A process for recovering dimethyl terephthalate and ethylene glycol from a stream including aqueous ethylene glycol is described. Adding a dispersing agent to the stream renders it filterable, and a subsequent cooling of the stream containing the dispersing agent causes dimethyl terephthalate to precipitate in a form which can be removed by conventional filtration. The precipitated dimethyl terephthalate is of a quality and purity suitable for use in the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate. A commercially valuable ethylene glycol stream is also recovered by the process.

Dimethyl terephthalate is widely utilized in the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate, a plastic utilized in plastic beverage containers, Dacron.TM. clothing material and other commercial products. In the manufacturing process, dimethyl terephthalate typically is mixed with ethylene glycol and brought into contact with an acidic catalyst, such as an oxide of antimony. A substantial portion of the dimethyl terephthalate reacts with the ethylene glycol to produce polyethylene terephthalate, methanol, and water. Some intermediate polymers, such as oligomers of dimethyl terephthalate are also produced.
Polyethylene terephthalate and other relatively volatile components are recovered by distillation in a resin tower. As a by-product, the distillation produces a bottoms stream which includes unreacted dimethyl terephthalate, relatively low molecular weight dimethyl terephthalate oligomers, ethylene glycol, and water. Additionally, the bottoms stream often contains a small amount of residual polyethylene terephthalate, traces of the acidic catalyst, and insoluble contaminants. Corrosion products and relatively high molecular weight polymers produced by heat degradation are examples of such insoluble contaminants.
Previously, unreacted dimethyl terephthalate which entered the bottoms stream has been considered unrecoverable. The bottoms stream is not susceptible to conventional filtration because the mixture of dimethyl terephthalate, ethylene glycol, and water quickly fouls conventional filters. Somewhat longer filter runs can be obtained by a filter precoat, such as a coating of diatomaceous earth, on the conventional filters, but such precoats tend to become mixed with the filter cake. Additionally, conventional filtration yields a filter cake of dimethyl terephthalate that is contaminated by catalyst, corrosion products, and thermal degradation polymer products.
Upon leaving the resin tower, the bottoms stream is usually subjected to one or more distillation steps which reclaims ethylene glycol for recycling. Unfortunately, as the level of ethylene glycol in the bottoms stream is reduced, the dimethyl terephthalate and its oligomers become increasingly heat sensitive. Distilling the bottoms stream to about 10% to about 15% ethylene glycol content by volume thermally degrades polymers present in the stream to such an extent that the stream exhibits a viscosity similar to modeling clay.
Consequently, the residual bottoms stream has long been considered worthless. For example, the stream is sometimes incinerated as hazardous waste or placed in landfills.
A need exists for a practical method of separating dimethyl terephthalate and its oligomers from aqueous ethylene glycol streams. Such a recovery process would not only produce valuable dimethyl terephthalate for use in plastic manufacturing, but would also prevent unnecessary filling of increasingly scarce landfills. Additionally, petroleum reserves which are presently consumed to replace the dimethyl terephthalate that is lost could be conserved if such a method were practiced.

Process for recovering dimethyl terephthalate and ethylene glycol

Enviropur Waste Refining And Technology, Inc.


A fabric for container virtual machines (CM) has cross fabric spine switches coupled to spine switches, each spine switch coupled to has a leaf switches, each leaf switch coupled to servers hosting CVM processes. Each of the leaf switches has an uplink port coupled to a spine switch leaf port configured in a mesh. The spine switches have a plurality of uplink ports for coupling to a plurality of cross fabric spine (CFS) ports into a mesh. The cross fabric spine switches keep a CF-NHCIB table of entries containing capabilities, and also a CF-FIB slice table which maintains entries for assignment of CVMs to new spine switches, such as GTID range, MAC Range, IP range associated with a spine port and spine address (MAC and/or IP) for transferring packets through the fabric.

As virtual machine networks such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure web services grow, the growing number of virtual machines places a strain on the web infrastructure which supports the virtual machines (known as container/virtual machines, or CVMs). Each CVM is assigned a Global Tenant ID (GTID) associated with the MAC or IP address of the CVM.
Each of the CVMs may be associated with a particular switch fabric, which may be considered to be a plurality of leaf switches coupled to a spine switch which provides connectivity between the leaf switches. When the number of CVMs increases a scaling problem results where it becomes necessary to tie the various switch fabrics together at the spine switch level. One of the problems of managing and maintaining a huge number of CVMs across multiple switch fabrics is that when CVMs are created in one switch fabric, they may subsequently be moved from an original switch fabric to a different switch fabric later on for reasons such as minimizing packet latency, optimizing resource utilization, etc. Present switch fabric architectures are unable to handle such re-assignment.
It is desired to provide a switch fabric, switch architecture, and control software to provide leaf switches with downlink ports for connection to servers, the leaf switches having an uplink port for coupling to a plurality of spine switches, and a plurality of cross fabric spine switches for coupling to the spine switch uplink ports.

Switch fabric for a data center network having virtual machines


NVM arrays include rows and columns of NVM cells comprising a floating gate, a programming element, and a logic storage element. During a programming or erase mode, the floating gate of each cell is charged to a predetermined level. At the beginning of a read mode, all storage elements are pre-charged to a high supply voltage level. Following the pre-charge, selected cells are read to determine stored bit values. A charge status of the floating gate of each cell determines whether the storage element is turned on and the pre-charge voltage is pulled down corresponding to a bit value.

Memory circuits may be classified in two main categories: volatile and nonvolatile. Volatile memory loses any data as soon as the system is turned off. Thus, it requires constant power to remain viable. Most types of random access memory (RAM) fall into this category. Non-volatile memory does not lose its data when the system or device is turned off. A non-volatile memory (NVM) device may be implemented as a MOS transistor that has a source, a drain, an access or a control gate, and a floating gate. It is structurally different from a standard MOSFET in its floating gate, which is electrically isolated, or "floating".
Non-volatile memory arrays include a plurality of NVM cells arranged in rows and columns. In general, single-transistor n-channel NVM cells operate as follows. During an erase operation, electrons are removed from a floating gate of the NVM cell, thereby lowering the threshold voltage of the NVM cell. During a program operation, electrons are inserted into the floating gate of the NVM cell, thereby raising the threshold voltage of the NVM cell. Thus, during program and erase operations, the threshold voltages of selected NVM cells are changed. During a read operation, read voltages are applied to selected NVM cells. In response, read currents may flow through the selected NVM cells. The magnitudes of the read currents are dependent upon the threshold voltages of the selected NVM cells. In another configuration, output voltages of the NVM cells may be varied between two values based on the threshold voltages of those cells.

Compact non-volatile memory cell and array system


A magnetic recording medium having plural layers are disclosed. A plastic deformation of an uppermost magnetic layer is from 0.01 to 0.5 .mu.m, and a plastic deformation of the layer other than the uppermost magnetic layer is preferably from 0.01 to 0.6 .mu.m. The uppermost layer preferably has a thickness of less 0.5 .rho.m.

Hitherto, the quality of conventional magnetic recording medium has been improved by either using finer magnetic powder or by incorporating a so-called multilayered constitution in which the top layer is a magnetic and the lower layer is a nonmagnetic layer as described in Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection (hereinafter referred to as Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication) No. 187418/1988.
The technique disclosed in the above publication, however, give rise to a number of difficulties. It cannot increase the dispersibility of the magnetic or nonmagnetic powder in the coating composition employed to form a magnetic or nonmagnetic layer. It reduces how well the magnetic recording material can be calendered during the calendering process, thus preventing the magnetic recording medium from having the desired surface properties. Consequently, it is difficult to obtain a magnetic recording medium with excellent RF output and running durability, that is, properties a digital recording medium must have.

Magnetic recording medium comprising a support and a plurality of layers in which the magnetic layer has a specified plastic deformation


A wax composition for application to a wet surfaces utilizing a polymeric emulsion with a cross-linked copolymer of acrylic acid and C10-30 alkyl acrylate whereby upon application to the surface to be waxed the hydrophilic portion of the polymer instantly collapses releasing the oil phase and providing immediate coverage of the application surface forming a film upon drying, and buffing the waxed surface with an absorbent material leaves a protective coating of wax of the surface which does not easily re-emulsify or wash off when further exposed to water.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a high water content silicone wax composition that protects and provides a high gloss on automobile exterior surfaces and is applied to a clean water wet surface.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are numerous wax products available on the market to protect and polish the painted body surfaces of an automobile and also various different ways of applying the same. The most recommended procedure is to wash and dry the painted surface, apply the protective finish to the clean dry surface, and then buff the surface. The applied wax remains as a protective finish.
A quick wax job is obtainable in an automatic or semiautomatic car-wash where a detergent is applied to the surface of the vehicle under high water pressure and/or using a water and detergent solution together with strips of absorbent material or sponges to remove the dirt. As part of the car-wash liquid wax may be sprayed onto the vehicle and allowed to drip dry or be dried using an air blower. The wax compositions used by professional car washes that are applied while the automobile painted surface is wet are immediately subjected to a blow dry step and is not buffed. Neither of the latter two wax compositions and procedures of applying the same provide long lasting satisfactory results.
Conventional commercial waxes and polishes typically contain a wax dispersed in water or dissolved in a solvent often together with abrasives for dry application to a painted surface of a automobile. The wax dries and is removed with hand or mechanical buffing machines requiring considerable labor and time.
Two references considered of interest with respect to applicants wax composition are U.S. Pat. No. 6,103,323 issued in January of 2000 to D. W. Klayder et al which teaches silicone gel waxes and protectants; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,312 issued in December of 1997 to R. L. Fausnight et al. which teach wax dispersed in a silicone liquid. The Fausnight et al. reference utilizes a micronized wax with an emulsifier in order to disperse the wax in a water/organic solvent emulsion containing a silicone liquid in both the organic and aqueous phases for application to a dry surface.
Applicants prior U.S. application Ser. No. 10/314,446 filed on Dec. 9, 2002 and published on Jun. 10, 2004 as Publication No. U.S. 2004-0110850-A1 which has been abandoned teaches the method of application of a different wax composition to a wetted surface and is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
It is known to apply waxes by spraying onto vehicles and applying same to vehicles in tunnel professional car washes and drying the vehicle surface using air; however, the performance is not satisfactory in that the wax does not produce a high gloss finish comparable to that created by the instant composition and method of application.

Wax composition for application to wet surfaces

Ashland Licensing and Intellectual Property, LLC (ALIP)


A method of mining data to discover activity patterns within the data is described. The method includes receiving data to be mined from at least one data source, determining which of a number of specified interests and constraints are associated with the mining process, selecting corresponding mining agents that combine search algorithms with propagators from the specified constraints, and finding any activity patterns that meet the specified interests and constraints.

This invention relates generally to data mining, and more specifically, to methods and framework for constraint-based activity mining (CMAP).
In many applications, including military surveillance, scientific data analysis, manufacturing processes, and business intelligence, human and/or machine activities have been recorded and analyzed. Often, discovery of recurrent patterns from such activities will provide invaluable insights and enable effective actions in these application domains.
Early studies, such as association rule mining and its variations, often assume that all data is stored in a single data table and hence ignore any complex structures among the data. Recently, the data mining community has recognized the need to discover patterns from multiple relational tables, since many datasets have been saved in relational databases for a long time.
Different approaches have been taken to discover such patterns. A generic approach is to consider a pattern as a logic clause. However, it is very challenging to develop an efficient algorithm to discover patterns of such generic form. Researchers have addressed this challenge by restricting the allowed forms of patterns and designing special algorithms to discover patterns of the restricted form.
A very common technique is to use "mode", first introduced in PROGOL. This often reduces the valid pattern space significantly, for example, up to a few orders of magnitude. However, a mode satisfaction test often depends on the order of pattern elements, which is usually not significant in determining the semantics of a pattern. For example, a mode on a close predicate can require any atom on close to use only variables introduced in predicates preceding it. This mode is satisfied by Example 2, but not by Example 3, (See Table 1 below) even though the two patterns are equivalent. Hence, the mode restriction must be carefully taken into account when designing the mining algorithms.
Often, the mode declaration also specifies the data type for predicate arguments. This data type specification further reduces the pattern search space. For example, the same variable in a pattern cannot assume two different types. In addition, a constant parameter in a pattern should have the correct type as specified by the corresponding predicate.
One known data mining tool, WARMR, adapts a mode constraint to discover frequent patterns in first-order logic form. Specifically, a pattern is a conjunction of positive literals. Even though WARMR exploits the mode constraints, which is sometimes referred to as bias, it does not perform or scale well due to the generic pattern formulation. On the other hand, there are some other specialized algorithms, e.g., to discover sequential patterns which are similar to Example 5 (if the starting and ending time of each action are collapsed into a single time point), or to discover sub-graphs which are similar to Example 1 (if airport is considered as node and fly as edge in a graph). Such specialized algorithms may be reasonably efficient, but the forms of restrictions are built into the algorithms, and cannot be extended to handle other forms.
WARMR first introduces the concept of a multi-relational activity pattern, called "query", as an extension to association rules. It uses a level-wise refinement framework similar to the APRIORI algorithm used in association rule mining. The major difference in the WARMR algorithm is in generation of new candidate patterns from existing ones. It uses the typical logic refinement operation: unify two variables, replace one variable by a constant, or add a new atom (a pattern element).
WARMR requires that atoms must satisfy mode constraints which in turn restricts the use of constants or variables in each argument. This helps to reduce the search space significantly. Unfortunately, due to the intrinsic large search space (note that an association rule is a degenerated pattern using atoms of a single predicate with a single constant argument), WARMR can only handle very small data sets (with small number of predicates and data records).
Another data mining tool, FARMER, improves WARMR with a more efficient algorithm. However, its assumption of unique object identifiers (OIs) in patterns prevents FARMER from discovering many interesting patterns. An improved version of FARMER relaxes the OI assumption (to a weak OI assumption) but sacrifices the efficiency of the original algorithm to some extent. However, even the weak-OI assumption is overly restrictive. For instance, and again referring to Table 1, Example 7 cannot be discovered by FARMER under the OI assumption. Example 7 and Example 8 cannot be discovered at the same time using FARMER under the weak OI assumption (since R has to be specified as OI to discover Example 8 and reverse the specification to discover Example 7). In addition, WARMR or FARMER does not consider other constraints.
FARMER improves WARMR by significantly reducing the number of generated candidate patterns, under the assumption that variables in a pattern are object identities (OIs). Two variables in the same pattern cannot take the same value assignment, and a variable cannot be assigned to a constant in the same pattern. For example, in pattern occur(E1, T1), occur(E2, T2), close(T1, T2), the occurrence time of the two events T1 and T2 cannot be the same (even though they shall be close to each other) due to the OI requirement. With this OI assumption, FARMER uses a much simpler refinement operation, that is, FARMER always adds a new atom to the existing pattern in order to obtain a candidate pattern. Combined with the mode constraints, the refinement step in FARMER will generate much less redundant patterns than the WARMR algorithm. In addition, although not explicitly mentioned, FARMER assumes that all atoms in the pattern are "connected" through common variables shared by atoms. It actually exploits this assumption to add atoms that must use one variable in the existing pattern.
TABLE 1Example 1A person takes a round-trip flight:Here, fly provides one hopperson(P)→fly(P, A1 T1, A2, T2),flight information includingfly(P, A2, T3, A1, T4), A1 ≠ A2.the person who flies, thedeparture airport and time,as well as the arrival airportand time.Example 2A person takes a connected flight:person(P)→fly(P, A1, S1, A2, E1),fly(P, A2, S2, A3, E2), close(E1, S2), A1 ≠ A3.Example 3A person takes a connected flight:This pattern is equivalent toperson(P)→close(T1, T2),Example 2, since the orderfly(P, A1, T2, A2, T3), fly(P, A3, T4, A1, T1),of the pattern elements orA1 ≠ A3.the name of the variablesdoes not change the meaningof the pattern.Example 4A person takes a connected flight:This pattern is equivalent toperson(P)→fly(P, A2, S2, A3, E2),Example 2, since close is afly(P, A1, S1, A2, E2), close(S2, E1), A1 ≠ A3.symmetric relation, i.e.,close(S2, E1) is the same asclose(E1, S2).Example 5A person takes a sequence of actions:Here L is the location inperson(P)→fly (P, A1, S1, A2, E1),drive and lodge.drive(P, L1, S2, L2, E2), lodge(P, L3, S3, E3),before(E1, S2), before(E2, S3).Example 6A frequent flier: person(P)→fly(P, S, E),Here max and min return thecount(S)/(max(S) − min(S) + 1) > 6.maximum and minimumyear for all the flights(starting time) a persontakes, and count returns thenumber of distinct flights(each has a different startingtime).Example 7A flight stops in two metropolitanNote that the twoairports: flight(F) →stop(F, A1),metropolitan regions can beairport(A1, R1), region(R1, 'metro'),the same or different in thisstop(F, A2), airport(A2, R2),pattern.region(R2, 'metro'), A1 ≠ A2.Example 8A flight stops in two airports of twodifferent metropolitan regions: flight(F)→stop(F, A1), airport(A1, R1),region(R1, 'metro'), stop(F, A2),airport(A2, R2), region(R2, 'metro'), A1 ≠A2, R1 ≠ R2.

Methods and framework for constraint-based activity mining (CMAP)


A device 1 for feeding foil 2 for the manufacture of foil bags with at least one supply roll holder 3 that can be driven with a drive, at least one piece of conveyor equipment 4 for conveying a foil 2 from a supply roll 5 that is held in the supply roll holder 3, at least one foil sensor mechanism 6, which is arranged between the supply roll holder 3 and the conveyor equipment 4, which includes at least one stationary deflection roll 7 and a first and second dancer roll 8, 9, supported in movable supports 10, 11 for turning the foil 2 around, whereby the foil sensor mechanism 6 for regulating the drive of the supply roll holder 3 is formed depending on the distance from the first and/or second dancer roll 8, 9 to the deflection roll 7. The supports 10, 11 of the first and second dancer rolls 8, 9 are hung into at least one hanger 12 that is guided over a deflection wheel 13, 14 and in this way so coupled together that the weight of the first and second dancer rolls 8, 9 is at least partially offset.

Machines of this kind are known from DE 198 247 98 (U.S Pat. No. 6,340,130).
A width of foil is rolled off of a supply roll, turned around a stationary deflection roll and a dancer roll that is supported in a way that allows it to move, and forwarded by a take-off device. From this it is also known to use two dancer rolls that are securely coupled to one another. The dancer roll serves to regulate the unrolling of the width of foil from the supply roll.
The weight of the dancer rolls places a load on the width of foil in this connection and consequently stretches it, which has proven to be detrimental. The weight of the dancer roll can be considerable. This is particularly detrimental in the processing of thin foils, which, for example, because of their elasticity properties or their stretching capability, withstand only limited tensile stress. Furthermore, it has proven to be detrimental that the dancer rolls move only by jerks and jolts, which results in uncontrolled tensile stress and thereby in uncontrolled stretching of the foil. This is particularly detrimental in the manufacture of foil bags, in which case the foils are processed with precisely specified lengths.

Device for feeding foils for the manufacture of foil bags and device for the manufacture of foil bags

Indag Gesellschaft Fuer Industriebedarf mbH & Co. Betriebs KG


A dynamic technique for routing data packets between entry and destination nodes of a multi-node communication network of arbitrary topology In accordance with this technique, the nodes of the network are connected together by a multitude of links, and a subset of these links form a virtual ring embedded in the network and traversing each node thereof at least once. The nodes route each data packet to a destination node without requiring any data from the data packet other than data identifying the destination node of the data packet. Also, the nodes route each data packet to its destination node such that the distance, along the virtual ring, between the data packet and its destination node always decrease. Data packets in the virtual embedded ring have priority to continue to be routed on the ring. As a result, lossless routing with a single buffer per each input link is provided. The objective of the routing function of every intermediate node is to try to decrease the distance to the destination as much as possible.

This invention generally relates to a communications network, and more specifically, to a technique for transmitting data packets on a multi-node communications network having an arbitrary topology.
Various techniques or procedures are known for routing data packets over a multi-node communications network; and more specifically, for routing each packet from an entry node to a destination node. These prior art techniques all tend to suffer from one or more disadvantages, however. For instance, some of these techniques require that a considerable amount of data be stored in a processor memory at each node of the network Other routing procedures require that each packet itself identify a complete path for transmitting the packet from the entry node to the destination node. Still other routing techniques require that each node be provided with information about events occurring over the entire network.
The difficulties associated with these disadvantages are particularly significant when the network is a high-speed communications network, which is a new environment made possible by recent advances in transmission technology. The environment of a high-speed communications network normally requires that the nodes of the network operate quickly based solely on local information; and to accomplish this, the network nodes require properties that are very different than those existing in current architectures and algorithms designed for traditional large area networks.

Process for routing data packets around a multi-node communications network

International Business Machines Corporation


An apparatus for metering an accurate flow of a first fluid, at a low pressure and a low flow rate, into a conduit conducting a flow of a second fluid, at a much higher pressure and much greater flow rate, comprises a pressure reducer containing a nozzle and a peristaltic pump connected in fluid communication with the pressure reducer. The pressure reducer is connected in the conduit and the nozzle of the pressure reducer increases the flow rate of the second fluid flowing through the pressure reducer, thereby correspondingly reducing the pressure of the second fluid in the pressure reducer. The peristaltic pump supplies the first fluid to an area of the bore through the pressure reducer where the nozzle has decreased the pressure of the second fluid channeled through the pressure reducer. A pressure relief valve communicates with the pressure reducer to prevent the pressure of the second fluid from decreasing below a third fluid pressure.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of metering a low pressure fluid into a high pressure fluid flow. The fluids include gases, liquids, flowable solids, slurries, etc. In particular, the present invention relates to a fluid dispensing system that employs a peristaltic pump to dispense an accurate, continuous flow of a first fluid at a first pressure into a fluid conduit conducting a second fluid at a second pressure greater than the pressure of the first fluid. A pressure reducer assembly is inserted in the fluid conduit to reduce the pressure of the second fluid to a pressure below the pressure of the first fluid by increasing the flow velocity of the second fluid, thereby enabling the peristaltic pump to pump the first fluid at the first pressure into the fluid conduit. A pressure relief valve is provided in the feed line between the peristaltic pump and the pressure reducer to prevent the creation of a vacuum pressure in the feed line which could interfere with the proper operation of the pump.
(2) Description of the Related Art
In fluid mixing systems of the prior art, it is often necessary to mix a first fluid with a second fluid being carried by a fluid conduit, where only a very small amount of the first fluid is desired to be combined with a much greater amount of the second fluid. For example, it is often necessary to feed very small amounts of a first fluid, in the order of 5.0.times.10.sup.-4 gallons per minute, at an accurate and continuous rate of feed into a conduit conducting a second fluid at a much greater pressure than the first fluid. It is also necessary to provide such a fluid mixing system that is inexpensive to construct and operate, and will operate reliably for a period of five to ten years.
Previous efforts in the prior art to provide such a fluid mixing system have employed small diaphragm or piston pumps, suction devices such as orifices, and mechanical syringe fluid dispensers. However, these prior art systems are typically incapable of providing the desired continuous and accurately metered flow rate of the first fluid into the conduit conducting the second fluid.
Peristaltic pumps or tube pumps are capable of delivering a continuous and accurately metered low flow rate of fluid. However, peristaltic pumps are typically limited to low pressure head applications (20 psig to 70 psig maximum). When connecting a first fluid line carrying fluid pumped at a low flow rate and low pressure by a peristaltic pump, to a second fluid line conducting a second fluid at a much higher pressure, the high pressure of the second fluid carried in the second line will in most cases cause the first fluid pumped by the peristaltic pump in the first fluid line to back up and increase in pressure until the pressure of the first fluid prevents the peristaltic pump from working properly. The increase in pressure of the first fluid could possibly reach a level that prevents the peristaltic pump from rotating and the increase in the pressure level could burst an output hose or conduit of the pump, or the pump tube itself. The increase in pressure could also cause the fluid to be backed up through the pump or cause the pump to run backward and damage the pump motor.
What is needed to overcome these disadvantages of prior art fluid mixing systems is an apparatus and method of dispensing a continuous, accurately metered flow of a first fluid at a low pressure, into a flow of a second fluid conducted by a fluid conduit where the second fluid has a much higher pressure. Such a fluid mixing system must be inexpensive to construct and operate, and must operate reliably over a period of five to ten years to be practical.

Apparatus and process for metering a low pressure fluid into a high pressure fluid flow


A new miniature rose plant which has abundant, yellow flowers and attractive foliage. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is suitable for year round production in commercial glasshouses. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant which originated from a controlled crossing between an unnamed seedling and an unnamed seedling. The two parents were crossed and the resulting seeds were planted in a controlled environment. The new variety is named xe2x80x98POULhi003xe2x80x99.
The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, an unnamed seedling, by the following combination of characteristics:
1. The unnamed seed parent is a large-flowered floribunda with yellow flowers, while xe2x80x98POULhi003xe2x80x99 is a yellow miniature.
2. The unnamed seed parent resulted from a crossing of Fragrant Delight, an orange-salmon floribunda rose, and xe2x80x98POULsunxe2x80x99, a rose variety with U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,716.
The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, an unnamed seedling, created by the same inventors, by the following combination of characteristics:
1. The unnamed seed parent is a floribunda with dark-yellow colored flowers and more vigorous growth than xe2x80x98POULhi003xe2x80x99.
2. The unnamed seed parent resulted from a crossing of Arthur Bell, a yellow floribunda rose, and xe2x80x98POULdomxe2x80x99, a yellow floribunda from the same inventors.
The objective of the hybridization of this rose variety for commercial greenhouse culture was to create a new and disinct variety with unique qualities, such as:
1. Uniform and abundant flowers;
2. Vigorous and compact growth;
3. Year-round flowering under glasshouse conditions;
4. Suitability for production from softwood cuttings in pots;
5. Durable flowers and foliage which make a variety suitable for distribution in the floral industry.
This combination of qualities is not present in previously available commercial cultivars of this type and distinguish xe2x80x98POULhi003xe2x80x99 from all other varieties of which we are aware.
As part of their rose development program, L. Pernille Olesen and Mogens N. Olesen germinated the seeds from the aforementioned hybridization and conducted evaluations on the resulting seedlings in a controlled environment in Fredensborg, Denmark.
xe2x80x98POULhi003xe2x80x99 was selected by the inventors as a single plant from the progeny of the hybridization in Spring, 1996.
Asexual reproduction of xe2x80x98POULhi003xe2x80x99 by cuttings and traditional budding was first done by L. Pernille and Mogens N. Olesen in Fredensborg, Denmark, in July 1996. This initial and other subsequent propagations conducted in controlled environments have demonstrated that the characteristics of xe2x80x98POULhi003xe2x80x99 are true to type and are transmitted from one generation to the next.

Miniature rose plant named xe2x80x98POULcelxe2x80x99


Provided are a binder resin for an electrode of a lithium secondary battery containing a solvent-soluble polyimide having a repeating unit represented by the following Formula [I], and a method of producing the binder resin for an electrode.

Lithium secondary batteries are used as power supplies for electronic products such as mobile phones, smart phones, tablets, or notebook computers, and as a power source for electric vehicles and a large capacity battery constituting an energy storage system, demand for such lithium secondary batteries on the market is rapidly increasing. An electrode of a lithium secondary battery is manufactured by applying a slurry (mixture material) mixed with an active material, a conductive material, a binder resin, and a solvent on a current collector, drying the solvent, and then rolling the collector to a certain thickness, and in order to increase the energy density and the output density, an active material having high specific capacity and output characteristics is needed to be used.
For example, as a positive electrode active material of a lithium secondary battery, lithium transition metal oxide, lithium iron phosphate, or the like is used. Although graphite powder has been mainly used as a negative electrode active material, a non-carbon high capacity material such as silicon, lithium titanium oxide, or the like is increasingly used, and a material which is alloyed with lithium is also used to further increase the energy density of a battery.
Binder resins used for manufacturing electrodes are demanded to have battery characteristics such as adhesive strength to active material, conductive material, and current collector, active material coverage, resistance to electrolyte dissolution, efficiency, lifetime, and safety, and in addition, electrodes are demanded to be easily manufactured using such binder resins. Currently, as a positive electrode binder resin, PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) is used, and as a negative electrode binder resin, a combined system of SBR (styrene butadiene latex) and CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose) or PVDF is usually used. However, in view of adhesive strength, oxidation deterioration, safety, or the like, the use of these binder resins may be restricted in some cases.
In particular, in cases in which an active material or the like containing silicon (silicon) is used as a material to be alloyed with lithium, since the volume change of such an active material when inserting and extracting lithium is large, when a conventional binder resin such as PVDF is used, the active material is pulverized during charging and discharging, or the active material is separated from a current collector, and as a result, the current collecting property of a negative electrode is lowered and the charge and discharge cycle characteristics are deteriorated, which has been problematic.
In order to solve such a problem, polyimide resin having excellent heat resistance or adhesive strength has been studied as a binder resin used for manufacturing electrodes.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method in which a slurry (mixture material) prepared by mixing a polyamic acid (precursor of polyimide) produced by reaction of aromatic diamine and aromatic carboxylic acid dianhydride in NMP solvent and graphite powder which is an active material is coated on a current collector and dried and then heat treated at 350° C. for 2 hours to convert the polyamic acid into polyimide on a current collector to prepare a negative electrode.
Patent Document 2 discloses a method in which a slurry (mixture material) prepared by mixing an aliphatic or alicyclic polyamic acid (precursor of polyimide) produced by reaction of diamine and carboxylic acid dianhydride in NMP solvent and an active material is coated on a current collector and dried and then heat treated at 250° C. for 1 hours to convert the polyamic acid into polyimide on a current collector to prepare a negative electrode.
Patent Documents 3 to 6 disclose a method of coating a current collector with a slurry containing an active material containing silicon and/or a silicon alloy and, as a binder, a polyimide precursor such as a polyamic acid, then heat treating at a high temperature, converting the polyimide precursor on the current collector to a specific polyimide compound to prepare a negative electrode.
For example, Patent Document 5 discloses a method of applying a slurry containing a binder precursor solution composed of a mixture of 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid diethyl ester, m-phenylenediamine and the like and an active material to a current collector, drying a solvent, and heat treating at a high temperature to prepare a negative electrode in which the binder precursor is made into a polyimide resin having a specific structure on the current collector.
However, in any of the methods in Patent Documents 1 to 6, the adhesion between a binder resin and an active material, a current collector or a conductive material or the cycle characteristics of a battery are still insufficient, and any of the methods include a step of heat-treating a polyimide precursor such as a polyamic acid at a high temperature, and therefore, the active material or the current collector may be oxidized in the heat treatment step, which may lower the charge/discharge efficiency of the battery.
Patent Document 8 discloses a method of coating a current collector with a mixture material including a precursor of a siloxane-containing polyimide resin and a negative electrode active material on a current collector and then imidizing the polyimide precursor on the current collector by heat treatment to prepare a negative electrode, and Patent Document 9 describes a conductive agent for an electrode of a battery containing a reaction product of π-conjugated carbon material and a soluble polyimide as a main component. However, even the electrodes obtained by the methods of Patent Documents 8 and 9 were insufficient to satisfy properties demanded for an electrode for the above-described lithium secondary battery.

Binder resin for lithium secondary battery electrode, electrode for lithium secondary battery, and lithium secondary battery

Abstract: (In the formula, Z represents an aromatic or alicyclic tetracarboxylic dianhydride residue, and Ar is an aromatic diamine residue having a carboxyl group and an aromatic diamine residue having an aromatic ether bond, or an aromatic diamine residue having a phenylindan structure).


Embodiments of the disclosure provide methods and devices for establishing a photographing template database and providing photographing recommendation information. The method includes: acquiring a number of subject characters and/or gender information; sending a request for acquiring a photographing template to a server, the request carrying the number of subject characters and/or gender information, so that the server performs a matching operation on the number of subject characters and/or gender information and description information of each photographing templates in a template database to acquire a matched target photographing template, wherein the template database contains a plurality of photographing templates and corresponding description information, and the description information of the photographing templates and the photographing templates contain a corresponds to number of characters and/or gender information; and providing photographing recommendation information to a user, according to the matched target photographing template returned by the server.

With the development of terminal device technologies, various terminal devices with photographing functions (including digital cameras, mobile phones, tablet computers, and the like) are more and more popular, and people can take photos anytime and anywhere.
In order to make photos with better effects, some tools for beautifying photos are provided. The tools mainly modify the face form, skin and the like of a person in a photo, so that the person in the photo look more beautiful. However, the photographing effect also relates to the gesture of the captured person, the photographing angle, and the like. Upon taking a group photo, the positioning, gesture, and the like of each person also directly affect the photographing effect. For example, when some young people take a group photo together, creativity is very important to make the characters in the photo look energetic. However, in fact, people usually lack creativity when there is a need, and may only stand in one or several rows regularly and make simple usual gestures, making the photo look dull and lack of vitality.
Therefore, in the case of taking a group photo, how to further beautify the characters in the photo is a technical problem urgent to be solved.

Methods and devices for establishing photographing template database and providing photographing recommendation information


An inspection station that is used to inspect an integrated circuit which is contained within a carrier tape and covered with a cover tape. The inspection station may include a spindle that receives an input reel which contains a carrier tape and a plurality of integrated circuits. The carrier tape can be attached to an output reel that is rotated by a drive motor. Another drive motor moves the carrier tape beneath a microscope that is located between the input reel and the output reel. The microscope may be coupled to a camera and a monitor which displays the integrated circuit. The inspection station may also include a de-taper mechanism which removes the cover tape before the integrated circuit is moved beneath the microscope, and a taper mechanism that reapplies cover tape back onto the integrated circuit. Removing the cover tape provides an unobstructed view of the integrated circuit. Removing the cover tape also allows the operator to replace defective integrated circuits on the carrier tape.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inspection station that is used to visually inspect integrated circuits that are contained within a carrier tape and covered with a cover tape.
2. Background Information
Integrated circuits are typically cut from a wafer and then subsequently assembled into a package that is mounted to a printed circuit board. The integrated circuits (dice or packages) may be visually inspected to insure that each circuit meets certain manufacturing specifications. The integrated circuits are typically carried in a tray which has individual circuit compartments. The circuits can be inspected by placing the tray beneath a microscope. Each integrated circuit can be individually inspected by moving the tray to align a single die beneath the microscope. The microscope may be coupled to a camera and a monitor which displays a magnified image of the integrated circuits. A camera/monitor system is usually not used for trays because the eyepiece of the microscope remains stationary while the tray is positioned.
There has been developed another technique for transporting integrated circuits by placing the die onto a flexible carrier tape. The tape and integrated circuits are rolled onto a reel that can be easily shipped and stored. The assembly further includes a cover tape that secures the integrated circuits within the carrier tape. The cover tape is typically constructed from a semi-opaque material which prevents visual inspection of the integrated circuits. Any defective circuits must be rejected and replaced with a good circuit. While the tray's cover can be easily removed and replaced by hand, the carrier tape's cover tape must be removed and new tape applied by a mechanism. It would be desirable to provide an inspection station that would allow visual inspection of integrated circuits which are contained within a carrier tape.

Method and apparatus for in situ visual inspection of die products in tape and reel shipping medium


The voltage supply provides voltages to an electronic circuit requiring at least two different supply voltages. A plurality of standby supply voltages with different levels are obtained from the highest supply voltage with the aid of a voltage divider.

The present invention lies in the electronics field and in the semiconductor technology field. More specifically, the invention relates to voltage supply for an electronic circuit which supplies the electronic circuit during a standby mode with at least two supply voltages (VDD1, VDD2, . . . ) having different levels. Each of the supply voltages of the electronic circuit is supplied in the active operating mode via a respective active-voltage controller that is allocated to each level, respectively.
Many electronic circuits, for instance eDRAMs (embedded DRAMs), have two operating modes, namely a standby mode and an active mode. In the standby mode, the circuit is supplied with stable voltages such that the information stored therein is maintained. In the standby mode, the sum of the currents that are consumed by the circuit should be as small as possible.
By contrast, in the active mode, in which the electronic circuit is working and performing data processing operations, the sum of the currents supplied to the circuit is relatively large, while the voltages remain substantially the same.
It is well known that an eDRAM, as an example of such an electronic circuit, must be supplied with different voltage levels both in the standby mode and in the active mode; for instance, an amplified word line voltage with a voltage value of approx. 3.5 V (+/xe2x88x9210%) for a read/write operation, local and global supply voltages VBLH with voltage values of 1.8 V (+/xe2x88x9210%) for read amplifiers (S/A), a bias voltage VPL with total voltage values of VBLH/2 (i.e. 0.9 V) for reducing loads that are generated across the eDRAM cell by the electric field, a bit line equalization voltage VBLEQ with voltage values of VBLH/2 (i.e. approx. 0.9 V) which is applied prior to a read operation, and an eDRAM substrate bias voltage VBB with voltage values of approx. xe2x88x921 V for minimizing leakage currents and increasing the cell retention time. Depending on the type of eDRAM used, all these voltages are used, or only some of them, or additional voltages as well. In addition, there are even voltages over the voltage that is externally fed to the semiconductor chip in which the eDRAM is embedded, for which voltage pumps are needed, for instance in order to generate a voltage of 3.8 V from an externally applied voltage of 3.3 V.
In existing configurations, in order to satisfy the requirement of a low power consumption, separate controllers are used to generate the individual voltages in the active and standby modes. An example of this is illustrated in FIG. 3 in a schematic block diagram.
An eDRAM 2 is embedded in a silicon semiconductor chip. The eDRAM 2 is supplied with voltages by controller units 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and it is connected to a logic unit 3. The controller units 4 to 8 are supplied via pads 9, 10 (contact terminals) with an external supply voltage CE (via the pad 9) by a voltage source 11 that delivers a voltage of approx. 3.3 V. A reference potential T is connected via the pad 10. Additional pads 18 serve for the input/output of additional signals. From the external voltages, the controller units 4 to 8 generate the desired supply voltages with values of 2.5 V (controller unit 4), 0.9 V (controller unit 5), 0.9 V (controller unit 6), 1.8 V (controller unit 7), and 3.8 V (controller unit, i.e., pump 8). In order to be able to deliver the voltage with 3.8 V, the controller unit 8 must be realized as a voltage pump.
The construction of the controller units 4, 5 is represented, by way of example in FIG. 4: each of the controller units 4 and 5 comprises an active controller 12 and a standby controller 13, which are charged with the external high voltage CE and the external low voltage T as represented in the figure. In the active mode the controller 12 works with a relatively large current I1, while in the standby mode the controller 13 delivers the respective desired voltages VDD1 and VDD2 with a relatively low current I0 (I1 greater than  greater than I0). The voltages VDD1 and VDD2 have values of 2.5 V and 0.9 V, respectively, as represented in FIG. 3. The voltage VDD1 is therein generated from the external voltage CE, while the voltage VDD2 is generated from the low voltage T. Lastly, FIG. 5 shows the construction of such a controller 13 consisting of N and P channel MOS transistors, resistors, and a reference voltage source. This controller construction is of a conventional type and therefore requires no further explanation.
It is already clearly evident from FIGS. 3 and 4 that the outlay for the individual controller units 4 to 8 is substantial, since each controller unit comprises two controllers 12 and 13, which must be readied for active and standby modes. This requires a relatively large area on the semiconductor chip 1.
It must also be taken into account that the controllers for the standby mode, in particular, require an extremely precise design, since the current flowing in standby mode is largely determined by the closed-circuit current of the controller.
The object of the invention is to provide a voltage supply for an electronic circuit requiring at least two supply voltages with different levels, which overcomes the above-noted deficiencies and disadvantages of the prior art devices and methods of this kind, and which is of simple construction, occupies an optimally small area on a semiconductor chip, and has a very low natural-current consumption.
With the above and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a voltage supply configuration for an electronic circuit having an active mode and a standby mode, and requiring at least two supply voltages with mutually different levels. The supply voltages are supplied to the electronic circuit in the active operating mode via respective active-controllers each allocated a respective voltage level. There is further provided a standby voltage controller for a highest supply voltage; and a voltage divider connected in series with the standby voltage controller and configured to generate, during the standby mode of the electronic circuit, when the active-voltage controllers are switched off, the supply voltages from the highest supply voltage.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the voltage divider comprises a plurality of taps connected via switches to the active-voltage controllers, and the active-voltage controllers are configured to be switched off by a standby signal.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the voltage divider is connected between two transistors two transistors, the control electrodes of which are controlled via a standby signal and a phase-shifted standby signal.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the highest supply voltage is a word line voltage of the electronic circuit.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the standby voltage controller contains a pump circuit. In a preferred embodiment, the voltage divider is formed with a plurality of transistors.
By way of example, the electronic circuit is a DRAM embedded in a semiconductor body.
In other words, the configuration for supplying voltages during a standby mode to an electronic circuit having at least two supply voltages with different levels, in which the supply voltages of the electronic circuit are supplied in an active operating mode thereof via respective active-controllers respectively allocated to each voltage level, comprising a voltage splitter connected in series with a standby voltage controller for a highest supply voltage, wherein, during the standby mode when the active-voltage controllers are switched off, the voltage splitter generates the supply voltages from the highest supply voltage.
The taps of the voltage divider are connected via switches to the active-voltage controllers for the remaining supply voltages, which controllers can be switched off using a standby signal. The voltage divider itself is situated between two transistors, whose control electrodes can be controlled via a standby signal and a phase-shifted standby signal. The highest supply voltage is preferably the amplified word line voltage.
The invention thus differs from the prior art in essential aspects: instead of the configuration of separate voltage controllers for the individual standby supply voltages and active supply voltages, now only the active-controllers remain. The remaining supply voltages that are needed for the standby mode are acquired with the aid of a voltage divider from the standby controller with the highest supply voltage, which is preferably the amplified word line voltage. Thus, in standby mode only the standby controller for the highest supply voltage is on, while all remaining circuits are deactivated. In this way, the power consumption can be further reduced. But most importantly, substantially less space is needed on the semiconductor chip, since the otherwise standard voltage controllers for the standby mode are no longer needed and are replaced by a simple voltage divider.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a configuration for supplying voltages to an electronic circuit, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Standby voltage controller and voltage divider in a configuration for supplying voltages to an electronic circuit


A traction control system limits the spin of a vehicle driven wheel at a spin limit value that is a function of the vehicle turn rate and that is decreased as a function of the vehicle turn rate of change.

This invention relates to a vehicle traction control system.
When driving torque is applied to a wheel of a vehicle, a longitudinal driving force is generated between the driven wheel and the road surface that is dependent upon various parameters including the road surface conditions and the amount of spin between the driven wheel and the road surface. As the value of spin increases from zero, the longitudinal driving force increases to a peak value at a critical spin value. As spin is increased beyond this value, the longitudinal driving forces decrease. Therefore, at the critical spin value, the maximum possible vehicle acceleration results. If the vehicle operator initiated engine output results in the wheel spin exceeding the critical spin the vehicle acceleration decreases from the maximum possible acceleration for the road surface condition.
It is well known to sense this excessive spin condition and limit wheel spin in the proximity of the critical spin so as to maximize vehicle longitudinal acceleration. This is accomplished by limiting the driving torque delivered to the wheels such as by applying the vehicle brakes and/or limiting the engine output torque.
It is also known that the lateral force between the vehicle wheels and the road surface is at a maximum at zero wheel spin and decreases therefrom as spin increases from zero. The result is that maximum cornering or turning capability of a vehicle is maximum at zero wheel spin and decreases therefrom as spin increases.
Accordingly, limiting wheel spin at the value producing maximum vehicle acceleration necessarily results in a decrease in the lateral force between the wheel and the road surface. In order to maximize vehicle acceleration while traveling in a straight line and to assure vehicle stability while traveling through a curved path, it has been proposed to provide a traction controller that limits wheel acceleration spin at a value producing approximately the maximum longitudinal driving force while the vehicle is traveling over a straight path and provide for more aggressive control by limiting acceleration spin at a lower spin value when the vehicle is traveling over a curved path. It has also been suggested that the reduction in the spin limit be based upon the curvature of the path as represented by, for example, steering wheel angle.


A stamping device for a tablet making machine includes a pair of coaxial stamping heads (1) which enter, on opposing faces, a matrix carried by a matrix plate (2) formed around a rotary turret (3), a pair of punches (4) which are guided by respective holes made in the turret (3) and which are adapted to be coupled with the stamping heads (1) in axial alignment therewith, and a coupling (13) for joining the stamping head (1) and the respective punches (4). The device includes also a locking mechanism (6), which comprise a screw member (7) passing through a transverse hole (8) made close to the end of the respective punch (4). The screw member (7) has a head (9) having a concentric semi-spherical section (10) that matches a complementary recess connected to the outer surface of the respective punch (4).

Currently, tablet making machines are known in which material to be compressed in powder or granular form, is supplied to the inner room of each matrix of a matrix assembly that is fixed peripherally to a rotary turret.
Each die matrix is entered, on opposing faces, by a pair of stamping heads which are secured to respective punches.
The punches of each pair of stamping heads are guided by respective coaxial holes made along the periphery of the rotary turret.
The punches are activated axially by suitable driving means, including e.g. cam means, which control the position of the punches upon rotation of the turret for each working cycle.
In particular, the Italian Patent Application No. 3514A/90, owned by the Applicant, describes a machine of the type as mentioned, in which there are means for coupling the stamping heads with the respective punches, and means provided in the punches for locking the coupling means.
The stamping heads are secured to, or released from, the punches by tightening or releasing the locking means.
The above mentioned locking means include a screw member that passes through a transverse hole made in the respective punch and that engages wedging means made in form of a wedge that enters an indentation made in the stamping head.
The compressing device has achieved good results, and in particular allows for quick and easy change over of the heads, so that tablets with different sizes can be produced.
However, the rigid locking of the coupling means with respect to the punches may bring about damaging stress.
For example, the coupling means may be displaced while engaging the stamping heads, and the displacement would also concern the locking means.

I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.

by Paola Fabbri Rovatti, Francesco Fabbri, Gabriele Fabbri and Giulia Fabbri, legal representatives


A split gate flash memory cell device with a line-shaped charge trapping dielectric structure is provided. A semiconductor substrate includes a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region. A select gate and a memory gate are spaced over the semiconductor substrate between the first and second source/drain regions. A line-shaped charge trapping dielectric structure is arranged between the semiconductor substrate and the memory gate. A method for manufacturing the split gate flash memory cell device is also provided.

Flash memory is an electronic non-volatile computer storage medium that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed. It is used in a wide variety of commercial and military electronic devices and equipment. To store information, flash memory includes an addressable array of memory cell devices. Common types of flash memory cell devices include stacked gate memory cell devices and split gate memory cell devices. Split gate flash memory cell devices have several advantages over stacked gate memory cell devices, such as lower power consumption, higher injection efficiency, less susceptibility to short channel effects, and over erase immunity.

Memory gate first approach to forming a split gate flash memory cell device

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


In one aspect, a ram air turbine stall recovery system includes a ram air turbine, a hydraulic pump powered by the ram air turbine with the hydraulic pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet, an electric generator powered by the ram air turbine, a bypass line that connects the pump outlet to the pump inlet, a bypass valve located on the bypass line between the pump outlet and the pump inlet; and a controller responsive to an input signal that indicates a potential stall condition of the ram air turbine. The controller causes the bypass valve to open to allow a hydraulic fluid to flow through the bypass line in order to reduce a pressure within the hydraulic pump.

The disclosure relates to emergency supplemental power supplies for aeronautical applications, and more particularly to a ram air turbine for generating emergency supplemental power for aircraft in flight.
A Ram Air Turbine (RAT) is a device for generating emergency supplemental power in a wide variety of aircraft. A RAT may generate hydraulic power, electric power, or both. A RAT incorporates a turbine that extracts power from an air stream proximate to the aircraft in flight. The turbine is coupled to suitable power generating equipment, such as a hydraulic pump for hydraulic power and an electric generator for electric power.
The placement of a RAT on some aircraft is such that the aircraft landing gear deployment causes the landing gear to pass in front of the RAT, thereby blocking incoming airflow to the RAT. For RATs that drive a hydraulic pump, the reduction in airflow may cause the RAT to stall. When the RAT stalls, it may continue to rotate at a low speed, typically approximately 800 rpm, such that equilibrium exists between the turbine torque and the load torque.
Once the stall occurs, the RAT may not start back up, even when the landing gear completes its deployment and it no longer blocks the airflow to the RAT.

Stall recovery system for a ram air turbine


A method of visualizing a sample in a wet environment including introducing a sample into a specimen enclosure in a wet environment and scanning the sample in the specimen enclosure in a scanning electron microscope, thereby visualizing the sample.

The following documents are believed to represent the current state of the art, and the disclosures of each are incorporated by reference:    1. Tucker, J. A. (2000) The continuing value of electron microscopy in surgical pathology. Ultrastructural Pathology 24:383–9    2. Mathews, R. A. and Donald, A. M. (2002) Conditions for imaging emulsions in the environmental scanning electron microscope. Scanning 24:75–85.    3. Mittler, M. A., Walters, B. C. and Stopa, E. G. (1996) Observer reliability in histological grading of astrocytoma stereotactic biopsies. J. Neurosurg 85:1091–4.    4. Levit-Binnun, N., Lindner A. B., Zik O., Eshhar Z. and Moses, E. (2003) Quantitative detection of protein arrays. Anal Chem. 75:1436–41.    5. Becker, R. P. and Sogard, M. (1979) Visualization of subsurface structures in cells and tissues by backscattered electron imaging. Scan. Electron. Microsc. 1979 (II): 835–70.    6. Sedar, A. W., Silver, M. J. and Ingerman-Wolenski, C. M. (1983) Backscattered electron imaging to visualize arterial endothelial detachment in the scanning electron microscope. Scan. Electron. Microsc. 1983 (II): 969–74.    7. Burns, W. A., Zimmerman, H. J., Hammond, J., Howatson, A. Katz, A and White, J. (1975) The clinician's view of diagnostic electron microscopy. Hum. Pathol. 6:467–78.    8. Gyorkey, F., Min, K. W., Krisko, I. And Gyorkey, P. (1975) The usefulness of electron microscopy in the diagnosis of human tumors. Hum. Pathol. 6:421–41.    9. Hayat, M. A. (2000) Principles and Techniques of Electron Microscopy-Biological Applications (Fourth edition; Cambridge University Press)    10. Hermann, R., Walther, P. and Müller, M. (1996) Immunogold-labeling in SEM. Histochem. Cell. Biol. 106:31–39.    11. Spargo, B. H. (1975) Practical use of electron microscopy for the diagnosis of glomerular disease. Hum. Pathol. 6:405–20.    12. Gu, X. and Herrera, G. A. (2002) The value of electron microscopy in the diagnosis of IgA nephropathy. Ultrastruct Pathol. 26:203–10    13. Fisher, C, Ramsay, A D, Griffiths, M and McDougall, J. (1985) An assessment of the value of electron microscopy in tumor diagnosis. J. Clin Pathol. 38:403–8    14. Brocker, W, Pfefferkorn G. (1975) Applications of the cathodoluminescence method in biology and medicine. Scan. Electron. Microsc. 1979;(II): 125–32    15. Carlen, B. and Englund, E. (2001) Diagnostic value of electron microscopy in a case of juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Ultrastruct. Pathol. 25:285–8    16. Hollinshead M, Sanderson J. & Vaux D. J. (1997). Anti-biotin antibodies offer superior organelle-specific labeling of mitochondria over avidin or streptavidin. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 45:1053–7    17. Kristiansen, E. and Madsen, C. (1995) Induction of protein droplet (alpha-2 microglobulin) nephropathy in male rats after short-term dosage with 1,8-cineole and 1-limonene. Toxicol. Letters 80:147–52.    18. Goldstein, J. I., Newbury, D. E., Echlin, P., and Joy, D. (1992). Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray microanalysis: a text for biologists, matrials scientists, and geologists. Plenum Press, 1992.    19. Schlessinger, J. (2002) Ligand-induced, receptor-mediated dimerization and activation of EGF receptor. Cell 110:669–72.
U.S. patents documents:
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,218,459; 3,378,684; 4,037,109; 4,071,766; 4,115,689; 4,448,311; 4,587,666; 4,596,928; 4,618,938; 4,705,949; 4,720,622; 4,720,633; 4,880,976; 4,929,041; 4,992,662; 5,103,102; 5,250,808; 5,323,441; 5,326,971; 5,362,964; 5,406,087; 5,412,211; 5,811,803; 5,898,261; 5,945,672; 6,025,592; 6,072,178; 6,114,695; 6,130,434; 6,365,898 and 6,452,177.
Published PCT application WO02/14830-PCT/IL01/00764.
Microscopic examination of biological cells and tissues is a central tool in clinical diagnosis as well as in diverse areas of research in the life sciences. Light microscopy (LM) is performed with thin (several micron) samples, which may include cells, acellular material, or thin layers or sections of tissue, which may be stained with contrast agents such as chemicals or antibodies. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) usually requires specially prepared ultrathin sections (0.1 micron or less), and reveals a wealth of subcellular information. Each of the aforementioned techniques has limitations: the resolution of light microscopy is limited by diffraction to approximately 0.25 microns and the use of TEM is encumbered by extensive processing of the sample, which may alter its structure significantly. Preparation of samples for standard TEM also requires specific skills and takes at least a few days to achieve. The very thin slices present a very limited, and often arbitrary, portion of the sample, necessitating the imaging of multiple serial sections.
High resolution images can also be achieved by scanning election microscopy (SEM), in which a focused electron beam scans the sample sequentially, and ensuing signals are used to generate an image. Most often, secondary electrons are detected, yielding information on the surface topography of the sample. Detection of backscattered electrons yields information on material distribution of a region of the sample lying a short distance below the surface, typically up to a few microns. SEM is a reflective mode of imaging, in the sense that electrons do not need to traverse the sample to yield an image. Therefore, samples can be of any thickness, and do not need to be sectioned. However, samples must be placed in a vacuum environment to allow unimpeded motion of the scanning electron beam; therefore, the sample has to be extensively dehydrated and dried. Furthermore, when dried, biological and other organic samples become electrically insulating, leading to artifacts due to charging of the samples by the electron beam. Consequently, samples are usually coated with a conductive layer of carbon or metal.
One approach to observing biological or other wet samples without extensive drying has been the development of environmental SEM and similar techniques. These methods are based on differential pumping and multiple apertures, allowing a localized pressure close to the vapor pressure of water in the close vicinity of the sample, while maintaining a high vacuum through most of the path of the scanning electron beam. In these methods the sample is exposed to a partial vacuum, and maintenance of the hydrated state requires both a low temperature and complicated, manual maintenance of the right pressure. Indeed, the paucity of published reports of biological research using this technique attests to the difficulty in obtaining consistent results of a high standard
High resolution imaging has wide-spread applications in biology, including imaging of cells, tissues, microbes, and viruses, as well as a cellular samples such as biological, environmental or industrial fluids, emulsions and suspensions.
A recent review discusses the use of electron microscopy in clinical diagnosis (Tucker J. A., 2000). It is found that in a small but significant proportion of cases (3–8%) proper diagnosis can only be made based on electron microscopy, this is particularly pronounced in oncology and in selected areas such as kidney diseases (Tucker 2000). These numbers are probably an underestimate, since the use of electron microscopy is not primarily limited by lack of utility, but by considerations of cost, the time needed to produce results, and the low throughput. Thus, there is a significant need for an imaging system for biological tissues and cells that achieves electron microscopic resolution with sample preparation procedures comparable with those of light microscopy.

Methods for SEM inspection of fluid containing samples


A digital light-processing projection apparatus includes a light source, a beam splitter module and an optical combiner module. The beam splitter module is used in conjunction with an optical combiner module that includes combiners and a plurality of prisms. The beam splitter module comprises a beam splitter element for splitting the beam into a plurality of color lights that pass through the respective prisms separately. The polarization direction of each color light when separated in the beam splitter module is equal to the polarization direction of each respective color light when colour combination in the combiner module.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital light-processing projection apparatus and a beam splitter module used in conjunction with the projection apparatus, and especially relates to the design of the digital light-processing projection apparatus and a beam splitter element of the beam splitter module.
2. Descriptions of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a digital light-processing projection apparatus disclosed in ROC (Taiwan) Patent Application No. 093101928, which was filed by the assignee of the subject application on 29 Jan. 2004. The digital light-processing projection apparatus comprises an optical combiner module 200, a light source 300, a beam splitter module 400, a plurality of Digital Micro-mirror Devices (DMDs) 500R, 500G, 500B, and a projection lens 600.
A light beam W is emitted from the light source 300, passes through a rod integrator 310 and enters the beam splitter module 400, which in turn, splits the light beam W into three primary colour lights R, G, B. Dichroic mirrors 402, 404 split colour lights R, G and colour light B, respectively. Colour lights R, G, B then enter the optical combiner module 200 by respective condenser lenses 406, 408, 410 and reflection mirrors 412, 414, 416, 418, 420 and 422. Colour light B is reflected onto incident plane 242a, while colour light G is reflected onto incident plane 232a. Colour light R, G, B are reflected onto the respective DMDs 500R, 500G, 500B by respective air gaps in Total Internal Reflection (TIR) prisms 220a, 230a, 240a, from which they are subsequently reflected and pass through the respective TIR prisms 220a, 230a, 240a. The projection lens 600 is disposed in the light paths of the respective colour lights R, G, B after the optical combiner module 200. Back focal length 550 is the back focal length of the digital light-processing projection apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 2A, which illustrates a spectrum curve diagram of the colour light R in the beam splitter module 400. Curve S1 represents the spectrum of S-polarized light when the incident angle of colour light R is 45 degrees. Curve P1 represents the spectrum of P-polarized light when the incident angle of colour light R is 45 degrees. Curve S2 represents the spectrum of S-polarized light when the incident angle of colour light R is 52 degrees. Curve P2 represents the spectrum of P-polarized light when the incident angle of colour light R is 52 degrees.
Referring to FIG. 2B, which illustrates a spectrum curve diagram of the colour light R in the optical combiner module 200. Curve S3 represents the spectrum of S-polarized light when the incident angle of colour light R is 45 degrees. Curve P3 represents the spectrum of P-polarized light when the incident angle of colour light R is 45 degrees. Curve S4 represents the spectrum of S-polarized light when the incident angle of colour light R is 52 degrees. Curve P4 represents the spectrum of P-polarized light when the incident angle of colour light R is 52 degrees.
Now referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, as shown in curves S1, P1, S3 and P3, when the wave length of S-polarized light of colour light R is greater than 570 nm, the S-polarized light of colour light R starts to reflect, while the P-polarized light of colour light R does not reflect until the wave length thereof is greater than 600 nm and the rate of reflection is close to 100%. In other words, the S-polarized light is more suitable for reflection regardless of light splitting or combining.
After two reflections of fold mirrors, the S-polarized light of red light is converted to the P-polarized light. As for curve S1, when the S-polarized light of colour light R in the beam splitter module 400 enters the optical combiner module 200, the curve spectrum becomes curve P3.
Given above, when the wave length of the S-polarized light of colour light R in the beam splitter module 400 is between 570 nm and 600 nm, the light will be transmitted in the optical combiner module 200, which in turn, results in light loss. The same also applies to colour lights B and G. If light loss occurs, the intensity of images by the projection lens is reduced, which in turn, affects the quality and effects of projected images.

Digital light-processing projection apparatus and beam splitter module thereof


The invention relates to optical instrment engineering. It is suggested that a linear solid state detector (photodiode array detector, charge coupled device, charge transfer device) that is positioned along the image of entrance slit of the monochrometer be used in an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. This will improve the analytical performance of an atomic absorption spectrophotometer--lower the detection limits, extend the range of concentrations to be measured, increase the reproducibility of measurements by taking into account the temporal and spatial non-uniformities of the analyte distribution over the atomizer volume and will simultaneously provide atomizer walls and of the platform temperatures.

At present, Atomic Absorption Spectrometry with electrothermal atomization is one of the most developed methods of determination of trace quantities of more than 60 elements in a variety of substances and materials. High sensitivity, selectivity and precision are characteristic of the method. An inherent feature of this method of analysis is non-stationarity of the analytical signal. All modern spectrophotometers record it with high temporal resolution; however, the signal recorded by a photomultiplier tube (PMT) at the instrument output is essentially an integrated characteristic of analytical volume as a whole and lacks spatial resolution. In the case of a uniform distribution of analyte atoms in the atomizer volume this causes no problems. However, as the imaging of analytical volume has shown, the atoms and molecules of the element to be determined may be distributed within the electrothermal atomizer extremely non-uniformly (1)A. Kh. Gilmutdinov, Yu. A. Zakharov, V. P. Ivanov and A. V. Voloshin. Shadow Spectral Filming: A method of investigating Electrothermal Atomization. Part 1. Dynamics of Formation and Structure of the Absorption Layer of Thallium, Indium, Gallium and Alluminium Atoms. // Journ. Anal. Atom. Spectrometry, 1991, v. 6, p.505-519, (2) A. Kh. Gilmutdinov, Yu. A. Zakharov, V. P. Ivanov, A. V. Voloshin and K. Dittrich. Shadow Spectral Filming: A method of investigating Electrothermal Atomization. Part 2 Dynamics of Formation and Structure of the Absorption Layer of Tallium, Indium, Gallium and Alluminium Molecules. // Journ. Anal. Atom. Spectrometry, 1992, v. 6, p. 675-683.!. On the other hand, theoretical analysis (3) A. Kh. Gilmutdinov, T. M. Abdullina, S. F. Gorbachev and V. L. Makarov. Formation of Analytical Signal in Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Influence of temperature and concentration gradients. // Zhurn. Analit. Khimii, 1991, v. 46, p. 1480-1492.! shows that the analytical signal recorded at the spectrophotometer output depends not only on the number of absorbing atoms, but also on their distribution over the atomizer cross-section. This leads to two limitations in the existing detection systems. First, the relation between the absorbance recorded at the spectrophotometer output and the number of absorbing atoms proves to be ambiguous. Second, analytical curves appear to be largely curved in the region of high absorbances 3!.
Thus, the use in an AA spectrophotometers of a detection system having no spatial resolution leads to narrowing of the range of concentrations to be measured due to curvature of analytical curves and to the increase of measurement error due to the ignored influence of absorption layers inhomogeneity. Therefore, to obtain a correct analytical signal, it is necessary to have a detection system ensuring not only sufficient temporal but also spatial resolution.
There exist a detection system of a AA spectrophotometer with a linear photodiode array detector (4) Gary P. Moulton, Thomas C. O'Haver, James M. Harnly Continuum Source Atomic Absorption Spectrometry with a Pulsed Source a Photodiode Array Detector. // Journ. Anal. Atom. Spectrometry, 1989, v. 4, p. 673-674.!. In such a system the photodiode detector is positioned along the spectral instrument dispersion and besides the resonance line also records the radiation of adjacent lines.
However, such an arrangement of the photodiode array detector offers no possibility to use it for spatially resolved recording of the analytical signal. Therefore, such spectrophotometers have no spatial resolution and suffer from the drawbacks similar to the above shortcomings inherent in detection systems based on the use of photomultiplier tubes.


Disclosed are techniques and apparatuses for implementing device-based application security. These techniques enable a computing device to assign a security level from a hierarchy of security levels to an application. Once the security level is assigned to the application, authentication techniques associated with the security level can be initiated in response to a request to launch the application. When an indication is received that the security level for the application has been satisfied, the application can then be launched, availing a user of the application's full functionality.

Conventional techniques that address application security on mobile devices are often binary—either the mobile device is locked, in which case a user can access a very limited subset of applications, or the mobile device is unlocked, in which case the user has full access to the applications on the mobile device. The subset of applications that are accessible when a mobile device is locked may include just those applications that have been declared to run above the lock screen (e.g., camera, touchless control, lock-screen widgets, and so on). However, mobile-device users may find this approach to be inconvenient in some instances and insufficient in others. Consequently, conventional techniques for application security can be unsatisfactory to mobile-device users.


A collet portion including a cup-shaped collet is fixed to an upper end of a vertically movable body vertically movable relative to a connecting portion to which upper ends of the legs of a tripod assembly are pivotally coupled. The collet is flexible and is formed with plural slits extending radially. The collet receives a semispherical bowl leveler as making contact with a semispherical surface of the bowl leveler at a cup-shaped inside surface thereof. The bowl leveler is combined with the collet portion by means of a bolt and is free to tilt back/forth and sideways as guided by the collet. An upper end portion of the vertically movable body is provided with a collar at place outside the collet, the collar vertically movable relative to the vertically movable body. The collar includes an abutment portion on an inside surface thereof, the abutment portion capable of being abutted against an outside surface of the collet.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tripod assembly used for leveling of an imaging apparatus such as video cameras.
II. Background Art
In order to ensure stable panning and tilting of the imaging apparatus such as a video camera, it has been the general practice to use a level vial for adjusting the lengths of the legs of the tripod and performing the leveling of the imaging apparatus. Fine adjustment of the leg lengths is necessary for achieving an exact leveling of the imaging apparatus. In a case where a certain degree of leveling of the imaging apparatus is accomplished, it is cumbersome to adjust the lengths of the legs of the tripod each time a place to take picture is changed. In this connection, there is known a support such as disclosed in Published Japanese Translation of PCT Patent Application No. 2005-521844.
The support set forth in the above document is adapted to fix the imaging apparatus in a horizontal position independently of positioning of the tripod. The support comprises a pole/socket joint including a pole and a socket and disposed at an upper end portion of a pillar extending vertically. A tie rod for fixing the pole to the socket extends through the pillar and is operable by way of a knob disposed at a lower end portion of the pillar.
The above support is mounted on a base in a manner to be vertically movable relative to the base to which the upper ends of the legs of the tripod are pivotally coupled. The imaging apparatus is mounted on the pole via a fixing plate, a platform or the like, the pole being tilted relative to the socket so as to set the imaging apparatus in a horizontal position. Subsequently, the knob is manipulated to operate the tie rod for fixing the pole in position. Thus, the leveling of the imaging apparatus is accomplished. That is, the above support permits the leveling of the imaging apparatus to be performed independently of positioning of the tripod.
However, the knob for operating the tie rod is disposed at the lower end portion of the pillar, whereas the imaging apparatus is mounted to the pole disposed at the upper end portion of the pillar. Hence, an operation position to perform the operation of tilting the pole relative to the socket for setting the imaging apparatus to the horizontal position is at a different height from that of a position to perform the pole fixing operation. Further, the knob is located at a place downward from the base of the tripod. This forces a user performing the leveling operation to take improper postures. Accordingly, the leveling operation of the imaging apparatus is not always easy. In some cases, the user manipulating the knob may encounter an inadvertent pivotal motion of the pole caused by the weight or the like of the imaging apparatus set to the horizontal position. This leads to a problem that it takes much time and effort to achieve the exact leveling of the apparatus.
Furthermore, the tie rod and also a second pole/socket joint disposed at an upper end of the tie rod, in practice, are necessary for fixing the pole to the socket. Hence, all the supports may not have a simple structure, which reflects cost.
In view of the foregoing problems, the invention seeks to provide a low-cost tripod assembly facilitating the leveling operation of the imaging apparatus such as a video camera and having a simplified structure.


A take-off control apparatus and method is provided for a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission having an apply element that is applied when the vehicle takes off from a standstill, which executes a neutral control that releases the apply element when the automatic transmission is in a forward-drive range and the vehicle is stopped with a predetermined condition being satisfied, and executes a neutral cancellation control that cancels the neutral control when a different predetermined condition is satisfied. A braking state of the vehicle is detected, and completion of cancellation of the neutral control is determined based on the detected braking state.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a take-off control apparatus and method for a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission. More particularly, the invention relates to a take-off control apparatus and method for a vehicle, which executes a neutral control.
2. Description of the Related Art
An automatic transmission mounted in a vehicle is connected to an engine via a fluid coupling such as a torque converter provided in the automatic transmission, and includes a gear change mechanism that provides a plurality of power transmission paths. This automatic transmission is structured so as to automatically switch the power transmission path, i.e., the gear ratio (drive speed), based on the accelerator opening amount and the vehicle speed, for example. A vehicle having an automatic transmission is typically provided with a shift lever which is operated by a driver into any one of various shift positions (such as REVERSE, NEUTRAL, DRIVE). Automatic shift control is performed when the shift lever is in one of these shift positions (usually in a drive position or forward-drive range).
When a vehicle having this type of automatic transmission is stopped with the shift lever in a position corresponding to a forward-drive range, such as DRIVE, driving force from the idling engine is transmitted to the transmission via the torque converter and then to the wheels, resulting in a phenomenon known as "creeping." Creeping is extremely useful under certain conditions. For example, it facilitates smooth take-off of a vehicle when starting from a standstill on an incline. When the driver wants a vehicle that is stationary on a flat road to remain in one spot, however, creeping is unnecessary and must be suppressed by operating the brake. That is, the brake is used to suppress the creeping force from the engine, and the fuel efficiency of the engine decreases by a corresponding amount.
To improve fuel efficiency, therefore, it has been proposed to put a transmission that is in the forward-drive range into a neutral state, including a semi-neutral state, that resembles NEUTRAL, while still in the forward-drive range and the vehicle is being held stationary by the brake pedal being depressed so as to operate the brake and the accelerator being almost completely closed.
Many of these kinds of so-called neutral control technologies and technologies for controlling a brake of a vehicle during the transition from a stationary state to a take-off state are known.
JP(A) 10-196782 discloses a creep prevention device with hill hold for an automatic transmission, which cancels a creep prevention control (i.e., neutral control) and hill hold control at an appropriate timing and in such a manner that shock is reduced. This creep prevention device is used with an automatic transmission that inputs rotation of an engine via a fluid power transmitting device and changes the rate and/or direction of that rotation as appropriate according to a speed selected by selectively hydraulically operating a plurality of friction apply elements, before outputting it. In order to reduce the transmission of creep torque generated by the fluid power transmitting device while a stopped vehicle is maintained in a braked state, the creep prevention device places a friction apply element, from among the plurality of friction apply elements, which is applied for take-off when the vehicle is stopped, in a slip state by reducing the hydraulic fluid pressure of that friction apply element. The creep prevention device also hydraulically operates a friction apply element, from among the plurality of friction apply elements, capable of holding a vehicle on a hill. The application of this friction apply element prevents the output shaft of the transmission from rotating when creep prevention control is being executed. This creep prevention device is structured so as to increase the hydraulic fluid pressure of the friction apply element for take-off at a predetermined gradient when the creep prevention control is to be cancelled by a brake of the vehicle being released from an applied state. The predetermined gradient is set such that the period of time necessary for reapplying the friction apply element (i.e., the time that it takes for the friction apply element to be completely applied from a slip state) is maintained at an appropriate period of time.
The creep prevention device disclosed in JP(A) 10-196782 places the friction apply element in a slip state by reducing the hydraulic fluid pressure of the friction apply element, from among the plurality of friction apply elements, which is applied for take-off when the vehicle is stopped, when reducing the transmission of creep torque generated by the fluid power transmitting device while the vehicle is stopped with the brake applied. At the same time, the creep prevention device also has a hill hold function which prevents the vehicle from moving while in the creep prevention state on a hill. This function is achieved by the device hydraulically operating a friction apply element, from among the plurality of friction apply elements, capable of holding a vehicle on a hill, which prevents the output shaft of the transmission from rotating. When the creep prevention control is to be cancelled by a brake of the vehicle being released from an applied state, the hydraulic fluid pressure of the friction apply element for take-off is increased at a predetermined gradient. The predetermined gradient is set such that the period of time necessary for reapplying the friction apply element (i.e., the time that it takes for the friction apply element to be completely applied from a slip state) is maintained at an appropriate period of time. As a result, even if there is dispersion in the coefficient of friction of the friction apply element for take-off or if that coefficient of friction changes over time, the period of time required for reapplying that friction apply element (i.e., the time that it takes for the friction apply element to be completely applied from a slip state) is able to be reliably maintained at an appropriate period of time. Accordingly, the possibility of a large shock being generated due to the friction apply element for take-off being reapplied too quickly is able to be eliminated. At the same time, it is also possible to avoid a delay in the completion of reapplication of the friction apply element for take-off and the release of the friction apply element capable of holding a vehicle on a hill before that reapplication is complete, which would result in the shock generated by the reapplication of the friction apply element for take-off being transmitted directly to the wheels, or in the hill hold function being unable to be replaced by the use of creep torque.
When the neutral control is cancelled using the creep prevention device disclosed in JP(A) 10-196782, application of the friction apply element for take-off (i.e., cancellation of the neutral control) can be reliably completed after the appropriate period of time has passed. However, because the appropriate period of time corresponds to dispersion in the coefficient of friction of the friction apply element for take-off and the like, this is nothing more than determining completion of cancellation of the neutral control (i.e., reapplication of the friction apply element for take-off) based on the engine speed and the temperature of the hydraulic fluid of the automatic transmission. That is, the technology disclosed in the foregoing publication does not determine the completion timing of the cancellation of the neutral control taking into account any factors indicative of the state of the vehicle other than those mentioned above (i.e., the engine speed and the temperature of the hydraulic fluid in the automatic transmission).

Vehicle take-off control apparatus and method