A temperature-sensitive type urea sensor 74 is adopted for use in an engine exhaust gas purifying apparatus. The magnitude of convection of urea aqueous solution generated in a storage tank 41 is determined based on temperature information detected by the urea sensor 74. For detection of abnormality, a detected concentration Dn is adopted when the percentage GRDt of temperature change of urea aqueous solution is small, so that convection is small and it is determined not to affect accurate detection of an abnormality.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an engine, and more specifically to a technology for purifying nitrogen oxide discharged from an engine using ammonia as a reducing agent.
2. Description of the Related Art
As an apparatus for purifying air pollutant discharged from an engine, particularly, nitrogen oxide (hereinafter referred to as "NOx") in the exhaust gas, by post treatment, a following SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) unit has been known. That is, a device for injecting ammonia or its precursor aqueous solution into an exhaust gas passage of the engine and with the injected ammonia used as a reducing agent, NOx and this ammonia are allowed to react with each other on a catalyst so as to reduce and purify NOx. Further, there has been also known an SCR unit in which, considering easiness of storage of ammonia on a vehicle, urea as a precursor of the ammonia is stored in a tank in the state of aqueous solution, and urea aqueous solution supplied from this tank is injected into the exhaust gas passage so as to generate ammonia by hydrolysis of urea using exhaust heat (Japanese Laid-Open (Kokai) Patent Application Publication No, 2000-027627 (paragraph number 0013)).
The inventor of the present patent application has contrived adopting of this SCR unit to the exhaust gas purifying apparatus of a vehicular engine and has already succeeded in actual application. It is important to provide a urea sensor in a tank capable of storing therein the urea aqueous solution (hereinafter, referred to as urea aqueous solution tank), in order to perform reduction action of NOx favorably by injecting an appropriate amount of urea aqueous solution to NOx discharge amount from the engine, and reflect an actual concentration of urea (hereinafter when just "concentration" is mentioned, the concentration of urea shall be referred to) on control operation of the engine and the SCR unit. Currently, as a urea sensor, there has been developed a type in which a heater and a temperature measuring resistor are equipped with and an actual concentration is determined based on an electric resistance value obtained by the temperature measuring resistor heated by the heater, by paying attention to the heat transmission characteristic of urea aqueous solution depending on the concentration (Japanese Laid-Open (Kokai) Patent Application No. 2005-030888 (paragraph number 0044)). This inventor has disclosed an exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an engine which adopts a temperature-sensitive type urea sensor in Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-366737 (Japanese Laid-Open (Kokai) Patent Application Publication No. 2005-133541). According to this apparatus, when the concentration detected by a urea sensor is lower than the normal range of concentration, it is estimated that water or other aqueous solution than urea aqueous solution of a predetermined concentration is stored in the urea aqueous solution tank, and then a further detection is performed to become aware of an abnormality about the concentration and some measures such as stopping of injection of urea aqueous solution is resultantly taken.
Here, concerning the exhaust gas purifying apparatus for the engine adopting the temperature-sensitive urea sensor, following problems are encountered. In such an apparatus that a tank stores a urea in the state of aqueous solution, a tank heater is provided in order to prevent urea aqueous solution from being frozen within the urea aqueous solution tank or unfreeze the frozen urea aqueous solution quickly, particularly, on an assumption that the apparatus is used in a cold district (Japanese Laid-Open (Kokai) Patent Application Publication No. 2004-194028). When a temperature-sensitive type urea sensor is adopted, convection flow of the urea aqueous solution is generated within the urea aqueous solution tank accompanied by heating of this tank heater, thereby adversely affecting detection of the concentration performed by the urea sensor. Due to unevenness in temperature of the urea aqueous solution caused by this convection flow, the concentration detected by the urea sensor is dispersed, so that detection accuracy of the concentration might drop, thereby causing errors in detection of an abnormality with the detected concentration used as basic information.
Accordingly, upon adopting the temperature-sensitive type concentration sensor, it is demanded to have a capability of avoiding erroneous detection of abnormality originating from convection of aqueous solution in a storage tank and prevent malfunction of the exhaust gas purifying apparatus, such as unexpected stopping of addition of a reducing agent.

Exhaust gas purifying apparatus for engine


A voltage converter includes a first to a third capacitor, a supply terminal, a first and a second clock terminal and a transfer arrangement, wherein a first electrode of the first capacitor is connected to the first clock terminal and a second electrode of the first capacitor is connected to a first node of the transfer arrangement, wherein a first electrode of the second capacitor is connected to the second clock terminal and a second electrode of the second capacitor is connected to a second node of the transfer arrangement, and wherein a first electrode of the third capacitor is permanently and directly connected to the second electrode of the first capacitor and a second electrode of the third capacitor is connected to a third node of the transfer arrangement.

The present patent application is related to a voltage converter and a method for voltage conversion.
Voltage converters often convert a DC voltage into another DC voltage. A voltage converter can be realized as a charge pump comprising several capacitors that are charged and discharged during operation. The capacitors may have a maximum operating voltage.

Voltage converter and method for voltage conversion


Apparatus and method for testing one or more sterilization indicators (e.g., biological indicators or chemical indicators) or other articles by contacting them under controlled sterilization conditions with a flowing antimicrobial gas containing hydrogen peroxide vapor are disclosed. This invention also provides apparatus and method for testing sterilization processes that use a flowing antimicrobial gas containing hydrogen peroxide vapor under controlled sterilization conditions, or for testing materials for such processes under controlled sterilization conditions, or for testing both such processes and such materials under controlled sterilization conditions. There can be an essentially square-wave contact of the sterilization indicators or other articles with the antimicrobial gas (i.e., short rise time to reach full concentration of the antimicrobial gas in contact with the sterilization indicators or other articles and short fall time to remove all of the antimicrobial gas from contact with the sterilization indicators or other articles). A preferred way of generating a substantially constant flow of antimicrobial gas of substantially constant hydrogen peroxide concentration may be used to generate the antimicrobial gas. A preferred way of determining the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the antimicrobial gas may be used.

1. Technical Field
This invention concerns sterilization and more particularly devices for testing hydrogen peroxide and related sterilization methods and materials.
2. Background Art
Many methods are used for sterilizing articles, including contacting them for a sufficient time with sterilizing liquids, sterilizing plasma, and/or sterilizing gases (e.g., steam). There obviously need to be methods for determining whether sterilization processes and materials (i.e., devices and other materials) are satisfactory (e.g., do they destroy a sufficient portion of the microorganisms likely to be present).
To help determine whether existing or proposed sterilization processes and devices are functioning or will function satisfactorily, biological indicators (e.g., biological test coupons) have been developed that contain precisely known amounts of specified microorganisms and provide precisely known resistance to sterilization. Chemical indicators have also been developed for the same purpose. Typically, one or more biological indicators are placed in a sterilization device to test (challenge, monitor, validate, etc.) the device and/or a process, the device is operated, and the biological indicators are thereafter removed and assayed to determine whether there was a sufficient reduction in the number of microorganisms. Chemical indicators are used in an analogous manner. Of course, a statistically sufficient sample of each such indicator must be tested to determine whether it is satisfactory for testing the sterilization device/process in question (e.g., is the indicator sensitive enough, does it provide accurate and consistent results).
A device for testing such indicators must be flexible (e.g., be able to be used throughout the ranges of interest for the parameters of interest), be able to rapidly provide uniform conditions throughout the chamber in which the biological or chemical indicators are exposed to (i.e., contacted with) the antimicrobial agent, and be precisely controllable with respect to all parameters (concentration of antimicrobial agent to which the indicator is exposed, exposure time of the indicator to the antimicrobial agent, temperature and pressure at which the exposure occurs, etc.). Such devices are sometimes referred to as "BIER" devices or units ("BIER" signifies "biological indicator evaluator resistometer"), even if they are used for testing chemical indicators.
Use of hydrogen peroxide vapor as the antimicrobial agent is relatively new as compared to use of steam and/or ethylene oxide as the antimicrobial agent. The gas phase containing vaporized hydrogen peroxide sterilant often also contains vaporized water and air. The water is initially present in such gas-phase sterilizing mixtures because hydrogen peroxide is readily commercially available as an aqueous liquid solution and it is more convenient to vaporize the entire solution to provide a hydrogen peroxide-water vapor rather than to try to separate the hydrogen peroxide from the water to obtain a water-free hydrogen peroxide vapor. The air is present in the gas-phase mixtures because it is an inexpensive and readily available gas that can be used as a diluent and/or to adjust the total pressure (a small amount of moisture will also be introduced into the initial gas-phase mixture by the air).
Use of hydrogen peroxide gas-phase sterilizing mixtures presents a number of problems, some of which are unique as compared to the use of older sterilants such as steam and ethylene oxide. For example, hydrogen peroxide immediately starts to decompose as soon as it is vaporized because the stabilizers that help retard or prevent decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution do not function in the vapor phase (steam and ethylene oxide do not decompose). As a result, hydrogen peroxide vapor must be generated in "real time" (i.e., as it is needed or on demand), particularly for sterilization processes in which the hydrogen peroxide vapor concentration must be maintained above a predetermined minimum. Hydrogen peroxide has a substantially different vapor pressure curve than water (e.g., its normal boiling point is approximately 151° C. as compared to water's normal boiling point of 100° C.). Accordingly, differential evaporation (i.e., distillation) may occur when the aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide is being vaporized. That makes producing a gas-phase mixture having a constant hydrogen peroxide concentration more difficult and it also increases the need for analytical methods that can rapidly and accurately indicate the hydrogen peroxide concentration (for monitoring and control). The condensation of hydrogen peroxide is influenced by the presence of water, and condensation of the hydrogen peroxide is something that someone operating a vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide sterilization process may wish to avoid. This reinforces the need to be able to carefully control sterilization parameters such as temperature and pressure. All of these factors increase the difficulty and complexity of operating hydrogen peroxide vapor-phase sterilization processes and the difficulty and complexity of adequately and properly testing biological and chemical indicators for such processes.
Documents concerning sterilization, hydrogen peroxide (including detection and determination of hydrogen peroxide and the production of hydrogen peroxide vapor), and related subject matter include U.S. Pat. Nos. Re. 33,007, 2,491,732, 3,851,436, 3,948,601, 4,169,123, 4,169,124, 4,230,663, 4,289,728, 4,296,068, 4,314,344, 4,321,232, 4,366,125, 4,401,755, 4,427,772, 4,437,567, 4,514,361, 4,525,265, 4,528,268, 4,642,165, 4,643,876, 4,671,936, 4,680,163, 4,707,334, 4,717,661, 4,743,537, 4,756,882, 4,795,707, 4,797,255, 4,828,797, 4,839,291, 4,843,867, 4,850,716, 4,863,688, 4,883,641, 4,885,253, 4,909,999, 4,914,034, 4,956,145, 4,992,247, 5,084,239, 5,114,670, 5,115,166, 5,139,957, 5,152,968, 5,167,927, 5,178,829, 5,180,553, 5,184,046, 5,186,893, 5,200,146, 5,244,629, 5,288,460, 5,317,896, 5,325,020, 5,364,590, 5,376,332, 5,413,758, 5,413,759, 5,413,760, 5,439,643, 5,445,792, 5,470,548, 5,472,664, 5,474,908, 5,482,684, 5,486,459, 5,492,672, 5,498,526, 5,503,807, 5,508,009, 5,512,244, 5,516,489, 5,516,648, 5,518,591, 5,525,295, 5,527,508, 5,534,221, 5,556,607, 5,593,649, 5,600,142, 5,603,895, 5,608,156, 5,620,656, 5,645,796, 5,650,693, 5,667,753, 5,674,450, 5,739,004, 5,750,184, 5,753,196, 5,770,393, 5,770,739, 5,779,973, 5,783,146, 5,788,925, 5,789,175, 5,792,435, 5,824,553, 5,830,409, 5,830,683, 5,843,374, 5,847,392, 5,847,393, 5,866,356, 5,870,885, 5,872,004, 5,872,359, 5,876,666, 5,892,229, 5,904,897, 5,911,950, 5,916,816, 5,923,432, 5,928,948, 5,938,917, 5,939,033, 5,942,408, 5,942,754, 5,972,199, 5,980,825, 5,989,852, 6,030,579, 6,036,918, 6,039,922, 6,056,918, 6,071,483, 6,075,246, 6,077,480, 6,094,523, 6,094,887, 6,096,265, 6,120,730, 6,132,680, 6,145,276, 6,149,878, 6,156,267, 6,174,502, 6,183,691, 6,189,368, and 6,203,756; European Patent Document No. EP 1,016,421; British Patent Document Nos. GB 1,582,060 and GB 2,089,213; Patent Cooperation Treaty Publication Nos. WO 00/57927, WO 00/65344, and WO 01/13964; Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, "Standard for BIER/Steam Vessels" (1981); Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, "BIER/Steam Vessels" (1992); Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, "Standard for BIER/EO Gas Vessels" (1982); Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, "BIER/EO Gas Vessels" (1992); Joslyn Valve Corp., "Biological Indicator Evaluator Resistometer (BIER)—Laboratory Test Systems For Steam And Ethylene Oxide," 4 pages (undated); U. S. Pharmacopoeia XXII, Official Monograph "Biological Indicators," pages 1625–1626 (undated); Herzberg, Molecular Spectra and Molecular Structure, II. Infrared and Raman Spectra of Polyatomic Molecules, page 532 (1945); Klapes et al., "Vapor-Phase Hydrogen Peroxide As A Surface Decontaminant And Sterilant," Applied and Environmental Microbiology, volume 56, number 2, pages 503–506 (1990); Skoog, Holler, Nieman, Principles of Instrumental Analysis (5th edition), pages 311–312 (1998); and Steinfeld, Molecules and Radiation—An Introduction to Modem Molecular Spectroscopy, page 229 (1974). (All of the foregoing documents, as well as all other documents cited or otherwise referenced herein, are incorporated herein in their entireties for all purposes.)
Biological indicators and chemical indicators are known. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,401,755, 4,514,361, 4,528,268, 4,671,936, 4,717,661, 4,743,537, 4,828,797, 4,839,291, 4,883,641, 4,885,253, 4,914,034, 5,139,957, 5,486,459, 5,498,526, 5,516,648, 5,620,656, 5,739,004, 5,750,184, 5,770,393, 5,789,175, 5,824,553, 5,830,683, 5,866,356, 5,870,885, 5,872,004, 5,916,816, 5,989,852; Patent Cooperation Treaty Publication No. WO 00/65344; and U.S. Pharmacopoeia XXII, Official Monograph "Biological Indicators," pages 1625-1626 (undated). A "biological indicator" is defined in Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, "BIER/EO Gas Vessels" (1992), as a "[s]terilization process monitoring device consisting of a standardized, viable population of microorganisms (usually bacterial spores) known to be resistant to the mode of sterilization being monitored."
Devices for testing biological and/or chemical indicators and/or testing sterilization processes are known. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,482,684 and 5,942,408; European Patent Document No. EP 1,016,421; Patent Cooperation Treaty Publication No. WO 01/13964; Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, "Standard for BIER/Steam Vessels" (1981); Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, "BIER/Steam Vessels" (1992); Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, "Standard for BIER/EO Gas Vessels" (1982); Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, "BIER/EO Gas Vessels" (1992); and Joslyn Valve Corp., "Biological Indicator Evaluator Resistometer (BIER)—Laboratory Test Systems For Steam And Ethylene Oxide," 4 pages (undated).
Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, "Standard for BIER/Steam Vessels" (1981), includes the following. "This standard establishes requirements for saturated steam vessels intended for the evaluation of the resistance performance of biological indicators (BIs)" (Section 1.1). "The preferred site for monitoring temperature is at the site of placement of the biological indicators" (Section 18.104.22.168). "The time to target temperature (e.g., 121±0.5° C., 204.8 kPa [29.7 psia] shall not exceed 10 seconds" and "[t]he time to exhaust sh be reproducible and shall not exceed 5 seconds" (Sections 188.8.131.52 and 184.108.40.206). "Critical operation of the saturated steam vessel requires that the pressure and temperature of the saturated steam be closely controlled . . ." (Section 4.1.1). "Pressure monitoring devices shall show that vessel pressure within ±3.45 kPa (±0.5 psi) of the saturated steam pressure" (Section 4.2.2). "Temperature control devices shall control the temperature of saturated steam to within ±0.5° C." (Section 4.3.1). See also Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, "BIER/Steam Vessels" (1992), a revision of the 1981 version.
Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, "Standard for BIER/EO Gas Vessels" (1982), includes the following. "This standard establishes requirements for ethylene oxide exposure vessels used to evaluate the resistance performance of biological indicators (BIs) that are intended for use in monitoring ethylene oxide sterilization cycles" (Section 1.1). "The time-to-gas concentration (at test temperatures and percent relative humidity) shall be reproducible at monitored site," "[t]he time-to-gas concentration for the exposed BI units shall not exceed 60 seconds," and "[t]he initial time-to-exhaust of the EO [ethylene oxide] from the exposure chamber shall be less than one minute and reproducible (±10 msec [sic]); after the end of the exposure period, items must be removed immediately from the test vessel" (Section 3.2.4). "Temperature control devices shall control the temperature to within ±1° C. at a specific monitored site," "[e]ach sterilizer shall be operated with a timer that has a precision of ±1.0 second," "[t]he quantity of gas admitted to the chamber must be controlled to ±5 percent of the gas concentration. . ." (Sections 4.3, 4.4, and 4.5). "There are two types of EO exposure systems. In the first, the test items (BIs) remain outside the exposure chamber until the conditions (temperature, percent relative humidity, and gas concentration) are stabilized; once the system is stable, the test items are exposed to the sterilizing environment by means of an insertion device or equivalent exposure device. In the second, the test items are placed within the exposure chamber; the system is brought to preexposure conditions (temperature and percent relative humidity stabilized); and then the vaporized gas is rapidly admitted into the exposure vessel. In both systems, timing of exposure begins when test units are exposed to the preselected EO conditions." (Section 5.1.1) See also Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, "BIER/EO Gas Vessels" (1992), a revision of the 1982 version. In the 1992 version, Section B.2 (entitled "Need For The Standard") states that "[t]he performance of biological indicators is critical to their acceptance as a means of monitoring ethylene oxide sterilization processes . . ." and that earlier studies "showed that a standard set of test conditions was required to meaningfully evaluate the performance of biological indicator lots."
U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,684 includes the following. "In addition to utility in monitoring the efficacy of a plasma sterilization cycle, the inventive vessel optionally is adapted to monitor a fluid sterilizing cycle (in addition to plasma), such as a cycle involving a fluid antimicrobial agent. Chemical indicators are useful in indicating such exposure to a fluid antimicrobial agent (or a component or reaction product of the agent), and Example 5 described hereinafter illustrates this aspect of the invention." (Column 5, lines 29–36) The antimicrobial agent may be hydrogen peroxide (column 6, lines 12–16; column 13, lines 37–45), and the plasma flow is continuous (column 8, lines 29–31). "Sterilizing chamber 14, in a limited sense, is a sterilizer of sorts; however, BIER vessels must perform so that the conditions to which the BIs are subjected are uniform. In addition to uniformity, another important aspect of the inventive BIER vessel is that the BIs being tested are exposed to sterilization conditions that reach a steady state in as short a time as practically possible. For example, in steam BIER vessels, the temperature must rise to the set point within ten seconds of the start of the test, while at the end of the test the steam must be vented away within five seconds. The required rise time in EtO vessels are somewhat slower." (Column 7, lines 24–35) "Chamber 14 has another outlet 42 whereby a monitor 52 monitors (or determines) the concentration of selected species in a plasma sterilizing cycle downstream of chamber 14. . . . The monitor 52 may include, for example, a mass spectrometer, a photometer, or a filter. The monitor 52 illustrated is a mass spectrometer, which is connected to the interior of a chamber 54, for example, to permit monitoring of the various combination of gases employed in the plasma." (Column 8, lines 40–53)
Sterilization devices and/or processes utilizing hydrogen peroxide are known (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,169,123, 4,169,124, 4,230,663, 4,296,068, 4,366,125, 4,437,567, 4,643,876, 4,680,163, 4,707,334, 4,756,882, 4,797,255, 4,863,688, 4,909,999, 4,956,145, 4,992,247, 5,084,239, 5,114,670, 5,152,968, 5,244,629, 5,317,896, 5,413,758, 5,445,792, 5,472,664, 5,482,684, 5,492,672, 5,503,807, 5,508,009, 5,525,295, 5,527,508, 5,556,607, 5,593,649, 5,645,796, 5,667,753, 5,674,450, 5,770,739, 5,779,973, 5,783,146, 5,788,925, 5,792,435, 5,830,409, 5,843,374, 5,847,393, 5,876,666, 5,904,897, 5,911,950, 5,939,033, 5,980,825, 6,030,579, 6,039,922, 6,056,918, 6,077,480, 6,094,887, 6,096,265, 6,120,730, 6,132,680, 6,145,276, 6,149,878, 6,156,267, 6,174,502, 6,183,691, and 6,203,756; British Patent Document Nos. GB 1,582,060 and GB 2,089,213; Klapes et al., "Vapor-Phase Hydrogen Peroxide As A Surface Decontaminant And Sterilant," Applied and Environmental Microbiology, volume 56, number 2, pages 503–506 (1990)), as are sterilization devices and processes using other modalities (e.g., plasma) with or without hydrogen peroxide (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,851,436, 3,948,601, 4,321,232, 4,643,876, 4,756,882, 4,850,716, 5,084,239, 5,114,670, 5,115,166, 5,178,829, 5,180,553, 5,184,046, 5,186,893, 5,200,146, 5,244,629, 5,288,460, 5,317,896, 5,325,020, 5,364,590, 5,376,332, 5,413,758, 5,413,759, 5,413,760, 5,439,643, 5,470,548, 5,472,664, 5,512,244, 5,534,221, 5,593,649, 5,603,895, 5,645,796, 5,650,693, 5,753,196, 5,843,374, 5,876,666, 5,923,432, 5,928,948, 6,036,918, 6,071,483, 6,094,523, and 6,149,878; and Patent Cooperation Treaty Publication No. WO 00/57927).
It is known to break liquid hydrogen peroxide (e.g., in an aqueous solution) into particles and use them for, for example, sterilization, and it is known to vaporize liquid hydrogen peroxide (e.g., from such particles) and use the vapor for, for example, sterilization. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. Re. 33,007, 2,491,732, 4,296,068, 4,366,125, 4,642,165, 4,680,163, 4,707,334, 4,797,255, 4,863,688, 4,909,999, 4,992,247, 5,152,968, 5,525,295, 5,779,973, 6,077,480, and 6,096,265; British Patent Document Nos. GB 1,582,060 and GB 2,089,213; and Klapes et al., "Vapor-Phase Hydrogen Peroxide As A Surface Decontaminant And Sterilant," Applied and Environmental Microbiology, volume 56, number 2, pages 503–506 (1990).
There are many methods used to detect and/or determine the concentration of an analyte in a mixture or solution. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,314,344, 4,427,772, 4,525,265, 4,795,707, 4,843,867, 5,139,957, 5,167,927, 5,474,908, 5,482,684, 5,516,489, 5,518,591, 5,600,142, 5,608,156, 5,788,925, 5,789,175, 5,847,392, 5,847,393, 5,872,359, 5,892,229, 5,938,917, 5,942,754, 5,972,199, 6,075,246, 6,156,267, and 6,189,368; and European Patent Document No. EP 1,016,421. It is known to detect and/or determine the concentration of a species in gas, vapor, or plasma. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,314,344, 4,843,867, 5,139,957, 5,167,927, 5,482,684, 5,516,489, 5,600,142, 5,608,156, 5,788,925, 5,789,175, 5,847,392, 5,847,393, 5,872,359, 5,892,229, 6,075,246, 6,156,267, 6,189,368; and European Patent Document No. EP 1,016,421.
It is known to detect the presence of and/or determine the concentration of hydrogen peroxide (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,427,772, 4,525,265, 4,795,707, 4,843,867, 5,139,957, 5,167,927, 5,474,908, 5,516,489, 5,518,591, 5,600,142, 5,608,156, 5,788,925, 5,789,175, 5,847,392, 5,847,393, 5,872,359, 5,892,229, 5,938,917, 5,942,754, 5,972,199, 6,156,267, and 6,189,368; and European Patent Application No. EP 1,016,421). It is known to detect and/or determine the concentration of hydrogen peroxide using spectrophotometry, e.g., using infrared or near-infrared energy. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,600,142, 5,847,392, 5,847,393, 5,872,359, 5,892,229, 5,942,754; and European Patent Document No. EP 1,016,421.
Attempts have been made to provide the functionalities required of a BIER unit for processes employing hydrogen peroxide vapor, but none of those attempts has succeeded in providing a device with the required accuracy, reproducibility, flexibility, speed, etc. For example, sealed packages containing articles have been placed in isolators containing hydrogen peroxide vapor and the packages quickly opened to allow hydrogen peroxide vapor to enter the packages to contact the articles; however, the accuracy and reproducibility were not satisfactory, in part because the rate of contact did not even approximate the required rapid commencement of contact, or the required constant hydrogen peroxide concentration throughout the entire contact period at the surface of the articles did not exist, etc.
As far as is known to applicants, there are no devices for accurately, reproducibly, and rapidly testing biological and/or chemical indicators for hydrogen peroxide sterilization (and as far as applicants know, there are no standards that anyone contemplating designing such a device could use). Thus, there is a need for such devices. Separate and apart from that, there is a need for devices that are sufficiently flexible, able to rapidly provide uniform conditions, precisely controllable, etc. for testing (including conducting research and development activities) processes and materials (i.e., devices and other materials) in the sterilization field involving hydrogen peroxide.

Apparatus for testing sterilization methods and materials


A transmission shaft is divided into a first shaft portion releasably connectable to a first electric motor/generator via a first gear set and a second shaft portion connected to a second electric motor/generator via a second gear set. The first and second shaft portions are operatively connected to one another for rotation together. The first shaft portion is selectively slidable with respect to the second shaft portion to connect and disconnect the first shaft portion and the first gear set.

The electrically-variable transmission (EVT) has been proposed for vehicles to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. The EVT splits power between an input shaft and an output shaft into a mechanical power path and an electrical power path by means of differential gearing. The mechanical power path may include clutches and additional gears. The electrical power path may employ two electrical power units, each of which may operate as a motor or as a generator ("motor/generator"). With an electric storage battery, the EVT can be incorporated into a propulsion system for a hybrid electric vehicle.
The hybrid vehicle or hybrid propulsion system uses an electrical power source, such as a battery, as well as an engine power source. The battery is connected with the electrical drive units through an electronic control unit (ECU), which distributes the electrical power as required. The ECU also has connections with the engine and vehicle to determine operating characteristics, or operating demand, so that the electrical power units are operated properly as either a motor or a generator. When operating as a generator, an electrical power unit accepts power from either the vehicle or the engine and stores the power in the battery, or provides that power to operate another electrical device or another electrical power unit on the vehicle or on the transmission.
One of the benefits of having an electrically-variable transmission incorporating more than one mode of operation is that each mode of operation will generally incorporate at least one mechanical point at which no electrical energy is present in either motor/generator, thereby reducing losses.
A power transmission in an electromechanical transmission is described in commonly assigned United States Provisional Application entitled "Electrically Variable Transmission with Selective Fixed Ratio Operation," U.S. Ser. No. 60/590,427, Holmes et al., filed Jul. 22, 2004 and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
One current issue with gasoline/electric vehicles is their ability to effectively operate in reverse. Previous gasoline/electric vehicles generally operate in reverse in two ways. One method of operating in reverse is to use the electric motor to propel the vehicle in reverse. Since the engine attempts to propel the vehicle forward, the electric motor must overpower the running engine. Such counteraction between the engine and the electric motor causes large losses because only a portion of electric motor power is used to reverse the vehicle. A second method of operating in reverse uses the electric motor to drive the vehicle in reverse while the engine is not running. This method, however, does not permit the vehicle to generate energy while reversing. Thus, it only permits the vehicle to operate in reverse until the battery is depleted or discharged. Once the battery has exhausted all of its energy and is fully discharged the vehicle will not be capable of reversing any further.


A tree pruner includes a rod and a fixed part is fixed to the rod and an arm has a first end pivotably connected to the fixed part. A spring is connected between the fixed part and a second end of the arm. A movable part has an end fixed to the arm and a mediate portion of the movable part is pivotably connected to the fixed part. A positioning seat is movably positioned on the rod and a stationary pulley is connected to the positioning seat. A movable pulley is connected to the arm and a rope reeves through the stationary pulley and the movable pulley. When pulling the rope, the arm is pivoted to move the movable part toward the fixed part to prune branches when the arm is pivoted.

A conventional tree is pruner shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, and generally includes rod 81 with a fixed part 82 connected to a top thereof and the fixed part 82 includes an extension which has a fixed edge 821. An arm 84 has a first end pivotably connected to the fixed part 82 and a movable part 83 has one end connected to the arm 84. The mediate portion is pivotably connected to the fixed part 82 and the movable part 83 includes a movable edge 831. A spring 85 is connected between a second end of the arm 84 and the fixed part 82. A stationary pulley 87 is connected to the rod 81 and located close to the fixed part 82 and a movable pulley 86 is connected the second end of the arm 84. A rope 88 has one end fixed to the pulley frame for the movable pulley 86 and the other end of the rope 88 reeves the fixed pulley 87 and the movable pulley 86 so that the user can pull the second end of the rope 88 as shown in FIG. 13 to pivot the arm 84 relative to the fixed part 82 and the movable part 83 is pivoted so that the movable edge 831 moves toward the fixed edge 821 to cut branches between the fixed edge 821 and the movable edge 831.
The fixed pulley 87 is located close to the arm 84 so that when operating the tree pruner, the angle "θ" between the line connected between the fixed pulley 87 and the movable pulley 86 and the rope 88 in vertical direction changes a lot. This requires more force "Fa" to pull the rope 88 and is inconvenient for some users.
The present invention intends to provide a tree pruner wherein the angle between the line connected between the fixed pulley and the movable pulley and the rope in vertical direction changes a small angle when operating the pruner so that the user simply applies a small force to prune the branches of trees.


A boat control system can include a propulsion unit controller, a port outboard motor, and a starboard outboard motor. The propulsion unit controller can includes an electronic throttle valve control section, an electronic shift control section, an electronic steering control section, a target control value calculating section, and a GPS receiver. The target control value calculating section can be adapted to calculate engine revolutions and steering angles corresponding to target values of the port outboard motor and the starboard outboard motor based on target values preset by an operator and values detected by the GPS receiver.

1. Field of the Invention
The present inventions relate to watercraft control, more particularly to a controller for a propulsion unit, a control program for a propulsion unit controller, a method of controlling a propulsion unit controller, and a controller for watercraft operation, which can be used for controlling a plural number of propulsion units of a watercraft.
2. Description of the Related Art
Methods of facilitating boat handling have been conventionally proposed to direct a boat in any intended direction while holding the bow direction or bow turning speed constant. Such an operation can be accomplished by utilizing geometric relationships among positions of the instantaneous boat center and plural propulsion units, and resultant vector of propulsion forces. These methods provide the effect of facilitating approach to or departure from a pier, which can be difficult, for example, in rough water.
In most of the proposed methods, at least one propulsion unit is mounted on the stern of the watercraft. A plurality of small propulsion units, commonly known as "side thrusters" are mounted on the bow or other locations on the boat. Using the geometric relationships as described, propulsion forces are appropriately adjusted to run the boat in any intended direction while holding constant the bow direction or bow turning speed.
Application of such proposed methods to a small boat results in many disadvantages such as increase in cost due to the additional hardware including the side thrusters, changes in shape for securing mounting positions, and deterioration in fuel economy due to increase in hydrodynamic resistance generated by the side thrusters.
Other proposed methods include using a boat is with two propulsion units, one each at port stern and starboard stern. In these methods, the boat can be moved in any intended direction by controlling propulsion forces appropriately while keeping the bow direction or bow turning speed constant. This method utilizes the geometric relationships among positions of the instantaneous boat center and the plural propulsion units, as well as the resultant vector of propulsion forces to obtain the same effects without the disadvantages associated with the above method using the side thrusters.
For example, the Japanese Patent Application Publication JP-B-2810087 discloses an invention related to a mechanism for appropriately handling the resultant vector of propulsion forces produced with port and starboard propulsion units.
Other methods for controlling a watercraft position have also been proposed. For example, because anchoring is not possible in deep water, such as in the open ocean, boaters who wish to maintain a fixed position typically periodically re-start and drive the boat to compensate for drift. Alternatively, when fishing, the engine can be left running but disengaged, i.e., in neutral, so that the boat is allowed to drift slowly from a starting point. When the boat drifts a certain distance from the start point, the engine is engaged to return the boat back to the start point, and again disengaged to drift. This operation is repeated.
In a form of troll fishing, the boat is required to drift slowly with the bow preferably directed toward the wind. Leisure fishing boats having only one shaft IB can be held in such a position by relying on the main keel of the hull and a spanker (sail) on the stern. Such an arrangement is disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication JP-A-2003-26095.

Controller for propulsion unit, control program for propulsion unit controller, method of controlling propulsion unit controller, and controller for watercraft


A method for controlling a positioning device of an internal combustion engine includes the steps of: providing an electric motor for actuating the positioning device; detecting a position of the positioning device in relationship to a stop; determining whether the positioning device is near the stop; enabling overshoot when the positioning device is not near the stop; determining a velocity of the positioning device; and, enabling overshoot of the positioning device when the positioning device is near the stop, but the velocity is below a predetermined value.

The present invention relates generally to control systems for internal combustion engines, and more particularly, to an electronic throttle idle speed control system.
Many previously known motor vehicle throttle controls have a direct physical linkage between an accelerator pedal and the throttle so that the throttle plate is pulled open by the accelerator cable as the driver depresses the pedal. The direct mechanical linkage includes a biasing force that defaults the linkage to a reduced operating position, in a manner consistent with regulations. Nevertheless, such mechanisms are often simple and unable to adapt fuel consumption efficiency to changing traveling conditions, and add significant weight and components to the motor vehicle.
An alternative control for improving throttle control and the precise introduction of fuel air mixtures into the engine cylinders is provided by electronic throttle controls. The electronic throttle control includes a throttle control unit that positions the throttle plate by an actuator controlled by a microprocessor based on the current operating state determined by sensors. The processors are often included as part of a powertrain electronic control that can adjust the fuel air intake and ignition in response to changing conditions of vehicle operation as well as operator control. Protection may be provided so that an electronic system does not misread or misdirect the control and so that unintended operation is avoided when portions of the electronic control suffer a failure.
For controller simplicity, a single controller structure for all ranges and modes of operation is desired. However, the plant under control (throttle actuator) has high coulomb friction torque relative to its inertia and motor torque. This results in long times from command to 90% of final value for small command changes. Unfortunately, times need to be small for good idle speed control. These times can be improved by increasing the gains, but results in adding overshoot. While in some cases beneficial, overshoot, in general, will cause the throttle mechanism to strike the stops, which can cause mechanism failure or require significant and costly added robustness to the mechanism.
The disadvantages associated with these conventional electronic throttle idle control techniques have made it apparent that a new technique for electronic throttle idle control is needed. The new technique should have short times from command to 90% of final value for small command changes. Additionally, the new technique should not cause mechanism failure or require significant and costly added robustness to the mechanism. The present invention is directed to these ends.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an improved and reliable electronic throttle idle speed control system. Another object of the invention is to have short times from command to 90% of final value for small command changes.
In accordance with the objects of this invention, an electronic throttle idle speed control system is provided. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling a positioning device of an internal combustion engine includes the steps of: providing an electric motor for actuating the positioning device; detecting a position of the positioning device in relationship to a stop; determining whether the positioning device is near the stop; enabling overshoot when the positioning device is not near the stop; determining a velocity of the positioning device; and, enabling overshoot of the positioning device when the positioning device is near the stop, but the velocity is below a predetermined value.
The present invention thus achieves an improved electronic throttle idle speed control system. The present invention is advantageous in that will not cause mechanism failure or require significant and costly added robustness to the mechanism.
Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the description that follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Electronic throttle idle speed control system


A pharmaceutical composition comprising an oil/water emulsion wherein the oil droplets contain a drug in dissolved or dispersed or solubilized form. The droplets are further coated with adsorbed native or modified antibodies which provide targeting of the droplets and the drug. The process for preparing this composition comprises the steps of (i) dissolving or dispersing a drug in an oil phase, (ii) preparing an oil/water emulsion, (iii) obtaining surface-active antibodies by chemical or physical attachment of hydrophobic groups to the antibodies, and (iv) mixing the surface-active antibody with the emulsion.

The present invention relates to drug targeting by small emulsion droplets, using biologically active targeting molecules. The advantages of being able to direct the drug to the tissue or cells where it is required, and to minimize the amount delivered to inappropriate sites has implications for many clinical situations, such as cancer chemotherapy, inflammations and viral infections (Davis S. S et al. Drug Exptl. Clin. Res. 9, 632, 1985).
In the past, several attempts to achieve drug targeting were reported, by using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. These attempts include:
1. Direct chemical attachment of drug molecules to an antibody molecule. PA1 2. Chemical attachment of drugs to antibodies through the use of a linkage polymer molecule such as dextran. PA1 3. Attachment of small antibodies to small biodegradable polymeric particles, by covalent linkage by direct adsorption or by adsorption via protein A. PA1 4. Coupling of liposomes with monoclonal antibodies via hydrophobic modification of the antibody. PA1 a) Covalent attachment of drug molecules require development of a chemical binding process for each drug to be tested. PA1 b) Direct attachment to the antibody may reduce its biological activity. PA1 c) only a limited amount of drug molecules may be bound. PA1 d) The clinical effects of the drugs may be altered upon chemical attachment. PA1 e) Possible leakage of drugs if liposomes are used. PA1 f) Desorption of the antibodies may occur if it is physically adsorbed to a solid particle. PA1 a) dissolving the desired drug in an oil phase; PA1 b) formation of an oil/water emulsion; PA1 c) formation of a surface-active-antibody by chemical attachment of various hydrophobic groups to the antibodies; PA1 d) mixing the surface-active antibody with the emulsion.
The above suggested method to achieve drug targeting have many disadvantages:
The present invention will provide a novel drug targeting method, which would overcome most of the above disadvantages, by the use of emulsions and micro emulsions.

Method and pharmaceutical compositions for drug targeting

Yissum, Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem


An information processing apparatus, an imaging apparatus and an information processing method, and a computer program are provided. An information processing apparatus includes: a state detecting part which detects physical fluctuations that are generated in association with a user carrying the information processing apparatus; and a control part which receives detection information of the state detecting part, and which shifts a state to a hot standby state in which a system startup process necessary prior to data processing in the information processing apparatus is completed, or which executes a process to continue the hot standby state, based on determination that the information processing apparatus is being carried by the user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an imaging apparatus, an information processing method, and a computer program. More specifically, the invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an imaging apparatus, an information processing method, and a computer program, which have the configuration that is intended to shorten a starting time as well as to reduce power consumption.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general digital cameras, a predetermined time period (a few seconds) is necessary to power a power source on from a power source off state in which a main switch is off and to establish a state to allow actual shooting. This is because a system startup process is necessary such as a process in which information necessary for an imaging process is decompressed over storing means such as an SDRAM as a volatile memory after the main switch is turned on.
Such a state is called as a hot standby state that information necessary for the imaging process is decompressed over the storing means such as an SDRAM to complete a system startup process. After the state is shifted to the hot standby state, an actual imaging process can be conducted.
A reduction in the transition time period from powering the power source to the shootable state is one of problems of the digital camera. For example, JP-A-2000-59675 (Patent Reference 1) disclose a configuration in which in a digital still camera that allows mode settings such as a recording mode and a reproduction mode, the mode is changed to a power saving mode unless otherwise a user makes a manipulation within a mode duration time defined in accordance with each mode, whereas once a mode is set, the mode is continued not to enter the power saving mode within the defined time period set in accordance with each mode, whereby the imaging process can be conducted immediately within the mode duration time.
In addition, for example, JP-A-2005-173620 (Patent Reference 2) discloses a configuration which realizes a reduction in the starting time by maintaining the hot standby state described above. More specifically, Patent Reference 2 discloses a camera configuration having a warm sleep state which continues the hot standby state that information necessary for the imaging process is decompressed over the storing means such as an SDRAM.
According to the configuration described in Patent Reference 2, even though the power source is in an off state, in the warm sleep state, power is continuously supplied to the storing means such as an SDRAM having information necessary for the imaging process stored therein. Accordingly, the hot standby state can be maintained, and shooting can be started immediately when a user intends to start shooting and turns the power source on.
However, in the configurations described in both Patent References, in order to continuously maintain a predetermined mode or the hot standby state, it is necessary to continuously supply power to the storing means (SDRAM) having information necessary for the imaging process therein. Consequently, there is a problem that power consumption becomes great. In both Patent References, the configuration is shown in which a predetermined timeout time period is provided to release a predetermined mode or the hot standby state. However, when a predetermined mode or the hot standby state is released, in the shooting operation after that, the time period from the power source on to the shootable state is the same as the time period in the camera before, causing a problem that a reduction in the starting time can not be exerted.

Information processing apparatus, imaging apparatus, and information processing method, and computer program


A lathe tool rest including a light source for improving the illumination of the workpiece is described. The tool rest includes a vertical post having an upper end, a horizontal tool arm attached to the upper end of the post, and an LED illumination strip attached to the front side of the tool arm. The front side of the tool arm preferably includes a horizontal recess With the LED illumination strip being mounted within the recess.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to tool rests for lathes and in particular to a lathe tool rest having an illumination source mounted on the tool rest.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Lathes are tools used to remove material from a workpiece by holding a cutting tool against the workpiece as the workpiece is rotated. The workpiece is most commonly wood, but may be metal, plastic or other material. Generally, the lathe is comprised of a bed with bed rails, a headstock with a rotatable horizontal spindle fixed or slidably mounted at one end of the bed rails, a tailstock with a tailstock barrel slidably mounted at the opposite end of the bed rails, and a tool rest mounted between the headstock and the tailstock.
Generally, the tool rest is mounted on a saddle, also known as a banjo, that is slidable on the bed rails and also adjustable inwardly and outwardly. The tool rest is comprised of a vertical post that is inserted into a recess in the saddle and a horizontal tool arm that is mounted on the top end of the post. The post is vertically adjustable to raise and lower the tool arm to the desired position, which is usually approximately in a plane with or slightly below the point at which the cutting tool engages the workpiece.
In use, the workpiece is mounted on the headstock, and on the tailstock if needed. The tool rest horizontal arm is placed close to, e.g., about one-half inch away, from the path of the workpiece surface. The cutting tool is then held against the upper surface of the tool rest arm and the tip of the tool is then moved into engagement with the workpiece, thereby cutting, chipping or scraping away pieces of the workpiece to round the workpiece to the desired shape.
Viewing of the workpiece, in particular the area being contacted by the cutting tool, is generally with the benefit of overhead room lighting. However, additional lighting is often provided by lights that are positioned in the vicinity of the lathe, e.g., clamp-on or magnetically attached lamps with flexible or articulating arms. However, these prior art lighting means often do not provide adequate lighting, particularly when detailed cutting is being done, or when the cutting is inside a workpiece recess, such as the inside of a bowl. In addition, the light may interfere with the operator's access. Therefore, there is a continuing need for a means for better lighting a lathe and workpiece during cutting of the workpiece.


In an optical waveguide electrically controlled variable attenuator using a dielectric substrate, light which has entered from the input port is split into TM mode and TE mode by a polarization beam splitter. After these modes are variably attenuated by respective directional coupler switches, a resulting TM mode and TE mode are coupled by a polarization coupler and output from the output port. Control voltages of the directional coupler switches are adjusted to a fixed ratio in such a manner that equal attenuation characteristics will be obtained for both the TM and TE modes. This makes it possible to obtain an attenuation characteristic that is independent of the polarized light.

In the light of the present invention following discussions on the related art are given.
The practical application of optical communication systems in recent years has been accompanied by demand for highly sophisticated communications systems of greater capacity and increased functionality. This has made it necessary to add on new functions for generating optical signals at higher speeds, for wavelength multiplexing in the same optical transmission path and for the changeover and switching of optical transmission paths. In particular, the practical application of optical fiber amplifiers has heightened expectations in regard to wavelength division multiplexing (WDM)-technology.
In order to realize WDM transmission, reducing the wavelength dependence of optical fiber amplifier gain is essential. One method of achieving this is to optimize the gain wavelength dependence of an erbium-doped fiber (EDF). To accomplish this, however, it is required that the gain of the EDF be controlled so as to be held constant.
When the gain of an EDF is held constant, however, a fluctuation in the level of the input signal to the optical fiber amplifier appears in the output stage. If multistage transmission is carried out, level fluctuation in the receiver stage becomes large in magnitude, making application of this technique to an actual apparatus difficult.
In an effort to solve this problem, an arrangement, e.g., as shown in FIG. 4 has been proposed. Specifically, the fluctuation in the output level of an optical fiber amplifier is compensated for by an electrically controlled variable optical attentuator 404 in which feedback control is possible. Incident light is multiplexed onto excitation light from an excitation laser diode (LD) 401 by a WDM coupler 402, and the resulting signal is amplified by an erbium-doped optical fiber 403. The exiting light is variably attenuated in the variable optical attenuator 404 by a control signal voltage from an optical sensor 405 that monitors the emitted light, and the attenuated light is output via a tap coupler 406.
The structure and functions of the optical waveguide electrically controlled variable attenuator according to the prior art will now be described.
FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an optical waveguide electrically controlled variable attenuator using an optical switch of directional coupler type according to the prior art. The arrangement depicted in FIG. 5 is described in "Rendering an LiNbO.sub.3 Optical Waveguide Switch Independent of Polarization" by Mitsukazu Kondo, Yasuhisa Tanizawa, Masaaki Iwasaki, Yoshinori Ota, Tsutomu Aoyama and Roh Ishikawa, Society of Electronics Information and Communications, Semiconductor Materials Section, National Conference, published March, 1987, pp. 2.about.140.
As shown in FIG. 5, an optical waveguide 7 is fabricated in the shape illustrated in the surface of a substrate 12a comprising a lithium niobate (LiNbO.sub.3) Z plate (Z-cut crystal). A portion having an index of refraction slightly higher than that of the substrate 12a is an optical waveguide 2. The optical waveguide 7 is formed by Titanium (Ti) thermal diffusion method into the substrate. A buffer layer 13a consisting of silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2) is provided on the optical waveguide 7, and control electrodes 8a, 8b are provided on the buffer layer 13a.
With this optical waveguide electrically controlled variable attenuator according to the prior art, signal light 3a from an erbium-doped fiber impinges upon an input port 2a. The component of the electric field of the entrant light that is parallel to the substrate is TE (Transverse Electric) mode 4, and the component of the electric field of the entrant light that is orthogonal to the substrate is TM (Transverse Magnetic ) mode 5.
In a case where voltage is not being applied upon the control electrodes 8a, 8b, guided light 6a that has entered from the input port 2a is acted upon in a directional coupler 11a in such a manner that optical power is transferred from optical waveguide 7b to the adjacent optical waveguide 7d, travels through optical waveguide 7c on the output side and exits to an output fiber 1b from an output port 2b.
In this optical waveguide electrically controlled variable attenuator according to the prior art, the directional coupler switch 11a is designed to have such a switch length (the length of the switch decided by optical waveguides 7b, 7d, referred to also as "complete coupling length") that the optical power will be transferred completely between the optical waveguides 7a, 7d. When voltage V (9a) is applied upon the control electrodes 8a, 8b in the directional coupler switch 11a, the index of refraction of the optical waveguides 7b, 7d immediately underlying the electrodes changes owing to electro-optic effects, as a result of which the intensity of the output light 3b changes.
Intensity P of the output light 3b in relation to the control voltage V(9a) is represented by Equation (1) below. For example, see "Optical Integrated Circuits", Nishihara et al., published by Ohm-sha, 1985. ##EQU1##
FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the attenuation characteristic of the output light 3b plotted against the control voltage V(9a). More specifically, the control voltage V(9a) is plotted along the horizontal axis and the amount of attenuation (expressed in decibels) is plotted along the vertical axis. Here the intensity of light is normalized by the optical waveguide 6a, and the applied voltage is normalized by a voltage (referred to also as "switching voltage") VTM which attenuates the TM mode light to the maximum extent. Accordingly, by controlling the control voltage V(9a), the attenuator makes it possible to vary the amount of attenuation of the input light 3a at will.
FIG. 7 illustrates another example of the construction of an optical waveguide electrically controlled variable attenuator using an optical switch of directional coupler type according to the prior art.
As shown in FIG. 7, the conventional attenuator is such that the optical waveguide 7 is fabricated in the shape illustrated in the surface of the substrate 12a made up of a lithium niobate (LiNbO.sub.3) X-plate(X-cut crystal). A portion having an index of refraction slightly higher than that of the substrate 12a is the optical waveguide 2. The optical waveguide 7 is formed by Titanium (Ti) thermal diffusion method into the substrate. A buffer layer 13a consisting of silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2) is provided on the optical waveguide 7, and control electrodes 8a, 8b are provided on the buffer layer 13a.
With this electrically controlled variable optical attenuator of optical waveguide type according to the prior art, the signal light 3a from an erbium-doped fiber impinges upon the input port 2a. The component of the electric field of the entrant light that is parallel to the substrate is TE (Transverse Electric) mode 4, and the component of the electric field of the entrant light that is orthogonal to the substrate is TM (Transverse Magnetic) mode 5.
In a case where voltage is not being applied upon the control electrodes 8a, 8b, guided light 6a that has entered from the input port 2a is acted upon in the directional coupler 11a in such a manner that optical power is transferred from optical waveguide 7b to the adjacent optical waveguide 7d, travels through optical waveguide 7c on the output side and exits to an output fiber 1b from an output port 2b.
In this optical waveguide electrically controlled variable attenuator according to the prior art, the directional coupler switch 11a is designed to have such a switch length (the length of the switch decided by optical waveguides 7b, 7c, referred to also as "complete coupling length") that the optical power will be transferred completely between the optical waveguides 7b, 7c. When voltage V (9a) is applied upon the control electrodes 8a, 8b in the directional coupler switch 11a, the index of refraction of the optical waveguides 7b, 7c immediately underlying the electrodes changes owing to electro-optic effects, as a result of which the intensity of the output light 3b changes.
FIG. 8 illustrates an example of the attenuation characteristic of a TE mode 4b and a TM mode 5b plotted against the control voltage 9a. Here the intensity of light is normalized by the optical waveguide 6a, and the applied voltage is normalized by a voltage (referred to also as "switching voltage") VTM which attenuates the TM mode to the maximum extent. Accordingly, by controlling the control voltage V(9a), the attenuator makes it possible to vary the amount of attenuation of the input light 3a at will.

Optical waveguide electrically controlled variable attenuator


A subsea wellhead assembly has separable tree modules that interconnect together. The lower tree module has a lower tree member having a bore with a valve for controlling production fluid flow. The upper tree module has an upper tree member with a bore and interface devices for monitoring the fluid flow as well as controlling the flow. A production line sub is carried alongside the upper tree member. The sub has a stab interface that stabs sealingly into a stab interface mounted alongside the lower tree member.

A conventional subsea wellhead assembly includes a wellhead housing that supports one or more casing hangers, each located at the upper end of the string of casing extending into the well. A production tree landed on the wellhead housing controls the production of well fluids. A tubing hanger supports a string of tubing through which the well fluid flows. The tubing hanger may be located either in the wellhead housing or in the production tree. The tree has a choke and valves to control the flow. The tree may also have sensors for monitoring pressure, temperature and flow rate.
The more sensitive components of the tree are the flow interface devices, such as the choke, flow meter, and pressure and temperature sensors. U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,621 discloses a modular tree that has a lower module containing the valves. The upper module contains the more sensitive equipment and lands on the lower module. The upper module can be retrieved separately from the lower module for repair or replacing the flow interface devices
In the '621 patent, the tree block for the lower module has two vertical passages, one for the production flow and one for communication with the tubing annulus. The upper module has also two vertical passages, one for upward flowing fluid from the production passage of the lower module, and the other for flowing fluid downward back into an upper section of the tubing annulus passage in the lower tree block. A port in the lower module connects this upper section of the tubing annulus passage to a flowline connector. A valve selectively blocks the upper section of the tubing annulus passage from the lower section while the upper section is serving as a production flow passage.
While the design of the '621 patent is feasible for many applications, the side-by-side vertical production and tubing annulus through-bores restrict the diameter of the production passage. In some instances, very large production passages are desired for wells, particularly for high flow rate gas wells.

Large bore modular production tree for subsea well


The exercise device described herein includes a pair of roll bars in spaced parallel relation thereto and having first and second ends, each roll bar having a curved portion configured to contact a ground surface for performing selected exercises. A handle bar is connected to the roll bars' first ends. A head bar is provided, a portion of which contacts the ground surface, and include a pair of spaced connector arms that extend above the ground surface with ends thereof connected to the roll bars' second ends, forming side rails in spaced parallel relation. The side rails are canted from the roll bars to the head bar at an upward angle relative to the ground surface. A singular material canopy is attached to the head bar and side rails for supporting the head, neck, shoulders, and upper back of a user during selected exercises.

Field
The example embodiment in general is directed to an exercise device, more particularly to an exercise device configurable to perform selected exercises in a first abdominal exercise configuration on a ground surface while supporting each of the head, neck, shoulders and upper back, and to perform different exercises in a second push-up/dip configuration on the ground surface.
Related Art
Various prior art systems have been devised as attempts to provide users with abdominal exercise methods. Convention abdominal exercisers include a typical rocker-type device having a frame defining a pair of u-shaped support rails that rock on a ground surface, a headrest or neck pad, often a pair of armrest portions and an upstanding arch-shaped portion (which may also serve to accommodate hand placements) connecting the u-shaped support rails together. The user lies inside the rocker-type device between the u-shaped support rails and rotates or cants forward with the device to exercise the abdominal muscles by performing sit-ups and crunches.
At least one of these known rocker-type abdominal exercisers is also configured to perform exercises other than abdominal exercises, such as push-ups (non-abdominal exercises) and dips. The commercially available AB ROLLER® exercise device by Tristar Products, Inc., is one such conventional device. FIG. 1 is perspective view of a prior art exercise device in an abdominal exercise configuration; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same prior art device in a second push-up/dip configuration. FIGS. 1 and 2 are provided to describe the AB ROLLER, which is illustrated in U.S. Des. Pat. No. D659,207 to Brown.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, exercise device 1 includes a tubular handle bar 2 which has a pair of leg portions 3 connected to corresponding upper ends 4 of a pair of tubular, u-shaped support rails 5. In the abdominal exercise configuration of FIG. 1, curved portions 6 of the support rails 5 contact the ground surface 20, as do lower straight leg portions 7, which lie flush with the ground surface 20 in an "at rest" position of device 1. Lower ends 8 of the support rails 5 are connected to corresponding ends 9 of a head bar 10. In the at rest position, the head bar 10 lies flat on the ground surface 20, and includes a crossbar portion 11 supporting a central neck roll pad 12 thereon. Head bar 10 also includes a pair of feet 13 and a pair of upstanding pegs 14 which are configured to receive circular weights (not shown) in stacked relation thereon.
For the abdominal exercise configuration, in operation the user lays prone on his/her back between the u-shaped support rails 5 with head resting on the neck roll pad 12, and grasps the handle bar 2 by placing their hands around the foam pad 15. The user's legs are bent at the knee, feet flat on the ground surface 20. The user then may perform a sit-up or crunch exercise by rocking back and forth along the curved portions 6 of the device 1 upward towards their knees and back to the supine position. To perform push-ups and dips, the user simply flips the device 1 over so that the two feet 13 and top of the handle bar 2 contacts the ground surface 20, as shown by FIG. 2. For a push-up, the user leans forward (at an incline) with their feet on the ground and hands grasping the foam pads 15 provided on the curved portions 6 of support rails 5. The user may then perform incline pushups. To perform a dip, the user grabs the foam pads 15 on the support rails 5 so that their trunk is between the rails 5 and above the handle 2, and their legs extended straight and outward from the handle 2 with their feet or heels on the ground surface 20.
An issue with the AB ROLLER design is that there is insufficient support for the entire upper torso of the user for abdominal exercise; only part of the head and neck of the user is actually supported by the neck pad 12 on head bar 10. The limits of employing a neck pad only (and hence failing to support the shoulders and upper back) could potentially cause unwanted strain or pain to neck, shoulder and/or back muscles as the user begins initiating an upward and forward crunch/sit-up movement. For example, since the neck pad 12 supports only the neck and part of the lower rear of the head, when the user initiates an upward sit-up or crunch movement, the user's head and neck bend forward under strain, out of alignment with the shoulders and back and thus moving slightly ahead of the shoulders and back. This causes the user's chin to dip down toward the chest, placing unnecessary strain on the neck. This in turn can lead to injury.


To produce a controller or regulator (1), a control or regulation process (3) is first designed and simulated on a development system (20). The process source code (25) for a target system (2) arranged in the controller or regulator (1) is then generated, and also a description file (28, 29) in HTML and/or XML format which, among other things, describes the parameters for the controller or regulator (1). Tags which characterize the parameters are used in the description file (28, 29). The description file (28, 29) is then converted, in a web server generator (30), into data and source code (31, 34) for a web server (5) which can run on the target system (2). In this context, the web server generator (30) and/or web server (5) use/uses the tags to insert input and output elements which can be used for setting and reading the respective parameters. The present system can be used for easily producing an interface for controlling the process (3) running on the target (2), which interface can be used by any client computer (7) without special software.

Various development systems exist which can be used for designing and simulating controllers or regulators, such as Matlab® and Simulink® from the company The MathWorks, Inc., Natick (USA).
Such development systems generally permit the designed controllers to be converted into C code, so that they can be compiled using a suitable compiler and can be used as process code on a target system in a regulator.
In addition, the development systems provide the option of testing and altering parameters of the process running on the target system from a client computer. To this end, however, expensive and complex programs generally need to be installed on the client computer.

Method and computer program for producing a regulator or controller


A computer program product implemented in an Internet Protocol (IP) edge node positioned in a fixed access network, the computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium such that when executed by a processor cause the IP edge node to receive an address registration request from a residential gateway (RG), wherein the address registration request comprises an IP version six (IPv6) address of a third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) visiting mobile host connected to a local fixed network associated with the RG and a host identifier (ID) assigned to the visiting host and not to any other host in the local fixed network; establish an IP Connectivity Access Network (IP-CAN) session for the visiting host; and manage quality of service (QoS) for the visiting host independently of other hosts in the local fixed network by managing the visiting host IP-CAN session.

The proliferation of Internet capable devices and the varied nature of user interaction with such devices has significantly complicated traditional network communication paradigms. For example, fixed hosts such as desktop personal computers (PCs), laptop/tablet PCs, set top boxes, game consoles, etc., may connect with a service provider via physical and/or a combination of physical and local wireless connections. Meanwhile, mobile hosts, such as mobile phones, laptop/tablet PCs, etc., may also be equipped with the capability of communicating directly with a service provider via a wireless connection. Further, mobile devices may swap between wireless connection types and/or physical connections based on user need. Such roaming between networks and network types may lead to complications in maintaining expected service for the mobile hosts.


A connecting assembly for use in the propeller shaft of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The connecting assembly comprises a shaft journal with an annular groove; a constant velocity universal joint with an inner joint part which is connected in a rotationally fixed way to the shaft journal for the purpose of transmitting torque; an axial securing ring for the inner joint part, which axial securing ring is positioned in the annular groove of the shaft journal; and a holding ring which is releasably connected to the inner joint part; wherein, in a mounted condition of the inner joint part, the axial securing ring is axially fixed on the shaft journal between a contact face of the inner joint part and the holding ring connected to the inner joint part.

A constant velocity universal joint comprises an outer joint part connectable to a driveshaft for example, an inner joint part, which is engaged by a shaft journal for transmitting torque, as well as torque transmitting elements which are effective between the outer joint part and the inner joint part. The shaft journal can be axially and radially fixed in a drive, such as a transmission or an axle differential, with the constant velocity universal joint then being arranged at one end of a propeller shaft. The shaft journal can also be radially elastically supported in an elastic intermediate bearing, with the constant velocity universal joint then being used as the central joint of a two-part propeller shaft.
DE 2004 048 079 discloses a connecting assembly between a constant velocity universal joint arranged at an end of a propeller shaft and an axially fixed shaft journal of a drive. By means of longitudinal splines, the shaft journal engages an inner joint part of the constant velocity universal joint in a rotationally fixed way. The propeller shaft comprises a threaded portion on to which there is threaded a threaded sleeve. The threaded sleeve engages a threaded recess of the inner joint part, with a securing ring being arranged in the threaded recess axially fixing the inner joint part relative to the threaded sleeve.
Overall, connecting a constant velocity universal joint to a driveshaft is complicated because there is available only a limited amount of space and the final assembly stage is also complicated. At the same time, the connecting assembly between the constant velocity universal joint and the shaft journal is subject to optimum safety regulations to prevent disconnection and to ensure a minimum of adverse effects on the strength of the components.

Connecting assembly between a shaft journal and a constant velocity joint


A control valve system for a multiple ratio automatic transmission having a reaction brake for forward drive and a reaction brake for reverse drive. A first clutch establishes a driving connection between an input gear element and a torque input shaft establishes a forward drive torque flow path when the forward drive brake is engaged. A second clutch connects a different torque input gear element of the transmission to the torque input member when the reverse reaction brake is applied. A pressurized valve circuit with three variable force solenoids, including one variable force solenoid, establishes a controlled circuit pressure, a second variable force solenoid is dedicated for reverse engagement control and a third variable force solenoid is dedicated for forward engagement control, whereby independent reverse engagement pressures and independent forward engagement pressures on the clutches and brakes, are established. A neutral idle characteristic conditions the clutches and the brakes for minimal threshold capacity, which effectively interrupts the torque delivery path through the transmission when the torque input shaft is driven at idle speeds.

The engagement control system of the present invention has features that are common to the engagement control system of the automatic transmission shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,874, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The transmission of the '874 patent discloses a planetary transmission having a so-called three-speed Simpson gear set and a simple planetary gear set arranged in series. The two gear sets together establish four forward driving ratios and a single reverse ratio. Pressure-operated clutches and brakes establish each of the forward driving ratios and the reverse ratio as they are applied and released under the control of an electronic processor and hydraulic control valve circuit control system.
A hydrokinetic torque converter is disposed between the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine and torque input elements of the transmission. A neutral state is achieved by disengaging a forward drive clutch, thus interrupting the torque flow path between the planetary gearing and the turbine of the torque converter.
When the output shaft speed is zero and the engine is idling, the forward drive clutch is fully engaged. Thus, the torque converter assumes a stall condition and develops stall torque on the turbine as the impeller of the torque converter continues to be driven by the engine at engine idle speed. This imposes a load on the engine, which effectively results in an undesirable power loss because the engine does not develop useful driving power on the output shaft under such stall torque conditions.
The engagement control system disclosed in the '874 patent uses one variable force solenoid and one on/off solenoid for controlling both forward and reverse engagements. The variable force solenoid communicates with a modulator valve for forward engagements and with a separate modulator valve for reverse engagements. Both of these modulator valves modulate line pressure developed by a main regulator valve in the control valve circuit for producing a clutch pressure that starts from zero pressure to a maximum value, thereby allowing a cushioned engagement of the forward and reverse engagements.
For a forward engagement, the forward clutch of the design of the '874 patent, which establishes a driving connection between the turbine and the input element of the gearing, is controlled. For reverse engagements, a separate high speed ratio clutch is controlled simultaneously with the engagement of a separate reverse brake. Separate engagement control valves are used to distribute either line pressure or clutch pressure to the high clutch or to the forward clutch. This is required in order to satisfy the stall torque capacity that is required during forward and reverse accelerations of the vehicle from a standing start.
The reverse engagement control valve of the design of the '874 patent distributes either reverse line pressure or a reverse modulator pressure to the high clutch during reverse engagement depending upon the output pressure of the on/off solenoid and the variable force solenoid pressure. Thus, there is one pressure threshold for changing between the reverse modulator pressure and the line pressure in reverse drive. Similarly, the forward engagement control valve distributes forward clutch pressure or full line pressure, depending upon the mode of operation of the variable force solenoid for controlling forward clutch pressure. An engagement control valve switches the forward clutch pressure to full line pressure after completion of the forward engagement. This is required since the forward modulator valve must be used, following forward engagement, for controlling upshifts and downshifts between gear ratios. Re-application of forward modulator pressure can be achieved only by moving the manual valve under the control of the operator to a neutral position and then re-engaging the forward clutch.
Furthermore, the system of the '874 patent allows only one distinct pressure threshold for the transition from forward drive modulator pressure to line pressure. Thus, a neutral idle function cannot be achieved since the forward drive clutch cannot be disengaged electronically.
Because only one fixed pressure threshold is available, smooth control of high speed forward and reverse engagement is not possible. Further, since only one variable force solenoid is used to control both the forward and reverse engagements, there is no flexibility on the part of the transmission designer for enhancing static engagement quality. Line pressure amplification and engagement control have different design criteria, but they are achieved with only one variable force solenoid.

Static forward and reverse engagement control system for a multiple ratio automatic transmission


An anti-fuse device for fin field-effect transistor (finFET) technology includes a dummy gate, an electrically conductive contact, and a diffusion contact. The dummy gate is formed over an end-corner of a fin. The electrically conductive contact is disposed on a portion of the dummy gate and can be used as a first electrode of the device. The diffusion contact is disposed over the fin and can be used as a second electrode of the device.

In one-time programmable (OTP) memory, which is a form of digital memory, the setting memory bits may be locked by using a fuse or an anti-fuse for each bit. Most OTP memories may require a programmable fuse element along with a select device (e.g., a switch). Anti-fuse cells may be implemented based on oxide breakdown, where a layer (e.g., a thin layer) of silicon oxide (SiO2) located between a gate terminal and a channel of a transistor (e.g., MOS transistor) may experience breakdown. The breakdown process can happen in a defective transistor, although in normal transistors, high temperature and/or high voltage can cause breakdown of the oxide layer. The oxide breakdown can also be utilized in a positive manner in non-volatile memory (NVM), as a memory cell can be programmed by trapping charges in an isolated location to be applied to break the oxide (only one time) at a program area.
An anti-fuse cell may also be implemented by using a thin silicon layer between two metal layers (e.g., metal tracks) as an insulator, which can upon applying a pulse of relatively high voltage and current be converted to a conducting poly-silicon. The poly-silicon that is grown on the spot can work as a link between the two metal layers. Further, the anti-fuse cells can be realized by using thick or split-oxide layers. The thin-oxide anti-fuse cells typically need a select device for proper operation, therefore, cannot be used in cross-point diode array configurations, as it can form an ohmic contact directly to the source instead of forming a diode connected transistor.

Dummy end-gate based anti-fuse device for finFET technologies


The sheet conveying apparatus includes a conveying belt including a placement area having a suction hole, and configured to convey a sheet with a vacuum force from the suction hole, a sheet supply unit capable of supplying a sheet to a supply position of the sheet with respect to the conveying belt; and a control unit configured to control the conveying belt so as to further move the conveying belt after the conveying belt conveys a last sheet to be conveyed. The control unit causes the conveying belt to wait after moving the placement area to a predetermined position in an area from a position in an upstream direction with respect to the moving direction of the conveying belt to the supply position in a conveying amount of the conveying belt corresponding to a time required for the sheet supply unit to convey a next first sheet to the supply position.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus for conveying a sheet by a conveying belt having a suction hole while sucking the sheet.
Description of the Related Art
One example of a unit for conveying a sheet-type print medium, used in combination with an image printing apparatus, is a loop conveying belt that moves around while holding the print medium. With a conveying unit using the conveying belt, the print medium needs to be held without being displaced on the moving conveying belt. As the unit for holding the print medium on the conveying belt, a conveying unit using a suction system is known which adsorbs the print medium on the conveying belt by sucking air from a plurality of suction holes formed on the conveying belt. The suction system has advantages that the print medium can be held on the conveying belt and that small ink droplets (ink mist) not contributing to printing that are generated in the printing apparatus can be sucked and collected with air.
In general, in image printing apparatuses, small ink droplets are occasionally ejected together with main droplets when ink is ejected from ejection ports of a print head, and small ink droplets are occasionally generated by an impact or the like when ink droplets land on a print medium. These small ink droplets are sucked from the suction holes of the conveying belt as described above, but when the print medium comes near the suction holes, the ink droplets occasionally adhere to the print medium by going into an end portion or a back surface of the print medium, causing poor image quality. The adhesion of ink droplets causing such poor image quality is hereinafter referred to as an end portion stain or a back stain. In addition, an air flow toward suction holes occasionally causes displacement in the landing position of the main ink droplets ejected near the end portion of the print medium, which causes the image quality to fall out, leading to poor image quality.
On the other hand, US Patent Laid-Open No. 2002/0018097 discloses, as a technique of preventing the end portion stain, the back stain, and the landing displacement, an image printing apparatus in which a suction hole is formed only on two predetermined areas of a conveying belt and a print medium is fed to the conveying belt so as to cover one of the areas. According to the technique, there is no suction hole that is exposed to the outside near an end portion of the print medium, and therefore generation of an air flow causing the end portion stain, the back stain, and the landing displacement can be suppressed.
In US Patent Laid-Open No. 2002/0018097, however, the suction hole is provided only on the limited area on the conveying belt. Therefore, when a printing operation of a first sheet (first print) is started, the print medium and the suction hole may not be in an appropriate positional relation.
In this case, to match the position of the print medium with the position of the suction hole, it is required to have an operation of adjusting the positional relation between the area in which the suction hole is formed and the print medium by moving around the conveying belt before feeding the print medium to the conveying belt. This increases the time required before the first print.


A tubular spray element for a dishwasher is formed in part from a molded elongated tube including one or more elongated slots formed in a sidewall thereof along one or more lengthwise portions of the elongated tube and one or more additional lengthwise portions in which the sidewall extends fully around a circumference of the elongated tube. In addition, one or more elongated caps are secured to the elongated tube and are sized and configured to cover the elongated slot(s).

Dishwashers are used in many single-family and multi-family residential applications to clean dishes, silverware, cutlery, cups, glasses, pots, pans, etc. (collectively referred to herein as "utensils"). Many dishwashers rely primarily on rotatable spray arms that are disposed at the bottom and/or top of a tub and/or are mounted to a rack that holds utensils. A spray arm is coupled to a source of wash fluid and includes multiple apertures for spraying wash fluid onto utensils, and generally rotates about a central hub such that each aperture follows a circular path throughout the rotation of the spray arm. The apertures may also be angled such that force of the wash fluid exiting the spray arm causes the spray arm to rotate about the central hub.
While traditional spray arm systems are simple and mostly effective, they have the shortcoming that they must spread the wash fluid over all areas equally to achieve a satisfactory result. In doing so, resources such as time, energy and water are generally wasted because wash fluid cannot be focused precisely where it is needed. Moreover, because spray arms follow a generally circular path, the corners of a tub may not be covered as thoroughly, leading to lower cleaning performance for utensils located in the corners of a rack. In addition, in some instances the spray jets of a spray arm may be directed to the sides of a wash tub during at least portions of the rotation, leading to unneeded noise during a wash cycle.
A different approach to traditional spray arm systems utilizes one or more tubular spray elements to spray utensils within a dishwasher. A tubular spray element is a type of rotatable conduit that both conveys wash fluid along its length and ejects the wash fluid through various apertures disposed on an exterior surface thereof. A tubular spray element is generally formed of an elongated body and rotates about a longitudinal axis thereof, either in a controllable or uncontrollable fashion, e.g., based upon an electric drive, a hydraulic drive, or as a result of rotational forces imparted by the ejection of wash fluid from the tubular spray element.
It has been found, however, that the manufacture of a tubular spray element can present challenges, particularly when a molded plastic construction is desired, and further when it is desirable to incorporate additional structures such as drive gears, nozzles, apertures, etc. into the construction. The elongated and tubular nature of a tubular spray element, in particular, can present challenges for conventional molding processes, where it is desirable to provide suitable strength throughout a tubular spray element while also providing repeatable and consistent wall thicknesses throughout.

Dishwasher with molded tubular spray element


A method of removing inorganic contamination from substantially the surface of a semiconductor substrate, the method comprising the steps of: reacting the inorganic contamination with at least one conversion agent, thereby converting the inorganic contamination; removing the converted inorganic contamination by subjecting it to at least one solvent agent, the solvent agent is included in a first supercritical fluid (preferably supercritical CO.sub.2); and wherein the converted inorganic contamination is more highly soluble in the solvent agent than the inorganic contamination.

In the manufacture of, for example, integrated circuits and liquid crystal displays, contamination of the substrate and subsequent semiconductor layers causes many problems and should be reduced as much as possible. Examples of such contamination are residual particulates, organics, and metals. In addition, contaminants may be situated on the surface of the semiconductor layer, or they may be situated between the semiconductor layer and another layer (e.g. an oxide layer). Typically, wet-processing is utilized in the fabrication of semiconductor devices. A wet cleaning process may consist of a sequence of particle removal and metal removal steps, with a rinsing step performed between them, and concluding with a drying step. Drying is typically accomplished either by spinning the wafer so that the liquid on the wafer will be spun off or by raising the wafers from a cloud of hot isopropyl alcohol vapor which condenses on the surface of the wafer and displaces the water.
This type of wet cleaning process suffers from a particularly serious drawback, specifically, most metal removal processes of this type (typically consisting of strongly acidic mixtures) add particles to the surface of the wafer, and particle removal processes (typically comprised of basic/oxidant mixtures) add metals to the surface of the wafer. In addition, most wet cleaning processes suffer from the problems of: expense of obtaining electronic-grade wet chemicals; expense of disposing of the caustic chemicals which are used in wet cleaning processes; liquid surface tension limiting or preventing access of wet chemical cleaning to high aspect ratio features, like trenches; and lack of harmonization with all dry processing (which is utilized more frequently in semiconductor processing). Hence, a metal removal step followed by a particle removal step will result in residual metals, while the reverse process results in fewer particles but can become contaminated with metals by the final rinsing.
Supercritical fluids (namely, supercritical carbon dioxide) have received much attention, lately. This is especially true in the area's involving decaffeination of coffee and linen/fine clothing dry cleaning. In addition, supercritical CO.sub.2 can be used in the removal of organic contaminates from semiconductor wafers. See International Journal of Environmentally Conscious Design & Manufacturing, Vol. 2, p. 83 (1993) (stating "s!upercritical carbon dioxide is best applied to the removal of organic compounds with mid-to-low volatilities"). However, supercritical CO.sub.2 is generally regarded as ineffective in cleaning inorganic contaminants (namely, metals) from semiconductor wafers.
Relating to another field, a group of researchers have discovered a way of removing metals from vegetation by subjecting the vegetation to supercritical CO.sub.2 and neutralizing the metals with chelating agents. See Elizabeth K. Wilson, Toxic Metals Extracted with Supercritical Carbon Dioxide, C&EN 27 (Apr. 15, 1996); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,538. However, this work states that "b!y itself, nonpolar supercritical CO.sub.2 is almost useless for solvating positively charged heavy-metal ions. However, researchers have discovered that metals can be solvated if they are first neutralized by chelating agents and, furthermore, that the solvency increases dramatically when the chelating agents are fluorinated." Id. at 27. However, there are several problems with this approach. First, there is a difficulty removing uncharged metals. Second, unfluorinated chelating agents are expensive. Third, mass scale synthesis of fluorinated chelating agents is expensive. Fourth, fluorinated and unfluorinated chelating agents are highly toxic and expensive to purify and dispose of. Fifth, there is a limited range of metals that can be readily solvated by the fluorinated chelating agents. Sixth, diffusion of unchelated metals into an underlying semiconductor substrate would be disastrous using the methodology of this publication.
It is, therefore, an object of the instant invention to provide a method of removing metal contaminants from semiconductor wafers. It is another object of the instant invention to provide a method of removing inorganic contaminants from semiconductor wafers.

Method for removing inorganic contamination by chemical derivitization and extraction