to a horizontal plane, i.e. the sea level, upon rotation of the spherical body 114 during level adjustment of the object 116.
The spherical body 114 is rotated by a transmission unit 200 that comprises a mounting seat 117 connected to the spherical body 114, a connecting member 201 connected to the mounting seat 117 and having two opposite legs 211, a first operating rod 208 engageable with one of the legs 211 for driving the connecting member 201 to move in a first horizontal direction and engageable with the other of the legs 211 for driving the connecting member 201 to move in a first opposite direction opposite to the first horizontal direction, and a second operating rod 209 engageable with one of the legs 211 for driving the connecting member 201 to move in a second horizontal direction and engageable with the other of the legs 211 for driving the connecting member 201 to move in a second opposite direction opposite to the second horizontal direction.
The first and second operating rods 208, 209 are mounted slidably on a support 203 through first and second threaded blocks 207, 205 and first and second screw rods 206, 204, which engage, threadedly and respectively, the first and second threaded blocks 207, 205. In operation, movement of the first or second operating rod 208, 209 or both the first and second operating rods 208, 209 results in rotation of the spherical body 114, which, in turn, results in co-movement of the object 116 and the shaft 115 to the sea level.
The aforesaid conventional level-adjusting device 110 is disadvantageous in that leveling adjustment of the object 116 is time-consuming. For instance, since the spherical body 114 can only rotate about its center, movement of the first operating rod 208 not only results in movement of the connecting member 201 in the first horizontal direction, but also results in an undesired movement of the transmission member 201 in the second horizontal direction due to rotation of the spherical body 114, which requires further operation of the second operating rod 209 to adjust leveling of the object 116, which, in turn, requires further operation of the first operating rod 208, and so on. As a consequence, the operation is quite time-consuming.
Hence, an adjusting device is required to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

Laser level with improved leveling adjustability


A decoder implemented using bifet technology to exhibit high performance, high density, and low power dissipation. The decoder has multiple input lines for conducting signals at ECL-compatible voltage levels and an output line for conducting signals at CMOS-compatible voltage levels. The output line is enabled in response to a predetermined combination of ECL-compatible voltage level signals on said input lines. The decoder comprises a gate for generating an OR output at ECL-compatible voltage levels according to the input line signals. An inverter is coupled to the OR gate for inverting and amplifying the OR output to produce an inverted output at CMOS voltage levels. A word line driver is coupled to an output of the inverter for isolating and driving the output line according to the inverted output. Finally, power saving means are coupled to the inverter for minimizing power dissipation in the decoder.

1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates generally to decoders, and more particularly to decoders which are achieved using bifet technology.
2. Related Art
A decoder is a device having input and output lines. The decoder selects one of its output lines according to the combination of values present on its input lines. When selecting an output line, the decoder sets the output line to either a low voltage value or a high voltage value, depending on whether the output lines are high or low, respectively, when not selected by the decoder. As used herein, the terms "select" and "enable" are used interchangebly.
Decoders are often used as access controllers for memory devices. This is shown in FIG. 1, where a decoder 104 controls access to a memory device 108.
The decoder 104 has N input lines 102 and 2.sup.N output lines 106 (the output lines 106 are also called word/bit lines 106 when the decoder 104 is used as an access controller as shown in FIG. 1). The memory device 108 has 2.sup.N rows and W memory cells per row. A one-to-one correspondence exists between the 2.sup.N word/bit lines 106 and the 2.sup.N rows of the memory device 108.
Ordinarily, the decoder 104 maintains the word/bit lines 106 in an unenabled state. When it is desired to read from or write to a row 114 of the memory device 108, an address of the row 114 is placed on the input lines 102. In response to the address, the decoder 104 enables a word/bit line 116 which corresponds to the row 114. The decoder 104 maintains the other word/bit lines in the unenabled state. Once the word/bit line 116 is enabled, it is possible to either read from or write to the memory cells associated with the row 114 by means of data lines 110. A selection line 112 may be provided to select specific memory cells in the row 114 for reading and writing.
A conventional decoder 104' is shown in FIG. 2. The conventional decoder 104' contains first decoders 212, 214 and second decoders 202.
The first decoders 212, 214 each contain four input lines 216, 218 (which correspond to the input lines 102 in FIG. 1) and sixteen output lines 226, 228.
While only one second decoder 202 is shown in FIG. 2, in practice the conventional decoder 104' contains 256 second decoders 202. The second decoders 202 contain word/bit lines 224, which correspond to the word/bit lines 106 in FIG. 1.
The second decoder 202 contains only metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFET), and specifically negative field effect transistors (NFET) 208, 210 and positive field effect transistors (PFET) 204, 206. Circuits using metal oxide semiconductor NFETs and PFETs are often called complementary metal oxide semiconductors (CMOS).
The second decoder 202 has two input nodes 230, 232. The output lines 226, 228 are connected to the input nodes 230, 232, which are in turn connected to the gates of the NFETs 208, 210 and the PFETs 204, 206. Each of the second decoders 202 is connected to and receives input from a different combination of the output lines 226, 228.
In operation, an 8 bit address is divided into two 4 bit addresses. The two 4 bit addresses are applied to the first decoders 212, 214 on the input lines 216, 218. Normally, the first decoders 212, 214 maintain the output lines 226, 228 at a high voltage state, such that the output lines 226, 228 are not enabled. In response to the 4 bit addresses, the first decoders 212, 214 each cause one of their respective output lines 226, 228 to go to a low voltage state, such that the output lines 226, 228 in the low voltage state are enabled.
For any particular second decoder 202, if either or both of its input nodes 230, 232 (which are connected to the output lines 226, 228) are in a high voltage state, then either or both NFETs 208, 210 are conductive, and at least one of the PFETs 204, 206 is nonconductive. As a result, the word/bit line 224 is pulled down to a low voltage state, such that the word/bit line 224 is not enabled.
If the input nodes 230, 232 are both at a low voltage state, then the NFETs 208, 210 are nonconductive and the PFETs 204, 206 are conductive. As a result, the word/bit line 224 is pulled up to a high voltage state, such that the word/bit line 224 is enabled.
While representing a functional decoder 104, the conventional decoder 104' is flawed with respect to performance and density. Specifically, the conventional decoder 104' is relatively slow in operation because it uses only field effect transistors (FET) 204, 206, 208, 210. In general, FETs are relatively slower than other transistor types (such as bipolar). Also, the density of the conventional decoder 104' is relatively low because FETs are physically larger than other transistor types (such as bipolar) for the same driving capability.
Another conventional decoder 104" is shown in FIG. 3. The conventional decoder 104" contains the first decoders 212, 214. The structure and operation of the first decoders 212, 214 are as described above with reference to FIG. 2.
The conventional decoder 104" also contains second decoders 322. While only one second decoder 322 is shown in FIG. 3, in practice the conventional decoder 104" contains 256 second decoders 322. The second decoders 322 contain word/bit lines 314, which correspond to the word/bit lines 106 in FIG. 1.
The second decoder 322 contains only bipolar transistors 304, 306, 308. The second decoder 322 has two input nodes 324, 326. The output lines 226, 228 are connected to the input nodes 324, 326, which are in turn connected to the bases of the bipolar transistors 306, 308. Each of the second decoders 322 is connected to and receives input from a different combination of the output lines 226, 228.
In operation, an 8 bit address is divided into two 4 bit addresses. The two 4 bit addresses are applied to the first decoders 212, 214 on the input lines 216, 218. Normally, the first decoders 212, 214 maintain the output lines 226, 228 at a high voltage state, such that the output lines 226, 228 are not enabled. In response to the 4 bit addresses, the first decoders 212, 214 each cause one of their respective output lines 226, 228 to go to a low voltage state, such that the output lines 226, 228 in the low voltage state are enabled.
The bipolar transistors 306, 308 represent a NOR gate. The bipolar transistor 304 represents an emitter follower.
For any particular second decoder 322, if either or both of its input nodes 324, 326 are at a high voltage state, then at least one of the bipolar transistors 306, 308 is conductive. Consequently, the base of the bipolar transistor 304 is held at a low voltage state. As a result, the word/bit line 314 is pulled down to a low voltage state, such that the word/bit line 314 is not enabled.
If the input nodes 306, 308 are both at a low voltage state, then the bipolar transistors 306, 308 are nonconductive. Consequently, the base of the bipolar transistor 304 is pulled up to a high voltage state. As a result, the word/bit line 314 is pulled up to a high voltage state, such that the word/bit line 314 is enabled.
The conventional decoder 104" represents a functional decoder 104. Also, because it uses only bipolar transistors 304, 306, 308, the conventional decoder 104" solves the performance and density problems of the conventional decoder 104' since bipolar transistors are generally faster and physically smaller than FETs for the same driving capability.
However, the conventional decoder 104" is flawed with respect to power dissipation. As shown in FIG. 3, the second decoders 322 always draw a significant amount of current. For example, while in the nonenabled state, the second decoders 322 draw current (and dissipate power) through the bipolar transistors 306, 308. While in the enabled state, the second decoders 322 draw current (and dissipate power) through the bipolar transistor 304.
Therefore, a decoder is required which achieves high performance, high density, and minimal power dissipation.

International Business Machines Corporation


An auto gain control circuit comprises a first peak detector, a variable gain amplifier, a second peak detector, a multiplexer and a controller. The first peak detector detects peaks of an input signal to generate a first peak signal. The variable gain amplifier amplifies the input signal to generate an output signal according to a control signal. The second peak detector detects peaks of the output signal to generate a second peak signal. The multiplexer selectively outputs the first peak signal or the second peak signal according to a first control signal. The controller generates the control signal according to the second peak signal and the first peak signal or according to the second peak signal and the reference voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an auto gain control circuit. In particular, the invention relates to an auto gain control circuit with zero decibel gain.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional auto gain control circuit 100 with zero decibel gain. Auto gain control circuit 100 comprises peak detector 110, variable gain amplifier 120, multiplexer 150, comparator 164 and integrator 162. Output terminal is controlled by control signal S0 to output signals S11 or S12. In the application of zero decibel gain, multiplexer 150 directly outputs signal S11. In the application of auto control gain, multiplexer 150 outputs signal S12. Peak detector 110 detects peaks of signal S12 to generate peak signal S14. Comparator 164 compares peak signal S14 with reference signal Vref to generate comparative signal S15. When peak signal S14 is higher than reference signal Vref, comparator 164 outputs comparative signal S15 to decrease charges of integrator 162 for decreasing the voltage level of control signal S16. Similarly, when peak signal S14 is lower than reference signal Vref, comparator 164 outputs comparative signal S15 to increase charges of integrator 162 such that the voltage level of control signal S16 increases. Thus, the output range of output signal S12 is adjusted by variable gain amplifier which is controlled by control signal S16. When this negative feedback loop locked, the output signal strength will be stable.
However, noise generated by multiplexer 150 is directly transmitted to output terminal during switching of multiplexer 150, interfering with output signals. If the instant variation of the output signals is too large, subsequent stage circuits will be saturated or abnormal. If conventional auto gain control circuit 100 is applied in audio speaker systems, during switching of multiplexer 150, users will be disturb by excess noise generated by outputting speakers.


A bending die used in the apparatus for manufacturing the automotive suspension arm to bend a rod-like raw material and produce a bent material includes a lower bending die including a mounting portion for mounting thereon the rod-like raw material and an upper bending die including a pressing portion for vertically pressing the rod-like raw material mounted on the lower bending die. The mounting portion and the pressing portion include a lower die contact portion and an upper die contact portion each formed into a shape along the bent shape of the bent material to come in contact with the bent material. The lower die contact portion includes, in the middle portion thereof, a groove portion formed to have a size which allows a moving means to grip the bent material in non-contact relation with the bent material.

Conventionally, an automotive suspension arm is manufactured by bust forging and finish forging or by bust forging, rough forging, and finish forging. In addition, in a manufacturing apparatus therefor, the transportation of members between individual forging steps is generally performed with a transfer feeder. As an example of the manufacturing apparatus including the transfer feeder, a manufacturing apparatus having a structure as shown below is described in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application Publication No. Hei 06(1994)-530.
The manufacturing apparatus includes a forging device in which an upset die, a rough finishing die, a finishing die, and a blanking die are juxtaposed, and a transfer feeder which is disposed over a lower die holder having the lower dies of the individual dies being disposed thereon and in which gripping claws are disposed in opposing relation on two feed bars each of which performs a three-dimensional reciprocal movement. In the transfer feeder, the middle portions of the feed bars are formed of detachable middle bars, and some of the plurality of gripping claws are provided upwardly and downwardly movable relative to the middle bars. A transmission mechanism section for causing the gripping claws to upwardly and downwardly move is attached to each of the middle bars, and a drive link mechanism section for driving the transmission mechanism section in association with a feeding operation by the feed bars is provided over the lower die holder.

Bending die, and apparatus and method for manufacturing automotive suspension arm using the same


A method for LiOHH2O production from lithium-bearing multicomponent hydromineral raw materials includes filtering lithium-bearing brine contaminated with suspended particles with regeneration of filters and processing of used regenerate, and obtaining pregnant lithium-bearing brine, isolation of lithium chloride from the brine in the form of a primary concentrate in sorption-desorption modules, and nanofiltration of the primary lithium concentrate from magnesium, calcium and sulfate ions. By means of reverse osmosis, electrodialysis concentration and ion-exchange purification from impurities followed by thermal concentration, the primary lithium concentrate is converted into a pregnant lithium chloride concentrate which is converted into a LiOH solution by membrane electrolysis. The LiOH solution is boiled down, resulting in LiOH.H2O crystallization.

A method for producing lithium hydroxide from brines containing lithium, alkali metal and alkaline earth metal halides, after concentrating them in natural conditions, separating the majority of sodium and potassium chlorides and precipitation of calcium and magnesium at pH=10.5-11.5 is known in the art. After purification from calcium and magnesium, the concentrated solution containing up to 2-7% lithium is subjected to electrolysis, which is carried out in an electrolysis cell with a Nafion cation-exchange membrane which separates the anolyte from the catholyte, where lithium ions are transferred to the cathode chamber, producing LiOH. Chlorine and hydrogen are released during this process. In order to obtain high-purity lithium hydroxide monohydrate, it is crystallized from catholyte solution in which the content of impure cations does not exceed 0.5%. The mother liquor obtained after evaporation of the catholyte and separation of LiOH.H2O is subjected to carbonization by carbon dioxide in order to precipitate high-purity lithium carbonate, chlorine impurity of which does not exceed 0.005%. The released chlorine and hydrogen form hydrochloric acid by reacting with each other, which, as a result of exchange reaction with high-purity lithium hydroxide monohydrate, forms lithium chloride to produce high-purity metallic lithium (FRG patent No. 2700748.08.09.77) [1]. A method similar to the present solution in technical terms is the method for producing LiOH.H2O based on membrane electrolysis of a chloride solution produced in turn from lithium-bearing brines, including natural brines (RU 2470861, Sep. 4, 2009, published on 27 May 2014, bulletin 14) [2].
A common disadvantage of the above methods is the multistage production of the lithium chloride solution subjected to electrolysis, which is possible only in an arid climate using halurgic technology with stepwise separation of sodium and potassium chlorides and chemical impurities of calcium, magnesium and boron. The resulting lithium chloride solutions require further concentration using submersible gas combustion and re-precipitation of Ca and Mg impurities using LiOH and Li2CO3. Therefore, it is necessary to perform chemical cleaning twice and filter the brine multiple times during concentration. Further, in order to produce the required amount of pregnant LiCl solution, it is necessary to purify very large volumes of initial brines, which leads to high consumption of reagents and formation of large volumes of solid waste, and to concentrate the initial lithium-bearing brines highly in terms of lithium chloride content, usually with salinity of over 200 kg/m3, which requires high capital investments, high power consumption during production and the inevitable salting out of a huge mass of salts in the form of NaCl and NaCl mixed with KCl, which are not in demand on the market. For lithium-bearing brines with high calcium and magnesium content, up to 50-70% of the total sum of salts, such as deep brines of the Siberian platform and lake brines of the Qinghai province in China, the use of halurgic technology to obtain a pregnant LiCl solution is fundamentally impossible.
For lithium-bearing brines with high calcium and magnesium content, a technology for sorption enrichment of brines with lithium has been developed, the technology including a method for producing a primary lithium concentrate in the form of a lithium chloride solution and an apparatus for the production thereof (RU 2516538, Feb. 17, 2012, published May 20, 2014, bulletin 14) [3]. The technology provides sorption-based production of lithium concentrate, its further enrichment and concentration, but the apparatus lacks a converter for producing a LiOH solution from a lithium chloride solution. The technology of sorption-based separation of lithium chloride from lithium-bearing brines proved to be effective not only in terms of lithium-bearing brines with high calcium and magnesium content but also in terms of conventional multi-component highly mineralized lithium-bearing brines of sodium chloride type with low initial calcium and magnesium content. For selective sorption of LiCl from brines, the DGAL-Cl granular sorbent is used (RU 2455063, Oct. 13, 2010, published Jul. 10, 2014, bulletin 19) [4], which is based on a double compound of aluminum and lithium (LiCl.2Al(OH)3.mH2O) with a structural lithium deficiency, the compound being capable of selective sorption of LiCl from a saturated sorbent into fresh water. Based on the use of a selective granular sorbent, a method for producing lithium hydroxide from brines and an apparatus for implementation thereof have been developed (RU 2193008, Mar. 25, 1998, published Nov. 20, 2002, bulletin 32) [5]. According to the method, the solution of lithium chloride is produced in a U-shaped column by selective sorption of lithium chloride from brines and desorption of LiCl using water, followed by concentration of the LiCl solution in the same column by repeated processing of the lithium-saturated sorbent at the sorption stage using circulating LiCl solutions produced during the previous desorption process. Desorption of LiCl from the saturated sorbent is carried out at a ratio of the circulating solution volume to the sorbent volume of 1.5:1.0. Desorption of LiCl using circulating lithium chloride solutions allows to increase the concentration of LiCl from 0.5-3.0 kg/m3 to 11.0-17.0 kg/m3. The concentrated LiCl solution is subjected to ion-exchange purification from Ca and Mg impurities on a KU-2 cation exchanger in the Li-form, followed by regeneration thereof using a lithium chloride solution. The resulting purified LiCl solution enters the electrochemical conversion stage in order to produce a LiOH solution. Chlorine released at the anode is absorbed in the presence of urea by the mother liquor of LiOH formed after LiOH.H2O crystallization.
After electrolysis of lithium chloride, the anolyte proceeds to the stage of desalting thereof to a LiCl concentration of 0.5-3.0 kg/m3, which is used at the stage of lithium desorption from the sorbent. All of the above procedures are carried out in one U-shaped column filled with a granular sorbent based on LiCl.2Al(OH)3.mH2O and selective to lithium. The column is equipped with a device for reverse circulation of the washing liquid and a bypass system for returning the desorbing liquid to the desorption area. All processes are carried out in a stepwise countercurrent mode. The apparatus further comprises a column filled with the KU-2 cation exchanger in Li-form for purification of the lithium chloride solution from Ca and Mg impurities. After purification and concentration to 70-100 g/m3, the lithium chloride solution is used at the cation exchanger regeneration stage.
The apparatus for the conversion of lithium chloride to hydroxide consists of a membrane electrolyzer and an electrodialyzer/filter-press desalter for obtaining a desalted solution, an absorber for capturing chlorine, a crystallizer for producing LiOH.H2O and a centrifuge for separating crystals from the mother liquor used for absorbing chlorine. The process of converting LiCl to LiOH is carried out in an electrolyzer operating in a galvanostatic mode at a current density of 0.25-0.95 kA/m2 supplied with a lithium chloride solution of 18 kg/m3. The resulting lithium hydroxide solution is concentrated to 60-80 kg/m3. The anolyte with LiCl content of 6.5-6.7 kg/m3 is subjected to desalination to 0.5-3.0 kg/m3 of LiCl.
The electrolyzer for converting lithium chloride has an anode made of a corrosion-resistant material; in this case, platinum or titanium coated with iridium or platinum was used, and stainless steel was used as the cathode. The electrolyzer is equipped with intermediate electrodes made of iridized titanium foil and with MK-40 or MK-41 membranes. Chlorine released at the anode during electrolysis is directed to a gas separator and then to an absorber for its absorption by the mother liquor after LiOH.H2O crystallization. Excess chlorine is captured using the original bromine-containing brine where the bromide ion is oxidized to elemental bromine, and gaseous bromine is stripped and condensed to a liquid state.
The disadvantages of the method include the following:
1) the lithium chloride solution is concentrated directly in the sorption-desorption column, which leads to the production of a lithium chloride solution with concentration of 16-18 kg/m3 at most;
2) obtaining diluted LiOH solutions due to the large transfer of water during the electrolysis of low-concentrated LiCl solutions;
3) low current density due to the use of diluted lithium chloride solutions in the electrochemical conversion process and, consequently, low processing rate;
4) the obtained product is characterized by high content of sodium and potassium impurities;
5) high sorbent wear during movement along the column.
The above disadvantages are eliminated in the method for producing LiOH.H2O from brines (RU 2656452, Apr. 2, 2016, published 5 Jun. 2018, bulletin 16) by implementing the following technical solutions on which the disclosed method is based:                producing primary lithium concentrate in columns with a fixed bed of granular sorbent, which allows to reduce sorbent loss by an order of magnitude;        concentrating the primary lithium concentrate highly prior to electrochemical conversion, which is achieved by a combined method including reverse osmosis up to total salt content of 60 kg/m3 in combination with electrodialysis up to 190-205 kg/m3 for LiCl and thermal processing up to 450 kg/m3 for LiCl;        purifying the reverse osmosis lithium concentrate from Ca and Mg impurities using a chemical treatment method;        performing deep ion-exchange purification of the electrodialysis lithium concentrate from calcium and magnesium;        removing impurities in the form of NaCl and KCl using deep thermal concentration;        performing chemical purification of the anolyte from sulfate ions;        performing the electrolysis process at a current density of 0.9-1.2 kA/m2 by maintaining the concentration of LiCl in the circulating anolyte at 115-125 kg/m3.
The implementation of the proposed technical solutions allows to increase the processing rate of producing lithium hydroxide monohydrate with a simultaneous purity increase and, as a consequence, to increase the economic performance of the method.
However, the above method used as the prior art for the present invention has a number of significant disadvantages, namely:                in industrial operation of the prior art technology for producing LiOH.H2O from natural brines based on sorption-desorption separation of lithium chloride concentrate from raw lithium-bearing hydromineral material, gradual overgrowth of the active surface of drainage devices of the sorption columns with particles of solid-phase impurities present in the compositions of the original natural brines was noted, and therefore it is necessary to stop the process, unload the sorbent, flush the drainage devices and the unloaded sorbent from foreign impurities thus reducing specific throughput of the equipment;        an increased residual content of brine macrocomponents in the primary lithium concentrate separated from the brine and large lithium loss along with the washing liquid due to flaws in the procedure of removing brine from the sorbent layer prior to lithium chloride desorption;        exclusively chemical removal of impurities from the primary lithium concentrate leading to increased chemical reagent consumption;        increased consumption of the obtained LiOH.H2O and HCl products for in-house needs;        low concentration of the produced hydrochloric acid solution;        complication of the technological process by carrying out the procedure of chemical purification of lithium concentrate in two stages: purification of the chloride lithium concentrate from calcium and magnesium following the reverse osmosis concentration procedure and purification of the anolyte from sulfate ions directly during electrolysis;        the presence of a fine fraction of aluminum-containing sorbent in the flow of lithium-spent mother liquor, which complicates brine recycling.
The present method for producing high-purity lithium hydroxide monohydrate from multicomponent lithium-bearing brines retains all advantages and eliminates the above disadvantages of the prior art method.

Method for producing lithium hydroxide monohydrate from brines


The purpose of the present invention is providing a supercharging system which uses both of a mechanism such as VN or the like and an electric motor generating an assist force while making the supercharger operate smoothly when the assist by the electric motor is stopped. The system controls the electric motor in a feedback manner so that enough assist force is generated (FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B) while controlling the VN in an open manner (FIG. 2D) until status of the supercharger reaches target status (time t1) when an accelerator requirement arises in a low revolution region. The control of the electric motor is changed to an open control, and the control of the VN is changed to a feedback control, respectively, at time t1. The open control of the electric motor is continued so that necessary complement torque occurs until time t2. After time t2, the system maintains the target status only by the feedback control of the VN.

Super charger (turbocharger) of an internal combustion engine which has electric assist facility is known as disclosed by Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-239755, conventionally. The above mentioned prior supercharger further has a movable nozzle (VN) for changing flow velocity of exhaust gas which flows through a turbine.
As for an internal combustion engine comprising a turbocharger, a problem of so-called turbo lag occurs in a low revolution region. According to the above mentioned prior supercharger, it is possible to restrain the turbo lag from occurring by assisting the revolution of the supercharger by the electric motor in a low revolution region. According to this supercharger, the occurring of the turbo lag can be also restrained by closing the VN in a low revolution region.
More particularly, the above mentioned prior system equipped with the supercharger implements the supercharging by controlling the VN in a feedback manner while using the assist by the electric motor during a period in which a true boost pressure is low enough for a target boost pressure under a condition in which an acceleration of the internal combustion engine is required. Afterwards, when the true boost pressure gets closer to the target boost pressure, the assist by the electric motor is stopped so as to implement the target boost pressure only by the feedback control of the VN. According to such operation, the turbo lag can be controlled effectively while restraining the electric consumption by the electric motor.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2003-239755    Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-open Hei5-280365    Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Laid-open Hei5-280363

Supercharging control system of an internal combustion engine


An information storage element has a carbon storage material including hexagonally bonded carbon and tetrahedrally bonded carbon. The information is formed by a changeable ratio of hexagonally bonded carbon and tetrahedrally bonded carbon.

Common volatile memory devices, such as dynamic random access memory devices (DRAM), and non-volatile memory devices, such as flash memory devices, e.g., floating gate memory devices or charge-trapping memory devices, are used in modem computer systems for storing information.
The demand for continuously increasing storage capacity occurs due to new applications such as multimedia data storage and transmission, such as the storage of video data or audio data on mobile devices.
However, the common memory techniques will reach a limit with regard to its scaling and manufacturing costs.

Memory element using reversible switching between SP2 and SP3 hybridized carbon


A method and system for defining optimal range boundaries in a range management system. The method comprises assigning process routings to the flows, applying range break rules to the flows based on the input data regarding operations and toolsets, and outputting the results of the applying step to provide range break boundaries. The system comprises at least one device configured to receive input data, assign process routings to flows, determine range breaks by applying range break rules to the input data and the process routings, and output the results of the determining step.

Range Management (RM) is a business process for managing daily work in a manufacturing line, driving reductions in cycle time, inventory, and cost, and driving gains in output and throughput. A standard RM system is focused on delivering work in progress (WIP) on a known route at a known speed to meet customer deliveries on schedule. In a typical RM system, each known route is assigned to a flow. There are usually several flows, each containing a group of routes, which will cover all routes in the manufacturing line. The flows are then broken into a number of ranges, with the goal of creating equal cycle time ranges. Each range contains a collection of processes with raw process times which will ideally sum to one day of cycle time. The end goal is for each product to experience "1 day of cycle time," at the defined speed, in each day (24 hours).
One of the most important aspects of implementing an RM system is setting the range boundaries properly. The range boundaries are the foundation of the system—if they do not divide the flows into equitable portions, the WIP will not move smoothly, resulting in artificially faster or slower regions within each flow. Since each range will necessarily contain operations from several different areas of the manufacturing line, a methodology for determining the appropriate content of each range is often not obvious or straightforward.
One approach is to divide each flow into "best possible" equal raw process time (RPT) units without consideration of range content, possibly followed by slight manual adjustments of the range boundaries. One metric that can be used to judge how equitable the range divisions are is a histogram plot of the range RPT sums for each flow. A well divided set of ranges will have a peak in the distribution very close to the ideal target (RPTsum,target=24 hours/flow X factor), and a very narrow distribution around this peak.
A tight and well focused distribution of the range RPT sums, however, is a necessary but not sufficient condition of a well designed RM system. Dividing operations into ranges based on RPT-based considerations alone ignores the various content and behavior of the operations. Complexities in the flow of WIP must also be considered. Examples of complex WIP flow regions include: (1) rework-sensitive operations; (2) "groups" of operations treated as one logical unit of work by the manufacturing personnel; (3) operations that may be "sampled" at some frequency, such as short measurement operations following process operations; and (4) multi-operation time-sensitive regions.
In another typical RM system, the range boundaries are instead set manually by aligning common process regions that occur in somewhat different locations for each flow. This process will generate the most "human understandable" range boundaries, but it will necessarily produce gaps between the ranges within each flow, since the collection of manufacturing process routes executed in parallel are seldom identical. It is also very difficult to assure equitable distribution of the RPT sum for each range using this approach. Furthermore, this manual process is very time consuming to execute and requires a non-trivial investment in manpower. This presents a problem since the range break process must be executed at some frequency in order to account for changes that will almost always occur to product routings over time.
In another aspect of a standard RM scheme, each flow is broken into ranges using a single X factor (which will be understood by one of skill in the art as cycle-time multiplier, and which is equivalent to cycle-time performance divided by raw process time), reflecting the overall X factor at which the product is planned to run. In reality however, parts flow at different rates through different sections of the line depending on the tools used in that section of the line. Depending on various factors like costs, projected loading and availability, tools are planned to be utilized at different rates. Using a single X factor to break a flow into ranges results in the creation of some ranges in which targets are consistently easily met, and others that are nearly impossible to complete in a day, depending on the toolsets contained in that range. This is a significant problem because real problems hampering line performance are not identified; instead, effort is expended in analysis of areas that are not major concerns.

System and method for creation of optimal range boundaries in a range management system

International Business Machines Corporation


Described herein is a method for analyzing an object using a particle beam apparatus, for example an electron beam apparatus and/or an ion beam apparatus, or using an x-ray beam device and a particle beam apparatus or an x-ray beam device, by means of which the method is carried out. In the method, information about the object is loaded from a data memory into a control device. Furthermore, a group of detection units from the multiplicity of detection units is identified using the information loaded into the control device. A first detector segment is formed from the group of detection units using the control device. Interaction particles and/or interaction radiation, which is/are detected, is/are generated by guiding a particle beam onto the object and scanning the object using the particle beam, where a detector segment signal is read from the detector segment.

Electron beam apparatuses, in particular a scanning electron microscope (also referred to as SEM below) and/or a transmission electron microscope (also referred to as TEM below), are used to examine objects (also referred to as samples) in order to obtain knowledge in respect of the properties and behavior of the objects under certain conditions.
In an SEM, an electron beam (also referred to as primary electron beam below) is generated by means of a beam generator and focused on an object to be examined by way of a beam guiding system. The primary electron beam is guided in a gridshaped manner over a surface of the object to be examined by way of a deflection device. Here, the electrons of the primary electron beam interact with the object to be examined. Interaction particles and/or interaction radiation is/are produced as a result of the interaction. By way of example, the interaction particles are electrons. In particular, electrons are emitted by the object—the so-called secondary electrons—and electrons of the primary electron beam are scattered back—the so-called backscattered electrons. The secondary electrons and backscattered electrons are detected by means of at least one particle detector. The particle detector generates detection signals, which are used to generate an image of the object. Thus, an image of the object to be examined is obtained. By way of example, the interaction radiation comprises x-ray radiation and/or cathodoluminescence radiation. The interaction radiation is detected by means of at least one radiation detector, which generates detection signals. By way of example, these detection signals are used to generate spectra, by means of which properties of the object to be examined are determined.
In a TEM, a primary electron beam is likewise generated by means of a beam generator and focused on an object to be examined by means of a beam guiding system. The primary electron beam passes through the object to be examined. When the primary electron beam passes through the object to be examined, the electrons of the primary electron beam interact with the material of the object to be examined. The electrons passing through the object to be examined are imaged onto a luminescent screen or onto a detector—for example in the form of a camera—by a system consisting of an objective. By way of example, the aforementioned system additionally also comprises a projection lens. Here, imaging can also take place in the scanning mode of a TEM. Such a TEM is generally referred to as STEM. Additionally, provision can be made for detecting electrons scattered back at the object to be examined and/or secondary electrons emitted by the object to be examined by means of a further detector in order to image an object to be examined.
The integration of the function of an STEM and an SEM in a single particle beam apparatus is known. It is therefore possible to carry out examinations of objects with an SEM function and/or with an STEM function using this particle beam apparatus.
Furthermore, the prior art has disclosed the practice of analyzing and/or processing an object in a particle beam apparatus using, firstly, electrons and, secondly, ions. By way of example, an electron beam column having the function of an SEM is arranged at the particle beam apparatus. Additionally, an ion beam column is arranged at the particle beam apparatus. Ions used for processing an object are generated by means of an ion beam generator arranged in the ion beam column. By way of example, material of the object is ablated or material is applied onto the object during the processing. The ions are additionally or alternatively used for imaging. The electron beam column with the SEM function serves, in particular, for observing the processing of the object, but it also serves for further examination of the processed or non-processed object.
It is known to detect the interaction particles and/or the interaction radiation with, firstly, a segmented detector and, secondly, a pixel-based detector. This will be explained in more detail below.
The segmented detector has a number of detector segments, wherein each one of the detector segments is respectively connected to an amplifier unit, wherein each amplifier unit in turn is connected to respectively one readout electronics unit. Each individual detector segment has a number of detection units. By way of example, each one of the detection units is respectively embodied as a semiconductor element. As soon as one of the detection units of a detector segment detects interaction particles and/or interaction radiation, a detection signal is generated by this detector segment. Each one of the detector segments generates detection signals. The detection signals of each detector segment are amplified by the amplifier unit associated with the detector segment and subsequently read by the readout electronics unit associated with the detector segment. Known segmented detectors have e.g. up to ten detector segments. This relatively low number of detector segments enables a relatively quick read out of the detection signals from the detector segments.
A known use of a segmented detector lies in the generation of a three-dimensional representation of an object, which is analyzed in a particle beam apparatus. In this known use, images are produced by means of a particle beam using a plurality of detector segments of the segmented detector. The detector segments of the segmented detector are arranged symmetrically about an optical axis of the particle beam apparatus, along which optical axis the particle beam is guided to the object. By way of example, the particle beam is embodied as an electron beam. In particular, the use of a segmented detector with four detector segments is known. Each one of the detector segments generates detection signals, which are respectively used for the image generation. Respectively one image of the object is generated by each one of the detector segments such that a total of four images is generated by means of the known segmented detector. Using the four generated images, gradients along a first axis (e.g. an x-axis) and along a second axis (e.g. a y-axis) are determined for the surface of the object. A grid of profiles, which can be assembled to form a three-dimensional model of the object, is obtained by integrating the gradients along the first axis and the second axis.
As already mentioned above, it is known to detect the interaction particles and/or the interaction radiation using a pixel-based detector. A pixel-based detector is based on the use of semiconductor elements and it is embodied e.g. as a CCD unit or as a CMOS unit. Each pixel is formed by respectively one semiconductor element or respectively one scintillation element. Using such a detector, it is possible, for example, to combine mutually adjacent pixels to form a pixel block. By way of example, a pixel block has m rows and n columns of pixels, with m and n being integers. The pixel block can also be referred to as detector segment. When the semiconductor element or the scintillation element of a pixel detects interaction particles and/or interaction radiation, a detection signal is generated and output as a signal of the pixel block—i.e. as a signal of all the pixels contained in the pixel block.
In the case of the pixel-based detector, it is furthermore possible to subsequently combine groups of pixels to form detector segments after producing an image of the object, as will be explained below. Firstly, an image of the object is recorded using all pixels in the pixel-based detector. After recording the image, groups of pixels are combined to form detector segments visually by means of software or on a monitor. A further image is generated subsequent thereto. The further image is generated by detecting interaction particles and/or interaction radiation by means of the pixel-based detector. The further image is calculated subsequent thereto by means of software, taking into account the determined detector segments, and it is subsequently displayed.
In the known pixel-based detectors, it is disadvantageous that, firstly, the recording speed is low and that, secondly, large amounts of data need to be processed and stored.
In the known segmented detectors, it is disadvantageous that the size and the location of the arrangement of the detector segments at a detection surface of the segmented detector are fixedly prescribed.
In respect to the prior art, reference is made in an exemplary manner to U.S. Pat. No. 8,450,820 B2, US 2013/0037715 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 8,629,395 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,545, a publication entitled "A high-speed area detector for novel imaging techniques in a scanning transmission electron microscope" by Caswell et al. in Ultramicroscopy 109 (2009) 304-311 and a publication about an x-ray beam device entitled "Differential phase contrast with a segmented detector in a scanning X-ray microprobe" by Hornberger et al in J. Synchrotron Rad. (2008), 15, 355, 362, all of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Accordingly, it is desirable to be able to analyze an object using an analysis apparatus, e.g. a particle beam apparatus or an x-ray beam device, and provide an analysis apparatus for analyzing an object using an analysis apparatus, which, firstly, enables a relatively quick recording of an image of the object and, secondly, enables a high resolution and a good contrast of the image.

Analyzing an object using a particle beam apparatus


A ratiometric sensor is formed of a first photodiode connected in series with an electronic component, such as a second photodiode or a resistor, between a source of first voltage and a source of second voltage. The ratiometric sensor supplies a "ratiometric voltage" on a ratiometric sensor output line that is connected to a junction between the first photodiode and the electronic component. The ratiometric voltage is proportional to the ratio of the equivalent resistance of the first photodiode to the sum of the equivalent resistances of the first photodiode and the electronic component. A ratiometric sensor that uses a photodiode and a resistance has a large dynamic range because the ratiometric voltage can vary between the first voltage and the second voltage. A ratiometric sensor that uses two photodiodes is less sensitive to noise than a conventional circuit that uses a single photodiode, because noise can get canceled from the numerator and denominator of the ratio. The ratiometric signal can be digitized by an analog-to-digital converter that can include, for example, a 555 timer, a Darlington transistor or a combination of a resistor and a capacitor.

Conventional circuits that use the current supplied by a photodiode are prone to noise as described in, for example "Divide and conquer noise in photodiode amplifiers", Electronic Design, Analog Applications Issue, Jun. 27, 1994 or in "Filtering Cuts Noise in Photodiode Amplifiers," Electronic Design, Analog Applications Issue, Nov. 7, 1994.
A log ratio amplifier or an operational amplifier based circuit can reduce noise in conventional circuits. See for example, SSM-2100, as described in "Analog IC Data Book" Volume 10, available from Precision Monolithic Inc., 1500 Space Park Drive, P.O. Box 28020, Santa Clara, Calif. 95052-8020. See also "New Op. Amp Ideas" by Robert J. Widlar (FIG. 21 "Opto-electric Pyrometer with Transmitter" at page 499), Linear Applications Databook, 1986, National Semiconductor Corporation, 2900 Semiconductor Drive, P.O. Box 58090, Santa Clara, Calif. 95052-8090. However, such circuits are expensive as compared to methods and apparatuses described below.
Use of analog dividers is complicated and expensive as seen from "Part One: Basic Operations," Nonlinear Circuits Handbook, 1976, published by Analog Devices, Inc., Norwood, Mass. 02062, USA. See also "Monolithic Op Amp--The Universal Linear Component" by Robert J. Widlar, (FIG. 10, Analog multiplier/divider at page 11) in Linear Applications Data Book referenced above.

Method and apparatus for generating ratiometric control signals