An automatic disk changer includes: a casing having a front wall in which an opening through which a number of disk are inserted into the casing, and a disk inserting slit are formed in such a manner that the slit is adjacent to the opening; a disk inserting swing tray which is swingably provided in the slit; and a locking mechanism which locks the swing tray in association with the mounting of a disk, which has been inserted into the casing with the aid of the swing tray, on a player body with the aid of a loading mechanism and a disk mounting mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an automatic disk changer which picks up a desired one among a plurality of optical disks or magnet-optical disks such as compact disks (CDs) and mini-disks (MDs) which are arranged at predetermined intervals (hereinafter referred to merely as "disks", when applicable) so that data are recorded thereon or reproduced therefrom or erased therefrom.
2. Description of the Related Art
An example of an automatic disk changer of this type has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. Sho. 61-156563. The automatic disk changer comprises a casing in which a disk arranging stand is provided on which a number of disks are arranged at predetermined intervals, and a carriage which is reciprocated along the disk arranging stand. The carriage has: a disk lifting mechanism which is adapted to slightly lift a specified disk among the disks arranged on the disk arranging stand; a loading mechanism which rolls the disk thus lifted to place it on the carriage; a disk mounting mechanism which mounts the disk thus placed on a player body provided on the carriage; and an auxiliary tray mechanism section located adjacent to the disk arranging stand, including an auxiliary tray for inserting only one disk, and a drive mechanism for driving the auxiliary tray back and forth.
In a data reproducing operation with the automatic disk changer, a desired one among a plurality of disks arranged on the disk arranging stand is specified, and the carriage is moved to the disk thus specified. Thereafter, the loading mechanism is operated to clamp the disk and place it on the carriage. Then, the disk mounting mechanism is operated to mount the disk thus placed on the player body provided on the carriage. Under this condition, data are read from the disk with the optical pickup of the player body, thus being reproduced. After the reproduction of data, the disk is returned to its original position on the disk arranging stand with the above-described operations performed in the reverse order.
In the case where it is required to play a disk (to reproduce data from a disk) immediately which has been purchased, the drive mechanism in the auxiliary tray mechanism section is driven to draw the auxiliary tray out of the casing, and the disk is set in the auxiliary tray thus drawn out, and the auxiliary tray together with the disk is retracted into the casing, so that the data are reproduced from the disk in the above-described manner.
In the above-described automatic disk changer, the auxiliary tray mechanism section for playing a particular disk besides a number of disks is intricate in structure, and accordingly high in manufacturing cost.


Systems and methods for an isothermal thin film heater are provided. The isothermal thin film heater mitigates temperature variations in an optical circuit, such as an arrayed-waveguide grating. The thin film heater comprises a conductive plate and at least one heating element trace coupled to the conductive plate for heating the optical circuit. The heating element trace(s) is arranged around a periphery portion of the conductive plate such that concentric arcs are formed by the heating element trace(s). A sensor for sensing the temperature of the thin film heater and/or the optical circuit can also be provided.

As optical networks increasingly carry burgeoning Internet traffic, the need for advanced and efficient optical components rises. Optical communication systems permit the transmission of large quantities of information. Improved optical integrated circuits (OICs) are particularly needed. OICs come in many forms such as 1×N optical splitters, optical switches, wavelength division multiplexers (WDMs), demultiplexers, optical add/drop multiplexers (OADMs), and the like. Optical circuits allow branching, coupling, switching, separating, multiplexing and demultiplexing of optical signals without intermediate transformation between optical and electrical media.
Such optical circuits include planar lightwave circuits (PLCs) having optical waveguides on flat substrates, which can be used for routing optical signals from one of a number of input optical fibers to any one of a number of output optical fibers or optical circuitry. PLCs make it possible to achieve higher densities, greater production volume and more diverse functions than are available with fiber components through employment of manufacturing techniques typically associated with the semiconductor industry. For instance, PLCs contain optical paths known as waveguides formed on a silicon wafer substrate, wherein the waveguides are made from transmissive media which have a higher refractive index than the chip substrate or the outlying cladding layers in order to guide light along the optical path. PLCs are fashioned to integrate multiple components and functionalities into a single optical chip.
One important application of PLCs specifically and OICs generally involves wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) including dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM). DWDM allows optical signals of different wavelengths, each carrying separate information, to be transmitted via a single optical channel or fiber in an optical network. In order to provide advanced multiplexing and demultiplexing (e.g., DWDM) and other functions in such networks, arrayed-waveguide gratings (AWGs) have been developed in the form of PLCs.
A problem with OICs/PLCs is polarization dependence of the waveguides, typically caused by thermal stress induced waveguide birefringence. Such birefringence is experienced in varying degrees with waveguide fabrication process. The difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the waveguide top cladding layer and the substrate causes thermal stress. That stress imposed on the waveguide core in a direction parallel to the surface usually is different from that in a perpendicular direction. When the stress is asymmetric to the waveguide core, birefringence is induced undesirably rotating the optical axes.
Stress induced waveguide birefringence results in a difference of refractive index of the waveguide in the direction between parallel and perpendicular to the waveguide. The birefringence, in turn, causes polarization dependence in the waveguides, where the propagation constant for TE (transverse electric) mode is different from TM (transverse magnetic) mode. Consequently, the device characteristics change in accordance with the polarized state of the light provided to the device. For AWG device, this difference in propagation constants results in a wavelength shift in the spectral response peak or the passband of each wavelength channel. A conventional AWG may exhibit a polarization dependent wavelength shift of 0.1 nm, which is sufficient to undesirably impact the performance of a PLC containing the AWG.
One method of reducing thermal stress induced birefringence and resultant polarization dependent wavelength shift involves matching the coefficient of thermal expansion of the top cladding with the coefficient of thermal expansion of the substrate. This can be accomplished by doping the top cladding with boron, if silicon wafer is used as substrate. However, high boron concentrations in the top cladding lead to corrosion problems.
This polarization sensitivity or dependence in AWGs and other dispersive components can be minimized by bisecting the waveguides with a half waveplate, in a slot between waveguide portions. The half waveplate causes polarization swapping partway along the optical paths of the bisected waveguides, such that any input polarization samples each propagation constant equally and provides essentially no shift in peak wavelength with changes in input polarization. Thus, the spectrum for the TE and TM modes coincide through the use of the half waveplate.
However, there are concerns with the use of half waveplates. For instance, although the conventional use of the half waveplate reduces the polarization sensitivity problems associated with waveguide birefringence, back reflection is increased and the mere presence of a half waveplate bisecting the waveguides generates insertion loss. Insertion loss is the total optical power loss caused by the insertion of an optical component, such as a half waveplate in this instance, into an optic system. A half waveplate bisecting the waveguides of an AWG can introduce an insertion loss of 0.5 dB.
Since most conventional AWG's are extremely sensitive to temperature variations, another method of reducing thermal stress induced birefringence and resultant polarization dependent wavelength shift involves using a heater in conjunction with a temperature sensor to control the temperature of the device, particularly in hot or cold ambient environments. The metric used to quantify the sensitivity of an optical circuit is referred to as the center wavelength shift over temperature. For example, a typical silica based AWG without temperature control has a center wavelength sensitivity of 11.0 picometer per degree C.
The current conventional thin film heaters are designed to provide constant flux heat input. However, a constant flux heater cannot heat the surface of the AWG as uniformly as desired. Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional constant flux heater 100 is shown. The heater 100 configuration contains two heating elements 110 and 120 centered on a metal plate 130. FIG. 2 shows a resulting temperature distribution 200 when the conventional constant flux heater 100 is attached to the metal plate 130 at 1.687 watts of heater power in an ambient temperature of −5° C. The temperature isotherms are circular and relatively tight. For example, as depicted in FIG. 2, different portions of the constant flux heater 100 have different temperature zones 1–17. Thus, the constant flux heater 100 does not contain a uniform temperature area of sufficient size for an AWG. Table 1 illustrates the different temperatures zones 1–17 for the constant flux heater at 1.687 watts and −5° C.
TABLE 1ZoneTemperature (° C.)183.922283.864383.807483.750583.692683.635783.577883.520983.4631083.4051183.3481283.2901383.2331483.1751583.1181683.0611783.003Thus, an AWG coupled to the constant flux heater 100 can experience temperature variations ranging from about 0.570° C. to about 0.919° C.
Another method of reducing temperature variations across an AWG involves changing materials that constitute the AWG (cladding, substrate layer, waveguide material, and the like). One disadvantage to using different materials is that the problems associated with using a constant flux heater design are not addressed. Moreover, the materials often used to minimize the temperature variations can be expensive and difficult to obtain.
Yet another method of reducing temperature variations across an AWG involves using seperate, relatively small heaters, and separating the small heaters across the device. One disadvantage to using separate, small heaters is that the problems associated with using a constant flux heater design are not addressed. In addition, using separate, small heaters often involves differences in resistance from heater to heater that can change the local temperature profile.
Polarization dependence of optical network components, such as polarization dependent wavelength shift in AWGs affect a system's performance, especially when there are many components in the system. Consequently, there remains a need for better solutions to reduce temperature sensitivity in general and polarization dependence in particular in OICs/PLCs such as AWGs.


In a radiation protection arrangement for an x-ray diagnostics installation, at least one x-ray impenetrable strap is pivotably seated at a carrier, this being movable along a guide rail via the carrier. A brake arrangement for the carrier is provided which at least impedes movement of the carrier along the guide rail when the component of the installation on which the radiation protection arrangement is carried is adjusted in position. At least two x-ray impenetrable straps can be provided, each being pivotably seated at a carrier, whereby a formed part is provided in the region of the carrier which effects a diversion of each strap during pivoting. Each strap can be capable of being folded over and fixed in the folded-over condition, so that an opening to the examination region is produced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an arrangement for protecting attending personnel from x-rays emitted by an x-ray source in an x-ray diagnostics installation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
German OS 30 12 463 discloses a radiation protection arrangement for an x-ray aiming device comprised of lead-rubber straps pivotedly suspended at a carrier. The carrier has two carrying elements connected to one another in articulated fashion that are adjustable via button-like guide elements at guide rails secured to the x-ray aiming device. The supporting elements can describe an angle relative to one another. The lead-rubber straps are secured to the two carrying elements of the carrier overlapping one another in the fashion of roofing tiles. The carrying element is guided at a lateral guide rail of the x-ray aiming device and is angled and has comb-like projections at which the lead-rubber straps are seated in articulated fashion. Another lower carrying element is fabricated of an elastically resilient flat material to which the lead-rubber straps are riveted flat at a number of locations. The lead-rubber straps are pivotable around a rotational axis at the comb-like projections of the carrying element. A number of lead-rubber straps are arranged at each carrying element.
German OS 196 19 297 discloses a radiation protection arrangement for an x-ray diagnostics installation that has a carrier at which a lead-rubber flap is pivotably seated. The carrier is adjustable at a guide rail. A carrier is provided for each lead-rubber flap and the carriers are connected chain-like to one another via a connecting element. The lead-rubber straps are seated at the respective carrier pivotable around a transverse axis, so that a good radiation protection is assured both given a horizontal as well as given a vertical alignment of the x-ray aiming device together with an allocated support platform for an examination subject.
When the x-ray aiming device is pivoted from the horizontal into the vertical alignment, then the lead-rubber straps are moved in the guide rail via their carrier as a result of the force of gravity and thus proceed into a limit position.

Radiation protection arrangement for an x-ray diagnostics installation


The invention relates to footwear with a rubber sole and to such rubber sole where the sole is provided with a rubber composition which contains dual precipitated silica moieties. The dual precipitated silica moieties are provided in a sense of being comprised of hydrophilic precipitated silica and hydrophobic precipitated silica.

It is sometimes desirable for footwear to have a rubber sole intended to permit surface engagement comprised of a rubber composition to promote traction of the footwear sole's surface engaged with an external surface (e.g. ground) and to aid in promoting adaptability of the rubber sole over a wide range of atmospheric temperatures.
In practice, a conventional article of footwear includes a combination of two primary elements, namely an upper portion and a sole portion. The sole portion contains a sole with an outer surface intended to permit ground (external surface) engagement. The upper portion of the footwear provides a covering for the foot of the wearer of the footwear and positions the foot with respect to the associated sole portion. The sole portion is secured to a lower part of the upper portion of the footwear and, in practice, is intended to be positioned between the upper portion and external surface to which the sole is intended to permit contact. The sole portion provides traction through its outer surface upon engagement with an external surface and also aids in controlling foot balance and control for the footwear. Accordingly, the upper portion and associated sole portion secured to the upper portion operate in a cooperative combination to provide a footwear structure suitable for one or more ambulatory activities such as, for example, walking, running and sports related activities.
In practice, rubber compositions for rubber soles for footwear may sometimes contain rubber reinforcing filler comprised of precipitated silica (amorphous prepared precipitated silica) or a combination of rubber reinforcing carbon black and precipitated silica which is often comprised primarily, or even almost entirely, of precipitated silica, usually together with a silica coupler compound to aid in coupling the precipitated silica to one or more diene-based elastomers contained in the footwear sole rubber composition.
Here, it is proposed to evaluate providing such footwear sole with a rubber composition containing filler reinforcement in a form of dual precipitated silica moieties comprised of hydrophilic precipitated silica and hydrophobic precipitated silica. The hydrophobic precipitated silica is hydrophilic precipitated silica which has been hydrophobated to render it more compatible with the footwear sole rubber composition.
A hydrophilic precipitated silica is a synthetic amorphous precipitated silica which is hydrophilic (water loving) in nature and therefore not generally easily compatible with diene-based elastomers in rubber compositions. Therefore, it is sometimes desirable to hydrophobate the hydrophilic precipitated silica to make it more compatible with diene-based elastomers in a rubber composition.
A hydrophobic precipitated silica is normally a hydrophilic precipitated silica which has been hydrophobated by treatment with, for example, at least one of a bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) polysulfide (a silica coupling agent) and organomercaptoalkoxysilane (a silica coupling agent) which may optionally include an alkoxysilane (not a silica coupling agent).
While the mechanism is not fully understood, it has been observed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,522,847 that the use of a combination of dual precipitated silica moieties, namely a combination of in situ hydrophobated precipitated silica (particularly when hydrophobated in situ with an organoalkoxysilyl polysulfide or organomercaptoalkoxysilane coupling agent) and hydrophilic precipitated silica, in a diene-based elastomer tire tread composition can beneficially provide a tire tread with one or more physical properties which are different than when using only a hydrophobated precipitated silica or when only using a hydrophilic precipitated silica. For example, it has been observed that a tire tread running surface having a relatively high wet coefficient of friction can be promoted by using such combination of such dual silica moieties as compared to a tire tread containing a significant hydrophobic precipitated silica content (hydrophilic precipitated silica hydrophobated in situ with a silica coupling agent) without the presence of a hydrophilic precipitated silica. Apparently, the hydrophobic precipitated silica acted to enhance desirable physical properties of the tire tread rubber composition, whereas the hydrophilic precipitated silica was observed to not enhance the tread rubber physical properties in the manner of the hydrophobic precipitated silica.
It is considered herein that use of such dual silica moieties in a rubber sole for footwear is novel and a departure from past practice.
In the description of this invention, the term "phr" relates to parts by weight for a material or ingredient per 100 parts by weight elastomer(s)". The terms "rubber" and "elastomer" may be used interchangeably unless otherwise indicated. The terms "cure" and "vulcanize" may be used interchangeably unless otherwise indicated.

Footwear and rubber sole containing dual silica moieties


An image forming apparatus includes a toner storage part which stores a conductive and magnetic toner, a developing part which is accommodated in the toner storage part and generates magnetism, a hollow imaging drum which comprises a drum shaft parallel with the developing part, and a plurality of electrodes to apply electric magnetism to the toner attached to the developing part, a memory installed inside the imaging drum, a drum driver which rotatably drives the imaging drum; a data receiver which receives image data, and a main controller which controls the drum driver to keep stopping the imaging drum and stores the image data received by the data receiver in the memory if printing is requested.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus which is capable of transmitting image data into an imaging drum with high reliability.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus is an electronic device which forms an image on a printing medium with a developing agent. The image forming apparatus is classified into an electrophotographic type which includes processes of electrification, exposure, development, transfer and fixation, and an ink-jet type which jets ink according to a printing method.
A general electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a charger which uniformly charges a surface of a photosensitive drum to a potential and an exposure unit which exposes the charged surface of the photosensitive drum. However, since the image forming apparatus includes the charger and the exposure unit, spatial efficiency is not improved. Also, since processes of development and transfer are performed by a potential difference, development and transfer efficiencies decrease.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,621 discloses an image forming apparatus which uses an imaging drum where a plurality of electrodes are separately disposed on an insulating base instead of a photosensitive drum.
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional image forming apparatus 1 which adopts an imaging drum 20. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a toner storage part 3 which stores a conductive and magnetic toner T, a cassette 4 which is loaded with a printing paper, a pickup part 6 which picks up the printing paper and a pair of feeding parts 7 which carry the printing paper. G indicates a paper guide, 31 indicates a paper preheating belt, and 33 and 35 indicate paper preheating belt driving parts, wherein the paper preheating belt driving part 33 includes a heating unit therein to heat the paper preheating belt. Reference numerals 43, 45 and 47 indicate a transfer part, a fixing part and a discharging part, respectively.
Meanwhile, the toner storage part 3 accommodates a developing part 10, and a toner in the toner storage part 3 is applied to an outer surface of the developing part 10. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the developing part 10 includes a cylinder-shaped sleeve 15 of a conductive material, a plurality of magnets 11 provided inside the sleeve 15, and a magnetic knife 13 installed in a narrow space between the magnets 11 to generate an intensive magnetic field. Accordingly, the toner in the toner storage part 3 is led by the magnetic field by the magnets 11 in the developing part 10 to be applied to the outer circumference surface of the developing part 10.
Meanwhile, the imaging drum 20, as shown in FIG. 2, is disposed parallel with the developing part 10 with respect to a rotation axis thereof. In the imaging drum 20, a plurality of electrodes 23 are separately disposed on a base 21 of an insulating material, and a dielectric layer 22 encompasses the electrodes 23.
Image data to be printed is converted into an image signal to drive the electrodes 23 of the imaging drum 20 by an image processor 5. A slip ring is provided on a drum shaft 24 of the imaging drum 20 so that the image signal is simultaneously transmitted to an electrode driver (not shown) inside the imaging drum 20 during rotation of the imaging drum 20.
The slip ring is provided as a ring-shaped electrode pad on the outer circumference surface of the drum shaft 24 and rotated in contact with a cylinder-shaped stationary brush (not shown), thereby transmitting the image signal to the electrode driver (not shown). The electrode driver applies a voltage corresponding to the image data to the electrodes 23 connected thereto through lead lines 23a according to the image signal. Accordingly, an induced electric charge is generated in the toner T on the developing part 10 and transferred to the imaging drum 20 by electric magnetism. Thus, a toner visible image corresponding to the image data is formed on the imaging drum 20.
However, when the imaging drum 20 is rotated at a high speed, a contact area between the slip ring 23 and the stationary brush (not shown) is worn out or heat is generated in the contact area. Thus, a transmitted image signal may be distorted. In particular, a printing speed may not increase due to signal distortion.
A slip ring with excellent a wear-out resisting property and thermal stability may be used to prevent the signal distortion, but it increases the cost.


A process for the production of sophorolipids by a stock of Candida bombicola or apicola in a medium that contains a source of nitrogen and a substrate is described. The process includes a first fermentation cycle that includes a stage of growth of the stock and a stage of production of a fermentation wort. The following stages are carried out at least once:. a) a portion of the wort is drawn off;. b) a mineral that contains nitrogen is added to the remaining portion to constitute a second medium;. c) a new fermentation cycle is carried out from this second medium, and another wort is produced.. Sophorolipids are recovered from these worts of stages (a) and (c). The duration of the first and new fermentation cycles is at least 30 hours.

Sophorolipids are used in, for example, cosmetology, as antiradical-type agents and anti-elastic agents (WO 95/34282). They can also be used as co-surfactants in a process for clearing soil of pollution (EP-A 605 308).
It was mentioned in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,205,150, 3,312,684 and EP-B 516803 that a quantity of sophorolipids was produced by a fermentation process that employed a Candida bombicola culture.
Sophorolipids are considered to be a mixture of compounds represented by formulas (1) and (2), in which R.sup.1 represents hydrogen or the acetyl group and R.sup.2 represents hydrogen or an alkyl group that contains 1 to 9 carbon atoms, or else R.sup.2 represents hydrogen or a methyl group, when R.sup.3 is an unsaturated chain that contains hydrocarbon with 13 or 17 carbon atoms.
These compounds can be used as cleaning agents and as emulsifiers, and they exhibit excellent hygroscopic properties and hydrophilic properties due to the sophorose portion of each of these molecules and hydrophobic properties that come from the fatty acid portions.
The preparation of sophorolipids is generally done in the presence of a substrate as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,205,150. For example, this substrate can be made of hydrocarbons, saturated or unsaturated fatty acids, acid esters including glycerides, and vegetable oils such as soybean oil.
The substrate feed consists in ensuring, at intervals of about 12 to 24 hours, the discontinuous (batch) injection of a quantity of about 2% by weight relative to the initial reaction volume for each addition. The substrate feed is more advantageously carried out continuously (fed batch), as in the case of the European patent from applicant EP-B 516803. ##STR1## Structure of the sophorolipids: (1): acid forms
(2): lactone forms
The discontinuous fermentation processes with the discontinuous (batch) feed of substrate or continuous (fed batch) feed of substrate have the classic drawbacks of discontinuous fermentation. Thus, the repeated use on an industrial scale of a series of discontinuous operations (by batch or by fed batch) means much down time in the operation of installations for cleaning and sterilization of the fermenter, which have to be repeated between each cultivation. Likewise, the propagation of the productive stock from its state of preservation in a gelose-treated tube, for example, to the production fermenter has to be done each time via an inoculation chain which involves the successive cultivation of the microorganism in fermenters of increasing sizes. This precultivation operation can take several days.
To avoid these drawbacks and constraints, technologists usually resort to continuous cultivation, in which the reactor is fed with culture medium and substrate at equivalent flow rates and the fermented wort is drawn off at an equivalent flow rate. The reaction volume is then constant. Routinely, continuous cultivation is carried out according to the chemostat method (Wang et al. 1979. Continuous Culture. In Fermentation and Enzyme Technology, John Wiley & Sons (eds), pp. 98-137). A nutrient for the culture medium is present in a limiting quantity, so that it is possible to monitor the steady-state concentration of the microorganism in the fermenter and to obtain stable operation of the system. When it is desired to produce metabolites (such as ethanol, for example), two or more fermenters that are arranged in series (bi-stage or multi-stage system) are generally used. In the first, the growth of the microorganism (first fermentation stage) is carried out with a medium that contains a limiting nutritive element (nitrogen, phosphorus), while the excretion of metabolites is carried out in the second reactor into which the fermentation wort from the first stage is admitted. Completely unexpectedly, it was observed that the stock that was placed under these production conditions progressively and quickly lost its excretion properties and that productivity was very inferior to that observed with fed batch.
Also studied, in Chem. Abstr., Vol. 122, No. 15, Apr. 10, 1995, No. 185450, was a fermentation process pertaining to the production of sophorolipids, so-called "self cycling fermentation (SCF)" during which, at the end of a period of time that corresponds to the growth period of the stock, half the fermentation wort obtained, which is replaced with fresh medium, is drawn off (see J. Ferment. Bio Eng. 1995, 79(2), p. 146, col. 1, 1.11 before the end, combined with the document Chem. Abstr.).
It is recommended that the cycle length after the growth period of the stock (doubling time) be extended by about 2 hours, so that each new cycle hardly exceeds 6 hours. With this approach, to be sure, the production capability of the stock is maintained, but the production of sophorolipids is very low, and it is very difficult to recover them short of extracting them with a solvent, which complicates the process and makes it even more expensive.
Other documents, such as Chem. Abstr., Vol. 119, No. 3, Jul. 19, 1993, No. 26744, Patent Applications FR-A.2 670 798 and FR-A. 2 692 593 describe a process for the production of sophorolipids by fed batch that includes a fermentation cycle.
Finally, Patent Applications DD-A-252 002 and DD-A-254 959 relate to cyclic fermentation processes for the production of proteins, steroids, and antibiotics by fungi and bacteria, whereby these processes neither describe nor suggest the production from yeast of glycolipids, which are products that are very different from those mentioned above.

Process for the production of sophorolipids by cyclic fermentation with feed of fatty acid esters or oils


A method for acoustically sensing an area is described. An acoustic transmit pulse is transmitted into the area by an acoustic transducer and a received signal is acquired with the aid of the transducer, in order to receive the transmit pulse reflected back from the area. Within a post-pulse oscillation time of the transducer, which directly follows the emission of the transmit pulse, the actual phase response of the received signal is determined. In the event the actual phase response deviates from a predefined setpoint phase response, an object is detected within the area. Also described is a device for acoustically sensing an area, which is designed to carry out the method.

It is particularly well-known from the automotive sector to use pulse-echo methods to sense the driving environment. For example, in the case of parking-assistance systems, ultrasonic transducers are used which emit a scanning pulse and receive it again. The distance between the transducer and the reflecting object is obtained from the echo time.
The mass and the springiness of an acoustic transducer first of all define a self-resonant frequency of the transducer, and secondly, form mechanical energy stores. An oscillatory system results which oscillates post-pulse even after the excitation has ended. The receiving cycle begins after this post-pulse oscillation process has ended. Thus, the post-pulse oscillation defines a dead time during which no receiving is carried out, that is honored when switching over from the transmit mode to the receive mode of the transducer.
For example, German Published Patent Appln. No. 10 2004 020426 mentions the dead time, which results owing to the post-pulse oscillation, as a problem which limits a minimal measuring distance downwards. The citation mentions a distance of 20 cm as minimal measuring distance or measuring limit. In this context, the publication points out that echo signals of shorter distance merge with the post-pulse oscillation and can no longer be detected.
To be sure, it is known to reduce the post-pulse oscillation by additional mechanical damping. However, the overall sensitivity of the transducer is thereby decreased, which is why this measure can only be used to a limited extent.
Nevertheless, there is frequently the desire to provide distance sensors, especially for the automotive sector, which are also able to sense objects at shorter distances.

Method and device for acoustically sensing an area


A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Tamar Red Bicolor’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant growth habit; freely branching and freely flowering habit; dark green-colored foliage; and large rounded light red and pink bi-colored flowers.

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Tamar Red Bicolor'.
The new Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new Impatiens cultivars with large rounded flowers and attractive foliage and flower coloration.
The new Impatiens originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in 2002 with a proprietary seedling selection of Impatiens hawkeri, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with the Impatiens hawkeri cultivar Harmony Spicy Peach, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Tamar Red Bicolor was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings in De Lier, The Netherlands since 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


The invention is directed to a method of regulating a flotation system having an inflow quantity of suspension flow dependent on production demands, including a primary flotation stage and a secondary flotation stage where the secondary flotation stage treats the froth of the primary stage, transporting de-aereated froth from the primary flotation stage to a collection vessel which is in fluid communication the secondary flotation stage; recycling suspension flow from the secondary flotation cells of the secondary flotation stage in part to an inlet of the primary flotation stage, and in part to an inlet of the secondary flotation stage, and regulating the level of de-aereated froth in the collection vessel by controlling the amount of suspension flow recycled from said secondary flotation stage to the inlet of the secondary flotation stage.

The present invention concerns the regulation of a flotation system.
A difficulty with conventional systems consists in the regulation of the two flotation stages because of the amount of froth produced and the bubbly suspension to be flotated. With known regulation methods it is necessary to constantly monitor the amounts of cell overflow at the point of origin and to effect a correction of the level set values.

Method of regulating a flotation system with a primary and secondary stage


An electrical connector for use with an electronic package, includes an insulative housing with a number of contacts receiving in the insulative housing and a fastening mechanism assembled to the insulative housing adapt to secure the electronic package to the electrical connector. The fastening mechanism includes a cover with a base plate and a pair of sidewalls extending downwardly from the base plate. The cover has an opening in the center of the base plate and a number of pressing portions extending into the opening for pressing the electronic package contact with the contacts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector with robust stiffener in which a newly designed cover is provided so as to ensure efficient heat dissipation for a central process unit (CPU) mounted thereon during servicing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show an electrical connector comprising an insulative housing (not shown). The insulative housing has a top surface for receiving an electronic package 2′. A metallic reinforcing plate 3′ is surrounding the insulative housing. A cover 4′ is pivotally mounted on a first end of the stiffener 3′. The cover 4′ can be pivotally rotated between a closed position in which the CPU package is pressed to in close contact with the contacts of the socket, and an opened position in which the CPU socket can be removed therefrom. A lever 5′ is pivotally mounted on a second end of the metallic reinforcing plate 3′. The lever 5′ has a locking portion 51′ for locking the cover 4′ in the closed position.
The cover 4′ of the above-described electrical connector is detailedly described as follows. The cover 4′ has a rectangular shape and formed by stamping and bending from a metal sheet. The cover 4′ has an opening at a center thereof and with a front end and a rear end. Between the front end and rear end, the cover 4′ is bent downward to form a pair of sidewalls for pressing the electronic package 2′ assembled within the electrical connector.
In general, a top surface of the cover 4′ is lower than a top surface of the electronic package 2′ such that a heatsink can be closely in contact with an upper surface of the CPU to keep a robust heat dissipation. However, bending down of the sidewalls to form pressing portions 45′ will cause opposite ends of the sidewalls project upwardly thereby creating an uneven surface. Thus, the cover 4′ will prevent the heat sink device (not shown) from in close contact with the top surface L′ of the electronic package 2′ and result in a poor heat dissipating for the heat sink device. Therefore, the cover must be well controlled so that the opposite ends of the sidewalls are lower than the top surface L′ of the electronic package 2′.

Electrical connector with fastening mechanism


A lawn mower, wherein the cutter system of the lawn mower needs to judge whether the start pulse and the start signal of the cutter switch are valid at the same time under the condition that the seat switch is closed, and the cutter system will be started, only the two conditions are met at the same time, thus not only improving the safety when the cutter system is started, but also the startup of the cutter system can be completed automatically, saving time and labor, and reducing the operator's operation difficulty.

Lawn mower is a dedicated equipment for mechanically mowing the lawn. Because it is a dedicated equipment, the lawn mower has a sharp blade. The sharp blade is in a high-speed rotation state when working. Therefore, in order to ensure safety, the lawn mower must be able to start normally under restricted safety conditions, otherwise it will cause a danger that is difficult to predict.
At present, the starting condition of the cutter switch of a mower on the market is: the whole machine is turned off if the driver leaves when the cutter is in the starting state, and the whole machine is restarted to continue to work after the driver sits on the seat again, the operation is relatively cumbersome, and frequent startup will also affect efficiency.
In view of this, it is indeed necessary to make further improvements to the current startup of a cutter switch to solve the above problems.


A multi-blender system for blending liquid and solid particulates together to prepare a fracturing fluid, the blender system can include a plurality of independently operable blender units each having components that can operate with either blender unit. Each component may be a modular blender component mounted to respective independent frames. The independent frames are configured to be independently removable, replaceable and movable to multiple positions in the blender system. In some aspects the multi-blender system can operate at different sand concentrations, instantaneously adjust flow rate to one or more of the components in either blender unit, provide control redundancy, and may continue to operate despite a failure of one of the major components.

Fracturing is an oilfield operation that stimulates production of hydrocarbons, such that the hydrocarbons may more easily or readily flow from a subsurface formation to a well. For example, a fracturing system may be configured to fracture a formation by pumping a fracturing fluid into a well at high pressure and high flow rates. Some fracturing fluids may take the form of a slurry including water, proppants, and/or other additives, such as thickening agents and/or gels. The slurry may be forced via one or more pumps into the formation at rates faster than can be accepted by the existing pores, fractures, faults, or other spaces within the formation. As a result, pressure builds rapidly to the point where the formation may fail and may begin to fracture. By continuing to pump the fracturing fluid into the formation, existing fractures in the formation are caused to expand and extend in directions farther away from a well bore, thereby creating flow paths to the well bore. The proppants may serve to prevent the expanded fractures from closing when pumping of the fracturing fluid is ceased or may reduce the extent to which the expanded fractures contract when pumping of the fracturing fluid is ceased. Once the formation is fractured, large quantities of the injected fracturing fluid are allowed to flow out of the well, and the production stream of hydrocarbons may be obtained from the formation.
Systems for successfully completing a fracturing operation can be extensive and complex, as shown in FIG. 1, for example. Water from tanks 1 and gelling agents dispensed by a chemical unit 2 are mixed in a hydration unit 3. The discharge from hydration unit 3, along with sand carried on conveyors 4 from sand tanks 5, is fed into a blending unit 6. Blending unit 6 mixes the gelled water and sand into a slurry. The slurry is discharged through low-pressure hoses 7 which convey it into two or more low-pressure lines 8 in a frac manifold 9. The low-pressure lines 8 in frac manifold 9 feed the slurry to an array of pumps 10, perhaps as many as a dozen or more, through low-pressure "suction" hoses 11. The chemical unit 2, hydration unit 3 and blending unit 6 may be mounted on a trailer that may be transported by trucks.
Pumps 10 take the slurry and discharge it at high pressure through individual high-pressure "discharge" lines 12 into two or more high-pressure lines or "missiles" 13 on frac manifold 9. Missiles 13 flow together, i.e., they are manifolded on frac manifold 9. Several high-pressure flow lines 14 run from the manifolded missiles 13 to a "goat head" 15. Goat head 15 delivers the slurry into a "zipper" manifold 16 (also referred to by some as a "frac manifold"). Zipper manifold 16 allows the slurry to be selectively diverted to, for example, one of two well heads 17. Once fracturing is complete, flow back from the fracturing operation discharges into a flowback manifold 18 which leads into flowback tanks 19.
In the event of a failure of a component of the blending unit 6, a need to perform maintenance on a component of the blender, or a need to change a component of the blender, for example due to a change in the job requirements, it becomes necessary to exchange that component for a new component. During this exchanging process, the fracturing operation must be suspended, thereby increasing costs. Also, traditionally many components are located in a fixed position on the blender. For example, traditionally the hopper has been mounted on a hydraulic lift at the rear of the blender. This limits the flexibility of the design of the hydraulic fracturing system. For example, traditionally, the suction side and the discharge side have been limited to be positioned on one of the driver's side and the passenger side.
Typically, hydraulic fracturing blenders utilize a single suction pump, tub, and discharge pump. If one of the components has a failure, the entire blender must be shut down and, in turn, the entire fracturing operation. This may lead to costly downtime and even cause the well to be sanded. This occurs when the operation cannot flush the well and sand is left in the wellbore. If enough sand is left in the wellbore, fracturing operations cannot continue until the sand is flushed out using coiled tubing or a service rig.
A drop in the boost pressure in the pumps also may cause cavitation, which may lead to failures such as fluid end cracking and power failure.


In order to realize a high-speed bit-built processing for superimposing pixel data of an image on to a video-memory, only substantial pixel data having color values different from a designated transparent color of a line of the image are stored in a line buffer (109) together with offset values of .chi.-addresses in the line of the substantial pixel data stored in a offset buffer (110). A memory controller (111) reads out the substantial pixel data from the line buffer in order, and writes them in a video memory (112) at a line according to writing addresses calculated by a writing address generator (106) referring to the offset values stored in the offset buffer corresponding to the substantial pixel data.

The present invention relates to a graphic processor used for computer graphics, and more particularly to that and a bit-built method applied therein for superimposing bit-map data of an image on a video memory.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a graphic processor disclosed in a Japanese patent application laid open as a Provisional Publication No. 311382/'89 developed for overwriting or superimposing bit-map data of a line pattern on a video memory, comprising;
a line pattern shift register 901 of 16 bits wherein are prepared bitmap data of a line pattern for drawing a line image, which are shifted up bit by bit synchronized with a shift clock, logic of a bit shifted out being returned as a lowest significant bit to the line pattern shift register 901, PA1 a repeat counter 902 consisting of a four-bit down-counter for supplying the shift clock when its count value becomes `0`, PA1 a zoom register 903 wherein a magnification factor is delivered through a data-bus DB, the magnification factor being supplied to the repeat counter 902 as a load clock, PA1 a memory controller 904 for outputting a count clock signal to be supplied to the repeat counter 902 in order to control timings of data read-out from the line pattern shift register 901, and outputting a write enable signal WE (enable at logic LOW) of the video memory (not shown in FIG. 1) in order to control timings of data writing into the video memory, PA1 a transparency register 905 wherein registered a transparency flag indicating whether the bit-map data are to be superimposed or overwritten written on the video memory, and PA1 a transparency controller 906 having a gate 907 and a selector 908, the gate 907 outputting AND logic of each bit shifted out from the line pattern shift register 901 and inverse logic of the write enable signal WE, and the selector 908 selecting output of the gate 907 when the transparency flag in the transparency register 905 is ON and selecting inverse logic of the write enable signal WE when the transparency flag is OFF. PA1 discriminating whether data of a pixel of the image are the same or not with data of a designated transparent color; and PA1 writing data of the pixel into a line buffer in order only when data of the pixel are discriminated to be different from data of the designated transparent color. PA1 writing data of a pixel of the image in a line buffer at an address indicated by an address value; PA1 discriminating whether data of the pixel are the same or not with data of a designated transparent color; and PA1 incrementing the address value only when data of the pixel are discriminated to be different from data of the designated transparent color. PA1 a video memory for storing pixel data of the first and the second images; PA1 a reading address generator for generating a reading .chi.-address and a reading .psi.-address for reading out pixel data of the first image from the video memory, said reading .chi.-address beginning with a first beginning .chi.-address and incremented every time when data of a pixel are read out when data of each line of the first image are read out from the video memory; PA1 an offset counter for counting an offset value of the reading .chi.-address of data of each of pixels read out of a line of the first image from the first beginning .chi.-address; PA1 a transparent color register for storing data of a designated transparent color; PA1 a transparency discriminator for discriminating whether data of a pixel read out of the video memory are the same or not with data of the designated transparent color; PA1 a line buffer capable for storing pixel data of one line of the first image; PA1 an offset buffer for storing the offset value of each of pixels whereof data are stored at corresponding addresses of the line buffer; PA1 a buffer controller, said buffer controller controlling the offset counter to increment the offset value every time when data of a pixel of a line of the first image are read out and to reset the offset value to zero every time when data of a line of the first image are read out, and storing data of the pixel and the offset value into the line buffer and the offset buffer, respectively, in order when data of the pixel are discriminated to be different from data of the designated transparent color by the transparency discriminator; PA1 a writing address generator for generating a writing .chi.-address and a writing .psi.-address for writing data of each of pixels stored in the line buffer, said writing .chi.-address obtained by adding, to a second beginning .chi.-address, the offset value stored in the offset buffer corresponding to data of said each of pixels stored in the line buffer and read out in order to be written in the video memory; and PA1 a memory controller for reading out pixel data of the first image line by line according to the reading .chi.-address and the reading .psi.-address when controlled in a reading mode, and writing data of each of pixels read out in order of the line buffer into the video memory according to the writing .chi.-address and the writing .psi.-address in a writing mode. PA1 a video memory for storing pixel data of the first and the second images; PA1 a reading address generator for generating a reading .chi.-address and a reading .psi.-address for reading out pixel data of the first image from the video memory, said reading .chi.-address beginning with a first beginning .chi.-address and incremented every time when data of a pixel are read out when data of each line of the first image are read out from the video memory; PA1 a transparent color register for storing data of a designated transparent color; PA1 a transparency discriminator for discriminating whether data of a pixel read out of the video memory are the same or not with data of the designated transparent color; PA1 a burst counter for counting an offset value of the reading .chi.-address of data of each of pixels read out of a line of the first image from said reading .chi.-address of data of a preceding pixel which are discriminated to be different from data of the designated transparent color by the transparency discriminator, said offset value initialized to one at beginning of data read-out of each line of the first image; PA1 a line buffer capable for storing pixel data of one line of the first image; PA1 an offset buffer for storing said offset value of each of pixels whereof data are stored at corresponding addresses of the line buffer; PA1 a buffer controller, said buffer controller storing data of each pixel of a line of the first image and the offset value of said each pixel into the line buffer and the offset buffer, respectively, according a line address, incrementing the line address and controlling the burst counter to initialize the offset value to one when data of said each pixel are discriminated to be different from data of the designated transparent color, and controlling the burst counter to increment the offset value when data of said each pixel are discriminated to be the same with data of the designated transparent color; PA1 a writing address generator for generating a writing .chi.-address and a writing .psi.-address for writing data of each of pixels stored in said line buffer, said writing .chi.-address obtained by accumulating, onto a second beginning .chi.-address, said offset value stored in the offset buffer corresponding to data of said each of pixels stored in the line buffer and read out in order to be written in the video memory; and PA1 a memory controller for reading out pixel data of said first image line by line according the reading .chi.-address and the reading .psi.-address when controlled in a reading mode, and writing data of each of pixels read out in order of the line buffer into the video memory according to the writing .chi.-address and the writing .psi.-address in a writing mode.
By way of the load clock, a magnification factor, `2` for example, is set in the repeat counter 902 as the reset value to be count down according to the count clock signal from the memory controller 904. Since the line pattern shift register 901 is shifted up when the count value of the repeat counter becomes `0`, the line pattern shift register 901 outputs the same bit during (the magnification factor +1) cycles, `3` cycles in the example, of the count clock, for zooming the line image.
In case the transparency flag is OFF, output of the line pattern shift register 901, that is, the repeated bit-map data is sequentially written in the video memory, according to the write enable signal WE output from the memory controller 904 and selected by the selector 908. When the transparency flag is ON, however, the selector 908 selects and outputs the output of the gate 907 instead of the write enable signal WE that becomes disable when bit logic of the repeated bit-map data is OFF, namely, indicating a transparent pixel.
Thus, line by line, bit-map data of a superimposed image are written in the video memory of the prior art, when the transparency flag is ON.
However, the superimposed image is obtained by writing in vain in the prior art, as above described, the bit-map data indicating transparent pixels of the image, wasting unnecessary processing time as much as needed for writing substantial data indicating pixels to be overwritten.

Graphic processor and a bit-built method applied therein


There is disclosed a method for serving radio network subsystem relocation from a first radio network controller to a second radio network controller for an established call to a user equipment, comprising transmitting a transmission power control combination index of a radio link established between the user equipment and the first radio network controller to the second radio network controller.

In the field of mobile communications, it is well know to provide for the relocation of the network access point of an established call to a user equipment as the user equipment roams in the network.
A TPC (transmission power control) CI (combination index) is an integer value in the range 0 to 5. Each time a radio link is established, a TPC CI is allocated for the link. A radio link is a connection from a radio network controller (RNC) to a user equipment (UE) via a base station. All radio links established via a given base station (Node B) must have the same TPC CI. If a new radio link is established using a Node B which has no previous radio links, then a new non-used TPC CI must be allocated for that Node B.
The UE uses the TPC CI to control the power for different radio links. Radio links from the same Node B are handled as a group from a power control point of view.
Whilst all radio links established via a given Node B have the same TPC CI, the various radio links established through the Node B are uniquely identified by a Primary common pilot channel (CPICH) info.
The TPC CI is established between the radio network controller (RNC) and the user equipment (UE), and it is not known by the base stations. The TPC CI is always allocated by the RNC that establishes a radio link.
When RNC relocation occurs, the new RNC does not know the TPC CI(s) of the radio links that were established by the original RNC, despite the fact that these radio links are transferred to the new RNC.
The TPC CI has a very limited value range, being an integer value in the range 0 to 5. Thus, when a new RNC starts to establish a new radio link to a new base station/user equipment after relocation it may accidentally allocate a TPC CI that is already in use. This creates a situation where the UE has the incorrect power control information. If the new RNC allocates a TPC CI that is already in use by another RNC, then the UE will assume that the new radio link is under the control of the same base station as the old radio link(s).
It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved technique for serving radio network subsystem relocation.


A hazardous gas abatement system decontaminates an exit gas stream containing global warming gases using an electrical heater and a water scrubber. One or more top flow hazardous gas inlets introduce hazardous gases into a heater compartment. Air or oxygen is introduced into a separate chamber for dynamic oxidation and cooling. The streams are mixed and oxygen reacts with the hazardous gases. Solid particulates from the reaction are removed by a filter in a quick disconnect bottom chamber. Filtered exhaust gases flow upward in an exhaust chamber surrounding the heater compartment and through water spray scrubbers. A cleaning ring mounted on an eccentric rod cleans particles from the outside of the internal heater, and the inside of the external heater. An air cylinder drives the eccentric rod and cleaning ring down and up between the heaters and stores the ring above the gas inlets.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for hazardous gas abatement and emission control. Contaminated gas is decomposed, cleaned and neutralized. The present invention is particularly useful for global warming gases and other hard to decompose gases. These gases may include perflourocarbons (PFCs), tetraflouromethane (CF4), hexaflouroethane (C2F6) and many other ozone depleting global warming and greenhouse gases. The present system is also useful for decomposing the exit stream of a semiconductor process by removing gases such as arsine (AsH3) or phosphine (PH3). High temperatures are required to clean, neutralize and decompose these types of gases.
Existing systems do not provide adequate heating to effectively cleanse exit gas streams of global warming gases. Previous gas cleaning systems include controlled decomposition/oxidation (CDO) and others. These previous systems suffered from low efficiency in performance and considerable downtime of equipment during maintenance. Industries, such as the semiconductor industry, have a considerable need for gas cleansing systems in order to comply with environmental emissions codes and regulations.
In existing gas cleaning systems heaters are used. However, the heaters insufficiently heat all of the gases, and the heaters become fouled and unable to efficiently transfer heat. They also become so burdened with particulate contaminants or reaction products as to interfere with free flow of gases through the cleaning systems. Periodic cleaning of the heaters and the chambers becomes necessary, which requires shutting down of the systems or taking the treatment apparatus off line, resulting in duplicate systems and greater expense. If the systems are not cleaned contaminated gases will be released.
Needs exist for improved apparatus and systems for cleaning heater compartments in contaminated gas treatment methods and apparatus.
Needs still exist for improved systems for neutralizing, pacifying and cleaning contaminated chemical process exhaust and waste gases.
Needs exist for improved systems, which efficiently neutralize chemical process exhaust gas hazardous components and contaminates. The system should ensure complete or substantially complete neutralization and pacification of any out flowing contaminant gas in the gas stream to be neutralized. Needs exist for systems that are simple and inexpensive to build and to operate and that do not require a fuel source to operate.
Needs exist for systems that are capable of handling spent process gas streams that have contaminate gas concentrations from trace to substantial amounts in volumes of cubic centimeters to several tens or hundreds of liters per minute.


The synthesis of a crystalline aluminophosphate or silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve having a chabazite-type framework type is conducted in the presence of an organic directing agent having the formula (I)[R1R2R3N—R4]+X−  (I)wherein R1, R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and hydroxyalkyl groups having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R4 is selected from the group consisting of 4- to 8-membered cycloalkyl groups, optionally substituted by 1 to 3 alkyl groups having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; 4- to 8-membered heterocyclic groups having from 1 to 3 heteroatoms, said heterocyclic groups being optionally substituted by 1 to 3 alkyl groups having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and the heteroatoms in said heterocyclic groups being selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S; and aromatic groups optionally substituted by 1 to 3 alkyl groups, said alkyl groups having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; and X− is an anion.

The conversion of oxygenates to olefins (OTO) is currently the subject of intense research because it has the potential for replacing the long-standing steam cracking technology that is today the industry-standard for producing world scale quantities of ethylene and propylene. The very large volumes involved suggest that substantial economic incentives exist for alternate technologies that can deliver high throughputs of light olefins in a cost efficient manner. Whereas steam cracking relies on non-selective thermal reactions of naphtha range hydrocarbons at very high temperatures, OTO exploits catalytic and micro-architectural properties of acidic molecular sieves under milder temperature conditions to produce high yields of ethylene and propylene from methanol.
Current understanding of the OTO reactions suggests a complex sequence in which three major steps can be identified: (1) an induction period leading to the formation of an active carbon pool (alkyl-aromatics), (2) alkylation-dealkylation reactions of these active intermediates leading to products, and (3) a gradual build-up of condensed ring aromatics. OTO is therefore an inherently transient chemical transformation in which the catalyst is in a continuous state of change. The ability of the catalyst to maintain high olefin yields for prolonged periods of time relies on a delicate balance between the relative rates at which the above processes take place. The formation of coke-like molecules is of singular importance because their accumulation interferes with the desired reaction sequence in a number of ways. In particular, coke renders the carbon pool inactive, lowers the rates of diffusion of reactants and products, increases the potential for undesired secondary reactions and limits catalyst life.
Over the last two decades, many catalytic materials have been identified as being useful for carrying out the OTO reactions. Crystalline molecular sieves are the preferred catalysts today because they simultaneously address the acidity and morphological requirements for the reactions. Some of the most useful molecular sieves for oxygenate converting reactions are the aluminophosphates and metalloaluminophosphates, such as the silicoaluminophosphates (SAPO's). There are a wide variety of SAPO molecular sieves known in the art, of these the more important examples include SAPO-5, SAPO-11, SAPO-18, SAPO-34, SAPO-35, SAPO-41, and SAPO-56. For the OTO process, SAPO molecular sieves having the CHA framework and especially SAPO-34 are particularly important catalysts.
The CHA framework type has a double six-ring structure in an ABC stacking arrangement. The pore openings of the structure are defined by eight member rings that have a diameter of about 4.0 Å, and cylindrical cages within the structure of approximately 10×6.7 Å ("Atlas of Zeolite Framework Types", 2001, 5 th Edition, p. 96). Other SAPO molecular sieves of the CHA framework type include SAPO-44, SAPO-47 and ZYT-6.
The synthesis of SAPO molecular sieves is a complicated process. There are a number of variables that need to be controlled in order to optimize the synthesis in terms of purity, yield and quality of the SAPO molecular sieve produced. A particularly important variable is the choice of synthesis template, which usually determines which SAPO framework type is obtained from the synthesis. U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,440 teaches that "not all templating agents suitably employed in the preparation of certain species . . . are suitable for the preparation of all members of the generic class." It is also well known that the same template may induce the formation of different framework types.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,871, the synthesis of a wide variety of SAPO materials of various framework types are described with a number of specific examples. Also disclosed are a large number of possible organic templates, with some specific examples. In the specific examples a number of CHA framework type materials are described. The preparation of SAPO-34 is reported, using tetraethylammonium hydroxide (TEAOH), or isopropylamine, or mixtures of TEAOH and dipropylamine (DPA) as templates. Also disclosed in this patent is a specific example that utilizes cyclohexylamine in the preparation of SAPO44. Although other template materials are described in this patent there are no other templates indicated as being suitable for preparing SAPO's of the CHA framework type. Certain aminoalcohols are mentioned, including triethanolamine, N-methyldiethanolamine, N-methylethanolamine, N,N-dimethylethanolamine and N,N-diethylethanolamine, as possible templates for SAPO molecular sieves. Of these materials, N,N-diethylethanolamine is shown to produce SAPO-5, which is of the AFI framework type. For the other aminoalcohols no indication is provided as to which SAPO or which framework type may be obtained through their use.
Since the synthesis of SAPO-34 was reported in U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,871, tetraethylammonium hydroxide (TEAOH) either alone, or in combination with dipropylamine (DPA), has been the preferred template for preparing SAPO-34. In fact, TEAOH is currently the only quaternary ammonium template known for use in the synthesis of SAPO-34 and other CHA framework type silicoaluminophosphates. However, there are problems associated with the use of TEAOH and DPA. When used alone, TEAOH affords a limited range of synthesis parameters. For example, under certain conditions TEAOH will also template the synthesis of SAPO-18 which has the AEI framework type. TEAOH is thus relatively intolerant to synthesis condition variations. TEAOH is sometimes combined with DPA. However, DPA has a low boiling point (110° C.) resulting in the need for production facilities that can handle high pressures. In certain countries, the use of DPA requires special regulatory authorizations due to its toxicity. Also, DPA is an aggressive template and is often implicated in re-dissolution of the silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve during its synthesis, resulting in poor quality crystalline product due to surface pitting of the crystals. Finally, it has proved difficult up to now to make pure phase CHA silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieves with a low silica to alumina ratio.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,871, it was reported that SAPO44 was obtained "as the major phase" using cyclohexylamine as a template. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,415, relatively pure CHA SAPO-44 was obtained using the same template but with control of the ratio of template to aluminum source and the ratio of phosphorus source to aluminum source. In EP 0 993 867, it was reported that the use of methylbutylamine resulted in SAPO-47 and the use of cyclohexylamine resulted in impure SAPO-44. Methylbutylamine has an even lower boiling point, at 91° C., than DPA.
In the art various attempts have been made to improve the synthesis of AlPO4 and SAPO molecular sieves. One particular desideratum has been lowering the silicon content of the molecular sieve without introducing impurity phases, since it is known that low silicon content has the effect of reducing propane formation and decreasing catalyst deactivation See, for example, Wilson et al., Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 29, 117-126, 1999. One approach to lowering silicon content has been the addition of a source of fluoride ions to the synthesis mixture.
Thus in U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,684, morpholine and tetraethylammonium hydroxide were found to template the production of SAPO-34 when in the presence of HF. According to this reference, the use of HF in combination with the organic template results in silicoaluminophosphates which have improved thermal and hydrolytic stability. In a Ph.D. thesis (E. H. Halvorsen, University of Oslo, 1996), it was reported that low silica SAPO-34, designated as UiO-S4, was produced using TEAOH template in combination with HF.
However, fluoride based syntheses have the inherent disadvantages that the use of HF presents health and safety problems and requires special processing facilities. There is, therefore, a need for alternative processes for producing pure phase, low silicon, CHA type silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieves and especially for processes which can operate in the absence of fluoride.
U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2003/0232006, published Dec. 18, 2003, discloses a method of synthesizing pure phase CHA framework type silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieves having relatively low silicon content using synthesis templates that contain at least one dimethylamino moiety, selected from one or more of N,N-dimethylethanolamine, N,N-dimethylpropanolamine, N,N-dimethylbutanolamine, N,N-dimethylheptanolamine, N,N-dimethylhexanolamine, N,N-dimethylethylenediamine, N,N-dimethylbutylenediamine, N,N-dimethylheptylenediamine, N,N-dimethylhexylenediamine 1-dimethylamino-2-propanol, N,N-dimethylethylamine, N,N-dimethylpropylamine, N,N-dimethylpentylamine, N,N-dimethylhexylamine and N,N-dimethylheptylamine. The synthesis is conducted in the absence of fluoride.
U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2004/0253163, published Dec. 16, 2004, discloses the synthesis of silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieves having the CHA framework type employing a template having the formula:R1R2N—R3 wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and hydroxyalkyl groups having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and R3 is selected from the group consisting of 4- to 8-membered cycloalkyl groups, optionally substituted by 1 to 3 alkyl groups having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; and 4- to 8-membered heterocyclic groups having from 1 to 3 heteroatoms, said heterocyclic groups being optionally substituted by 1 to 3 alkyl groups having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and the heteroatoms in said heterocyclic groups being selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S. Preferably, the template is selected from N,N-dimethyl-cyclohexylamine, N,N-dimethyl-methyl-cyclohexylamine, N,N-dimethyl-cyclopentylamine, N,N-dimethyl-methyl-cyclopentylamine, N,N-dimethyl-cycloheptylamine, N,N-dimethyl-methylcycloheptylamine, and most preferably is N ,N-dimethyl-cyclohexylamine. The synthesis can be effected with or without the presence of fluoride ions and can produce CHA framework type silicoaluminophosphates with a low Si/Al ratio.

Synthesis of molecular sieves having the chabazite framework type and their use in the conversion of oxygenates to olefins


The present disclosure provides an OLED display substrate, a fabricating method thereof and a display device. The OLED display substrate includes a substrate; an inorganic layer and a light-emitting unit on substrate, light-emitting unit being on a side of inorganic layer away from substrate and including a light-emitting structure; a camera on a side of substrate away from inorganic layer, and light-emitting unit being not in orthographic projection region; a protective layer in orthographic projection region and on side of inorganic layer away from substrate, wherein protective layer is configured to protect inorganic layer in orthographic projection region from warping or cracking in a process of removing part of light-emitting structure in orthographic projection region by laser cutting.

An Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display panel has the advantages of self-luminescence, wide viewing angle, vivid color, ultra-thin thickness, flexibility, and the like, and is widely applied in the display field. With the development of technologies such as narrow bezel and the like, the screen-to-body ratio of the OLED display panel is higher and higher at present, and the real full-screen technology is expected to be realized.

OLED display substrate comprising camera and protective layer, fabricating method thereof, and display device

CHONGQING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


An illumination system, such as might be used for illuminating a projection system, includes at least a first source of incoherent light capable of generating light in a first wavelength range. The system includes at least one active chromophore layer, sandwiched by transparent materials into a multi-layer body. They active chromophore layer emits light in a second wavelength range, different from the first wavelength range, when illuminated by light in the first wavelength range. The multi-layer body has an extraction area and at least some of the light at the second wavelength is internally reflected within the body to the extraction area.

The brightness of illumination sources is typically limited by the brightness of the light source used. For example, an illumination source that uses light emitting diodes (LEDs) typically has a brightness, measured in power per unit area per unit solid angle, the same as or less than that of the LEDs. The optics that collect the light from the LEDs will, at best, conserve the étendue of the LED source.
In some applications of illumination sources, such as projector illumination, illumination by LEDs is not a competitive option because the brightness of the LEDs that are currently available is too low. This is particularly a problem for the generation of green illumination light, a region of the visible spectrum where the semiconductor materials used in LEDs are less efficient at generating light.
Other types of light sources may be able to produce a sufficiently bright beam of light but also suffer from other drawbacks. For example, a high-pressure mercury lamp is typically able to provide sufficient light for a projection system, but this type of lamp is relatively inefficient, requires a high voltage supply, contains toxic mercury, and has a limited lifetime. Solid-state sources, such as LEDs are more efficient, operate at lower voltages, typically contain no mercury, and are therefore safer, and have longer lifetimes than lamps, often extending to several tens of thousands of hours.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Fluorescent volume light source with active chromphore


Apparatus and methods for generating High Dynamic Range (HDR) media, based on multi-stage compensation of motion in a captured scene is disclosed in the embodiments herein. Embodiments herein relates to the field of image processing devices suitable for processing two or more images of different exposures and more particularly to apparatus and methods for generating a High Dynamic Range (HDR) media, based on a multi-stage compensation of motion in a captured scene. The apparatus is configured to correct exposure alignment error and media registration error from a registered plurality of media frames comprising a plurality of exposure levels corresponding to the captured scene. The apparatus is configured to remove a plurality of false ghost artefacts in the plurality of media frames. The apparatus is configured to generate the HDR media, based on a generated ghost map.

In general, even though a camera sensor provides 10 bit depth images, several operations within an Image Signal Processor (ISP) may restrict the 10 bit image to 8 bit depth image for saving power. Accordingly, computational imaging techniques may recover the lost information (i.e. reduced bits from 10 bit to 8 bit), by processing image to a multi-frame High Dynamic Range (HDR) image. Further, multiple image frames of different exposures are captured and blended together to form a single High Dynamic Range (HDR) image frame.
Currently, conventional methods may use short and long exposure image frames and, may significantly sacrifice parameters such as dynamic range, noise, and may also suffer from artefacts such as halos. Further, moving objects within the scene may have effects in image quality during multi exposure fusion. Accordingly, if, multi exposure fusion is not rightly handled, then it may cause significant artefacts known as ghosts. Furthermore, the ghosting may increase with the number of image frames used for blending. Increasing the number of image frames for blending may improve dynamic range and noise based on extreme ghosting of the image.
Further, conventional methods disclose about image sensors that can be used to capture images having rows of long exposure image pixel values that can be interleaved with rows of short exposure image pixel values. A combined long exposure image and a combined short exposure image may be generated using the long exposure and the short exposure values from an interleaved image frames and the interpolated values from a selected one of the interleaved image frames. Further, the High Dynamic Range (HDR) images may be generated using the combined long exposure and short exposure images.
In yet another conventional method, apparatus for obtaining a motion adaptive High Dynamic Range (HDR) image may be disclosed. Further, a motion degree of a first image and a second image taken using different exposure times may be calculated and the motion calculation intensity may be adjusted based on the calculated motion degree. The motion compensation intensity involves global motion compensation and/or location motion compensation. The images subjected to compensation may be synthesized and output, so that the image having High Dynamic Range (HDR) may be obtained.
Further, conventional methods disclose a process for generating the high dynamic range (HDR) image from a bracketed image sequence, even in the presence of scene or camera motion. Further, a reference image and warped image(s) may be combined to create a radiance map representing the HDR image.
Additionally, the amount of ghosting may increase with number of input image frames. The halos in the HDR image may increase due to increased exposure variance between input image frames. Further, the global reference frame selection can introduce large amount of ghosting and halos. Accordingly, a ghost map comprises of three entities such as true ghosts caused due to local object motion, false ghosts caused due to improper image registration, and false ghosts caused due to improper exposure alignment. The conventional methods may consider the three entities together thereby, degrading final output image quality. The complexity of simultaneous correction of ghosts and halos may increase exponentially as the number of image frames increases. Further, de-ghosting methods may estimate a ghost map by first aligning the exposures of input images followed by a photometric difference. The conventional exposure alignment method may not be able to handle very bright and dark regions of the image that may result in false ghosts (i.e. regions detected erroneously as ghosts), which can in turn lead to reduced dynamic range in the output image.
FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrates a schematic diagram of an example scenario, where darker and saturated regions in a HDR image are reproduced with less detail using conventional method. As depicted in FIG. 1b, the darker regions and the saturated regions are not reproduced with increased exposure and saturation. Further, the conventional methods may require more time to capture image frames of the scene. Further, as depicted in FIG. 1b, the ghost artefacts in the saturated region of the captured image are not rectified or removed in the HDR image.
Hence, the conventional methods may not disclose methods to handle plurality of parameters such as noise, halos, dynamic range and ghosting in for generating High Dynamic Range (HDR) media.

Apparatus and methods for generating high dynamic range media, based on multi-stage compensation of motion


The present invention demonstrates that gene expression can be controlled in vitro using DNA (gene) sequences immobilized on a template with micron scale temperature heaters. Such expression is controllable by varying temperature of the template on a short time scale. The present invention further demonstrates that nucleic acid constructs controlled by the present method express protein either free or bound to the nucleic acid. Based on these findings, the present invention provides methods and apparatuses useful for the preparation of in vitro programmable protein networks and protein micro arrays.

The present invention relates to methods and products for controlling the expression of genes immobilized on a temperature controlled template. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of an in vitro method and apparatus for controlling gene expression.
Gene expression is controlled by a variety of regulatory mechanisms (Alberts B, et al. (1994) xe2x80x9cMolecular Biology of the Cellxe2x80x9d New York, Garland). Advances in genome sequencing (Olson M. V. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 90:4338-4344) and DNA chips (xe2x80x9cDNA chipsxe2x80x9d (1999) Special Issue, Nature Genetics, suppl. vol. 21, January, 1999) provide insight into the collective gene expression pattern and protein function that control networks in cells.
Protein production is a result of a two step process: transcription and translation. First RNA polymerase (RNAP) transcribes DNA into messenger RNA (mRNA) and subsequently a ribosome translates mRNA into a protein. During translation, the protein is in a stable complex with mRNA via the ribosome. At the end of translation, when the ribosome reaches a stop codon, the newly synthesized protein is released from the ribosome as well as the mRNA. Similarly, in transcription, the mRNA stays associated with the DNA via RNAP, and is released when the polymerase reaches a terminal signal.
For translation, the stop codon used are UAA, UGA or UAG. Experimentally one can delete the stop codon function. In one method a piece of DNA is annealed complementary to the sequence along the coding sequence (between start and stop codon). Under such conditions, the translation stalls at the annealing site, and the protein remains in complex with the ribosome and mRNA (Haeuptle, et al. (1986) Nucleic Acids Res 14(3):1427-48). In another approach, the stop codon is deleted from the initial DNA. Without stop codon, the ribosome will move along the mRNA to the very last base, but will not release the protein. Such xe2x80x9cstoplessxe2x80x9d coding has been used in experiments where a stable attachment of protein to the mRNA is required, for example, in vitro protein evolution (He et al. (1997) Nucleic Acids Res. 25(24):5132-5134) and co-translational protein folding (Fedorov et al. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92(4):1227-1231; Makeyev, et al. (1996) FEBS Lett 378(2):166-170).
Normally the signal to terminate transcription is a terminator sequence on the DNA. The signal, in vitro, can also be the very end of a linear DNA. This end-of-DNA termination signal is commonly used in run-off transcription, where RNAP runs to the end of DNA and falls off from it. There are methods to prevent RNAP from reaching the termination signal, for example, by covalently crosslinking the DNA duplex structure (Shi, et al. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263(1):527-534; Shi, et al. (1988) J. Mol. Biol. 199(2):277-293), or by DNA lesion (Sauerbier et al. (1978) Annu. Rev. Genet. 12:329-363; Mellon et al. (1989) Nature 342(6245):95-98; (Selby et al. (1993) Science 263(1):527-534). Under these conditions, mRNA remains attached to the DNA via RNAP.
The human genome is the genetic material in human egg and sperm cells which contain 3xc3x97109 base pairs (bp) of DNA. The sequence of 3xc3x97109 bp corresponds to 750 megabytes of information. If the sequence of the human genome could be determined, it would be possible to store and manipulate it on a personal computer. Olson (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:4338-4344. Refinements in experimental protocols, instrumentation and project management have made it practical to acquire sequence data on an enlarged scale. Id. Once genomic sequences are known any gene construct is easy to implement. Once function is understood it becomes possible to realize in vitro protein networks (Jermutus et al. (1998) Curr. Op. Biotechnology 9:534-548) similar to the biological ones.
Arrays offer a systematic way to survey DNA and RNA variation. Lander (1999) Perspective:Nature Genetics, suppl: 1-8. Arrays offer opportunities to analyze large numbers of sequence interactions. Southern et al. (1999) Nature Genetics (supp) 21:5-9. Array-based methods of observing DNA hybridization to complementary RNA are known in the art. Id.
The present invention is directed to the use of micron scale heaters for gene expression. The present invention is based on the unique determination that in vitro temperature controlled protein expression is achievable on a micron scale.
The micron scale heaters and methods of the present invention are useful for preparing in vitro programmable protein networks and protein micro arrays. In accordance with the present invention protein micro arrays are synonymous with biological chips or DNA chips. The products and methods of the present invention are particularly useful for comparative expression analysis, the analysis of molecular interactions and for providing insights into complex biochemical networks.
One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for controlling gene expression comprising a temperature-controlled template having a nucleic acid construct immobilized thereon. The temperature-controlled template comprises a metal oxide pad with attached electrodes. In a preferred embodiment the metal oxide pad is an indium tin oxide (ITO) pad.
The metal oxide pad is affixed to a substrate, such as glass, for example. The metal oxide pads contain avidin-coated beads, which bind to biotinylated nucleic acid constructs. The metal oxide-substrate combination of the present invention is mounted on a water-cooled brass sample plate. The apparatus also optionally includes a means for detecting protein expression.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides an in vitro programmable protein micro array. Such array includes a plurality of temperature-controlled metal oxide pads (e.g. ITO pads) mounted on a substrate (e.g. glass) wherein each pad is individually temperature-controlled. Each temperature-controlled metal oxide pad comprises at least one immobilized nucleic acid construct of a specific type which is capable expressing a protein which is localized with the nucleic acid construct.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides an in vitro programmable protein network having a plurality of temperature-controlled metal oxide pads (e.g. ITO) mounted on a substrate (e.g. glass) wherein each pad is individually temperature-controlled. Each temperature-controlled metal oxide pad comprises at least one immobilized nucleic acid construct of a different type which is capable expressing a protein which is released from the nucleic acid construct.
The present invention also provides an in vitro method of controlling gene expression by immobilizing a nucleic acid construct on a temperature-controlled template, applying a cell extract, expressing a protein and detecting the expression of the protein.

Control of the expression of anchored genes using micron scale heaters


Rate reduction for an application controller is provided. Computing resources used by an application controller receiving an amount of traffic from a network device can be determined. A determination whether the computing resources used by the application controller are approaching a computing capacity of the application controller can be made. A message can be sent to the network device to reduce the amount of traffic sent to the application controller in response to a determination that the application controller is approaching the computing capacity. A reduced amount of traffic can be received from the network device. Incrementally increasing amounts of traffic can be received from the network device after receiving the reduced amount of traffic from the network device.

Computing networks can include a series of network devices interconnected by communication paths, which can communicate a unit of data (e.g., packets, frames) through the computing network. For example, computing networks can contain network devices, which can communicate the unit of data through the network based on information associated with the unit of data (e.g., a destination address, quality of service, security data). In an example, network devices can include routers, switches, hubs, and computing devices such as servers, desktop PCs, laptops, workstations, mobile devices and peripheral devices, e.g., printers, facsimile devices, and scanners, networked together across wired and/or wireless local and/or wide area network (LANs/WANs).
In an example, the network devices can communicate the unit of data to an application controller, which can contain intelligence regarding how to handle the unit of data. For instance, the unit of data can be communicated based on a quality of service associated with the unit of data and/or security data associated with the unit of data. For example, a security function can be performed on the unit of data (e.g., firewall) based on the security data. The unit of data may or may not come back to the network device to continue to be forwarded, based on an action taken by the application controller.

HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.


A catalyst composition for the preparation of oligomeric and/or polymer derivatives of olefin monomers, said composition comprising a Group 6 metal amide complex, a Group 1, 2, 12, 13, or 14 metal hydrocarbyl composition or compound, and a solid support comprising aluminum phosphate.

This invention relates generally to the preparation of trimers, tetramers, and polymers of ethylene catalyzed by derivatives of certain metal complexes.
The selective trimerization of ethylene to prepare primarily 1-hexene, and ultimately to form polymers therefrom, has been extensively studied and a number of catalysts developed. Examples include the well known chromium pyrrolide complexes, disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,523,507, 5,786,431, and elsewhere; trialkylsilylamide-chromium (II) complexes on activated inorganic refractory compounds in combination with aluminum triallyl compounds, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,841; chromium diphosphines, disclosed in Chem. Comm. (2002) p 858; chromium cyclopentadieniyl catalysts as disclosed in Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 38 (1999), p 428, J. Poly. Sci., 10 (1972), p 2621, and Applied Catalysis A; General 255, (2003), p 355-359; silica supported trialkylsilylamide-chromium complexes in combination with isobutylalumoxane, disclosed in J. Mol. Cat. A: Chemical, 187, (2002), p 135-141; mixed heteroatomic compounds disclosed in Chem, Comm. (2003), p 334; tantalum compounds disclosed in Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 42, (2003), p 808-810; titanium cyclopentadiene catalysts such as those of Angew. Chem, Int. Ed., 40, (2001), p 2516; and numerous others. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,994, a process for producing ethylene/1-hexene copolymers directly from ethylene using silica supported chromium compounds was disclosed. Control of polymer density was obtained by adjusting the ethylene/1-hexene ratio of the intermediate monomer mixture obtained in an initial trimerization.
Oligomerization and polymerization of higher olefins such as propylene and 1-butene is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,838. The general mechanism of trimerization is considered to involve metalloheptane ring formation and most likely agnostic assisted hydride transfer, as disclosed in Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 42, (2003), 808-810. The foregoing processes are highly useful for the selective formation of trimers in the substantial absence of higher oligomer or polymer formation. There remains a need for the discovery of processes for the selective formation of tetramers, especially 1-octene from ethylene.
Stepwise ethylene chain growth on aluminum alkyls was discovered in the 1950's by K. Ziegler et al. The reaction is normally conducted at temperatures in the range of 100°-200° C. under high ethylene pressure, typically 2000-4000 psi (14-28 MPa). At higher temperatures, a displacement reaction or cracking step competes with chain growth, producing α-olefins and regenerating aluminum alkyl compounds. For a review see, "Comprehensive Organometallic Chemistry: 1982, Pergammon Press, Vol. 7, Section 46. The process may be advanced by catalysts, both for the step-wise growth of the aluminum alkyl and the catalyzed displacement of α-olefins therefrom. Ziegler-Natta catalysts such as those discovered by Kaminsky et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 1976, Vol. 15, pages 630-632 may be used to catalyze the growth process. This process is thought to involve active transition metal catalysts which promote the growth of the aluminum alkyl chains. Chain growth is terminated in the displacement or cracking step, principally by β-hydrogen- or β-alkyl-elimination to give a vinylic end group or by hydrogenolysis to give a paraffinic end group, thereby regenerating a catalytically active transition metal-hydride or alkyl and an aluminum-hydride or alkyl.
The manufacture of α-olefins using the foregoing step addition to aluminum alkyls is commercially practiced in large volume. Suitable processes operating at lower temperatures and pressures than those employed by early artisans are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,220 (using actinide metal metallocene based complexes, which unfortunately are radioactive, as catalysts) and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,210,338 (using metallocene based complexes of zirconium and hafnium).
A persistent problem of the foregoing step growth processes is the production of aluminum alkyls and the resulting α-olefin products having a narrow molecular weight distribution (Poisson distribution). In many such processes the products are undesirably broad, and best described by the Schulz-Flory statistical distribution. These statistical distributions are commonly known and defined by the equations: Poisson: Xp=(xp·e−x)/p!, and Schulz-Flory: Xp=β(1+β)−p, where Xp is the mole fraction with p added monomer units, x is the Poisson distribution coefficient equal to the average number of monomers added, and β is the Schulz-Flory distribution coefficient. A typical Schultz-Flory distribution of α-olefins would provide a maximum of 15 percent 1-hexene and 17 percent 1-octene. Additionally, significant quantities of 1-decene and higher α-olefins (C12-30 α-olefins) are produced, along with low molecular weight waxy polymers.
Despite the advance in the art encompassed by the foregoing known processes, a process that operates at milder temperatures and pressures to produce primarily trimers (1-hexene) and tetramers (1-octene), especially in a Poisson type distribution, while limiting less valuable butene, C10-30 α-olefin, and low molecular weight polymer formation is still desired. The α-olefin products of the present process, especially 1-hexene and 1-octene are useful industrial chemicals employed to prepare alcohols and plastics, especially high molecular weight, linear low density, polyethylene.
Further desired is a process for preparing high molecular weight polymers and/or copolymers of ethylene and branch inducing α-olefins such as 1-hexene and/or 1-octene (linear low density polyethylene) directly from ethylene.

Aluminum phosphate-supported group 6 metal amide catalysts for oligomerization of ethylene