A method for selecting the language for a character sequence fed into a data processing device, wherein decision trees are trained for different characters on the basis of lexicons of predetermined languages. The decision trees describe language probabilities on the basis of characters in the environments of the characters. The decision trees for at least some of the characters of the character sequence fed into the data processing device are traversed, thus obtaining a probability of at least one language for each character. The language for the character sequence is selected on the basis of the probabilities obtained.

The invention relates to determining the language for a character sequence fed into a data processing device.
Various speech recognition applications have been developed in recent years e.g. for vehicle interfaces and mobile stations. Methods are known for mobile stations for calling a desired person by uttering the name of the person into the microphone of a mobile station and establishing a call to the number according to the name uttered by the user. The current methods, however, require the pronunciation of each name to be taught to a telephone or a system in the network. Speaker-independent speech recognition improves the usability of a speech-controlled interface since this training stage is omitted. In e.g. a speaker-independent name selection, the system carries out a text-to-phoneme conversion on the names in a telephone book and compares the name uttered by the user to a determined phoneme sequence. The problem with this method is that the language used by the user in connection with each name is not known. The phoneme sequence produced from the name can thus be erroneous, which means that the identification accuracy is considerably impaired. It is possible for the user to determine the language of the name while entering the name, but as far as usability is concerned this is not a good solution.
Publications U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,143 and EP 1 014276 describe language identification. They disclose methods of identifying a language from a body of text by using "N-grams" (N-letter combinations) or on the basis of occurrence probabilities of short words. In publication U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,143, for example, the most common trigrams (three-letter sequences, such as "abc") are estimated in each target language from a training text database. In the decoding stage, a language is assigned to a text block if a certain percentage of the trigrams separated from the text is found in a trigram table. The language for which the percentage of matches is greatest is chosen. It is also possible to use common short words, such as determinants, conjunctions and prepositions in each language.
The problem with the prior art solutions is that the N-grams are not very suitable for determining the language of short words, such as names. N-grams require a lot of storage capacity, although different solutions for decreasing the amount of necessary storage capacity do exist. If name recognition is to be carried out in a mobile station, common words (determinants, conjunctions and prepositions) are not available either. Compared with other words, proper names typically follow the common regularities of a language more loosely, which further impairs the operation of the N-gram based methods.

Determining language for character sequence


The invention relates to a dispenser having a cartridge holder.

The invention relates to a dispenser having a cartridge holder.
Such systems are known in principle from the prior art, for example from EP 2 017 221 A1 and WO 96/36556 A1, and are used to produce beverages from pre-portioned cartridges. The production of beverages with such systems is extremely convenient for the user since he merely has to insert a cartridge into the dispenser and initiate a starting process. The dispenser, also known as a beverage preparation machine, then undertakes the production of the beverage in a fully automated manner, i.e., in particular, the foodstuff substrate or beverage substrate is blended with a predetermined quantity of liquid, in particular cold and carbonated water, and conveyed into a drinking vessel. In this way, in particular mixed drinks can be produced much more easily, quickly and with less effort for the user. The user can choose from a large number of different cartridges here, and so he can produce different beverages as desired.
The dispenser mentioned at the beginning is thus known from the prior art and is used to produce for example cold beverages by means of cartridges. It is important for the cartridge to be held securely in the dispenser such that no leaks, but also no back-contamination, takes place.


An interrupt control circuit includes: a section that generates an interrupt signal for requesting an interrupt in response to occurrence of a plurality of interrupt causes; a section that generates an interrupt vector signal for indicating a storing destination of an interrupt processing program corresponding any of the plurality of interrupt causes; a section that outputs the interrupt signal and the interrupt vector signal to an interrupt process executing circuit; and a section that controls the interrupt signal and an output value of the interrupt vector signal in sync with an interrupt acceptance signal input from the interrupt process executing circuit, the interrupt acceptance signal representing a condition in which an interrupt process is acceptable.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an interrupt control circuit, a circuit board, an electro-optic device, and an electronic apparatus.
2. Related Art
There is disclosed an example of an interrupt control circuit for performing interrupt control to a central processing unit (CPU) in, for example, Illustrated Introduction to Z80 Microcomputer Application System for Hardware, Second Edition, pp. 186. This interrupt control circuit is composed of an OR circuit for outputting an interrupt signal, which is a logical OR signal of a plurality of interrupt cause signals input from the outside, to the CPU, and an interrupt vector generating circuit for outputting, to the CPU, an interrupt vector signal corresponding to the interrupt cause signal. For example, in the case in which the CPU is provided to a personal computer; the interrupt cause signals are output from a mouse, a keyboard, and so on. It should be noted that the interrupt vector signal denotes a signal indicating an address on the memory where an interrupt processing program to be executed by the CPU correspondingly to the interrupt cause signal is stored.
When at least one of the plurality of interrupt cause signals are controlled to be in a high level, the OR circuit outputs the interrupt signal of a high level to the CPU. An interrupt vector generating circuit outputs the interrupt vector signal corresponding to the interrupt cause signal controlled to be in a high level to the CPU. Here, when two or more of the interrupt cause signals are controlled to be in a high level, the interrupt vector generating circuit outputs, to the CPU, the interrupt vector signal corresponding to the interrupt cause signal with a higher priority along an order of priority determined previously. When the interrupt signal of a high level is input in the CPU, in other words, the CPU recognizes occurrence of the interrupt request, the CPU executes the interrupt processing program stored in the address on the memory indicated by the interrupt vector signal, thus performing the interrupt processing.
The interrupt control circuit and the CPU are synchronous circuits operating with a common clock signal, in which the interrupt control circuit outputs the interrupt signal in sync with the clock signal, and the CPU monitors the state of the interrupt signal input from the interrupt control circuit with a predetermined timing specified with the clock signal, and performs the interrupt processing if the CPU recognizes the state of the interrupt signal as a high level with that timing.
As described above, in the case with the synchronous circuit in the related art, since the monitoring process of the interrupt signal is required, the power consumption of the CPU increases, and further, since all of the operation timings are specified with the clock signal, the operation speed is low. On the other hand, in recent years, an asynchronous circuit without requiring a common clock signal draws attention as a measure for realizing a high speed and low power consumption electronic circuit. However, as described above, since the interrupt control circuit in the related art requires the clock signal common to the CPU, it is difficult to perform the interrupt control to an asynchronous type of CPU. Therefore, the asynchronous CPU can hardly be used, thus it is difficult to realize a high speed and low power consumption interrupt control circuit.

Interrupt control circuit, circuit board, electro-optic device, and electronic apparatus


One example method of operation may include receiving a call message intended for a call recipient, removing one or more portions of call message data included in the call message, identifying one or more of a trunk group and an entry point associated with the received call message, adding one or more of a trunk group identifier (TGRP) and a universally unique identifier (UUID) to the call message to create a modified call message, and forwarding the modified call message to a destination network associated with the call recipient.

Conventionally, mobile device users receive calls from undesired sources all the time, every day and sometimes every hour depending on the particular day. The source numbers which are used to dial the users may be local numbers, long-distance numbers, anonymous numbers, etc. The calls may be spam calls, scam calls, robocalls, etc. With recent updates to smartphones and the call screen user interfaces used during a call, the sources of the calls are generally displayed in some capacity to permit the user to identify whether to answer the phone call or not. However, there are generally limited tools available to demonstrate that the call is likely to be a scam or spam caller, especially in real-time, so a caller can quickly decide whether to answer the call, drop the call, block the call, etc.
Additionally, network topology information may be hidden via obfuscation and/or information stripping conducted by an intermediate network which limits the capability of the network under protection (network being monitored) to identify the accurate call routing information. Such call routing information, such as call origination and call routing path information may be necessary to identify whether the call routing information is from a source of scam calls.

Call screening service for inbound communications


A novel hinge assembly for eyeglasses is provided wherein a first structural member for the hinge structure is formed in a first molding step and a second structural member of the hinge structure is formed directly over a portion of the first structural member in a second molding step. The present invention utilizes in-mold-assembly techniques to reduce the assembly steps required to form such a hinge assembly while further resulting in a hinge assembly that has increased adjustability and utility. Specifically, the overmolded components form a ball and socket type joint allowing a large degree of lateral rotation in one direction and a limited amount of freedom in a second direction. This hinge allows the temple portion of the eyeglasses to be folded against the brow bar and the inclination angle between the temples and the brow bar to be adjusted.

The present invention relates generally to eyewear assemblies and methods of manufacturing eyewear assemblies. More specifically, the present invention relates to safety eyewear assemblies that are manufactured utilizing multi-shot molding techniques to achieve unique manufacturing and assembly advantages.
In the prior art, there are a large variety of different types of protective eyeglasses that are available for protecting a user's eyes when engaging in hazardous activities. Generally, however, most of these protective eyeglasses are not adapted to be both comfortably worn and adjustable to fit different wearers. Accordingly, wearers have been forced to wear uncomfortable, poorly fitting protective eyewear, resulting in wearers that disregard proper safety procedures and fail to wear protective eyewear.
Several prior attempts have been made to manufacture protective eyeglasses that include various degrees of adjustability and the use of multiple material types to enhance the wearability of the eyeglasses. For background, reference is generally made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,505, issued to Canavan, U.S. patent to Wiedner et al No. 5,890,235, and U.S. patent to Canavan No. 6,196,681 each of which describe a safety eyewear construction, the collective specifications of which are incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,505, issued to Canavan, for example, provides one type of adjustable protective eyeglasses that is adjustable to fit various wearers, wherein the temple frame pieces are angularly adjustable about substantially horizontal pivot axes relative to the lens frame piece and longitudinally adjustable to different lengths. As can be seen however, when manufacturing this type of adjustable protective eyeglasses, a large number of separate pieces are required to provide the necessary joints and degrees of freedom needed within structure of the eyeglasses in order to provide the stated adjustability.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,235 provides an eyeglass construction that provides for adjustable length temple frame pieces and the ability to angularly adjust the temple frame pieces relative to the brow bar. However, the lens in this construction does not provide for free floating ends, instead, it is pinned at notches 10 (see FIG. 7). Further, several separate pieces must be molded and subsequently assembled thereby increasing the complexity of the assembly process.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,681, issued to Canavan discloses a unitary structure made by a two-shot process in a single mold wherein a hard frame member is molded to which a secondary soft material is molded and chemically bonded to form soft contact areas along the inner portion of the brow bar and at the nose portions. In this manner, a soft material is provided to contact the wearer while hard material is provided to engage ratchet adjustment pieces as well as a transparent lens structure adapted to cover the eyes of a wearer.
The difficulty with these prior art protective eyeglasses is that each one is only an incremental improvement and none of them provide a comprehensive solution for manufacturing protective eyeglass that are universally adjustable for individual users while also being comfortable to wear and have a reduced number of individual parts to facilitate assembly.
There is therefore a need for a protective eyeglass construction that facilitates comfort for the user thereby increasing the likelihood that the protective eyeglasses will be worn by the user. Further, there is a need for a highly adjustable protective eyeglass construction that allows the eyeglasses to be universally adjustable for all users while also having a reduced number of individually formed parts to enhance the manufacturability of the assembly.

Temple bar with ball and socket hinge and method of making same

Bacou-Dalloz Eye & Face Protection, Inc.


A flow rate device for measuring the flow rate of a fluid flowing through a wellbore is disclosed. The flow rate device includes a differential pressure conduit, a flow restrictor insert and a differential pressure measurement device. The differential pressure conduit is locatable in the wellbore, defines an internal bore, and is adapted to include a restriction having a cross-sectional area to increase the velocity of fluid flowing through the differential pressure conduit to create a differential pressure. The differential pressure conduit defining first and second pressure measuring stations axially spaced along the differential pressure conduit. The flow restrictor insert is located in the restriction to reduce the cross-sectional area of the restriction. The flow restrictor insert defines an internal bore having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of the restriction. The flow restrictor insert also has a pressure measuring port aligned with the second pressure measuring station. The differential pressure measurement device has at least one pressure sensor for detecting the pressure at the first pressure station, and for detecting the pressure at the second pressure station to generate a signal indicative of the flow rate of the fluid.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for improving the sensitivity of a flow rate device measuring the flow rate of a fluid in a hydrocarbon well. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to a flow restrictor insert that can be installed in a restriction of a differential pressure measurement device to increase the velocity of the fluid as it passes through the restriction and can be permanently removed by destruction while maintaining the operability of the flow rate device albeit at a lower sensitivity.
2. Background Art
Flow rate devices, or flow meters, are widely used in the oil and gas, and petrochemical industries. The ability of the oil and gas industry to optimize production of a reservoir relies on the possibility of evaluating the well effluent (i.e. oil, gas and water), at regular intervals, in terms of quantity (flow rate) and of composition (the proportions of the various phases).
There are a number of current systems available to measure the fluid flow rate flowing from a well, but few, if any, of them can be constructed "in-line," to allow reliable, unobtrusive measurements to be taken within the wellbore at a location near the reservoir. Most flow rate measurement systems are installed at the surface of the well-site and are adapted to interpret, or measure, the flow rate of the well effluent after it has traveled from the reservoir to the surface. Furthermore, in certain systems, an in-line flow rate device measures the flow rate of a fluid in a hydrocarbon well using a differential pressure measurement device, such as a Venturi or orifice plate.
Numerous proposals based on Venturi-type flow rate devices have been made to evaluate the wellbore fluid. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,757,709 and 5,736,650, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference, provide that differential pressure measurement can allow a determination of fluid flow rate when combined with various physical properties of the fluid, such as density. In such proposals, it is suggested that the flow rate device can be provided with a differential pressure measurement device that measures the difference in pressure of the fluid as it flows past Venturi ports prior to and within the Venturi's restriction.
As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,114,401 issued on Oct. 3, 2006 is directed towards a flow measurement system using, for example, a Venturi for steady-state and transient flow rate measurement, particularly suited for the drilling domain. The '401 reference, however, measures differential pressure by measuring the radial deformation, changes in the hoop strain/stress, of a sleeve upstream and downstream of a Venturi-type section.
In a Venturi flow rate device the differential pressure (ΔP) between the Venturi ports is mainly controlled by the flow velocity in the restriction, and that for a given rate, the higher the velocity, the more accurate will be the measurement. In other words, flow rate devices produce more accurate measurements when a greater pressure differential is produced, that is by going from a larger diameter to a smaller diameter. The smaller the restriction's diameter, the better the quality of the rate measurement.
As an example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,993,979 issued Feb. 7, 2006 relates to an insert device for narrowing a throat of a Venturi-based multiphase flow meter. As mentioned before, however, the flow meter of the '979 is particularly suited for installation at the surface of the well-site. Moreover, the insert device is not particularly adapted to be permanently removed by destruction so as to not interfere with wellbore operations.
Industry practice dictates that for a Drill Stem Testing operation the throat restriction should not go below 2.25 inches in order to allow for well intervention (i.e., logging, fishing, firing using a drop bar, or the like). At this throat size, the differential pressure output is less accurate at low flow rates (e.g., <2,000 bbl/d). Further, restrictions below 2.25 inches can either cause blockage or limit the selection of tools that may be used when deploying tools down/up a production well.
It is therefore desirable to provide a method and apparatus for increasing the velocity of the fluid as it passes through the restriction of the Venturi while preserving the ability to allow for well intervention. It is also desirable to measure the flow rate of the well effluent at a location near the reservoir rather than at surface, so as to disregard variables such as phase changes and gas expansion that occur as the well effluent travels across pressure and temperature differences between the reservoir and surface.

Flow restriction insert for differential pressure measurement


A ground supported poultry fountain includes a basin with an annular drinking trough, a bell shaped reservoir detachable mounted atop the basin and a heating element affixed to the bottom of the basin. The heating element covers the bottom surface of the basin under the reservoir and along the inner wall of the drinking trough. The heating element prevents the water in the reservoir, as well as the water in the trough from freezing when ambient temperatures drop below freezing.

Ground supported drinking fountains are commonly used to provide water to poultry. A conventional poultry drinking fountain includes a basin with an annular drinking trough and an upright reservoir seated atop the basin. Water in the reservoir is gravity fed into an annular basin and metered by vacuum pressure within the reservoir tank. The drinking trough is located at the bottom of the fountain so that the water level is accessible to poultry of all sizes.
Poultry fountains of this type are often used in outdoor environments and are often rendered useless when ambient temperatures drop below freezing because the water in the trough and reservoir freezes. Heretofore, the solution for this freezing problem has been to sit the fountain on a separate heated base or platform. The heated base includes an electrical heating element that warms the water in the fountain to prevent freezing. Separate heated bases are effective down to ambient temperatures around 10° F. While the use of heated bases prevents freezing, they are only effective to ambient temperature around 10° F. and can only be used with metal fountains, because the high wattage heating element must heat surface of the base to approximately 320° F., which would melt plastic fountains and may present a potential fire hazard under certain conditions. In addition, placing the fountain atop the base also raises the height of the drinking trough making the water inaccessible to smaller poultry.
The present invention incorporates a heating element into the basin to prevent water from freezing in the drinking trough and the reservoir without raising the height of the drinking trough. One embodiment of the heated poultry fountain of the present invention includes a basin with an annular drinking trough, a bell shaped reservoir detachable mounted atop the basin and a heating element affixed to the bottom of the basin. The heating element covers the bottom surface of the basin under the reservoir and along the inner wall of the drinking trough. Accordingly, the heating element prevents the water in the reservoir, as well as the water in the trough from freezing when ambient temperatures drop below freezing. The integrated heating element into the fountain design eliminates the need for a separate heated platform, which raises the height of the drinking trough making water inaccessible to all sizes of poultry.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.


An intake air filter (1) is for an internal combustion engine, especially in a motor vehicle. The filter has a filter housing (2) having a raw air inlet (4), a pure air outlet (5), and an annular filter element (3) which is arranged in the filter housing (2) and through which air can flow in a radial manner from the outside towards the inside. The filter element has a first end disk (10) on the axial end thereof, said disk has an opening (12) by which means the pure air outlet (5) communicates with the inside (8) of the annular filter element (3). The purpose is to reduce the influence of a secondary air induction on the fresh air supply of the internal combustion engine. To this end, the filter housing (2) has a secondary air outlet (6), on the pure air side, and the annular filter element (3) has a second end disk (11) on an axial end opposing the first end disk (10). The second end disk has at least one opening (17) by which the secondary air outlet (6) communicates with the inside (8) of the annular filter element (3).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an intake air filter for an internal combustion engine, in particular in a motor vehicle.
2. The Prior Art
Such an intake air filter is known, for example, from German Patent DE 39 34 433 C2 and has filter housing which has a crude air inlet and a clean air outlet. In this filter housing, the intake air filter contains a ring filter insert through which the air flows radially from the outside to the inside during operation and which has a first end disk cap on one axial end. This first end disk is designed as an opened end disk and thus has a central opening through which an outlet connection formed on the clean air outlet of the filter housing passes through the first end disk so that the clear air outlet communicates with the interior of the ring filter insert on the clean side through the opening in the first end disk. A second end disk of the ring filter insert designed on one axial end facing away from the first end disk is designed as a closed end disk.
Such an intake air filter is used to supply an internal combustion engine with purified fresh air and forms a part of an intake tract of the internal combustion engine. With certain internal combustion engines, air may be injected into the exhaust line of the internal combustion engine with the help of a secondary air supply, for example in order to perform a secondary oxidation of the combustion exhaust gases in the exhaust line in order to reduce emissions. Purified fresh air which branches off from the intake tract of the internal combustion engine downstream from the intake air filter is normally used for this purpose. Likewise, fresh air purified with the help of a secondary air supply may also be needed for other purposes, e.g., regeneration of a particle filter. Since the intake tract of an internal combustion engine, e.g., in a motor vehicle, is usually also designed to attenuate the sound that occurs during operation, an additional branch line connected to the fresh air line may have a negative effect on noise optimized tuning of the intake system. Furthermore, activation of a secondary air fan causes a drop in pressure in the fresh air tract which may have a negative effect on fresh air supply to the internal combustion engine.

Intake air filter for an internal combustion engine


A disposable umbrella includes a staff having an upper end and a lower end suitable for gripping by a user. A fixed collar is mounted on the upper end of the staff. A plurality of main struts are pivotably attached to the fixed collar and extend radially from the fixed collar. The main struts are movable from collapsed positions, wherein the main struts extend generally parallel to the staff, to open positions, wherein the main struts extend outwardly from the staff. A waterproof film is fixed to the main struts, such as by adhesive, and extends generally from the staff to the extended ends of the main struts. A slidable collar has a bore therethrough and is slidably mounted for movement along the staff. A plurality of actuating struts are provided, the actuating struts having an inner ends pivotably attached to the slidable collar and outers end pivotably attached to associated main struts so that movement of the collar along the staff towards the upper end of the staff causes the main struts to move out to their open positions. A latch is provided for selectively holding the slidable collar in a predetermined position on the staff to thereby hold the main struts in the open position, or releasing the slidable collar to allow movement of the slidable collar towards the lower end. The staff, collars, struts, waterproof film and latch are all formed of biodegradable materials. In this way the umbrella may be disposed of without harming the environment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to umbrellas and, in particular, to a bio-degradable disposable umbrellas.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Umbrellas have long been known and numerous umbrella mechanisms exists for opening and closing or collapsing umbrellas. Umbrellas can typically be broken down into two main categories. The first is a group of relatively permanent or long lasting umbrellas and the second are disposable umbrellas. The traditional umbrellas of the permanent or long lasting type tend to be made with better and stronger materials, possibly more decorative and, for these reasons, are relatively expensive. The disposable umbrellas are generally relative inexpensive so that if such an umbrella is damaged and needs to be discarded the loss is relatively small.
It seems that you never have an umbrella when you need it, and this has led to numerous disposable umbrella designs that are not as complex or expensive as the more traditional umbrellas and are typically expected to fail after one or several uses. Examples of disposable umbrellas are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,286,528; 6,234,185; 5,964,234; 5,069,237; 4,821,756; 4,819,679; 4,370,993; 4,215,711; 4,542,757; and 3,889,700. All of these umbrellas, while different in design, all tend to be relatively inexpensive this making them "disposable". However, the proliferation of such disposable umbrellas has created a problem for the environment. Thus, many of these umbrellas include materials that are not bio-degradable, such as fiber glass stems or staffs, nylon canopies, various metallic parts, including metallic struts or ribs and spring actuated latches for maintaining the umbrellas in the opened condition. When such "disposable" umbrellas are discarded many of these parts continue to exist and thus present a long range problem for the environment.
While some umbrellas have been used, particularly in the Far East, which are made of bamboo materials and rice paper for a canopy, such umbrellas are primarily used as parasols to protect the user from the suns rays and are not suitable for inclement rainy weather conditions.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Gears for pumping non-lubricating fluids at high pressure are provided which include special coatings. One of the gears is coated with a combination of nickel and polytetrafluoroethylene; the other gear is coated with a combination of carbon and tungsten carbide. Because the coatings are different and have different hardnesses, galling is prevented. Preferably, the gears are fabricated from stainless steel and, therefore, in the event a scratch or nick in the coating is produced, corrosion is prevented. The gears are useful for gear pumps used to pump fire fighting liquids and foam at high pressures.

The present invention relates to pumps. More specifically, the present invention relates to rotary gear pumps and, still more specifically, the present invention relates to coatings for gears used in rotary gear pumps that provide wear resistance and lubrication properties to the gears.
Gear pumps typically utilize two gears. One gear is referred to as the driver and is connected to the input power shaft. The other gear is referred to as an idler gear and rotates with the driver gear. In most gear pumps, the two gears mesh, i.e. then engage one another. Accordingly, lubrication and wear can pose serious problems that affect the performance of the pump and the frequency in which the gears must be changed.
Further, gear pumps are typically used to pump fire fighting foam. These pumps must operate at pressures ranging from 100 psig to 400 psig. While these pressures are not ordinarily problematic with hydraulic gear pumps that pump oil, hydraulic fluid or some other lubricating fluid, these pressures are particularly problematic with pumps that pump fire fighting foam chemicals because the foam chemicals are not good lubricants. Some fire fighting foams are fabricated from animal matter and can have abrasive bits of bone and other impurities that can increase the wear of the gears. Other synthetic foams can be very thin and therefore unable to support a hydrodynamic film that acts as a lubricant on the exterior of the gear. While a foam material can appear thick when contained in a vessel, foams can be extremely watery and thin as the foam is sheared inside a pump chamber under the action of two rotating gears. Some foam chemicals are thixotropic, and become extremely low viscosity when sheared while maintaining high viscosity while at rest.
Still further, fire fighting foams and chemicals can be corrosive. Aqueous solutions will rust ordinary carbon steels and therefore the use of bronze or 300 series stainless steels are required to combat corrosion. However, these materials do not wear very well and have a tendency to gall. Accordingly, bronze and stainless steel gears wear our prematurely and are not preferred materials for use at high pressures.
One solution to the aforenoted problems has been the development of pumps with external gear timing. Specifically, the rotation of the two gears is timed in such a way so as to actually prevent the gear teeth from engaging one another and therefore imposing wear upon one another. However, the external timing gears must be disposed in oil and sealed from the pump chamber containing the pump gears. Because of the high pressures involved in pumping fire fighting chemicals and foam, additional shaft seals, an oil bath housing and other miscellaneous parts are required to isolate the timing gears from the high pressure environment of the pump chamber and pump gears. As a result, gear pumps that employ external gear timing are complex and costly. Further, the numerous potential leak points inherent in these designs create additional maintenance problems.
As a result, there is a need for an improved rotary gear pump having improved gears that wear longer and resist galling to a greater extent than currently available rotary gears. Additionally, there is a need for an improved rotary gear pump that can operate dependably at high pressures for extended periods of time without the need for resorting to an external gear timing design.


A refrigeration appliance is provided which includes a cabinet with a first openable door providing access to a first refrigeration compartment and a second openable door providing access to a second refrigeration compartment. The second openable door has a portion thereof positioned below a portion of the first openable door. A rail separates the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigeration compartment. A water dispenser is contained in the rail, as well as electronic controls for the refrigeration appliance. The dispenser is arranged to be stationary relative to the refrigeration appliance while the doors are open or closed. The rail may be removed and replaced, and with the water and electronic controls located in the rail, repairs are performed more efficiently and flexibility in manufacturing is enhanced. A drip tray is formed in an exterior side of the second openable door below the dispenser. When the door is opened, the drip tray moves away from the dispenser, permitting the dispenser to be used with larger receptacles than can be accommodated with the drip tray under the dispenser.

The present invention relates generally to refrigeration devices with dispensers, such as water dispensers.
Refrigeration appliances with dispensers, such as door mounted water dispensers are well known, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,804,974 and 6,763,976. In such arrangements, the dispenser is located in a door of the appliance, accessible only from an exterior of the appliance. This requires that water and electronics pathways are routed from the back of the refrigerator, then inside the cabinet (to the cooling reservoir for the water), back outside the cabinet (room temperature) to the bottom hinge area. Depending on the swing of the door selected by the user, the water and electric lines are routed through one of the hinges and into the door, past special skirts to prevent wear to the lines when the door opens and closes. This type of assembly requires multiple sub-assemblies and routing of both water and electrical lines along the sides of the cabinet and then through the hinges.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,914,218 discloses a refrigeration appliance having a dispenser resting on a floor of a compartment and extending through a contoured recess in the upper door. No drip tray is provided for this appliance, and no electronic controls are associated with the dispenser.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,477 discloses a side-by-side refrigeration appliance where a door for one of the compartments has a portion positioned below a portion of a door for the other compartment, even through the doors are side-by-side. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, a dispenser is located in a central region between the two doors and in between the overlying portions. No drip tray is provided in an openable door for this embodiment. It is not disclosed whether any electronic controls are associated with the dispenser.
U.S. Published application US2003/0090890 discloses a refrigeration appliance having a mullion assembly positioned in the interior of the appliance that includes an electronic control. The mullion assembly is not accessible from the exterior of the appliance, and can only be accessed when the appliance door is open. The mullion assembly includes lighting assemblies for providing illumination above and below the mullion assembly.
It would be an improvement in the art if a refrigeration appliance were provided with a dispenser which is accessible from the exterior or the interior of the appliance, depending on the open or closed position of the appliance door, and wherein a drip tray is provided for the dispenser in the door, which may be moved out of the way when the door is opened.

Refrigeration appliance with externally accessible dispenser


This publication discloses an apparatus and method for measuring a gas content. The apparatus includes a light transmitter (1), by means of which coherent light can be sent to the measurement object (3), a receiver (2), by means of which light that has passed through the measurement object (3) can be detected, and optical means (4, 5, 6), by means of which the light intensity of the light transmitter (1) can be aimed at the receiver (2). According to the invention, the optical means include a lens element (4), the optical axis of which is arranged essentially obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis of the measurement object (3), so that the angles of the normals of the optical boundaries relative to the measuring signal are set obliquely. The lens element (4) is both a refracting and a reflecting element, and separates the measurement object (3) from the means (1, 2, 5).

The present invention relates to a gas content measuring apparatus, according to the preamble of claim 1.
The invention also relates to a measuring method.
Measuring apparatuses of this kind are used, for example, to measure oxygen content.
According to the prior art, measuring arrangements have been implemented, in which a coherent element is used as the light source and the path of the light is arranged, with the aid of a mirror, to travel twice through the measuring chamber. Using this arrangement brings all of the measurement electronics to the same side of the measurement channel. In solutions according to the prior art, achieving adequate measurement accuracy requires the creation of a relatively long measurement channel.
One source of measurement error is the errors caused by reflections of the coherent light signal. The reflections form diffused light, leading to variations in intensity that—particularly in the form of the interference phenomenon—disturb measurement. Reflections back to the light source are also a source of measurement error.

Gas content measuring apparatus and method


A composition of graphene-based nanomaterials and a method of preparing the composition are provided. A carbon-based precursor is dissolved in water to form a precursor suspension. The precursor suspension is placed onto a substrate, thereby forming a precursor assembly. The precursor assembly is annealed, thereby forming the graphene-based nanomaterials. The graphene-based nanomaterials are crystallographically ordered at least in part and configured to form a plurality of diffraction rings when probed by an incident electron beam. In one aspect, the graphene-based nanomaterials are semiconducting. In one aspect, a method of engineering an energy bandgap of graphene monoxide generally includes providing at least one atomic layer of graphene monoxide having a first energy bandgap, and applying a substantially planar strain is applied to the graphene monoxide, thereby tuning the first energy band gap to a second energy bandgap.

Graphene is a single atomic layer of graphite. While the three dimensional crystal structure of graphite is hexagonal close packed, single graphitic layer or graphene has the structure of a hexagonal honeycomb. This structure of graphene can provide desirable properties, such as fractional quantum Hall effect, Andreev reflection and Klein tunneling, electron mobility up to about 200,000 cm2/Vs at room temperature, thermal conductivity ranging from about 3,000 Wm−1K−1 to about 5,000 Wm−1K−1 at room temperature, as well as high mechanical strength, e.g., a breaking strength of about 42 N/m. Because of these properties, graphene may be useful for electronic applications.
Known methods for production or synthesis of graphene include mechanical peeling or exfoliation of graphite crystals, and growth from vapor phase on epitaxially matched substrates, e.g., using chemical vapor deposition. However, the known methods are expensive and may not be suitable for scaling up.

Synthesis and applications of graphene based nanomaterials


With the subject invention, a pump is formed that generally includes a reservoir formed to accommodate at least one fluid dose, and a fluid-collecting chamber in fluid communication with the reservoir. The fluid-collecting chamber includes a dose-control portion which encompasses a volume defined by two dimensions. A first piston is disposed to urge fluid from the reservoir and at least into the dose-control portion. A second piston is disposed to reversibly slide within at least the dose-control portion of the fluid-collecting chamber. A nozzle is also provided which is located such that fluid displaced by the second piston from the dose-control portion is generally urged towards the nozzle. A check valve may be placed in the fluid path between the dose-control portion and the nozzle.

This invention relates to pumps, and, more particularly, to pumps having accurately-controlled dosing.
In the prior art, pumps are used for various applications ranging from administration of health and beauty products (e.g., hand lotion) to lubricants. With the majority of pump applications, high accurate control of a dose is not critical and prior art pumps commonly have dose tolerances in the range of 3 to 5 microliters. Certain applications, however, have been developed which do require highly accurate dose control. For example, pumps have been developed which deliver microdoses of ophthalmic fluid medication (5 microliters to 50 microliters), such as those disclosed in: U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,435, issued Oct. 6, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,956, issued Mar. 16, 1999; and, PCT Application No. PCT/US00/23206, filed Aug. 23, 2000. These references are incorporated by reference herein in their respective entireties. As can be appreciated with all drug dispensing technology, accurately controlled dosing is absolutely necessary, particularly with small doses.


Synthetic fiber that are capable of spontaneously transporting water on their surface satisfy the equation EQU (1-X cos .theta..sub.a)<0,. wherein. .theta..sub.a is the advancing contact angle of water measured on a flat film made from the same material as the fiber and having the same surface treatment, if any, PA1 X is a shape factor of the fiber cross-section that satisfies the following equation ##EQU1## wherein P.sub.w is the wetted perimeter of the fiber and r is the radius of the circumscribed circle circumscribing the fiber cross-section and D is the minor axis dimension. across the fiber cross-section, and wherein the uphill flux value of said fiber is from 2 to 60 cc/g/hr when measured from a reservoir of synthetic urine test fluid along a 20 cm long ramp to an absorbant on an attached platform at 10 cm height.

Presently available absorbant articles such as diapers, sanitary napkins, incontinence briefs, and the like are generally very good at absorbing aqueous fluids such as urine and blood. However, during typical use such articles become saturated at the impingement zone while other zones removed from the impingement zone will remain dry. As a result, a substantial portion of the total absorbant capabilities of such articles remains unused. Thus, it would be highly desirable to have a means for transporting the aqueous fluids from the impingement zone to other areas of the absorbent article to more fully utilize the article's total absorbant capability. We have discovered such a means by the use of certain fibers that are capable of transporting aqueous fluids on their surfaces.
Liquid transport behavior phenomena in single fibers has been studied to a limited extent in the prior art (see, for example, A. M. Schwartz & F. W. Minor, J. Coll. Sci., 14, 572 (1959)).
There are several factors which influence the flow of liquids in fibrous structures. The geometry of the pore-structure in the fabrics (capillarity), the nature of the solid surface (surface free energy, contact angle), the geometry of the solid surface (surface roughness, grooves, etc.), the chemical/physical treatment of the solid surface (caustic hydrolysis, plasma treatment, grafting, application of hydrophobic/hydrophilic finishes), and the chemical nature of the fluid all can influence liquid transport phenomena in fibrous structures.
The ability to transport liquids (alternately referred to herein as "wickability") and to hold liquids are two important features of absorbant cores of sanitary consumer disposables such as diapers, adult incontinent products, and feminine hygiene products. Absorbant cores are designed to wick fluids as far as possible to prevent leakage and optimize the use of absorbant material. In a conventional diaper, fluid is wicked by capillary action through the porous fluff pulp core. Liquid holding capacity is largely within the pores of the fluff pulp but is also enhanced by the addition of superabsorbant polymers to the absorbant core. These superabsorbant polymers are especially beneficial for holding liquids under pressure compared to pulp alone. Absorbant cores of diapers and adult incontinent products do not sufficiently wick fluids from the crotch area to entirely prevent leaking. Typically 3-7% of diapers, approximately 30% of feminine napkins, and 33-40% of adult incontinent products leak. Leaking is the number one customer complaint about these products. Solving the leaking problem is high priority among the manufacturers of these products.
In the prior art thermally bonded webs composed of polyester, polypropylene, or polyethylene hydrophobic fibers are formed. These webs are subsequently coated with acrylic acid partially neutralized by alkali metallic salts and crosslinked simultaneously with polymerization to form webs coated in situ with superabsorbant polymer (European Patent Application 0 223 908). The webs have increased absorption of fluid when used in a sanitary product such as a diaper, but the individual fibers of the web do not possess the ability to wick fluid from the crotch area (which is most prone to leaking) to lesser utilized areas of the absorbant core.
French Patent 955,625, Paul Chevalier, "Improvements in Spinning Artificial Fiber", published Jan. 16, 1950, discloses fibers of synthetic origin with alleged improved capillarity. The fibers are said to have continuous or discontinuous grooves positioned in the longitudinal direction.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 204,975/1984 describes the coating of cellulose fiber based material with a water soluble monomer which is converted into a water-absorptive polymer. According to U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,647 this type of material has poor absorption performance because the monomer is able to penetrate inside the fiber base material and fill the capillaries between filaments. The mode of wicking in this prior art is totally in the capillaries between the fibers. The diameter of the capillaries is reduced by the coating. As the coating swells in the wet state the capillaries are blocked off.
Also, the art discloses various H-shapes as follows:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,121,040 entitled "Unoriented Polyolefin Filaments" dated Feb. 11, 1964; PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 3,650,659 entitled "Spinning Die" dated Mar. 21, 1972; PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 870,280 entitled "High Bulk Filamentary Material" dated Jun. 14, 1961; PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,259 entitled "Spinneret for the Production of Wool-like Man-Made Filament" dated Dec. 18, 1979; PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 3,249,669 entitled "Process for Making Composite Polyester Filaments" dated Mar. 16, 1964; PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 3,623,939 entitled "Crimped Synthetic Filament Having Special Cross-Sectional Profile" dated Jun. 28, 1968; PA1 .theta..sub.a is the advancing contact angle of water measured on a flat film made from the same material as the fiber and having the same surface treatment, if any, PA1 X is a shape factor of the fiber cross-section that satisfies the following equation ##EQU2## wherein P.sub.w is the wetted perimeter of the fiber, r is the radius of the circumscribed circle circumscribing the fiber cross-section and D is the minor axis dimension across the fiber cross-section. PA1 .theta..sub.a is the advancing contact angle of water measured on a flat film made from the same material as the fiber and having the same surface treatment, if any, PA1 X is a shape factor of the fiber cross-section that satisfies the following equation ##EQU3## wherein P.sub.w is the wetted perimeter of the fiber, r is the radius of the circumscribed circle circumscribing the fiber cross-section and D is the minor axis dimension across the fiber cross-section. PA1 .theta..sub.a is the advancing contact angle of water measured on a flat film made from the same material as the fiber and having the same surface treatment, if any, PA1 X is a shape factor of the fiber cross-section that satisfies the following equation ##EQU4## wherein P.sub.w is the wetted perimeter of the fiber and r is the radius of the circumscribed circle circumscribing the fiber cross-section and D is the minor axis dimension across the fiber cross-section, PA1 .theta..sub.a is the advancing contact angle of water measured on a flat film made from the same material as the fiber and having the same surface treatment, if any, PA1 X is a shape factor of the fiber cross-section that satisfies the following equation ##EQU5## wherein P.sub.w is the wetted perimeter of the fiber, r is the radius of the circumscribed circle circumscribing the fiber cross-section and D is the minor axis dimension across the fiber cross-section, with the proviso that the fiber is not an X-shaped or an H-shaped fiber having a .theta..sub.a of about 22 degrees, cos .theta..sub.a of about 0.9, and an X factor of about 1.8.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,156,607 entitled "Lobed Filament" dated Nov. 10, 1964;
U.S. Pat. No. 3,109,195 entitled "Spinneret Plate" dated Nov. 5, 1963;
U.S. Pat. No. 3,383,276 entitled "Extruded Synthetic Filament" dated Mar. 10, 1964;
Netherlands Abstract OCTROO1N.degree.8490, Aunvrage No. 18049, dated Nov. 28, 1922.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,707,409 entitled "Spinneret Orifices and Four-Wing Filament Cross-Sections Therefrom" dated Nov. 17, 1987, assigned to Eastman Kodak Company, describes a spinneret having an orifice defined by two intersecting slots. Each intersection slot is turn defined by three quadrilateral sections connected in series.
Further, PCT International Publication No. WO90/12/30, published on Oct. 18, 1990, entitled "Fibers Capable of Spontaneously Transporting Fluids" by Phillips et al. discloses fibers that are capable of spontaneously transporting water on their surfaces and useful structures made from such fibers.
Also, conventional crimping of fibers is done mechanically with a stuffer box crimper. This method can damage or distort the cross-section of the fibers of this invention. This distortion of the cross-section reduces the ability of the fiber to move and hold fluids.
There are various methods of helically crimping a fiber in the art. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/333,651 filed Apr. 4, 1989 describes crimped staple fibers and the process for making the fibers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,050,821 describes a high bulk textile material after a relaxing treatment. U.S. Pat. No. 3,681,188 describes a poly(trimethylene terephthalate) textile fiber in a helical crimp form. U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,103 describes a process for making a helically crimped poly(trimethylene terephthalate) fiber with asymmetric birefringical across the diameter of the filament. U.S. Pat. No. 3,623,939 discloses a crimped synthetic filament. The H-shaped cross-section of the fiber is shown.
We have discovered fibers that have a unique combination of properties that allows for spontaneous transport of aqueous fluids such as water on their surfaces. Heretofore, fibers capable of spontaneously transporting aqueous fluids such as water have been unknown. These fibers can be coated with superabsorbing polymers which are capable of absorbing liquid as well as transporting liquid. Even more preferably, fibers having both a major and minor symmetrical axis are quenched by air where the air stream is perpendicular to the major axis of the fiber.

Process for spontaneouly transporting a fluid


A semiconductor device, a method for manufacturing the same, and an electronic device including the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor includes a first channel layer and a first ion gel. The second transistor includes a second channel layer and a second ion gel. The first channel layer and the second channel layer may include, for example, graphene. The first ion gel and the second ion gel include different ionic liquids. The first ion gel and the second ion gel include different cations and/or different anions. One of the first transistor and the second transistor is a p-type transistor, and the other one is an n-type transistor. The combination of the first transistor and the second transistor constitutes an inverter.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments relate to semiconductor devices, methods of manufacturing the semiconductor devices, and electronic devices including the semiconductor devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, research into next-generation materials, such as two-dimensional (2D) materials like graphene and carbon nanotube (CNT), has been actively conducted. Graphene is a hexagonal single layer structure composed of carbon atoms and may exhibit structurally and chemically stable characteristics and electrically and physically excellent characteristics. For example, graphene may have a charge mobility (˜2×105 cm2/Vs) that is about 100 or more times faster than that of silicon (Si) and a current density (about 108 A/cm2) that is about 100 or more times higher than that of copper (Cu). Graphene may also have a flexible characteristic and excellent transparency. Thus, graphene has drawn attention as a next generation material which is capable of overcoming the limitations of the existing elements.
Owing to the diverse advantages of graphene, research on applying graphene to various semiconductor devices and electronic devices has been conducted. For example, research on using graphene as a channel material for a transistor has been conducted. In this connection, research on and the development of elements other than a channel of the transistor by using graphene are required.

Semiconductor device including ion gel material and electronic device including the semiconductor device


Methods and compositions are provided for treating clothing, pillows, bedding, furniture, rugs or carpets for dust mites. Non-toxic aqueous compositions contain one or more surfactants high terpene oils and a monohydric alcohol. Various percentage weight amounts such as 17 to 27 percent of surfactants, 8 to 16 percent of high terpene oils, 4 to 8 percent monohydric and water are comprised by a composition for treating and controlling dust mites on clothing, pillows, bedding, furniture, rugs or carpets. A method for controlling and treating dust mites includes applying an effective amount of a non-toxic aqueous composition, scrubbing the composition into the clothing, pillows, bedding, furniture, rugs or carpets and rinsing the composition and dust mites therefrom.

A non-toxic aqueous pesticide to effectively control dust mites.
Various parasites such as lice, ticks, mites, aphides and chiggers attack untreated and unprotected animals and plants. Poultry are particularly susceptible to parasitic infestations, both internal and external, If left uncontrolled, poultry diseases and parasites can result in reduced productivity and high mortality rates. Thus, effective management and sanitation practices, vaccination and medication are essential to prevent and control diseases and pests.
Where poultry is involved, the larvae of these pests attach to the wings and parts of the body injecting a poisonous substance that irritates the skin and causes itching. Such infestation is manifest in lesions observable when birds are dressed. This, of course, reduces the value of the poultry. Moreover, the young birds become droopy, refuse to eat and can die.
In the past, various oils have been used to control insects and mites. Recently, however, renewed attention has focused on the use of oils as a natural substitute for traditional insecticides with attendant toxic and other dangerous side effects.
These oils include horticultural oils which are highly refined petroleum products than can be mixed with water for application for control of target insect and mite pests without deleterious effects. Modern horticultural oils do not include vegetable, fish or whale oils.
Horticultural spray oils are the low toxicity alternative to broad spectrum insecticides. Since the mechanism of insect and mite control with spray oils is by suffocation and/or repellency of egg laying females, there is no requirement for the addition of toxic chemicals. These properties are a valuable and well recognized component of the practice of integrated pest management where oil spraying is intrinsically linked to natural control of pests by predators and parasitoids. Horticultural spray oils are formulated on highly refined clear oil with a minimum of nonionic surfactant. Independent environmental impact studies have shown that D-C-TRON has no detrimental effect on the environment. Mammalian toxicity studies published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine have shown that oils at this refinement level are non-toxic and non-carcinogenic.
Aqueous suspensions of malathion, stirofos, Ravap and carbaryl formulations (0.25 to 1.0 per cent) have been tested as dips for control of the northern foul mite (NFM), Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini and Fanzago) on caged White Leghorn hens. Hens treated with Ravap showed symptoms of organophosphorus insecticide poisoning soon after treatment and some died as a result of the dip. However, dipping with the other insecticides did not result in any apparent toxic effects. Malathion was observed to provide residual control of mites for about 4 weeks post-treatment, but both stirofos and carbaryl dips gave complete control for at least 6 weeks against repeated challenges with the NFM. There were no significant differences in the percent hen-day egg production, feed consumption, or body weight of the hens that could be attributed to any of the chemical treatments.
Generally, oil sprays are safe to humans. These oil sprays have little, if any, negative effect on wildlife and non-target insects in the environment. Furthermore, oil sprays are less toxic due to the method by which they kill target pests. In particular, the thin film of oil covers the target insect or mite and plugs the spiracles or pores through which the pests or parasites breathe. The cause of death is primarily suffocation. Large, motile insects and animals that breathe by another method are not affected by these oils.
Another advantage of oil applications is the absence of objectionable odors. In addition, oils are relatively inexpensive and significantly less expensive than many insecticides.
Unfortunately, there are limitations to the use of oil treatments. For example, oils are only effective against those pests that are thoroughly coated by the spray insolution. This usually means that only small, immobile or slow moving pests that are exposed on the surface of the poultry, animal or plant at the time of application will be controlled.
Since oil sprays only work by contracting and covering the target pest, thorough application is essential. Missed surface areas provide a safe refuge for the target pests.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,344 shows a hazard-free method for controlling insects using a non-toxic composition in the form of a fragrance and crystalline particles which puncture directly through the exoskeleton of an insect. In operation, the particles work themselves between the insects protective body plates and then puncture the exoskeleton permitting entry of the fragrance into the body of the insect. Once inside, the particles absorb up to four times their weight of the vital body fluids of the insect and the fragrance has a neural effect on the insect.
Thus, there remains a need for a non-toxic pesticide that can be effectively applied to control or kill dust mites without the danger of a toxic reaction by humans or pet animals.
The present invention relates to a non-toxic aqueous pesticide and method of application to effectively control dust mites found in clothing, pillows, bedding, furniture and rugs or carpets comprising at least one surfactant and at least one terpene containing oil.
High terpene containing natural oil as used herein means those natural oils having a terpene content of at least 50 per cent. It is preferable that the high terpene natural oil contains at least 80 per cent. Suitable high terpene containing natural oils includes oil from conifers such as citrus peel oils, preferably orange oil, grapefruit oil, lemon oil or pine oil. Of these, cold pressed orange oil is the most preferred. Naturally, the amount of high terpene containing natural oils in the non-toxic aqueous pesticide will depend upon the amount of terpenes in the specific oil used.
The surfactant may comprise conventional surfactants such as anionic and nonionic surfactants.
The non-toxic aqueous pesticide may also contain various additives such as antioxidants, preservatives, pH neutralizers and/or clarifiers.
Since the non-toxic aqueous pesticide is an aqueous composition, the balance of the non-toxic aqueous pesticide is water.
In use, the non-toxic aqueous pesticide is diluted from about 2 per cent to about 7 per cent solution but preferably about 5 per cent solution and applied to the surface of the pillows, bedding, furniture and rugs or carpets or used to launder or wash clothing, pillow slips or similar fabric products. After the pesticide has been so applied or used, the pesticide residue is rinsed or removed. In some cases, repeated applications may be required.
When so applied, the non-toxic aqueous pesticide is effective in controlling dust mites. The mechanism of insect and mite control is believed to be by suffocation and/or the dissolving of the waxy layers of the insect""s exoskeleton. There is no requirement for the addition of toxic chemicals thereby causing an imbalance in the insect and/or parasites delicate body moisture balance. As such, the instant invention provides a virtually non-toxic alternative to broad spectrum insecticides.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

Controlling dust mites with a composition containing surfactants, high terpene oil and monohydric alcohol


A method for producing a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery having a large initial capacity and excellent in the charging-discharging cycle characteristics, while restraining the generation of NO.sub.2, is provided. In the production method of a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery made up of a complex oxide containing at least lithium, after adding a material generating oxygen on spray pyrolysis, such as nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide, etc., to an aqueous or alcohol solution of the organic acid salts of metal elements constituting the complex oxide, the mixture is subjected to spray pyrolysis to form a complex oxide, and the complex oxide is heat-treated. As the complex oxides, there are a lithium manganese complex oxide, a lithium cobalt complex oxide, a lithium nickel complex oxide, etc.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing a complex oxide containing lithium, such as LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4, LiCoO.sub.2, LiNiO.sub.2, etc., and used for a cathode active material of a lithium secondary battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has been known that complex oxides such as LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4, LiCoO.sub.2, LiNiO.sub.2, etc., used for a cathode active material of a lithium secondary battery can be produced by a spray pyrolysis method.
In this method, the desired complex oxide can be obtained by spraying and decomposing a solution containing metal elements that constitute the complex oxide in a heated atmosphere. As the raw material containing metal elements for obtaining the solution, nitrates having a high solubility in water or an alcohol are used. In the case of obtaining, for example, LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4, a mixed solution of lithium nitrate and manganese nitrate is subjected to spray pyrolysis.
However, the conventional method using nitrates necessarily generates NO.sub.2, for example, as shown by equation (1) in the case of obtaining LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4. It is a problem to treat the large amount of NO.sub.2 generated during industrial mass production. EQU LiNO.sub.3 +2Mn(NO.sub.3).sub.2 .fwdarw.LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4 +5NO.sub.2 +0.5O.sub.2 (1)
Thus, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem and to provide a method for producing a complex oxide for use as a cathode active material of a lithium secondary battery which has a large initial capacity and is excellent in charging-discharging cycle characteristics by restraining the generation of N.sub.2.

Method for producing a complex oxide used as a cathode active material of a lithium secondary battery


Methods and systems are disclosed for determining a working arm point angle of the crane. A Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver antenna is disposed on a point along a boom assembly of the crane configured to pivot about a pivot point. A location of the pivot point is received. A working arm of the crane is rotated about the pivot point to point in a current direction. A current location of the GNSS receiver antenna is determined. A current working arm pointing angle relative to a reference direction for the current direction of the working arm is determined based on the current location of the GNSS receiver antenna and the location of the pivot point.

Lifting devices, such as cranes, are employed to hoist or lift objects to great heights. The crane may swivel or pivot about a pivot point to allow the crane to lift and move objects into position. It may be desirable to know the pointing angle of the crane. If a crane is very high off the ground, then it may be difficult to determine the pointing angle of the crane visually from the ground. Moreover, a visual observation of a crane's pointing angle may not be accurate.


A fluid filled vibration damping device including: an elastic body elastically connecting a first and a second mounting member and partially defining a pressure receiving chamber filled with a non-compressible fluid; a flexible diaphragm partially defining an equilibrium chamber filled with the non-compressible fluid and connected to the pressure-receiving chamber via an orifice passage. The first mounting member includes an elastic-body-side central member bonded to the elastic body central portion, and a rubber-layer-side central member bonded to the flexible rubber layer central portion, both mutually superposed on and fastened together by a connecting bolt. A fitting recess and projection are formed at an interface between two members, and a mounting projection projecting outward on an opposite side from the interface. The connecting bolt is off-centered from a center of the two members by a give distance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fluid filled vibration damping devices exhibiting damping effect on the basis of flows of the non-compressible fluid sealed therein, and more particularly to a fluid filled vibration damping device of novel construction, which may be usable as an engine mount or other mounts for use in automotive vehicles.
2. Description of the Related Art
A fluid filled vibration damping device is known as one type of a vibration-damping coupling or mount adapted to be installed between two members of a vibration systems so as to elastically connect or support the two members in a vibration-damping fashion. Citation 1 shows an example of such a fluid filled vibration-damping device, which includes: a rubber elastic body elastically connecting a first and second mounting member fixable to one and the other member mutually connected in a vibration damping fashion, respectively; a pressure receiving chamber partially defined by the rubber elastic body and filled with a non compressible fluid; an equilibrium chamber partially defined by a flexible rubber layer and filled with the non-compressible fluid; and an orifice passage for permitting a fluid communication between the pressure-receiving chamber and the equilibrium chamber. Upon application of a vibrational load between the first and second mounting members, the fluid is forced to flow through the orifice passage between the pressure receiving chamber and the equilibrium chamber, so that the fluid filled vibration damping device can exhibit damping effect on the basis of resonance or flows of the fluid flowing through the orifice passage. In the fluid filled vibration damping device of this structure, the pressure receiving chamber and the equilibrium chamber are disposed on the opposite sides of the elastic body, making it possible to decrease a dimension of the device in the vertical or height direction. For the above-described advantage, the conventional fluid filled vibration damping device may be effectively usable as an automotive engine mount that is prone to be requested to be installed in a limited space.
[Citation]
JP-A-2001-59540
In the conventional vibration damping device, as indicated in Citation 1, the first mounting member is bonded to a central portion of the elastic body, and the second mounting member is bonded to an outer circumferential portion of the elastic body, while the flexible rubber layer is disposed surrounding and covering an outside of the rubber elastic body. The flexible rubber layer is bonded at its central portion to the first mounting member, and at its outer peripheral portion to the second mounting member. Typically, the elastic body and the flexible rubber layer are formed separately, since it is difficult to form the elastic body and the flexible rubber layer integrally due to their different requested characteristics, limitations comes from mold structures, or the like. For this reason, the first mounting member is composed of an elastic-body-side central member and a rubber-layer-side central member, and the elastic body and the flexible rubber layer are formed separately such that the elastic body is bonded at its central portion to the elastic-body-side central member, while the flexible rubber layer is bonded at its central portion to the rubber-layer-side central member. The elastic-body-side central member and the rubber-layer-side central member are superposed on each other and connected together by means of a connecting bolt, thereby providing the first mounting member.
However, the conventional fluid-filled vibration damping device of the aforesaid structure has still suffered from the following problems (1)–(3) upon fastening the two separate members (i.e., the elastic-body-side central member and the rubber-layer-side central member) together by means of the connecting bolt to provide the first mounting member.
(1) One problem is a difficulty in producing a reaction force against a tightening torque from the connecting bolt. That is, since the elastic-body-side central member is covered by the rubber-layer-side central member, it is impossible to directly hold the elastic-body-side central member in order to produce the reaction force against the tightening torque from the connecting bolt.
(2) Another problem is a low degree of freedom in designing a mounting portion of the first mounting member, which portion is utilized to fix the first mounting member to the one of the two members connected together in a vibration damping fashion. Namely, the connecting bolt is situated on a central portion of a surface of the rubber-layer-side central member, making it difficult to integrally form the mounting portion of desired configuration on the rubber-layer-side central member in view of a space. To form such a mounting portion, unavoidable is an enlargement of the rubber-layer-side central member. The citation 1 discloses a conventional structure in which the mounting portion is formed by utilizing the connecting bolt. However, it is apparent that the conventional structure is not adapted sufficiently for a variety of structures or shapes of members to which the first mounting member is fixed.
(3) A further problem is that when fastening the elastic-body-side central member and the rubber-layer-side central member together by means of the connecting bolt, mutually aligned bolt holes of these members are prone to be dislocated from each other during insertion the connecting bolt into these bolt holes, making it cumbersome to assemble these members. Namely, the elastic-body-side central member and the rubber-layer-side central member are prone to be dislocated from each other at their abutting surfaces, making it difficult to align the bolt holes of these members to each other, and to hold these member in a mutually aligned state.
It may be proposed to fasten the elastic-body-side central member and the rubber-layer-side central member together by caulking or other appropriate methods, without using the mounting bolt. However, a caulking operation needs a specific device, undesirably pushing a manufacturing cost up. In the case where the elastic-body-side central member and the rubber-layer-side central member are formed of aluminum alloy, the caulking operation may not be employable in view of insufficient strength and durability of the members.


A container-handling vehicle for picking up storage containers from a three-dimensional grid of an underlying storage system includes a first set of wheels arranged at opposite sides of a vehicle body, for moving the vehicle along a first direction on the grid; a second set of wheels arranged at opposite sides of the vehicle body, for moving the vehicle along a second direction on the grid, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction; and the first set of wheels displaceable in a vertical direction between a first position, wherein the first set of wheels allow movement of the vehicle along the first direction, and a second position, wherein the second set of wheels allow movement of the vehicle along the second direction. The vehicle body surrounds a cavity within which at least a first lifting device and a second lifting device are positioned adjacent to each other, each lifting device is arranged to lift a storage container from the grid and into the cavity, such that a bottom of the storage container is at a level above the lowest level of the second set of wheels.

The Applicant's already known AutoStore system is a storage system comprising a three-dimensional storage grid structure wherein storage containers/containers are stacked on top of each other to a certain height. Such a prior art system is shown in FIG. 1. The storage system is disclosed in detail in for instance NO317366 and WO 2014/090684 A1.
FIG. 1 discloses a framework structure of a typical prior art automated storage and retrieval system 1 and FIGS. 2a and 2b disclose known container-handling vehicles of such a system.
The framework structure comprises a plurality of upright members/profiles 2 and a plurality of horizontal members 3, which are supported by the upright members 2. The members 2, 3 may typically be made of metal, e.g. extruded aluminium profiles.
The framework structure defines a storage grid 4 comprising multiple grid columns 12 arranged in rows. A majority of the grid columns 12 are storage columns 5 in which storage containers 6, also known as containers, are stacked one on top of another to form stacks 7. Each storage container 6 (or container for short) may typically hold a plurality of product items (not shown), and the product items within a storage container 6 may be identical, or may be of different product types, depending on the application. The framework structure guards against horizontal movement of the stacks 7 of storage containers 6, and guides vertical movement of the containers 6, but does normally not otherwise support the storage containers 6 when stacked.
A horizontal rail system 8 is arranged in a grid pattern across the top of the grid columns 12, on which rail system 8 a plurality of container-handling vehicles 9 are operated to raise storage containers 6 from and lower storage containers 6 into the storage columns 5, and also to transport the storage containers 6 above the storage columns 5. The rail system 8 comprises a first set of parallel rails 10 arranged to guide movement of the container-handling vehicles 9 in a first direction X across the top of the frame structure 1, and a second set of parallel rails 11 arranged perpendicular to the first set of rails 10 to guide movement of the container-handling vehicles 9 in a second direction Y, which is perpendicular to the first direction X, see FIG. 3. In this way, the rail system 8 defines an upper end of the storage columns 5, above which the container-handling vehicles 9 can move laterally above the storage columns 5, i.e. in a plane, which is parallel to the horizontal X-Y plane.
Each container-handling vehicle 9 comprises a vehicle body 13 and first and second sets of wheels 14, 15 which enable the lateral movement of the container-handling vehicle 9, i.e. the movement in the X and Y directions. In FIG. 2, two wheels in each set are visible. The first set of wheels 14 is arranged to engage with two adjacent rails of the first set 10 of rails, and the second set of wheels 15 arranged to engage with two adjacent rails of the second set 11 of rails. One of the set of wheels 14, 15 can be lifted and lowered, so that the first set of wheels 14 and/or the second set of wheels 15 can be engaged with their respective set of rails 10, 11 at any one time.
Each container-handling vehicle 9 also comprises a lifting device 18 (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2a, but visible in FIG. 2b) for vertical transportation of storage containers 6, e.g. raising a storage container 6 from and lowering a storage container 6 into a storage column 5. The lifting device 18 comprises a lifting frame (not shown in FIG. 2a, but similar to the one shown in FIG. 2b labelled 17) which is adapted to engage a storage container 6, which lifting frame can be lowered from the vehicle body 13 so that the position of the lifting frame with respect to the vehicle body 13 can be adjusted in a third direction Z, which is orthogonal the first direction X and the second direction Y.
Conventionally, and for the purpose of this application, Z=1 identifies the uppermost layer of the grid 4, i.e. the layer immediately below the rail system 8 (in the present application, the rail system 8 is termed the top level of the grid), Z=2 is the second layer below the rail system 8, Z=3 is the third layer etc. In the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 1, Z=8 identifies the lowermost, bottom layer of the grid 4. Consequently, as an example and using the Cartesian coordinate system X, Y, Z indicated in FIG. 1, the storage container identified as 6′ in FIG. 1 can be said to occupy grid location or cell X=10, Y=2, Z=3. The container-handling vehicles 9 can be said to travel in layer Z=0 and each grid column 12 can be identified by its X and Y coordinates.
Each container-handling vehicle 9 comprises a storage compartment or space for receiving and stowing a storage container 6 when transporting the storage container 6 across the grid 4. The storage space may comprise a cavity 21 arranged centrally within the vehicle body 13, e.g. as is described in WO2014/090684A1, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, and as shown in FIG. 2a.
Alternatively, the container-handling vehicles may have a cantilever construction, as is described in NO317366, the contents of which are also incorporated herein by reference, and as shown in FIG. 2b.
The container-handling vehicles 9 may have a footprint F, i.e. a horizontal periphery in the X and Y directions (see FIG. 4), which is generally equal to the lateral or horizontal extent of the rails, see FIG. 4, surrounding the open end of a single grid column 12, i.e. slightly larger than the periphery/circumference of a grid column 12 in the X and Y directions, e.g. as described in WO2015/193278A1, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, the container-handling vehicles 9 may have a footprint which is larger than the lateral extent of the rails surrounding a single grid column 12, e.g. as disclosed in WO2014/090684A1.
The rail system 8 may be a single-track system, as shown in FIG. 3. Preferably, the rail system 8 is a double-track system, as shown in FIG. 4, thus allowing a container-handling vehicle 9 having a footprint F generally corresponding to the rails surrounding a grid column 12 to travel along a row of grid columns in either an X or Y direction even if another container-handling vehicle 9 is positioned above a grid column 12 adjacent to that row.
In a storage grid, a majority of the grid columns 12 are storage columns 5, i.e. grid columns where storage containers are stored in stacks. However, a grid normally has at least one grid column 12 which is used not for storing storage containers, but which comprises a location where the container-handling vehicles can drop off and/or pick up storage containers so that they can be transported to an access station where the storage containers 6 can be accessed from outside of the grid or transferred out of or into the grid, i.e. a container handling station. Within the art, such a location is normally referred to as a "port" and the grid column in which the port is located may be referred to as a port column.
The grid 4 in FIG. 1 comprises two port columns 19 and 20. The first port column 19 may for example be a dedicated drop-off port column where the container-handling vehicles 9 can drop off storage containers to be transported to an access or a transfer station (not shown), and the second port 20 column may be a dedicated pick-up port column where the container-handling vehicles 9 can pick up storage containers that have been transported to the grid 4 from an access or a transfer station.
When a storage container 6 stored in the grid 4 disclosed in FIG. 1 is to be accessed, one of the container-handling vehicles 9 is instructed to retrieve the target storage container from its position in the grid 4 and transport it to the drop-off port 19. This operation involves moving the container-handling vehicle 9 to a grid location above the storage column 5 in which the target storage container is positioned, retrieving the storage container 6 from the storage column 5 using the container-handling vehicle's lifting device (not shown in the prior art central cavity robot shown in FIG. 2a, but normally similar to the lifting device 18 of the prior art vehicle of FIG. 2b), and transporting the storage container to the drop-off port 19. The prior art vehicle 9 shown in FIG. 2b better illustrates the general design of the lifting device. Details of this prior art vehicle 9 (often referred to as a cantilever robot) are described in the Norwegian patent NO317366. The lifting devices 18 of both prior art vehicles 9 comprise a set of lifting bands 16 connected close to the corners of a lifting frame 17 (may also be termed a gripping device) for releasable connection to a storage container. To raise or lower the lifting frame 17 (and optionally a connected storage container 6), the lifting bands 16 are spooled on/off at least one rotating lifting shaft or drum (not shown) arranged in the container-handling vehicle. Various designs of the at least one lifting shaft are described in for instance WO2015/193278 A1 and WO2017/129384 A1. The lifting frame 17 features container connecting elements 24 for releasably connecting to a storage container, and guiding pins 30. If the target storage container is located deep within a stack 7, i.e. with one or a plurality of other storage containers positioned above the target storage container, the operation also involves temporarily moving the above-positioned storage containers prior to lifting the target storage container from the storage column. This step, which is sometimes referred to as "digging" within the art, may be performed with the same container-handling vehicle that is subsequently used for transporting the target storage container to the drop-off port 19, or with one or a plurality of other cooperating container-handling vehicles. Alternatively, or in addition, the automated storage and retrieval system may have container-handling vehicles specifically dedicated to the task of temporarily removing storage containers from a storage column. Once the target storage container has been removed from the storage column, the temporarily removed storage containers can be repositioned into the original storage column. However, the removed storage containers may alternatively be relocated to other storage columns.
When a storage container 6 is to be stored in the grid 4, one of the container-handling vehicles 9 is instructed to pick up the storage container from the pick-up port 20 and transport it to a grid location above the storage column 5 where it is to be stored. After any storage containers positioned at or above the target position within the storage column stack have been removed, the container-handling vehicle 9 positions the storage container at the desired position. The removed storage containers may then be lowered back into the storage column, or relocated to other storage columns.
For monitoring and controlling the automated storage and retrieval system, e.g. monitoring and controlling the location of respective storage containers within the grid 4, the content of each storage container 6 and the movement of the container-handling vehicles 9 so that a desired storage container can be delivered to the desired location at the desired time without the container-handling vehicles 9 colliding with each other, the automated storage and retrieval system comprises a control system, which typically is computerised and comprises a database for keeping track of the storage containers.
The prior art container-handling vehicles 9 described above may handle and transport only one container 6 in each operation, thereby setting a limitation on the efficiency of certain operations performed by the storage system, including retrieval and/or storage of multiple storage containers and "digging".
A container-handling vehicle able to retrieve multiple storage containers from the same storage column is disclosed in WO2013167907. However, the disclosed container-handling vehicle suffers from low stability putting restrictions on its speed and acceleration.
In view of the above, it is desirable to provide a more efficient container-handling vehicle, an automated storage and retrieval system comprising said container-handling vehicle, and a method for operating such a system. In particular, the present invention provides a container-handling vehicle having an improved operational speed in various situations relative the prior art vehicles.

Multi bin vehicle for an automated storage and retrieval system comprising a three dimensional grid


In a holding and positioning apparatus for an optical element, the optical element is mounted in a mounting ring and the mounting ring is mounted via at least one manipulator unit. The manipulator unit has a linear actuating element. The manipulator unit has a manipulator head, a movable manipulator part and a manipulator foot, the manipulator head being connected to the movable manipulator part via a solid body joint. The movable manipulator part is connected to the manipulator foot via an actuator and at least one solid body joint, the linear actuating element being coupled to the manipulator foot and the actuator.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a holding and positioning apparatus for an optical element, a manipulator unit for moving an optical element and a projection objective for semiconductor lithography.
2. Description of the Related Art
A projection objective, as disclosed by U.S. 2002/0167734 A1, for example, contains a beam splitter and a deflection mirror. While a light beam coming from a reticle is deflected by the beam splitter into a radial arm having a further mirror, the light beam coming from the radial arm is let straight through the beam splitter and deflected by the deflection mirror, parallel to the light beam coming from the reticle, into a further objective region.
In order that the light beam from the radial arm can be deflected into the objective region, it must be possible for the mirror plane of the deflection mirror to be displaced accurately into the point of intersection of the optical axes of radial arm and objective region. Furthermore, the normal to the mirror plane must be oriented toward the bisector of the angle which is formed by the optical axis of the radial arm and the optical axis of the objective region. For the positioning of the deflection mirror at the point of intersection of the optical axes of radial arm and objective region, it must be possible for the deflection mirror to be displaced in a translational manner normally with respect to its mirror plane. In order to orient the mirror plane normal to the bisector, it must be possible for the deflection mirror to be tilted about two mutually independent axes in the mirror plane.
By means of a subsequent change in the position or tilt angle of the deflection mirror, an image offset is primarily produced, the image being displaced with respect to the original image as a result. If vibration of the deflection mirror occurs, then the structures to be imaged in a projection objective for semiconductor lithography during the exposure process become blurred. This leads to an undesired loss of contrast and therefore to a reduction in the resolution of the objective.
Projection objectives for semiconductor lithography having holding and positioning devices for optical elements are known from the general prior art.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,986,827 discloses an actuator or a lifting and tilting apparatus for a workpiece. The actuator has three identical spring units, a structure on which the spring units are mounted, and three linear actuators. For the lifting and tilting mechanism, an inner ring, which carries the workpiece and has three bipods, as they are known, is provided, the latter each representing two rods arranged in a V shape and having spring joints at their ends, which are connected to one another at one end and which can transmit forces only along their longitudinal axis. The end of each bipod at which the rods are led together is in each case fastened to a lever, which is mounted in the structure or in the housing such that it can rotate and can be fixed with respect to the housing by setting screws. By means of tilting the respective levers with the setting screws, the inner ring together with the workpiece can both be adjusted vertically and tilted.
The disadvantage with the actuator and the lifting and tilting apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 5,986,827 is the very large amount of space which is required, which results from the separation of bipod and actuating lever. Since, for production reasons, the bipods and the actuating levers have to be assembled from different parts, the bipod spring joints also have to compensate for the additional production and mounting tolerances, for which reason the bipods are relatively soft, so that the workpiece mounted by them can quite easily be excited to undesired oscillations.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,193 discloses a tilting and lifting apparatus having spring elements and at least one pneumatic cylinder. The pneumatic cylinder is arranged between an upper and lower structure and connected to the latter, in order to provide a constant rotational counterforce to the upper structure, which carries its own weight. The upper structure can be tilted and moved in the vertical direction and also relative to the lower structure. The upper structure is carried by the lower structure via three spring elements. Each spring element can move in the vertical direction but is kinematically stiff in the horizontal plane. Each spring element has three arms which are connected to one another in a Z shape. A drive unit is connected both to the spring element and to the lower structure. The upper structure is therefore very stiff in the horizontal direction. By means of an arrangement of this type, the spring elements are used to guide the upper structure in relation to the lower structure.
The disadvantage with such an apparatus is that, as a result of guiding the upper structure by means of the spring elements, the upper structure can be deformed and, as a result of the rectilinear guidance, the angles cannot be compensated.

Holding and positioning apparatus for an optical element