A method for producing a thermoelectron emission source for an electron gun used in an electron beam writing apparatus, the thermoelectron emission source producing method comprising, preparing a first material that emits a thermoelectron, coating the first material with a second material having a work function larger than that of the first material, exposing the first material from part of the second material by machine processing, and decreasing a diameter of the exposed portion of the first material by heating treatment when the diameter of the exposed portion is larger than a predetermined diameter value.

Recently, a circuit pattern width required for a semiconductor device becomes narrower with the progress of integration and capacity of a large scale integration (LSI). Using an original pattern (means a mask or a reticle, hereinafter collectively referred to as a mask) in which a circuit pattern is formed, the circuit is formed by exposing and transferring the pattern onto a wafer with a reduction projection aligner called a stepper, thereby producing the semiconductor device. An electron beam writing apparatus that can perform writing of the fine pattern is used in producing the mask used to transfer the fine circuit pattern to the wafer. The electron beam writing apparatus is also used in the case that the circuit pattern is directly drawn in the wafer.
The electron beam writing apparatus inherently provides a superior resolution, since an electron beam used for the electron beam writing apparatus is a charged particle beam. This apparatus is also advantageous in that great depth of focus can be obtained, which enables dimensional variations to be reduced even when a large step feature is encountered. A variably-shaped electron beam writing apparatus that is an example of the electron beam writing apparatus includes an electron gun that emits the electron beam, a first shaping aperture, a second shaping aperture, a shaping deflector, and some electron lenses that causes the electron beam to converge. The electron beam emitted from the electron gun is imaged on the first shaping aperture, and then imaged on the second shaping aperture. The electron beam is deflected with the shaping deflector, and a size and a shape of the electron beam are variably formed by optically superimposing a first shaping aperture image and a second shaping aperture image on each other. The shaped electron beam is shot on the mask that is the writing target, and shot graphics are accurately connected to each other to perform the writing of the pattern.
A thermoelectron emission type electron gun in which a cathode filament is used as a heater can be used as the electron gun of the electron beam writing apparatus. In the electron gun, electrons are emitted by heating a cathode by a filament power. The emitted electrons are accelerated by an acceleration voltage, and controlled by a bias voltage, and the mask is irradiated with the electrons with a predetermined emission current (See Japanese Patent Publication Hei 05-166481).
During writing operation, an area surrounding the electron gun becomes a high vacuum, a high voltage (acceleration voltage) is applied between the cathode and the anode, and the thermoelectron emission source included in the cathode is heated, thereby thermoelectrons are emitted from the thermoelectron emission source. The thermoelectrons are accelerated by the acceleration voltage and emitted as the electron beam.
Lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) is well known as a material for the thermoelectron emission source. The lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) has a high melting point and a low work function. The lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) is relatively stable against residual gas, and has a longer life compared with the case that another material is used. Additionally, because the lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) has an excellent ion impact resistance, the lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) is used in not only the electron beam writing apparatus but also a thermoelectron emission emitter such as an electron microscope.
In the electron gun, there is a well-known technology for coating a thermoelectron emission source constituting material with a material having the work function larger than that of the thermoelectron emission source constituting material to restrict an emission area of the electron from the thermoelectron emission source in order to improve luminance. For example, P. B. Sewell et al., "Study on thermal emission in lanthanum hexaboride single crystal having fine plane", Electron Optical Systems, pp. 163-170, SEM Inc., AMF O'Hare (Chicago), IL60666-0507, U.S.A. describes that lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) is coated with carbon (C). As to the specific coating method, the carbon (C) is deposited on a surface of lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) by a CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) method, a solution containing the carbon (C) is applied onto the surface of lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6), or the lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) is dipped in the solution. After the coating, the lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) is exposed from part of the carbon (C) by machine processing, and the electron is emitted through the exposed part.
Accordingly, preferably the conventional thermoelectron emission source constituting the cathode of the electron gun has a structure in which the constituting material such as the lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) is coated with the carbon (C) layer.
FIG. 18 is a schematic sectional view of the conventional thermoelectron emission source.
As illustrated in FIG. 18, in a conventional thermoelectron emission source 100, surfaces of a cylindrical main body 101 and a conical tip 102 having a flat leading end are coated with a carbon (C) layer 103. For example, the main body 101 and tip 102 of the thermoelectron emission source 100 are integrally formed using the lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6).
The flat leading end of the tip 102 made of the lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) is exposed from a tip portion of the thermoelectron emission source 100. The structure of the thermoelectron emission source 100 is formed by machine processing such as polishing as mentioned below.
FIG. 19 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a pre-machine processing state of the conventional thermoelectron emission source.
As illustrated in FIG. 19, a thermoelectron emission source constituting material 200 coated with a carbon (C) layer 203 corresponds to the thermoelectron emission source 100 in the pre-machine processing state, that is, before the machine processing such as polishing. For example, the thermoelectron emission source constituting material 200 is subjected to the polishing to become the thermoelectron emission source 100 in FIG. 1.
The thermoelectron emission source constituting material 200 includes a cylindrical main body 201 similar to the main body 101 in FIG. 18 and a conical tip 202 having a sharply pointed shape. The surface of the thermoelectron emission source constituting material 200 is coated with a carbon (C) layer 203. The main body 201 and tip 202 of the thermoelectron emission source constituting material 200 are similar to the main body 101 and tip 102 of the thermoelectron emission source 100 in FIG. 18. For example, the main body 201 and tip 202 are integrally formed using the lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6).
That is, the conical tip 202 of the thermoelectron emission source constituting material 200 has the sharply pointed shape, and the carbon (C) layer 203 coats the conical surface of the tip 202 and the side surface of the main body 201.
Using the thermoelectron emission source constituting material 200 coated with the carbon (C) layer 203, the conventional thermoelectron emission source 100 in FIG. 18 can be produced by the machine processing in which the tip portion of the thermoelectron emission source is polished with a polishing article. In this case, the post-machine processing coating layer 203 becomes the coating layer 103 of the thermoelectron emission source 100 in FIG. 18, and the post-machine processing tip 202 of the thermoelectron emission source constituting material 200 becomes the tip 102 having the flat leading end in FIG. 18. The main body 201 of the thermoelectron emission source constituting material 200 becomes the main body 101 in FIG. 18.
In a method for producing the thermoelectron emission source 100, during the polishing of the thermoelectron emission source constituting material 200 coated with the carbon (C) layer 203, a diameter of the portion exposed from the carbon (C) layer at the leading end of the tip 202 is checked with an optical microscope, and the polishing is repeated when the diameter of the portion exposed is smaller than a predetermined diameter value that is a target value. The conical tip 202 of the thermoelectron emission source constituting material 200 has a cone angle, and the diameter of the portion exposed from the carbon (C) layer, namely, the diameter of the lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) increases gradually with the progress of the polishing.
In the thermoelectron emission source constituting material 200, the carbon (C) layer 203 is hard to form on the tip 202 made of the lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) such that a layer thickness becomes uniform. As a result, it is difficult to predict the diameter of the portion exposed from the carbon (C) layer at the leading end of the tip 202 while the tip portion of the thermoelectron emission source constituting material 200 is sharpened by the polishing.
Therefore, as a result of the polishing, sometimes the diameter of the exposed leading end of the tip 102 of the obtained thermoelectron emission source 100, namely, the diameter of the lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) is larger than the predetermined diameter value. In such cases, the diameter of the exposed leading end cannot be decreased by the similar machine processing such as the polishing. That is, in the method for producing the thermoelectron emission source 100, in the case that the leading end of the tip 102 is excessively polished by the machine processing in order to expose the leading end of the tip 102 from the carbon (C) layer 103, the leading end of the tip 102 is hardly repaired.
Accordingly, in the case that the tip is excessively polished in producing the thermoelectron emission source 100, it is necessary to discard the thermoelectron emission source 100 as a product that does not satisfy a specification. During the production of the thermoelectron emission source 100, in the case that the leading end of the tip 102 that is exposed from the carbon (C) layer and made of the lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) is larger than the predetermined diameter value, it is necessary to discard the thermoelectron emission source 100. As a result, a yield is degraded in the production of the thermoelectron emission source 100.
In the case that the cathode of the electron gun is produced by incorporating the thermoelectron emission source 100 in the cathode, productivity of the cathode is degraded when the production yield of the thermoelectron emission source 100 is degraded.
Therefore, there is a demand for a yield improving technology in the method for producing the thermoelectron emission source constituting the cathode of the electron gun. Additionally, there is also a demand for a production efficiency improving technology in the method for producing the cathode used in the electron gun.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. Namely, an object of the invention is to provide a thermoelectron emission source producing method that improves the production yield.
Further, an object of the invention is to provide a cathode producing method that improves the production efficiency.
Other challenges and advantages of the present invention are apparent from the following description.

Method for producing a thermoelectron emission source and method for producing a cathode


A flexible steam cracking process for hydrocarbon feeds comprises injection of particles with an average size of between 0.02 mm and 4 mm, at a circulation rate in indirect transfer line exchangers (4) of 20 to 180 m/s, and in a sufficient quantity to limit the increase in temperature at the outlet to the exchangers (4) to a value of less than 100.degree. C. per month, into at least one point upstream of an indirect transfer line exchanger (4), cracking zone (2) remaining in communication with downstream means (6) for the treatment of cooled effluents. At least 70% by weight of the quantity of injected particles is introduced between the outlet to the cracking zone (2) and the tubes of the indirect transfer line exchanger (4). Chemical decoking is carried out in the tubes of the cracking zone at time intervals of less than 4 months by establishing accelerated coke gasification conditions, for example by injecting compounds which catalyse gasification by steam, or by decoking in air and/or steam.

The prior art is illustrated in International patent application WO-A-90 12851 and European patent application EP-A-0 036 151.
Steam cracking is a basic process in the petrochemicals industry and consists of high temperature cracking then rapidly cooling a feed of hydrocarbons and steam. The principal operating problem arises from the deposition of carbon-containing substances on the internal walls of the facility. These deposits, constituted by coke or condensed, heavy pyrolysis tar, which is coagulated to a greater or lesser extent, limits heat transfer in the cracking zone (coils of pyrolysis tubes) and the indirect cooling zone (effluent transfer line exchanger), requiring frequent stoppages in order to decoke the facility.
Conventional cycle times (between two complete chemical decoking steps in the cracking zone, in air and/or steam) are either fixed (controlled stoppages) or variable depending on the coking in the facility, and are generally between 3 weeks and 12 weeks for feeds such as naphtha and liquefied petroleum gas.
The skilled person is aware that coking problems encountered when cracking heavy feeds (atmospheric gas oils, heavy gas oils, vacuum distillates) are far more severe than those encountered with conventional feeds such as naphtha.
As a consequence, these feeds cannot be cracked in conventional steam crackers designed for cracking naphtha, and they can only be cracked in existing processes in special furnaces typically comprising direct cooling (with pyrolysis oil) of the steam cracking effluents, which is considerably deleterious to the energy balance in the facility (no production of high pressure steam).
Known processes which are flexible as regards heavy feeds are thus incompatible with existing steam cracking facilities for conventional feeds and have a much worse energy balance.
We have proposed (EP-A-0 419 643, EP-A-0 425 633 and EP-A-0 447 527) a decoking process for use during the operation of steam cracking facilities by injection of solid erosive particles, to overcome coking problems and obtain continuous or substantially continuous steam cracking (for example with cycle periods of the order of one year).
For a particular feed, this process consists in allowing a layer of coke to form and age on the internal walls of the cracking coil, then injecting erosive particles (for example hard mineral particles with a diameter of less than 150 micrometers, which may be spherical or angular) in a sufficient quantity to substantially stabilise coking of the tubes without totally eliminating the precoat of coke which protects the tubes.
This process requires a good knowledge of the coking rates in the feed under consideration and a coil design which provides a certain amount of correspondence between the local coking rates connected to the progress of cracking along the coil and the erosion intensity connected to the rate profile along the coil and to the nature of the erosive particles. By means of simulations of coking rates and the circulation rate profile in the coil, and by means of pilot experiments, it is possible to produce substantially continuous steam cracking conditions in the feed under consideration.
Tube erosion can be maintained at a very low or zero level, and controlled by analysis of the trace metals (iron, chromium, nickel) in the recovered powder.
We have thus sought to perfect this process, which can be applied to cracking a particular feed, to a flexible furnace for the successive treatment of a large number of different feeds, under differing operating conditions (flow rate, dilution, cracking severity).
Pilot tests have been carried out and have produced several unexpected results:
Initial coking in the coil (at the beginning of the cycle) can vary very widely depending on the feed, even for feeds which only have slightly different compositions but are from different sources.
This cannot be fully explained, but may result from the presence of impurities in the feed.
Decoking efficiency has been shown to depend mainly on the feeds and operating conditions (different nature of coke). In particular, it has been found that light feeds: C.sub.3, C.sub.4, light naphtha, produce a catalytic coke at the beginning of the reaction zone which is much more fragile (5 to 10 times) than the asymptotic coke which predominates in the middle and at the end of the reaction zone. For these feeds, then it is desirable to limit the circulation rate in this zone to maintain the protective coke layer and/or avoid the risk of erosion of the cracking tubes.
Thus it has not been possible to predetermine the quantities of particles suitable for each feed and each operating condition without preliminary tests, which are impossible to carry out in the case of a flexible industrial furnace. Further, the geometry of the cracking reactor adapted for a given feed, as regards preventing erosion risks, is not the same as that adapted for another feed with a different dilution and different nature of coke (in which the circulation rate profile will be different).
Finally, because of the difficulties in obtaining reliable and precise measurements of the skin temperatures in the tubes by optical pyrometry, and the fluctuations in these temperatures and the pressure drop under varying operating conditions, it is very difficult to efficiently monitor coking in the tube without frequently reference to a constant reference state; this is not possible for a flexible industrial furnace and thus the coking state in a pyrolysis coil cannot be controlled in real time.
The process is thus difficult to carry out industrially under variable operating conditions, and it has not been possible to prevent all traces of erosion in the cracking tubes in the pilot tests.
It has thus become clear that the continuous steam cracking process cannot be adapted for a flexible furnace and must be reserved for cracking identical or near-identical feeds which are cracked under relatively stable conditions.
We have also shown that deposits in the transfer line exchanger can be eliminated far more easily than from the pyrolysis tubes and that, even in the case where an excess of particles is injected, no erosion occurs.
It has surprisingly become clear that carbon-containing deposits in the transfer line exchanger, in particular in the case of heavy feeds, are far more fragile than the coke in the cracking tubes. We have found that the fragility as regards erosion by the solid particles tested is at least 25 times greater for the coke in the transfer line exchanger than for the asymptotic coke in the pyrolysis tubes. The absence of erosion observed in the exchanger tubes themselves is explained by the fact that the circulation rate of the particles is much lower in the transfer line exchanger than in the pyrolysis tubes, and their temperature is very low (330.degree. C. as opposed to a typical value of 1000.degree. C. to 1100.degree. C. for the pyrolysis coil). Further, the transfer line exchanger tubes are straight, with no turns, which overcomes the risk of point erosion.
It has also become clear that over long periods, the coking rates in the cracking tubes remain of the same order of magnitude for heavy feeds (gas oil, for example) as for those of light feeds, and that the real obstacle to flexibility as regards heavy feeds resides in excessive fouling of the transfer line exchanger. Thus we have found, in a non obvious fashion, that existing naphtha steam cracking facilities can also be used to crack heavy feeds such as gas oils and vacuum distillates of the right quality, if rapid fouling of the transfer line exchangers can be prevented.
We are thus proposing a novel process for flexible steam cracking which is compatible with existing steam cracking facilities and which can treat a variety of feeds under various operating conditions, and without deteriorating the heat balance of the facilities, without notable risks of erosion and with moderate investment costs.

Flexible steam cracking process and corresponding steam cracking facility


An apparatus for writing and reading holograms, comprising a spatial light modulator (SLM) operable in phase mode, having a plurality of pixels for generating an object beam that overlaps with a reference beam; a holographic recording medium (HRM) in the path of the object beam; and a first lens element disposed in the path of the object beam between the SLM and the HRM; wherein the HRM is disposed at or near the Fourier transform plane of the first lens element.

One important potential use of volume holograms is in digital data storage. The three dimensional nature of a volume hologram, which refers to the storage of each bit as a hologram extending throughout the entire volume of the recording medium, renders volume holograms suitable for use in high capacity digital data storage. A group of bits can be encoded and decoded together as a two dimensional array of bits referred to as a page.
In Holographic Data Storage (HDS) systems the optics configuration used for recording and reading typically comprises a Fourier Transform (FT) geometry that uses a 4f optical imaging system which for recording includes a spatial light modulator (SLM) or other optical encoding device that displays information.
Mutually coherent object and reference beams form an interference pattern in the volume of their overlap. A hologram is recorded when light-induced changes in the volume of their overlap in the storage medium, such as photopolymerization, produce a record of the resulting interference pattern. The essential elements and arrangement of the 4f optical design for recording holograms are: an SLM that encodes the object beam, a lens element L1, having an effective focal distance f1 and which is located at a distance f1 from the SLM in the optical path of the encoded object beam, for relaying a 2-D Fourier transform of the spatial pattern of the encoded object beam to a plane that is one focal distance from the lens and a holographic recording medium (HRM), located at a distance f1 from the lens element L1 in the optical path of the encoded object beam relayed by the lens element L1.
Reconstruction of a hologram is accomplished by firstly illuminating the hologram with a reference beam that is substantially the same as the reference beam used for recording the hologram, and secondly imaging the resultant diffracted light (reconstructed object beam) onto the detector array with a second lens element of the said. 4f optical design. The following elements are used for reading a reconstructed hologram: a lens element L2 for relaying an object beam reconstructed by directing a reference beam at a storage location in the HRM, having an effective focal distance f2 and which is located at a distance f2 from the HRM in the optical path of a reconstructed object beam; and a light detector, located at a distance f2 from the lens element L2 in the optical path of the reconstructed object beam directed by lens element L2. In the aforementioned 4f optical design f1=f2, but in other optical configurations it may be advantageous for f2>f1 and thereby improve SNR of the reconstructed holograms by use of an optical relay system. Additionally, when magnification or demangnification is preferred in the optical configuration then f2 is not equal to f1.
Typically, an SLM operates in an amplitude mode, whereby the date page appears as a two-dimensional array of dark and bright pixels. When the Fourier transform (FT) of such an amplitude-modulated data page is obtained using a lens element L1, a strong high intensity direct current (DC) spike, that corresponds to the 0th order diffraction, appears at the center of the Fourier transform at the Fourier plane (focal plane) due to the constructive interference of the light from the SLM pixels in the bright state. When large numbers of holograms are multiplexed in the medium, co-locationally or substantially overlapped, this intense DC peak will quickly saturate the dynamic range of a recording material (i.e. deplete the available photopolymerizable component), preventing the efficient use of the medium, and, additionally, will result in significant non-uniformity in the modulation depth of the recording for spatial frequencies of the interference pattern of the holographic recording corresponding to the DC and "alternative current" (AC) components of the FT, and thereby cause poor fidelity in the reconstructed data pages. The intense DC peak at the center and the typically large amplitude distribution in the AC components of the FT spectrum can also result in nonlinear grating formation, increasing the noise level in the reconstructed data page.

Method and apparatus for phase-encoded homogenized Fourier transform holographic data storage and recovery


A computer system is disclosed comprising a host connected to a disk drive, the disk drive comprising a disk surface having a plurality of tracks arranged in an embedded servo format including servo track segments for storing servo data and data track segments for storing user data. The disk drive includes a read element operative during a user-data read operation for reading data from the disk surface to produce a time-multiplexed analog read signal that during a revolution of the disk represents analog read servo data during each of a first set of time intervals and represents analog read user data during each of a second set of time intervals. The disk drive includes a sampled signal processing circuit that generates a servo state variable while processing the time-multiplexed read signal during the first servo time interval and a user data state variable while processing the time-multiplexed read signal during the first user data time interval. The disk drive includes a servo state variable trap register for storing the servo state variable at the end of the first servo time interval. The disk drive includes a data state variable trap register for storing the user data state variable at the end of the first user data time interval. The disk drive includes a control circuit for providing the stored servo state variable to the sampled signal processing circuit at the beginning of the second servo time interval. The control circuit provides the stored user data state variable to the sampled signal processing circuit at the beginning of the second user data time interval.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a computer system comprising a host connected to an embedded servo hard disk drive employing state variable trap registers for providing stored servo and user data state variables to sampled-data channel.
2. Description of the Prior Art and Related Information
A huge market exists for hard disk drives for mass-market host computer systems such as servers, desktop computers, and laptop computers. To be competitive in this market, a hard disk drive must be relatively inexpensive, and must accordingly embody a design that is adapted for low-cost mass production. In addition, it must provide substantial capacity, rapid access to data, and reliable performance. Numerous manufacturers compete in this huge market and collectively conduct substantial research and development, at great annual cost, to design and develop innovative hard disk drives to meet increasingly demanding customer requirements.
Each of numerous contemporary mass-market hard disk drive models provides relatively large capacity, often in excess of 1 gigabyte per drive. Nevertheless, there exists substantial competitive pressure to develop mass-market hard disk drives having even higher capacities. Another requirement to be competitive in this market is that the hard disk drive must conform to a selected standard exterior size and shape often referred to as a xe2x80x9cform factor.xe2x80x9d Generally, capacity is desirably increased without increasing the form factor or the form factor is reduced without decreasing capacity.
Satisfying these competing constraints of low-cost, small size, and high capacity requires a design that provides high format efficiency and high areal storage density. Format efficiency relates to the percentage of available area that is available for storing user data rather than being consumed by control data, gaps, etc. Areal storage density relates to the amount of data storage capacity per unit of area on the recording surfaces of the disks. The available areal density may be determined from the product of the track density measured radially and the linear bit density measured along the tracks.
The available track density depends on numerous factors including the performance capability of a servo system in the hard disk drive which, among other things, provides for track following, i.e., maintaining alignment of a reading or writing transducer with respect to the centerline of a desired track. One type of servo system, sometimes referred to as an xe2x80x9cembedded servoxe2x80x9d employs servo data on the same disk surface that stores user data to provide signals employed in the operation of the servo system. An embedded servo format for the disk surface has the basic characteristic of a plurality of radially-extending servo-data regions (sometimes referred to as xe2x80x9cservo wedgesxe2x80x9d) and an interspersed plurality of radially-extending user-data regions. Each user-data region has a plurality of user-data track segments, and each servo-data region has a plurality of servo-data track segments. In accord with another element of an embedded servo format, the servo data include track-identification data used during track-seeking operations, and burst data used during track-following operations. While data are being read in operation of an embedded servo hard disk drive, a transducer produces a time-multiplexed analog read signal that during a revolution of the disk represents servo data during each of a first set of time intervals; and represents user data during each of a second set of time intervals.
The rate at which servo wedges pass under a reading transducer is referred to as the xe2x80x9cservo sample rate.xe2x80x9d The servo sample rate equals the revolution rate of the rotating disk multiplied by the number of servo wedges per surface. A high servo sample rate is desirable for the purpose of providing a robust servo system. On the other hand, increasing the servo sample rate generally involves allocating more surface area to servo wedges and thereby adversely impacts surface format efficiency.
The available linear bit density depends on numerous factors including the performance capability of certain circuitry that is commonly referred to as a xe2x80x9cread channel.xe2x80x9d One type of read channel is referred to as a peak-detecting channel; another type is referred to as a sampled-data channel. The type referred to as a sampled-data channel is a category including a partial response, maximum likelihood (xe2x80x9cPRMLxe2x80x9d) channel a EPR4 channel, and a E2PR4 channel.
In a hard disk drive having any of these read channels, the read channel receives an analog read signal from a transducer during a read operation. The analog read signal is characterized by a xe2x80x9cchannel frequency.xe2x80x9d As used in this art, xe2x80x9cchannel frequencyxe2x80x9d is the reciprocal of a time period xe2x80x9cT,xe2x80x9d where the xe2x80x9cTxe2x80x9d is the time period consumed while an elemental-length magnet passes under the transducer during a read operation with the disk spinning at a constant angular velocity. In this regard, the length of each magnet recorded along a track as a result of a write operation is, to a first order of approximation, either an elemental length or an integer multiple of the elemental length. Each elemental length magnet can be referred to as a xe2x80x9cbit cellxe2x80x9d that is defined during a write operation.
The analog read signal always contains some random noise. The analog read signal, and certain other signals produced by processing the analog read signal and that also contain noise, are referred to herein as noise-corrupted signals. One such other noise-corrupted signal is a signal produced by filtering the analog read signal by means of a low-pass filter. Such filtering may reduce but not eliminate noise, and the filtered signal is also noise corrupted. Further signal processing in the read channel provides for producing a digital signal comprising detected symbols, any of which can be in error in representing recovered data. Such a digital signal is referred to herein as an error-prone signal.
In a hard disk drive employing a peak detecting channel, digital data are represented in the media by transitions between oppositely magnetized bit cells. Provided that the transitions between oppositely magnetized bit cells do not unduly interfere with each other, each such transition causes a peak in the analog read signal, and a peak-detecting channel employs a peak detector that detects such peaks, and produces digital signal in the form of a serial, binary-valued signal that is an error-prone signal for numerous reasons. One reason why the peak detector produces an error-prone signal is random noise; this source of error presents a problem for any type of channel. Another reason relates to interference between adjacent transitions. Interference between such transitions is referred to as intersymbol interference and adversely affects performance of a peak detetecting channel increasingly as a function of channel rate.
A sampled-data channel employs sampling circuitry that samples a noise-corrupted analog read signal to produce a sequence of noise-corrupted samples. The samples so produced are provided in sequence to a detector such as a so-called xe2x80x98Viterbi detectorxe2x80x9d that internally produces error-prone symbols and maps the internally-produced error-prone symbols to binary-valued error-prone symbols. In a PRML channel, such internally-produced error-prone symbols are often referred to as: xe2x80x9cxe2x88x921xe2x80x9d; xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d; and xe2x80x9c+1xe2x80x9d; and the binary-valued error-prone symbols are supplied to a deserializer to produce a parallel-by-bit digital signal.
The sampled-data channel includes servo data detection circuitry and user data detection circuitry. The servo data detection circuitry has an acquisition time interval (acquisition mode) for acquiring appropriate state variables before reading servo data stored in each servo-data track segment. The user data detection circuitry also has an acquisition time interval for acquiring appropriate state variables before reading user data stored in each user-data track segment. A disadvantage with the acquisition time interval is that it can increase the time for accessing servo data and user data.
There is a need for reducing the acquisition time interval for acquiring state variables for the servo data detection circuitry and the user data detection circuitry in the sampled-data channel.
The invention can be regarded as a computer system comprising a host connected to a disk drive, the disk drive comprising a disk having a disk surface. The disk surface has a plurality of tracks arranged in an embedded servo format including servo track segments for storing servo data and data track segments for storing user data. The disk drive includes read means operative during a user-data read operation for reading data from the disk surface to produce a time-multiplexed analog read signal that during a revolution of the disk represents analog read servo data during each of a first set of time intervals and represents analog read user data during each of a second set of time intervals. The first set of time intervals includes a first servo time interval and a second servo time interval. The second set of time intervals includes a first user data time interval and a second user data time interval. The disk drive includes a sampled signal processing means being responsive to the time-multiplexed analog read signal for producing a plurality of detected read symbols representing recovered servo data and recovered user data. The sampled signal processing means generates a servo state variable while processing the time-multiplexed read signal during the first servo time interval and a user data state variable while processing the time-multiplexed read signal during the first user data time interval. The disk drive includes a servo state variable trap register for storing the servo state variable at the end of the first servo time interval. The disk drive includes a data state variable trap register for storing the user data state variable at the end of the first user data time interval. The disk drive includes a control means for providing the stored servo state variable to the sampled signal processing means at the beginning of the second servo time interval. The control means provides the stored user data state variable to the sampled signal processing means at the beginning of the second user data time interval.
The foregoing and other features of the invention are described in detail below and set forth in the appended claims.

Computer system comprising a host connected to a disk drive employing state variable trap registers for providing stored servo and user data state variables to sampled-data channel


An electronic operating device for discharge lamps is disclosed in which an output terminal is connected via a coupling capacitor (CB) to a reference potential (E). An electric component (VC) which acts as a voltage source is inserted in series with the coupling capacitor (CB) in order to reduce the potential of an output terminal. The electric component (VC) consists in one embodiment of an inductor which is coupled to the lamp inductor.

The invention proceeds from an electronic operating device for gas discharge lamps in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. What is involved here is, in particular, switching topologies which reduce the potential of at least one output terminal (2, 3) with respect to the earth potential. Output terminals are to be understood as the terminals of an operating device to which lamps are connected. If no further details are given with reference to a potential, potentials are taken to be referred to earth potential.
The potentials of the output terminals of an electronic operating device for gas discharge lamps should be kept as small as possible for the following reasons: firstly, an insulating problem ensues if an output terminal is at an excessively high potential. Leakage currents toward the earth potential which are no longer tolerable can arise; the protection against touching of the devices may in some circumstances no longer be ensured. Since the level of the potential of an output terminal is also a safety-relevant variable, its root-mean-square value is limited by the IEC Standard 60928.
Secondly, at high frequencies a high potential of an output terminal causes severe cable-conducted common-mode interference on the power leads. The lower this potential is, the less must be expended on radio interference suppression.
It is assumed that the potential difference between two points is determined by r.m.s. measurement of the voltage between the points. It is permissible in the following considerations to start from two lamp connections which are connected to the output terminals (2, 3) of the operating device. Of the usual four connections for lamps with heated filaments, respectively two which are connected by one filament are at approximately the same potential. The lamp arc voltage required for the lamps to be operated is present between the two significant lamp connections. The higher potential of the two output terminals (2, 3) is critical with reference to the above-described problem. The problem is compounded with rising lamp arc voltage. In particular, modern low-pressure discharge lamps with a diameter of 16 mm have an increased lamp arc voltage by comparison with conventional lamps with 26 mm. In the case of operating devices for two lamps, it has so far not been possible to connect said 16 mm lamps in series, since in the case of series connection the doubled lamp arc voltage causes the potential of at least one output terminal to exceed permitted limited values with respect to the earth potential. The prior art for solving this problem is therefore to be seen in the parallel connection of the lamps. However, when connecting the lamps in parallel it is necessary to provide a lamp circuit for each lamp, and this raises the costs, the weight and the space requirement of the device.
It is the object of the present invention to provide an operating device in accordance with the preamble of claim 1, in which the maximum of the potentials of the output terminals is as low as possible.
In the case of an operating device having the features of the preamble of claim 1, this object is achieved by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1. Particularly advantageous refinements are to be found in the dependent claims.
An electronic operating device for gas discharge lamps generally has an AC voltage generator (G) which makes available an AC voltage which has a frequency which is substantially higher than the frequency of the system voltage. The AC voltage is present mostly in a unipolar fashion at a generator output (1) with reference to a reference potential (E) which is close to the earth potential. The AC voltage is fed into a reactance network (Z) in order to transform the source resistance of the AC voltage generator (G) to a value which is suitable for operating the lamp. This provides a first output terminal (2) at which one or more series-connected lamps are connected. The second output terminal (3) leads to the reference potential (E) via the coupling capacitor (CB). The coupling capacitor bears the DC voltage component of the AC voltage source so that the lamp is operated with AC voltage free from DC voltage. It is frequently required for the coupling capacitor (CB) to be connected to a terminal at the reference potential (E) so that the voltage present at it can be better used by other components of the operating device.
Thus, the potential of at least one output terminal (2, 3) must be reduced in accordance with the object of the invention formulated above. As a rule, the first output terminal (2) has a higher potential, for which reason the latter must first and foremost be reduced. This is performed in accordance with the invention by inserting serially into the connection between the second output terminal (3) and the reference potential (E) an electric component (VC) which acts as a voltage source. The reduction voltage (UVC) formed thereat must have a voltage profile which is suitable for reducing the potential of the first output terminal (2). This condition can be observed, for example, by providing the electric component as a controlled voltage source. The control is then to be set such that the frequency of the reduction voltage (UVC) is equal to the frequency of the AC voltage generated by the AC voltage generator (G). Said controlled voltage source can be implemented in a particularly cost-effective way by means of coupled coils.
Of course, the abovenamed measures must not allow the potential of the second output terminal (3) to exceed the potential of the first output terminal (2). Potentials of the output terminals (2, 3) are equal in the ideal case.

Reducing the clamping voltage of operating devices for gas discharge lamps

Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fuer Elecktrische Gluehlampen mbH


A control apparatus for maintaining constant the temperature and pressure of the vapor phase in a very low-temperature controlled liquefied gas container includes a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, two electromagnetic valves, and a refrigerator. When operation of the refrigerator disturbs measurement at low temperature, the refrigerator is stopped. Gas vaporizes from a liquid phase, and gas is discharged from the container. In this manner, the temperature and pressure of the liquefied gas in the container can be maintained constant. After measurement, the liquid level in the container will be lowered by evaporation, so that the liquefied gas is supplied to the container. In this manner, the liquid level in the container can be maintained constant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control system for a liquefied gas container, such as a low-temperature controlled vessel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For measuring the extremely weak intensity of magnetic fields arising from organisms, such as a human brain, arm, eyeball, or heart, there has been used a superconductive quantum interference device (hereafter referred to as a SQUID) comprising in combination a superconductive ring and one or two Josephson junctions, which SQUID is immersed in a liquefied helium gas within a low-temperature controlled vessel. There is no known arrangement for controlling the temperature of the liquefied helium gas in such a low-temperature controlled vessel within a precise range of, for example, 4.2.degree..+-.0.1.degree.K. In order to attain a high precision measurement with a SQUID, it is necessary to maintain the temperature of the liquefied gas at a constant level within close limits.

Control system for liquefied gas container


Apparatuses, systems, and computer program products that encode and/or decode information of a video stream, such as an MPEG-4 video stream, are disclosed. Some embodiments comprise an apparatus having a binarizer module to create a plurality of bins for a syntax element for information of the video stream, a context selection module to generate an index value and a most probable symbol (MPS) value for encoding the plurality of bins, and an arithmetic coding module to encode a first and a second bin of the plurality of bins based on a first probability value and a second probability value, respectively, wherein the first and second probability values are determined via the generated index value and MPS value. Examples of some embodiments are high definition personal video recorders, transcoders, computers, personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, portable video players, high definition digital versatile disc (HD-DVD) devices, and Blu-ray disc-read only memory (BD-ROM) devices.

Context-Based Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding (CABAC) is an entropy coding method of a relatively new industry standard for coding and compressing audio and video (AV) information, commonly referred to as H.264/AVC or simply as H.264. The H.264 data compression-coding standard, sometimes loosely referred to as MPEG-4 (moving pictures expert group), represents a new generation of compression-coding that is becoming well known in the art. People expect the H.264 standard to supersede the widely used MPEG-2 standard for many applications. H.264 generally achieves higher compression ratios than MPEG-2. Unfortunately, H.264 achieves the higher compression ratios at the expense of increased processing complexity.
In some aspects, H.264 is similar to MPEG-2. For example, both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 utilize motion compensation to match current pixel blocks with reference pixel blocks to minimize the differential data that is to be transform-encoded. One compression encoding option of H.264 uses CABAC (context-based adaptive binary arithmetic coding) for syntax elements produced by transform-encoding (including motion vector information and other related data). CABAC potentially offers substantial additional compression efficiency relative to other types of later-stage encoding, but is considerably more complex than previous AV encoding and/or decoding standards thus far. To date, people have simulated or modeled CABAC encoders and/or decoders for H.264 using hardware and software. Unfortunately, the performance results of these models have generally been poor, especially the encoding/decoding throughputs of high resolution signals, high bit rate, and real-time video signals, such as those for high definition television (HDTV). Additionally, CABAC encoding/decoding of binary strings, or bins, in previous CABAC encoders/decoders has generally occurred in a serial fashion. In other words, for two bins, one bin must generally be decoded before the second bin may be decoded. This serial requirement of bins usually creates bottlenecks in systems and apparatuses that degrade or impact overall performance and consume additional power.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and apparatuses for performing CABAC parallel encoding and decoding


A cleaning system includes a housing, an air compressor, a plurality of air hoses, and a plurality of air nozzles. The housing has a first plurality of sidewalls. The first plurality of sidewalls define an enclosure. The housing includes at least a first opening defined therein. The first opening communicates with the enclosure. The air compressor is mounted within the enclosure. The plurality of air hoses are coupled to the compressor and extend through the first opening. The plurality of air nozzles are coupled to the air hoses. An apparatus includes a housing, a cleaning platform, an air compressor, at least one air hose, and an air nozzle. The housing includes a first plurality of sidewalls. The first plurality of sidewalls define an enclosure and have at least a first opening defined therein. The first opening communicates with the enclosure. The housing also includes a second plurality of sidewalls. The second plurality of sidewalls define a chamber. The cleaning platform is mounted to the second plurality of sidewalls. The cleaning platform has at least a second opening defined therein. The second opening communicates with the chamber. The air compressor is mounted within the enclosure. The air hose is coupled to the compressor and extends through the first opening. The air nozzle is coupled to the air hose.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to cleaning devices, and more particularly, to an apparatus for cleaning athletic equipment, such as golf equipment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many activities, such as outdoor athletic activities, involve the use of various equipment during inclement weather or otherwise foul conditions. As a result the equipment may become soiled with grass, mud, etc. In sports requiring spiked shoes, such as golf, baseball, and soccer, it is common for the shoes to become soiled due to the constant interaction between the spikes and the turf. The soiling problem may be exacerbated during rainy or wet conditions.
A common apparatus for cleaning golf shoes includes an upturned bristle pad or other bristled surfaces. Such a bristled device, although suitable for dry conditions where dust and grass are readily removed, is unsuitable for wet conditions. The mud and/or wet grass is not easily removed by a bristled surface. Moreover, repeated brushing on a shoe may cause wear or other damage to the shoe.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.

Apparatus for cleaning athletic equipment


A method for treating a substrate includes a mixing step of preparing an ozone treatment fluid containing an ozone gas and a substrate treating step of treating a surface of the substrate using the ozone treatment fluid. In the substrate treating step, light is irradiated to the substrate by a lamp.

Embodiments of the inventive concept described herein relate to a substrate treating apparatus and method, and more particularly, relate to an apparatus and method for stripping unnecessary photoresist (PR) from a substrate.
In general, various processes such as a photoresist coating process, a developing process, an etching process, an ashing process, and the like are performed to treat a glass substrate or a wafer in a process of manufacturing a flat panel display device or a semiconductor device.
Especially, in a semiconductor photolithography process, a substrate is sequentially subjected to a spin coating process, a soft bake process, an aligning and exposing process, a developing process, a cleaning and drying process, a hard bake process, an etching process, a photoresist stripping process, and the like. In the photolithography process, the exposing, developing, and etching processes are performed by using photoresist as a masking film, and the photoresist is removed after completely used as the masking film because the photoresist is no longer needed. The removal of the photoresist is performed through a stripping process.
In the stripping process, the photoresist is removed by using an SPM solution (H2SO4+H2O2) or a DSP solution (H2SO4+HF+H2O2) that is a chemical solution used at high temperature like sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid.
However, the existing stripping process has the following problems.
For example, in the case of the SPM solution, an intermediate product H2SO5 that sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide react together to produce has high reactivity and produces water to dilute the solution and shorten the lifetime thereof. Furthermore, the SPM solution has to be continually supplied because the hydrogen peroxide in the SPM solution is very unstable. Consequently, with an increase in the amount of SPM solution used, the amount of wastewater increases, and wastewater treatment cost also increases correspondingly, which leads to environmental problems.
In addition, the existing stripping process indispensably requires a mixing tank for mixing sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide and a heating device for maintaining the mixed stripping solution at a high temperature of 90° C. to 150° C. Due to this, a stripping apparatus using the existing stripping solution occupies a large footprint in a semiconductor clean room and fails to satisfy a requirement of clustering between processes.

Apparatus and method for treating substrate


A method for making beta ketoesters of alcoholic actives, especially perfume alcohols, by a two step process involving a first diketene reaction step and a second carboxylic acid halide reaction step. The present invention also relates to mixtures of beta ketoesters of such alcoholic actives, especially those prepared by the present manufacturing process.

Esters which release perfume alcohols are currently of interest for their different odor profiles in products, as well as their odor profiles during and after use. Particularly desirable are such esters which have a prolonged release characteristic from use in a home laundering process. Deposition on the fabric during the wash process followed by delayed release of the perfume after drying are included. The challenge for using such esters include not only the right combination of storage stability and odor release profile, but also the challenge of making such esters in a high yield, high purity, cost effective manner.
Beta ketoesters are a particularly desirable class of materials, but such materials can present a particular challenge for a cost effective production. The di-functionality (ketone and carboxylic ester functionality in the same compound) of these compounds limits the types of reactions and conditions under which these compounds can be made. Add on the industrial scale and cost constraints that the use of specialty reactants (like lithium salts) add to the possible synthesis methods, and the large scale of production of such beta ketoester compounds for use in high volume consumer products becomes problematic.
It has been discovered, however, that by the present invention there is a simple, high yield route to accomplishing the goal of affordable quantities of beta ketoester compounds of alcoholic actives, such as perfume alcohols. It is also possible by this method to prepare mixtures of beta ketoesters of perfume alcohols, allowing for further opportunities to create more complete odor profiles for consumer products (such as laundry and cleaning products) in a cost effective manner.

Beta ketoester compositions and method of manufacture


A process chamber, such as for semiconductor processing equipment, is connected with a recovery unit. The recovery unit includes a first storage tank for buffer gas and a second storage tank for rare gas. Both storage tanks are connected with a column in the recovery unit. The recovery unit and process chamber can operate as a closed system. The rare gas can be transported at a variable flow rate while separation in the recovery unit operates at a constant flow condition.

The demand for valuable rare gases is growing. Xenon is a trace component of the atmosphere (87 ppb) and it is a byproduct of a complicated air separation process, which makes it an expensive material for semiconductor processing applications or other applications. For example, xenon is finding increased uses in applications such as anesthesia, ion propulsion engines, high intensity discharge in lighting, plasma etching in semiconductor manufacturing, plasma media in discharge, or laser produced plasma. The increased number of applications is often constrained by the limited supply of xenon. It would be helpful to collect and recycle valuable rare gases, like xenon, at highest recovery efficiency.
The recovery efficiency of a rare gas recovery unit affects how much rare gas is collected. Typical performance is in the range of 90% to 99.9%. There is generally 0.1% to 10% of residual rare gas, such as Xe, that is lost when the buffer gas is vented or otherwise removed. Improvement of the recovery efficiency may not be feasible or may be costly depending on the gas separation technology and implementation.
The impact of loss of residual rare gas to long term cost of ownership in, for example, a semiconductor processing tool can be significant. Negative impacts to cost of ownership can be especially severe when the rare gas flow is at high flow rates of several liters per minute and the process chamber operates nearly 24 hours a day, which is common in semiconductor manufacturing.
Therefore, what is needed is new systems and methods that collect and recycle rare gases.

Collecting and recycling rare gases in semiconductor processing equipment


A lightweight and portable golf training apparatus for improving and perfecting a proper golf club swing is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first guide member that is elevated from the ground and a substantially linear side barrier section, which lies substantially parallel to the intended flight path of the golf ball. A curved edge provides a visual and physical guide to mark the path arc of a properly executed swing. A second guide member is disposed adjacent to the curved edge of the first guide member. The second guide member includes a top surface that is elevated from the ground. Forming a side of the second guide member is a substantially linear main guiding section, which, when positioned in a substantially parallel alignment with the curved edge of the first guide member, defmes a curved pathway for guiding a golf club through the proper swing arc. The apparatus may also include fastening means to secure the apparatus to the ground and an alarm to alert the golfer when contact is made with any part of the apparatus. A method of using the golf swinging apparatus is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to golf practicing aids and more particularly to a method and apparatus that allows a golfer to practice and develop a perfect swing without any damage to the golfer or to the golf club.
2. State of the Art
One of the most important and basic skills required to properly play the game of golf is developing a consistent and accurate swing. Even highly experienced and professional golfers must occasionally analyze and practice their swing patterns and correct bad habits. The golf swing is particularly difficult to learn and master because it is highly complex and involves a number of variables that must be executed with precision in order to hit the ball accurately and at a desired distance. Such variables include movement during the backswing and foreswing, foot placement relative to the ball, body orientation and position, tempo or pace of the swing, weight balance and shift during the backswing and foreswing, and club head speed and follow through.
One of the most frequent problems encountered by golfers is a golf shot created by an outside-to-inside club head path, otherwise known as "over the top." This motion of the club head readily produces the widely-known golf shot commonly referred to as a "slice," that is, a ball that veers or curves excessively toward the outside of the golfer's swing. A slice occurs when the head portion of the club is in its lowermost position immediately adjacent the ground with the club face open. As a result of this type of incorrect swing, the club head does not meet the ball squarely due to an incorrect swing motion that causes the golfer to swing the club too close to his or her body. This prevents the golfer from properly releasing the club at impact with the golf ball and causes the ball to slice.
In order to correct the aforementioned and other problems associated with incorrect swings, golfers are instructed to modify their existing swing, orientation, weight transfer, and grip, to name a few, and to practice swinging accordingly. While these verbal instructions are at least partially effective in most instances, the result of such instructions are less than perfect. This outcome is at least partially due to the fact that constant feedback is missing, such as when a golfer practices alone without an instructor present, or that practice sessions and lessons are impractical or taken infrequently.
In response to this problem, various devices have been developed for the purpose of improving a golfer's swing. A multitude of golf training devices is known in the art, which can generally be divided into two broad classifications: planar mat apparatus upon which the ball is placed, and raised devices that provide a barrier means to control the swing of the club. Some of the planar mat apparatus provide for ball placement upon a mat. The placement of the ball on the surface of the mat can preclude a truly authentic practice stroke since, other than when driving off of a tee, the club head will regularly contact the surface. Moreover, the planar mat apparatus are not intended to be used and usually do not work well on a grass surface. While other planar mat apparatus do allow contact of the ball with the grass, these apparatus only provide visual guidance to train the golfer and do not provide a physical barrier to prevent a golfer from swinging incorrectly. Examples of planar mat apparatus possessing the aforementioned limitations include U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,174 to Hoyt, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,304 to Meade, U.S. Pat. No. 3,784,208 to Weygandt, U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,428 to Warren, and U.S Pat. No. 3,561,764 to Thomas.
The second category of devices, those having a means to control the swing of the club, generally include a structural member that prevents or interferes, at least partially, with the path of a club at an incorrect or non-intended angle or direction. However, these devices are either limited to preventing the path of the club in a single direction or angle, to restricting the path of the club head in a generally linear fashion, or to restricting the height of the club head during the swing. Examples of raised devices possessing the aforementioned limitations include U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,220 to Cooper et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,177 to Furbush, Jr., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,719 to Bunn.
In view of the foregoing limitations, there is a need in the golf training industry for an apparatus and method of training that provides both a visual as well as a physical guide to prevent the execution of an incorrect golf swing. Furthermore, there is a need in the industry for such an apparatus that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and sufficiently lightweight for easy transport.


A pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet having a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on at least one surface of the support thereof, wherein the surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on at least one surface of the support partly has projected spots of fibers. The projected spots of fibers are preferably raised spots of fibers that are raised from the surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. The pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet is favorable for flooring material fixation. The pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet is produced according to a flocking method that comprises flocking the surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on at least one surface of the support to thereby form projected spots of fibers partly in the surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer.

When applied to various adherends, pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes or sheets must readily and firmly adhere to predetermined positions of the adherends. For this purpose, pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes or sheets are required to have good reworkability (they can be temporarily fixed on adherends and can be re-attached to them) and good repositionability (they can be re-positioned on adherends). For example, regarding the operation of applying a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet to a predetermined site, there is mentioned one example of adhering a flooring material to a floor base. In the operation of adhering a flooring material to a floor base, the flooring material must be inserted into a predetermined area on a floor base. For this purpose, the flooring material, after having been inserted into a predetermined area on a floor base, must be moved for a relatively long distance along the floor base. In this operation, when a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet having a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of an ordinary pressure-sensitive adhesive is used, then the flooring material could not be moved along the floor base after it has been inserted into a predetermined area on it, because of the tackiness and the initial adhesiveness of the pressure-sensitive adhesive. To solve the problem, various methods have been proposed. One comprises using a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet of which the pressure-sensitive adhesive force is temporarily lowered by the use of water or an organic solvent, or comprises disposing water-swollen granules of a water-absorbing polymer in the interface between the surface of a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and an adherend (see Patent Reference 1); another comprises using a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet of which the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is specifically so designed that its surface has an uneven structure to thereby lower the initial adhesive area thereof (see Patent Reference 2); and still another comprises using a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet of which the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is spotted with projections of a non-tacky solid substance to thereby control the initial adhesive force thereof (see Patent Reference 3).
[Patent Reference 1] Japanese Patent No. 3296769
[Patent Reference 2] JP-A-2002-121503
[Patent Reference 3] JP-A-7-310057
In the method of disposing water-swollen granules of a water-absorbing polymer in the interface between the surface of a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and an adherend, for example, as in Japanese Patent No. 3296769, water is used. However, since water essentially retards adhesion, and using it is undesirable in view of the reliability of adhesion.
In the method of using a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet of which the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is specifically so designed that its surface has an uneven structure to thereby lower the initial adhesive area thereof, for example, as in JP-A-2002-121503 (The term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application"), the surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet has a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer existing thereon. In the method, therefore, the width of the correctable position from the temporarily-fixed position is limited, and the repositionability of the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet is unsatisfactory.
In the method of using a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet of which the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is spotted with projections of a non-tacky solid substance to thereby control the initial adhesive force thereof, for example, as in JP-A-7-310057, the non-tacky substance is merely attached to the surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and its structure is not controlled. Therefore, for making the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet exhibit good repositionability, the amount of the non-tacky substance to be applied thereto inevitably increases, which, however, is undesirable in view of the pressure-sensitive adhesion characteristics of the tape or sheet.

Pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet, and method for producing it


A carbon dioxide reduction system 1 comprises a transport path 4 that transports carbon dioxide and a reduction apparatus 5 that reduces heated carbon dioxide introduced through the transport path 4, wherein the carbon dioxide is heated in the transport path 4 by at least one of recycled energy and exhaust heat.

Conventionally, from power generation facilities, iron manufacturing facilities, etc., enormous amounts of exhaust gas containing carbon dioxide are exhausted due to use of fossil fuels such as petroleum and coal. Also, from incinerators, enormous amounts of exhaust gas containing carbon dioxide are exhausted due to incineration of combustibles such as waste material. In recent years, suppression of carbon dioxide emission has become increasingly important to prevent global warming and construct a sustainable society, so that attempts at effectively using exhaust gas containing carbon dioxide have been made.
For example, PTL1 discloses that at least a part of carbon dioxide and hydrogen in an exhaust gas is reformed to carbon monoxide and water vapor by a reverse shift reaction, and the reformed gas is then subjected to microbial fermentation to produce organic materials.

Carbon dioxide reduction system and carbon dioxide reduction method


Systems, computer program products, and methods are described herein for implementing multi-dimensional data obfuscation. The present invention is configured to electronically receive, from a computing device of a user, a request to implement a multi-dimensional data obfuscation on a first database; initiate a data obfuscation engine on the first database based on at least receiving the request, wherein initiating further comprises: determining one or more data types associated with the one or more data artifacts; determining one or more exposure levels of the one or more data artifacts; retrieving, from a data obfuscation repository, one or more data obfuscation algorithms; and implementing the one or more data obfuscation algorithms on the one or more data artifacts based on at least the one or more data types; and generate an obfuscated first database based on at least initiating the data obfuscation engine on the first database.

Data management is the practice of managing data as a valuable resource to unlock its potential for an entity. Managing data effectively requires having a data strategy and reliable methods to access, integrate, store and secure data for analytics and use. Securing such data typically involves limiting access to sensitive data using sufficient data security and information security practices designed to prevent unauthorized disclosure and access.
As part of the effort to protect sensitive data, there is a need for a system for implementing multi-dimensional data obfuscation.

System for implementing multi-dimensional data obfuscation


A multiplex transmission system is made up of a master load control unit which is connected to a multiplex transmission network and is capable of executing a multiplexing operation based on control specification information as a master system, slave load control units capable of the multiplexing operation as a slave system, and a nonvolatile removable external storage unit capable of reading the control specification information as required. Abnormalities associated with the multiplexing operation which arise in the multiplex transmission system are detected, and load control units in an abnormal condition can be restored to a normal condition by resetting.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiplex transmission system which processes control specification information relevant to control specifications of loads by multiplexing via a multiplex transmission system, and which is connected to load control units capable of controlling the loads respectively connected thereto. More particularly, the present invention relates to a vehicle multiplex transmission system which is connected to load control units capable of controlling the electric power fed to loads, that is, electrical equipment such as lamps or an air conditioner, aboard the vehicle. The present invention further relates to a resetting method and a resetting apparatus for use with the multiplex transmission system.
2. Related art
FIG. 15 shows an example of a conventional multiplex transmission system of the above described type.
Specifically, a multiplex transmission system 5 is made up of one single master load control unit 1, at least one slave load (two slave load control units 2 and 3 shown in FIG. 15), and a multiplex transmission network 4 connecting them together.
The master load control unit 1 and the slave load control units 2, 3 are respectively provided with nonvolatile storage sections 1a, 2a, and 3a for holding control specification information.
The nonvolatile storage sections 1a, 2a, and 3a of the master load control unit 1 and the slave load control units 2, 3 hold control specification information which are control specifications of loads 2b, 2c, 3b, and 3c in a multiplexed manner through the multiplex transmission network 4.
Control status information or control specification information, which are held in the nonvolatile storage sections 1a, 2a, and 3a in a multiplexed manner, are updated by connecting, e.g., an external write terminal to the master load control unit 1, and by writing the control status information or control specification information to be updated into the nonvolatile storage section 1a of the master load control unit 1 from the external write terminal.
The control specification information, that is, the control specifications of the loads 2b, 2c, 3b, and 3c, represent the types of loads 2b, 2c, 3b, and 3c (e.g., electrical equipment aboard the vehicle such as lamps and an air conditioner), and control methods (e.g., the accurate control of a flashing cycle of the lamps, illuminance of the lamps and lightening actions of a lamp synchronized with door openings, and the control of supply of electrical power such as ON/OFF operations of the air conditioner).
The slave load control unit 2 selectively controls either the load (L1)2b or the load (L2)2c by switching between a selective switch (S1)6a and a selective switch (S2)6b, as required.
Similarly, the slave load control unit 3 selectively controls either the load (L3)3b or the load (L4)3c by switching between a selective switch (S1)6a or a selective switch (S2)6b, as required.
That is, the respective slave load control units 2 and 3, in accordance with the load control information that has been processed in a multiplexed manner, are allowed to selectively control either of the loads (either L1 or L2) respectively connected to the unit 2, and either of the loads (either L3 or L4) respectively connected to the unit 3.
In the multiplex transmission system 5 in normal operation, for example, the master load control unit 1 enters a transmission mode, and the control specification information or the control status information is transmitted during a predetermined period of time (i.e., in a period of "a" sec. in FIG. 16). Each slave load control unit enters a receiving mode during only a predetermined period of time (i.e., in a period of "a+.alpha." sec. in FIG. 16) by use of a built-in timer. It then receives the control specification information or the control status information from the master load control unit, and the thus received information is held in the respective nonvolatile storage sections 2a and 3a.
Subsequently, the slave load control unit 2 enters a transmission mode and transmits the control specification information or the control status information during a predetermined period of time (i.e., in a period of "b" sec. in FIG. 16). At this moment, the master load control unit 1 and the slave load control unit 3 enter a receiving mode during only a predetermined period of time (i.e., in a period of "b+.alpha." sec. in FIG. 16) by use of their respective built-in timers. Then, they receive the control specification information or the control status information from the slave load control unit 2. The thus received information is held in the respective nonvolatile storage sections 1a and 3a.
Similarly, the slave load control unit 3 enters a transmission mode and sends the control specification information or the control status information during a predetermined period of time (i.e., in a period of "c" sec. in FIG. 16). The master load control unit 1 and the slave load control unit 2 enter a receiving mode during only a predetermined period of time (i.e., in a period of "c+.alpha." sec. in FIG. 16) using their respective built-in timers. Then, they receive the control specification information or the control status information from the slave load control unit 3. The thus received information is held in the respective nonvolatile storage sections 2a and 1a.
According to a resetting method and a resetting apparatus used in such a conventional multiplex transmission system 5, the master load control unit 1 enters the transmission mode first to start initial-mode communication at the time of a restoring operation (e.g., a resetting operation) for restoring the system in an abnormal condition to a normal condition. As a result, the control specification information held in the master load control unit 1 is forcibly multiplexed with respect to other load control units (i.e., the slave load control units 2 and 3), and the thus multiplexed information is stored in the respective nonvolatile storage sections 2a and 3a. On the basis of the control specification information or the control status information forcibly multiplexed by the initial-mode communication executed when the system is restored from an abnormal condition to a normal condition (e.g., at the time of a resetting operation), the slave load control unit 2 controls the loads 2b and 2c connected thereto. Similarly, the slave load control unit 3 controls the loads 3b and 3c connected thereto on the basis of the control specification information or the control status information forcibly multiplexed by the initial-mode communication executed when the system is restored from an abnormal condition to a normal condition (e.g., at the time of a resetting operation).
The abnormality arising in the multiplex transmission system signifies anomalous communication in a multiplex transmission network or faulty operations of the load control units which could be due to an anomaly in the power supply.
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
However, in the above-mentioned conventional multiplex transmission system 5, if any of the respective pieces of load control information respectively held in the storage part 1a of the master load control means 1, the storage part 2a of the slave load control unit 2 and the storage part 3a of the slave load control unit 3 is multiplex processed under such a condition that it is updated in error due to noise or the like, or if the multiplex processing is executed under such a condition that the load control information is transmitted in error due to noise or the like, there is a fear that the multiplex transmission system 5 will fail to operate normally. This raises a problem as to the reliability of the multiplex transmission system 5.
Also, in such abnormal operating conditions of the multiplex transmission system, there is a fear that the required pieces of load control information (such as the kinds of the loads, the load control methods and the like) respectively consisting of the control contents of the loads can be updated in error due to noise or the like. This would thereby cause the wrong selection and control of the loads that are the objects to be controlled. This also raises a problem as to the reliability of the multiplexing transmission system 5.
Further, the conventional system fails to provide a means which can, when the load control information of the master load control means 1 is updated, not only can urge the forced transfer of the updated load information to the respective slave load control units 2 and 3 but also allows the thus transferred load control information to be held by the respective storage parts 2a and 3a of the slave load control units 2 and 3. Thus, the conventional procedure for updating the load control information is apt to be complicated, which raises a problem that the updating of the load control information cannot be transmitted to the slave load control unit with accuracy.
Further, if the control status information or the control specification information held in the nonvolatile storage sections 1a, 2a, and 3a is updated in such a conventional multiplex transmission system 5, an external write terminal, or the like, is connected to the master load control unit 1. The control status information or the control specification information to be updated is written into the master load control unit 1 from the external write terminal. This makes it difficult to quickly, accurately, and easily initialize the multiplex transmission system. Further, it is difficult to design a multiplex transmission system using new control specification information located at a place distant from the multiplex transmission system. Hence, it is difficult to quickly, accurately, and easily update the conventional multiplex transmission system.
Further, according to the resetting method and the resetting apparatus used in the conventional multiplex transmission system 5, the master load control unit 1 enters the transmission mode first to start the initial-mode communication when the system is restored from an abnormal condition to a normal condition (e.g., at the time of a resetting operation). Then, the control specification information held in the master load control unit 1 is forcibly multiplexed with respect to other load control units (i.e., the slave load control units 2 and 3). As a result, the load control unit in normal operation is also forcibly subjected to the initial-mode communication carried out to restore the system from an abnormal condition to a normal condition (e.g., to reset the system).
As described above, the load control unit being normally operating is also forcibly subjected to the initial-mode communication which uses the control specification information or the control status information of the master load control unit 1. As a result of this, normal load control and multiplexing operations being executed by the normal load control unit is interrupted.
In other words, the control and multiplexing operations of the normally operating load are interrupted when the system is restored from an abnormal condition to a normal condition (e.g., at the time of a resetting operation), and the load control and multiplexing operations for the initial-mode communication are executed instead. It is difficult to resume the interrupted load control and multiplexing operations which require a high degree of reliability and accuracy.


A spray apparatus and method is disclosed for spraying heavy viscous material. The apparatus includes a pressure tank containing a supply of the material. Pressurized air is supplied to the upper end of the tank for forcing the material down through an outlet port at the tank's lower end and into a supply hose leading to a spray gun. A follower plate floating on the upper surface of the material carries a stopper cone which is aligned with the outlet port. As the material level nears the lower end of the tank, the follower plate moves the stopper cone against the outlet port to immediately and positively shut material flow off. A cleaning tool is provided and includes an air valve in combination with a sponge adapted for fitting into the hose. The sponge is pushed by air pressure through the hose for a first cleaning pass, and the air flow is controlled by a hand-operated air valve. The air valve is then disconnected and a water supply is then used to push the sponge through the hose for at least an additional cleaning pass.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to apparatus and methods for spraying heavy viscous materials. In particular, the invention relates to the spraying of heavy viscous material such as aggregated materials which are difficult and expensive to handle and apply.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heavy viscous materials such as aggregated materials have been applied by hand in the past. Attempts to apply the materials by spraying using hand held hopper guns or machines that employ rotor/stator pumps have met with limited success. The aggregated materials include gritty components which have a tendency to destroy many of the types of pumps that have been used to spray these materials. In the past, when the heavy aggregated material has been sprayed by this type of equipment, the machinery tends to break down, and is very costly to operate and maintain.
In the prior art, spray systems have been provided which include pressure pots or tanks through which a supply of material is forced out under air pressure. In the prior art spray systems problems arise when the material level nears the bottom of the pressure pot. At the point the pressurized air tends to push down through the material, through the tank's outlet port and out through the hose and spray gun. This causes objectionable spattering on the wall or other surface, and results in spoilage of the job.
Heavy viscous material is also difficult to clean out of the supply lines and hoses after the spraying operation. The conventional methods to clean the hoses include forcing the material out with water pressure. Cleaning elements such as sponges have also been used by forcing the sponges through the hose with water pressure. This method is not entirely satisfactory. Heavy viscous spray material is thick and tends to build up on the walls of the hose. Thus, the use of water pressure to force sponges through the hose is time consuming, and it takes as long as several minutes to push a sponge through a 50-foot hose. Normally the sponge must be pushed with the water pressure through the hose several times to thoroughly clean the material from the walls.

Spray apparatus and method of operation for spraying heavy viscous material


In some implementations, the operations of a software system may include the execution of untrusted device drivers. The execution of an untrusted device driver may be initiated when an untrusted device driver that is a set of executable instructions is obtained. A computing resource for the execution of the device driver may be further determined from a device-driver manifest of the untrusted device driver. Computing resources may include one or more of a hardware resource, a memory, an input/output port, an interrupt request line, and an inter-process communication channel. Trusted local access objects may be used by the untrusted device driver to access the computing resources.

Software systems, such as operating system, typically come with a pre-defined set of software modules for performing various tasks. These modules are associated with each other because they are all part of the same pre-defined set.
However, additional functionality and/or customization are often desired. In other words, the functionality is "extended." Typically, software systems allow for extension by providing for dynamic addition of new software modules or processes. These additions are often called "extensions" or "plug-ins." Common examples of extensions or plug-ins in conventional systems include, but are not limited to, device drivers for operating systems, extended stored procedures in databases, plug-ins and ActiveX™ controls in web browsers, ISAPI content and filter extensions in web servers, shell extensions for user interface shells, etc. The functionality added by extensions ranges from simple support for updated versions of hardware devices to virus scanners to workflow tools in email clients. However, the conventional approach for integrating extensions can be problematic.
For example, a conventional operating system ("OS") loads extensions by loading a set of executable instructions into the kernel protection domain. Once the driver is installed into this address space, the conventional kernel cannot prevent the loaded extension from accessing any (or all) hardware in the computing system. Consequently, a malformed or malicious extension may wreak havoc in an OS kernel.
A device driver is a type of extension found in operating systems. A device driver is a software module that extends the operating system to access a specific device or class of devices. For example, an IDE driver, allows the operating system to access disk drives attached to an IDE storage controller. Device drivers perform a vital function, abstracting common functionality understood by the operating systems or applications—such as reading and writing blocks of disk storage—from the mechanics of talking to specific of hardware—such as a specific vendors storage controller. While device drivers often access physical devices, those skilled in the art will recognize that device drivers may also provide access to virtual resources or may be layered to add additional functionality—such as a compression driver that sits above a storage controller's device driver.
The complexity of device drivers has grown considerably in the last decade as users have come to expect rich features such as hot-swapping and power management. Many conventional operating systems have responded in a variety of ways, but at their core these systems possess the same driver model they possessed a decade ago.
Like the extension, a conventional operating system ("OS") loads device drivers by loading executable instructions into the kernel protection domain. Once the driver is installed into this address space, the conventional kernel cannot prevent the loaded driver from accessing any (or all) hardware in the computing system.
Furthermore, as these drivers are typically written with low-level primitives to access hardware directly, the conventional kernel rarely verifies that drivers use only appropriate hardware resources. Instead, the conventional kernel trusts that the driver will only access hardware for the device it claims to serve. Furthermore, often the conventional kernel cannot guarantee that a driver is configure correctly, that a driver will respect the memory that is allocated to active processes, or even the memory allocated to other components within the conventional kernel.
Consequently, conventional drivers are among the most unreliable components in the OS. Some reports indicate that 85% of diagnosed crashes in the most popular conventional OS are caused by drivers. Other reports indicate that the drivers for a less-popular conventional OS are seven times more likely to contain bugs than other executable instructions in the kernel.

Configuration of isolated extensions and device drivers


A constant speed maintaining apparatus for use in a vehicle includes a vehicle speed detector for detecting a present speed V(t) of the vehicle, a cruise control device for producing a control value U(t), a target speed setting device for setting a target speed Vd(t), and an actuator for changing the opening degree of a throttle valve of a vehicle engine based on the control value U(t) to maintain the present speed V(t) substantially equal to the target speed Vd(t). The cruise control device includes a differentiation device for calculating a differentiated present speed V(t), a parameter estimation device for calculating an estimated parameter b.sub.est based on the present speed V(t), differentiated present speed V(t), and control value U(t), and a control value calculation device for calculating the control value based on the target speed Vd(t), present speed V(t), differentiated present speed V(t), and estimated parameter b.sub.est.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a constant speed maintaining apparatus for use in a vehicle for automatically controlling the degree of throttle opening to maintain the vehicle speed substantially constant to the target speed, even when the vehicle is running on an up slope road or down slope road.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a controlling apparatus to keep a constant speed of a vehicle, various kinds of controlling rules have conventionally been employed to secure the robust quality of an object to be controlled such as an engine, a vehicle body or the like of the vehicle with respect to the change of its 15 dynamic characteristic with time. Such a controlling apparatus as above is provided with a vehicle speed detecting device for detecting the actual and present speed of the vehicle, a cruise control device for producing a control value, a target speed setting device for setting a driver's desired speed, providing an enable or disable signal to the cruise control device and increasing or decreasing the target speed, and an actuator for changing the opening degree of a throttle valve of an engine based on the control value.
The cruise control device detects the speed difference between the actual speed and the target speed and produces the control value to the actuator to change the opening degree of the throttle valve using a preselected feedback gain, thereby maintaining the vehicle speed to the target speed.
The prior art constant speed maintaining device may have a gear change control device for changing the gear when the detected speed difference becomes greater than a predetermined value, as often happens when the vehicle is running along a slope.
The prior art constant speed maintaining device is disclosed, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/733,208 of Ishida et al entitled "Auto-Drive Control Apparatus for Use in Vehicle" and filed Jul. 19, 1991 which is assigned to the same assignee as the present application or in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication 57-196317 which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,822, U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,864 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,865 all of Tanigawa et al.
According to the prior art constant speed maintaining device, since the feedback gain is preselected for each vehicle, it is necessary, before the installation of the constant speed maintaining device in a vehicle, to adjust the constant speed maintaining device based on various factors, such as engine characteristics, displacement volume, reduction ratio, weight, aerial resistance, etc. Therefore, it takes a considerably long time and cost to tune the device for each vehicle to obtain the optimum controlling efficiency.
Furthermore, according to the prior art constant speed maintaining device which employs the proportional integral differential (PID) control or constant parameter control, the control system itself does not change even when the characteristics of the object to be controlled should change, such as when the vehicle is running on an up slope road or down slope road. Therefore, it is difficult to maintain the constant speed of the vehicle with as little deviation as possible.
Furthermore, when the set button or resume button of the cruise control is depressed, the vehicle speed is temporarily reduced due to the loosening or play of the wire of a throttle mechanism. Also, unwanted overshoot characteristics of the vehicle speed may be produced. Because of such defects, in the prior art constant speed maintaining device, it is difficult to quickly acquire the target speed and it is difficult to remove unwanted overshoot characteristics of the vehicle speed, resulting in uncomfortable riding.
Also, with respect to the vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission, the cruise control device produces an overdrive OFF signal when the speed difference becomes greater than a predetermined amount, such as when driving on an up slope road. In such a case, the gear is shifted down automatically from the overdrive gear to the top gear (which has a gear ratio greater than that of the overdrive gear) so as to increase the driving torque. According to the prior art constant speed maintaining device, since the overdrive OFF signal is automatically changed to overdrive ON signal after a predetermined set time, there is such a disadvantage that, when the up slope road is very long, the gear is shifted up to the overdrive gear midway through the up slope road, resulting in production of overdrive ON and OFF signals. Also, when the up slope road is very short, the gear may not be shifted up to the overdrive gear even after the up slope road.

Constant speed maintaining apparatus for vehicle

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.