A system for energy optimization in a plant (3) for producing direct-reduced metal ores (3). The plant (3) has at least one reduction unit (12), a device for separating gas mixtures (7, 7a, 7b) having an associated compressing device (4, 4a, 4b), and a gas-heating device (10) upstream of the reduction unit (12). Part of the process gases (2, 2a, 2b) is fed by a feed line from a smelting reduction plant to the plant for producing direct-reduced metal ores (3). A turbine (8, 8a, 8b) is fit between the device for separating gas mixtures (7, 7a, 7b) and the gas-heating device (10) upstream of the reduction unit (12) such that a pressure drop between the device for separating gas mixtures (7, 7a, 7b) and the reduction unit (12) is converted into forms of energy that can be used to operate additional components (4, 4a, 4b, 15, 15a, 15b) of the plant (3), in particular electrical energy and/or mechanical energy. Energy consumption of the plant (3) is reduced.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a system for energy optimization in a plant for producing direct-reduced metal ores, especially direct-reduced iron. In this case a plant for producing direct-reduced metal ores or metals, especially iron, has at least one reduction unit (e.g. fluidized bed reactor system, packed bed reduction shaft such as e.g. MIDREX® reduction shaft, etc.), a device for separating gas mixtures having an associated compressing device and a gas heating device arranged upstream of the reduction unit. The process gases necessary for producing direct-reduced metal ores are at least partly supplied via a feed line from at least one plant for pig iron production such as e.g. a smelting reduction plant and are possibly partly obtained by recycling from the production process itself.
2. Prior Art
The so-called direct reduction of metal ores or metals, especially of iron or iron oxide, to direct-reduced iron or sponge iron, is carried out for example in a separate plant—known as a direct-reduction plant. Such a plant for producing direct-reduced metal ores usually comprises at least one reduction unit such as a packed bed reduction unit for example, a fluidized bed reactor system, etc., depending on whether the metal ore to be reduced is present in lump or fine-particle form or is needed for further processing to pig iron, pig iron-like products or for steel production.
The material to be reduced (e.g. metal ore, iron ore, iron oxide, etc.) is introduced in direct reduction in lump form—e.g. as lump ore or pellets—or in fine particle granular form into the plant for producing direct-reduced metal ores including at least one reduction unit. A process gas, which is also referred to as reduction gas, then flows through the material in the reduction unit using what is known as the countercurrent principle. In this case the material is for example completely or partly reduced by the reduction gas—iron oxide is reduced for example to sponge iron—and the reduction gas is oxidized in this process. The material reduced in the reduction unit by the reduction gas then for example has a degree of metallization of around 45 to over 95%.
The process gases necessary for the reduction of the metal ores (e.g. reduction gas) are for example obtained in a melter gasifier in a smelter reduction method (z.B. COREX®, FINEX®, oxygen blast furnace, etc.) or in a coal gasifier. The reduction gas created for example in a melter gasifier is preferably at a temperature of 750 to 1000° C. and is mostly dust-retaining and also laden with carbon monoxide and hydrogen (e.g. with around 70 to 95% CO and H2). The reduction gas is preferably introduced in the central to lower quarter of the reduction unit or in a fluidized bed reactor system, into the first fluidized bed reactor. It then rises upwards in the reduction unit and in a fluidized bed reactor system is conveyed from reactor to reactor and during this process reduces the material (e.g. metal ore, iron ore, iron oxide, etc.) in the countercurrent. The reduction gas is then tapped off from the reduction unit as so-called top gas or off gas.
Thereafter the reduction gas is cleaned in a gas cleaning device (e.g. gas washer) and possibly passed on as so-called recycle gas for removal of carbon dioxide CO2 to a device connected upstream of the reduction unit for separation of gas mixtures with associated compressing device. Pressure adsorption systems such as e.g. Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA), Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption (VPSA) are especially used as the system for separation of gas mixtures, since these systems are more cost-effective by comparison with other adsorption methods. After its treatment in the device for separation of gas mixtures the recycle gas can then be introduced again as reduction gas into the reduction unit.
As well as the part recycling of the process gas used in the plant for example, so-called export gas which is obtained for example from methods of pig iron production or from a melt reduction process such as the COREX® or FINEX® process for example, is used for the reduction process in the reduction unit. The term "export gas" is used in particular to designate that part of the so called top gas which is withdrawn from the melt reduction process or the method of pig iron production, cooled as a rule and also de-dusted (wet or dry), and possibly for further process gases such as for example surplus gas from the melter gasifier. In such cases the used reduction gas from a blast furnace, a melter gasifier or a reduction bed/packed bed reactor is usually referred to as top gas.
If the export gas from one or more melt reduction plants (e.g. plants based on the COREX®- and/or FINEX® process) is drawn off for the production of direct-reduced metal ores, then such a plant is referred to as a combined cycle plant. The export gas is introduced in such cases into a supply line in the plant for producing direct-reduced metal ores or iron and used in the respective reduction unit such as for example fluidized bed reactor system, reduction bed furnace such as e.g. MIDREX® reduction bed, etc.). During introduction the supplied export gas can mix with the recycle gas of the plant for producing direct-reduced metal ores, wherein the supply line for the export gas usually emerges in front of the device for separation of gas mixtures into a line for the recycle gas of the plant for producing direct-reduced metal ores.
For optimum functioning of the reduction process in the plant for producing direct-reduced metal ores or iron however a CO2 removal which functions well in the device for separation of gas mixtures from the process gas—i.e. a mixture of recycle gas of the plant and supplied export gas—is necessary. Therefore the input pressure for the device for separation of gas mixtures is usually increased with the aid of the associated compressing device (e.g. one or more compressors). The input pressure at the device for separation of gas mixtures should usually lie at a constant input pressure of around 3 to 8 bar excess pressure, in order to guarantee an efficient and economic full CO2 removal from the process gases. Thus for example at least around 6 bar excess pressure is needed for CO2 removal by a PSA and at least around 3 bar excess pressure by a VPSA.
However the reduction unit used requires a significantly lower operating pressure. Thus a MIDREX® reduction shaft as the reduction unit for example only needs an input pressure of around 1.2 to 1.5 bar. Thus a pressure difference is produced by on the one hand the relatively high operating pressure of the device for separation of gas mixtures, especially when a PSA plant is used, and on the other hand the relatively low operating pressure of the reduction unit, which must be reduced for an optimal functioning of the system for production of direct-reduced metal ores.
Usually this pressure difference is reduced by a system of regulation valves, which is especially fitted between the device for separation of gas mixtures and the reduction unit or a gas heating device connected upstream of the reduction unit. However a reduction in the pressure difference using regulation valves has the disadvantage that this pressure difference remains unused or that—especially for the input pressure level at the device for separation of gas mixtures—energy must be expended, which will be destroyed unused thereafter. Thus for example when a device for pressure swing absorption (PSA) or a device for vacuum pressure swing absorption (VPSA) and a MIDREX® reduction shaft are used as the reduction unit, because of the necessary operating pressure, approximately 1 to 6 bar is destroyed unused. Thus the specific energy or power consumption of a combined cycle plant is relatively high and thus reduces its cost effectiveness. Noise generated by the valve station is also relatively high.
Furthermore the export gas, which is introduced at least partly as process gas into the plant for producing direct-reduced metal ores, can originate from for example from two plants for production of pig iron or melt reduction plants, which for example have different pressure levels at the respective transition point. This can be caused for example by different system pressure requirements at the respective melter gasifier. In order to obtain an approximately constant input pressure level for the reduction unit or the device for separation of gas mixtures, a bypass volume pressure regulation can be provided in these types of combined-cycle plants. This has the disadvantage however that approximately 10 to 20% of the export gas for use in the combined-cycle plant, especially in the plant for producing direct-reduced metal ores, is lost, whereby the productivity and the cost effectiveness of the plant is likewise reduced.

System for energy optimization in a plant for producing direct-reduced metal ores


A thermal therapy method includes inserting an applicator including an energy-emitting device into a body cavity such as a urethra adjacent a targeted tissue region such as a prostate, energizing the energy-emitting device, and circulating coolant between the energy-emitting device and a wall of the body cavity. The therapy is controlled by decreasing a temperature of the coolant and continually adjusting coolant temperature based on therapy parameters. The applicator, or selected tissue at a predetermined depth from the wall of the body cavity, is maintained at a temperature corresponding to a predetermined applicator temperature profile by adjusting a power level provided to the energy-emitting device. In one embodiment involving treatment of the prostate, rectal temperature is monitored and, upon sensing a rectal temperature that exceeds a predetermined threshold, the temperature of the coolant is increased to force a reduction in power provided to the energy-emitting device to maintain the applicator at the temperature corresponding to the predetermined applicator temperature profile.

The present invention relates to a method for treating tissue. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of controlling thermal therapy of tissue such as the prostate to enhance treatment effectiveness with minimal treatment time.
The prostate gland is a complex, chestnut-shaped organ which encircles the urethra immediately below the bladder. Nearly one third of the prostate tissue anterior to the urethra consists of fibromuscular tissue that is anatomically and functionally related to the urethra and the bladder. The remaining two thirds of the prostate is generally posterior to the urethra and is comprised of glandular tissue. The portion of the urethra extending through the prostate (i.e., the prostatic urethra) includes a proximal segment, which communicates with the bladder, and a distal segment, which extends at an angle relative to the proximal segment by the verumontanum.
Although a relatively small organ, the prostate is the most frequently diseased of all internal organs and is often the site of a common affliction among older men, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), as well as a more serious affliction, cancer. BPH is a nonmalignant, bilateral expansion of prostate tissue occurring mainly in the transition zone of the prostate adjacent to the proximal segment of the prostatic urethra. As this tissue grows in volume, it encroaches on the urethra extending into the region of the bladder neck at the base of the bladder. Left untreated, BPH causes obstruction of the urethra which usually results in increased urinary frequency, urgency, incontinence, nocturia and slow or interrupted urinary stream. BPH may also result in more severe complications, such as urinary tract infection, acute urinary retention, hydronephrosis and uraemia.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) may be treated using transurethral thermal therapy as described in further detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,480 entitled METHOD FOR TREATING BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA WITH THERMAL THERAPY and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,811 entitled BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA TREATMENT CATHETER WITH URETHRAL COOLING, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. During transurethral thermal therapy, the transition zone of the prostate is heated to necrose the tumorous tissue that encroaches on the urethra. Transurethral thermal therapy is administered by use of a microwave antenna-containing catheter which includes a multi-lumen shaft. The catheter is positioned in the urethra with the microwave antenna located adjacent to the hyperplastic prostatic tissue. Energization of the microwave antenna causes the antenna to emit electromagnetic energy which heats tissue within the prostate. A cooling fluid is circulated through the catheter to preserve tissue such as the urethral wall between the microwave antenna and the target tissue of the prostate.
The primary goal of transurethral thermal therapy is to necrose prostate tissue while preserving adjacent healthy tissue. It is also preferable to achieve this goal in as short of a time as is possible, consistent with the patient""s level of tolerance and comfort. In addition, it is important that the rectum be preserved from unduly high temperatures, since it is susceptible to thermal damage. There is an ongoing need in the art for a method of controlling thermal therapy that reduces treatment time and enhances effectiveness consistent with all of these parameters.
The present invention is a method of treating tissue with heat from an adjacent body cavity, such as treating a prostate with heat delivered from a urethra. An applicator including an energy-emitting device is inserted into the body cavity adjacent the targeted tissue region. The energy-emitting device is energized, thereby delivering energy to the targeted tissue region, and coolant is circulated between the energy-emitting device and a wall of the body cavity. A temperature of the coolant circulated is continually controlled based on therapy parameters. For example, where the targeted tissue region is the prostate adjacent the urethra, rectal temperature is monitored and, upon sensing a rectal temperature that exceeds a predetermined threshold, coolant temperature is increased. Patient comfort indicators are also an example of therapy parameters upon which continuous control of the coolant temperature may be based. The applicator, or selected tissue at a predetermined depth from the wall of the body cavity, is maintained at a temperature corresponding to a predetermined applicator temperature profile by adjusting a power level provided to the energy-emitting device.


Data retrieval systems for retrieving data from a multidimensional medical data set include: (a) a client configured to electronically request image data of a patient; (b) a server in communication with a plurality of electronically stored multidimensional patient medical image data sets; and (c) a data retrieval interface in communication with the client and the server. The data retrieval interface is configured to retrieve image data from the multidimensional data sets. The respective data sets have a number of grid points in G dimensions and a number of values V for each grid point. Some of the data sets have different G dimensions and V values than others. The data retrieval interface is configured to employ an object oriented retrieval process. The client can employ and Image region object to request data and the interface can employ a Physical region object that defines a multi-dimensional region extent associated with a client request for data on a region of interest to retrieve relevant image data from a respective patient data set. Related signal processor circuits, computer programs and data structures for data retrievals are also described.

Two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) visualization products for providing medical images can employ rendering techniques to create images from stored electronic data files. The data input used to create the image renderings can be a stack of image slices from a desired imaging modality, for example, a Computed Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance (MR) modality. The visualization can convert the image data into an image volume to create renderings that can be displayed on a workstation display.
Slice-by-slice viewing of medical data may be increasingly difficult for the large data sets now provided by imaging modalities, raising issues of information and data overload and clinical feasibility with current radiology staffing levels. See, e.g., Addressing the Coming Radiology Crisis: The Society for Computer Applications in Radiology Transforming the Radiological Interpretation Process (TRIP™) Initiative, Andriole et al., at URL scarnet.net/trip/pdf/TRIP_White_Paper.pdf (November 2003). In some modalities, patient data sets can have large volumes, such as greater than 1 gigabyte, and can even commonly exceed 10's or 100's of gigabytes, hence terabytes of data in a patient multi-dimensional data set is becoming more common.
The diagnostic task of a clinician such as a radiologist can vary patient to patient and, accordingly so can the desired renderings or views of the medical images of the patient. In some visualization systems, a physician uses an interactive workstation that has a data retrieval interface that obtains the medical data for medical image renderings from electronic volume data sets to generate desired medical representations. Image visualizations using the multi-dimensional image data can be carried out using any suitable system such as, for example, PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System). PACS is a system that receives images from the imaging modalities, stores the data in archives, and distributes the data to radiologists and clinicians for viewing.
Unfortunately, the size of medical volume data sets can inhibit rapid visualization times, particularly with a resolution sufficient for diagnostic purposes. In some cases, interactive image generation of multi-resolution representations may not be feasible using conventional processing techniques even with the use of fast graphic hardware. Two common methods for creating multi-resolution representations are well known to those of skill in the art as a straightforward sub-sampling and a wavelet-based decomposition. See Kim et al., An Efficient Data Format For Lossless Compression and It's application to Interactive Viewing, 0-7803-3258-X/96, IEEE (1996) and Hashimoto et al., Hierarchical Structure for Data Transmission of Volumetric Medical Images Using Three-Dimensional Wavelet Transform, 0-7803-7324-3/02, IEEE, pp. 1399-1403 (2002). It is also known to employ a lower resolution to reduce data, for example, a "level-of-detail" (LoD) is a very well known term within visualization. For a general description of different data handling techniques including LoD, ad hoc data organizations, approximation techniques, subsampling, and multiresolution representation, see Cignoni et al., Multi-resolution Representation and Visualization of Volume Data, 1077-2626/97, IEEE (1997) (proposing the use of tetrahedral meshes to represent and visualize scalar volume data at multiple resolution).
Despite the above, there remains a need for alternate efficient data retrieval interface systems for rendering image volumes using multi-dimensional data sets.

Systems for fast efficient retrieval of medical image data from multidimensional data sets, related methods and computer products


A communication system and method are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises a switch receiving information from at least one repeater for each packet received without errors by the at least one repeater, the switch, in response to the information, determining an amount of wireless communication activity each of the at least one repeater is experiencing, the switch determining whether to cause one or more repeaters to change status regarding wireless reception and transmission of packets from other devices in the network based on repeater location and repeater density and the information received from the at least one repeater, and the switch causing a change in the status for at least one of the one or more repeaters by signaling to the at least one of the one or more repeaters.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of wireless communications; more particularly, the present invention relates to reconfiguration of a wireless communications system.
2. Related Art
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network environment used today. Referring to FIG. 1, a corporate Local Area Network (LAN) backbone 102 interfaces to a number of desktop computers 1031-103n and may interface to Internet 101. Corporate LAN backbone 102 may comprise a firewall 102A, corporate server 102B, and a standard Ethernet switch 102C. Ethernet switch 102C includes an interface by which desktops 1031-1031n are coupled to the corporate LAN backbone 102 and may access corporate sever 102B and Internet 101 (via firewall 102A).
More recently, Wireless LANs (WLANs) are being installed. Many of the recently implemented WLANs operate according to the protocol set forth in the 802.11 Standard, particularly as more enterprises are adopting the 802.11 Standard. ISO | IEC DIS 8802.11
FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of an 802.11 based WLAN (LAN) system. Referring to FIG. 2, the Internet or other LAN 201 is coupled to an 802.11 server 203 via firewall (FW) 202. Server 203 communicates with mobile stations in a number of 802.11 cells 2061-206n using an access point in each of cells 2061-206n, such as access point 204. Server 203 is coupled to access points such as access point 204, via an Ethernet connection. There is one access point for each of the 802.11 cells 2061-206n. Mobile stations in each of the 802.11 cells, such as laptops 2051 and 2052 in cell 2061, communicate wirelessly with the access points via the 802.11 protocol. The communications from mobile stations in the 802.11 cells to the access points are forwarded through to server 203 and potentially to Internet/LAN 201, while communications from Internet/LAN 201 are forwarded through server 203 to the mobile stations via the access points.
There are a number of problems associated with the current implementations of 802.11 networks. For example, there are a number of mobility problems associated with the current 802.11 network deployments. For example, the 802.11 standard sets forth a number of solutions to handle the issue of mobility of mobile stations between the 802.11 cells. However, these schemes do not work effectively as there is no standard solution in place and users haven't indicated a desire for long-term proprietary solutions.
Furthermore, in order to set up an 802.11 network such as shown in FIG. 2, a site survey is required in order to determine where each of the access points are placed to ensure that the 802.11 cells provide complete coverage over a particular geographic area. This may be costly. Also, the cost of each of the access points is approximately $500.00. Generally, such a high cost is a deterrent to having a large number of access points. However, by reducing the number of access points, coverage diminishes and the 802.11 network is less effective. Moreover, once the site survey has been performed, the configuration of the access points only provides effective coverage while conditions that existed at the time of the site survey remain the same. However, the conditions of the network at the time the site survey is performed may change when the network is being used. A change in conditions may occur in part because the electromagnetic interference varies during different times of the day. This may result in a network configuration being set up that cannot support the traffic load or that has more capacity than is typically used.

Reconfiguration of a communication system


The system and method of the present invention allows synchronization of processor clocks in a multiprocessor information handling system. The present invention calculates an average processor clock value for each processor being synchronized. All processors being synchronized read their clocks a predetermined number of times. The clock reading is done simultaneously by all the processors being synchronized. Each processor then calculates an average processor clock value, which is equivalent, for synchronization purposes, to the average processor clock values of the other processors. When more than two processors are being synchronized, a processor may be chosen as the primary processor. The other, secondary processors are synchronized one at a time with the primary processor. An adjustment is then made to the average processor clock values obtained, so that all average processor clock values are based on the same average processor clock value of the primary processor. Processor clocks in multiprocessor information handling systems may be efficiently synchronized within a small number of clock cycles. The synchronization may be accurately performed on any number of processors in a multiprocessor information handling system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to information handling systems and, more particularly, to systems and methods for synchronizing processor clocks in a multiprocessor information handling system.
2. Prior Art
In multiprocessor information handling systems, there are many circumstances where processor clocks must be synchronized to perform certain system functions, such as sharing performance information among the multiple processors in the information handling system.
Typically, there is no means provided at the hardware level of an information handling system to provide for clock synchronization. Therefore, the operating system must provide for synchronization for its own processes, which may require the generation of a system clock signal.
Although a general system clock may be adequate for limited applications in the information handling system, it is not adequate for performance measurement purposes. For example, the system clock does not provide sufficient granularity for small (subcycle) variations between processors in the system. Further, the system clock requires a considerable amount of system resources which would adversely affect performance of a system if the system clock were continually referred to during performance measurement. This would further skew the performance results. Although there have been attempts to reduce the amount of system resources for clock generation on some recently developed processor integrated circuit chips, there is still no means provided at the hardware level to synchronize or calibrate the times of the various clock signals for the plural processors in the information handling system to a single value for the entire information handling system.
There are several prior art approaches to synchronization. However, most prior art approaches focus on synchronization of either data or software processes. For example, some prior art approaches provide methods for synchronizing data between external apparatus and processors. This type of data synchronization does not provide the granularity needed when measuring performance in a multiprocessor information handling system.
Other prior art approaches use interrupts to synchronize software processes executing on multiple processors within a system. For example, there may be many processes executing in the system, each process executing on a separate processor. It is even possible for each process to be executing in a separate processor in a separate system. As each process reaches a "synchronization point," the process stops, asserts an interrupt, and transmits a "synchronous-readiness" signal to all other processors. When all processors have generated a synchronous-readiness signal, all processors are then resumed. Although this prior art approach allows for synchronization across several software processes, it does not provide for synchronization of multiple clocks in a multiprocessor information handling system. Furthermore, this type of prior art approach would adversely impact any performance measurements, as the very act of interrupting the system would impact system performance.
Consequently, it would be desirable to have a system and method of accurately and efficiently synchronizing processor clocks in a multiprocessor information handling system. It would be desirable to have a system and method which provide sufficient granularity for subcycle variations between processors in the information handling system, while using a relatively small amount of system resources.

System and method for synchronizing plural processor clocks in a multiprocessor system

International Business Machines Corporation


An image processing method and image processing device for performing the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the image processing method includes transmitting a content image having a visual condition to a display unit. The method also includes periodically changing the visual condition from a first visual condition to a second visual condition according to a modulation timing such that the content image to be displayed after the modulation timing has the second visual condition different from the first visual condition before commencement of the modulation timing.

Field
The inventive technology generally relates to an image processing method and an image processing device for performing the image processing method.
Description of the Related Technology
As slim and low power display panels are continuing to be developed, they are growing in popularity. For example, mobile phones and tablet computers are widely used due to various advantages such as portability. Such electronic devices can provide the viewer with digital content anywhere at virtually any time.

Image processing method and image processing device for performing the same


The apparatus for conductively connecting a plurality of wires together in a waterproof manner includes a non-conductive connector housing having opposing ends. Wire guides are included at each end of the connector housing. A conductive pin is disposed within the housing, and typically supported within an internal wall. Opposing membranes disposed within the connector housing define a chamber which at least partially encases the electrical pin and contains a liquid sealant. Insertion of wires into the open ends of the connector housing and into contact with the pin punctures the membranes causing the liquid sealant to leak out and bond around the electrical wire and pin causing a conductive connection which is waterproof.

The present invention generally relates to the connection of electrical wires and conductors. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for conductively connecting a plurality of wires together in a waterproof manner.
There are a variety of well-known electrical connectors, such as connector for splicing exposed ends of two electrical wires to one another to create a conductive connection therebetween. However, there are certain instances wherein a waterproof connection for such wires is needed. For example, in a marine environment it would be useful to have an electrical connecting apparatus which creates a waterproof connection between two or more wires in order to prevent the wires from becoming shorted or corroded due to the exposure of water in such environments.
Accordingly, there is a continuing need for an apparatus for conductively connecting electrical wires together in a waterproof manner. The present invention fulfills this need and provides other related advantages.

Waterproof electrical connection apparatus


A method and apparatus to establish trust between two nodes in a communications network. A first node receives from a network node authentication data unique to the first node, which can be used to derive a compact representation of verification data for the first node. The first node also receives a certified compact representation of verification data of all nodes in the network. The first node derives trust information from the authentication data for the node, and sends to a second node a message that includes the trust information and part of the authentication data. The second node has its own copy of the certified compact representation of verification data of all nodes in the network, and verifies the authenticity of the message from the first node using the compact representation of verification data of all nodes in the network and the received trust information and authentication data.

A wireless ad hoc network is a, to a certain extent, decentralized wireless network. Terminals in the network communicate between themselves using the same or a similar radio interface as they would use to communicate with a base station. This is sometimes referred to as "direct mode" communication. A fully ad hoc wireless network does not need to rely on the existing infrastructure of the network, such as the base stations and so on. Instead, each node participates in routing by forwarding data for other nodes, and so the determination of which nodes forward data is made dynamically based on the network connectivity. In a slightly more controlled ad hoc network, the terminals can communicate both directly with one another, and/or use the existing network infrastructure. This could be viewed as an ad hoc network with some support from an infrastructure. Typically a wireless ad hoc network has a limited range when using direct mode, e.g. tens or hundreds of meters. A longer range is possible, but may cause problems with interference when both ad hoc (moving) and infrastructure based (fixed) nodes use the same spectrum.
FIG. 1 shows three example ad hoc network scenarios. FIG. 1a shows network controlled local break-out, in which terminal 1 contacts the network infrastructure 2 in order to initiate communication with terminal 3. FIG. 1b shows a "relay" scenario in which the terminals 1, 3 establish communication with each other, but only terminal 1 is in communication with the network 2. FIG. 1c shows a true ad-hoc network scenario in which three terminals 1, 3, 4 communicate directly with one another without being in communication with the network infrastructure 2. This scenario is typically preceded by one of the two first scenarios. The following description assumes a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, but it will be appreciated that the concepts apply to other types of cellular network
A degree of trust is required in order for terminals to establish an ad hoc network. This is typically achieved using strong authentication and key exchange, but before this step is taken a fast and mutual "neighbour trust discovery" is required. A terminal (the advertising node) will typically advertise its presence and another terminal (the responding node) may respond. In the absence of a lightweight pre-authentication phase for fast neighbour trust discovery, the two terminals are exposed to denial-of service (DoS) attacks, e.g. unnecessarily draining battery power, when establishing security associations.
An LTE terminal is referred to as User Equipment (UE). In this example, an ad-hoc wireless network is a derivative of a deployed LTE infrastructure. The ad-hoc wireless network allows a set of enabled UEs to sense each other's presence and/or to advertise different types of public and private services without using the LTE infrastructure. In addition, these enabled UEs can constantly sense their surrounding environment, and so can receive advertisements from proximity-based services such as restaurants' menus/offers, public transport time tables and so on. In addition to social activities, these services may include commercial activities, multimedia, proximity-based advertisements, buddy's presence, etc.
Consider the scenario whereby a user (Bob) using UE 1 is advertising willingness to play a game of chess, and an interested user (Alice) using UE 3 detects Bob's advertisement and decides to engage with him in a game of chess. Alice and Bob may be complete strangers and no trust relationship exists between then or their UEs. The first step is for Alice to initiate a "neighbour trust discovery" protocol, which enables both Alice and Bob to mutually check each others' legitimacy. Once this has been completed, more secure authentication, including an exchange of keys, can take place.
In this type of environment, there is no easy way for Alice to check Bob's legitimacy. Furthermore, such an exchange would mean that both UEs are exposed to a DoS attack in the form of spoofed key exchange protocol messages sent by nearby malicious nodes. There is also no way to ensure that the two nodes that started the key exchange are the same than the ones which completed it.
One solution to the problem of neighbour trust discovery is for the network infrastructure to provide each user with a conventional public key certificate. For privacy reasons, these certificates should be short-lived, carrying a "pseudonym" rather than a long term identity. This would cause large overhead in the network since the network needs to certify all public keys. It would also imply overhead on the terminals, as each terminal would potentially need to store (or acquire, when needed) the certificates of all other nodes, or all least all other nodes with which the terminal may establish an ad-hoc network.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Trust discovery in a communications network


A shape measurement method for a tire includes: detecting an outer surface shape data and an inner surface shape of the tire from image data of the outer surface and the inner surface; subjecting irregularities along the tire circumferential direction around the tire in the outer surface shape data and in the inner surface shape data to Fourier transformation to take out primary waveform components respectively; adjusting the tire circumferential positions of both of the waveform components to adjust the tire circumferential positions thereof; adjusting the tire radial direction cross section positions of the outer surface shape data and the inner surface shape data from information about the placement angles and the positions of the first camera and the second camera; and synthesizing the outer surface shape data and the inner surface shape data based on the adjusted tire circumferential positions and the tire radial direction cross section positions.

The control of the thickness of a tire is important also from the viewpoint of detecting a defective product. However, conventionally, there has been no method of measuring the thickness of a tire around the tire with ease, and usually the thickness has been evaluated by sensory inspection by an operator. As a method of measuring the cross section of the tire by a non-destructive inspection, for example, a method using a CT scanning is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Further, as a technique of non-destructively measuring the thickness of the cross section of a tire, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses a tire thickness measurement tool comprising a non-contact type displacement sensor on the tip of an axis thereof which is inserted into the tire, wherein the thickness of the tire is measured based on the distance to the inner surface of the tire measured by the above-mentioned displacement sensor. Still further, as a technique of a tire shape inspection, Patent Document 3 discloses a tire shape inspection method and an apparatus thereof which can remove a knurling portion from the tire side portion and precisely detect the outer surface shape of tire side portion, and Patent Document 4 discloses an apparatus for creating a reference shape data for inspecting a tire in which the three-dimensional shape data of a split mold inner surface which vulcanizes and molds a tire is obtained and a reference shape data for inspecting a tire is created, respectively.

Shape measurement method and shape measurement apparatus for tires


The present invention relates to an environmentally safe water based construction adhesive suitable for binding two (2) substrates together under conditions wherein moisture resistance is a requirement.

The present invention relates to an environmentally safe, moisture resistant, water based construction adhesive and to a method for binding two substrates together using said construction adhesive.
The construction industry relies heavily on high performance adhesives to bind structural components together such as plywood and lumber, gypsum and wood, and styro-foam and wood. High performance construction adhesives are often based on urethane and solvent containing systems. These systems have several problems associated with them. Specifically, the solvent based systems are not environmentally friendly and the urethane based systems contain isocyanate wherein toxicology issues may arise. However, solvent based and urethane based systems provide the superior moisture resistance necessary to prevent construction surfaces from coming apart under severe weather conditions.
The art has attempted to replace the solvent based systems with more environmentally friendly adhesives. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,310 (Rohm and Haas) discloses a latex binder suitable for producing a durable adherent coating comprising (1) an aqueous evaporable carrier having dispersed therein and (2) a latex polymer prepared by mixing, for example, butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ureidomethacrylate, acrylamide, and acrylic acid, chain transfer agent and ammonium carbonate. Said latex polymer has an acid number of 1 to 70 and a low molecular weight in the range of 10,000 to 10 200,000 g/mole. U.S. Pat. No. 5,202,375 (Rohm and Haas) discloses a water resistant polymeric emulsion containing a surfactant (nonionic or anionic) blended with acrylic acid, butyl acrylate, methylmethacrylate and ureidomethacrylate and a cross-linking monomer. U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,749 (Union Oil of California) discloses an acrylic emulsion useful in preparing paints containing acrylic acid, methymethacrylate, butyl acrylate, acrylamide and ureidomethacrylate and a chain transfer agent.
The Applicant""s invention relates to an aqueous based construction adhesive which exhibits moisture resistance performance matching or exceeding conventional solvent and urethane based systems.
Accordingly the present invention relates to a method for adhering 2 substrates together using a composition including
(c) 10 to 95% soft acrylic ester monomers;
(b) 0 to 70% hard monomers;
(c) 0 to 5% of one or more ureido containing monomers;
(c) 0 to 5% vinyl based monomers; and
(e) 0 to 10% polymerizable functional acids
All percentages are weight percent unless otherwise indicated.

Water based construction adhesive having improved moisture resistance useful for binding two substrates


The present invention provides a concrete form comprising a housing having a foot portion and a leg portion. The leg portion of the housing has a top end and a bottom end. The leg portion of the housing consists of four equi-spaced identical semi-conical wall segments and four concave wall segments joining adjacent semi-conical wall segments to provide a generally truncated conical configuration with a rounded cross or four leaf clover horizontal cross section. The top and bottom end of the leg portion is open. The foot portion is an inverted dish shape. The dish shaped foot portion has an annular side wall and a top wall. The bottom end of the leg portion is coaxially connected to the top wall of the dish shaped foot portion. An opening is provided in the top wall of the dish shaped foot portion the same size and shape as the internal cross-section of the bottom end of the leg portion. The concrete form of the present invention because of its unique construction provides numerous advantages over conventional fiber tubes. It is easier to dig a hole into which the form can be inserted; the present invention will take about one third the volume of concrete that a similar sized fiber tube and due to its tapered construction, the concrete forms of the present invention will resist upward frost movement.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to concrete load bearing columns and, more particularly, to forms for forming concrete load bearing columns to hold posts in place and support the weight of the post.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The concrete foundation for residential decks and the like, anchors the entire structure against settling, slippage and wind lift. It also distributes loads into the ground and protects posts or beams from direct contact with the earth. The foundation may consist of two parts, a footing that distributes the load underground and a pier that raises the bottom of the post above grade or in many installations just one part the pier, performs both functions.
The size and depth of footings are governed by local building codes. Typical footings extend at least 6 inches below the frost line.
The piers can be cylindrical, rectangular or pyramidal with a flat top. The pier should hold the bottom of the post at least 2 inches above grade to protect it from decay. There are three basic methods of constructing the foundation: (1) casting a footing then placing a precast pier on it (2) casting both the footing and the pier using wooden forms and (3) using fiber tubes to cast a cylindrical column.
Fibre tubes generally come in 6", 8", 10" and 12" diameters and can be cut to any length. In utilizing fiber tubes some manufacturers recommend that a hole be dug twice as wide as the tube diameter. Local building codes specify the depth of the hole. Loose gravel (2 to 3 inches) may be provided in the bottom of the hole to provide drainage under the concrete footings. A four to six inch footing may then be optional poured into the bottom of the hole. The tube is cut at least 2 inches longer than the depth of the hole so that the column will be above ground level. The tube is placed in the hole and a level used to insure the top of the tube is level. Soil is then packed around the tube to hold it in place. Alternatively the tube is braced with light lumber. The tube is then filled with concrete and the concrete tapped into place using a long stick or bar to fill any air gaps. The concrete is levelled to the top of the tube. A beam or post anchor can then be inserted into the wet concrete at the center of the tube. After the concrete cures, any exposed portion of the tube is cut away with a utility knife.
For a 6".times.48" tube two or more bags of concrete mix are usually required to fill the tube. An 8".times.48" tube requires about three bags of concrete mix.
To store the tubes they are either stacked horizontally or vertically which requires considerable floor space and cargo space when the forms are transported to a site.


The present invention provides salts of a cation and an anion, wherein the cation comprises                (i) a silsesquioxane moiety of formula

Electronic paper, also called e-paper or electronic ink, are a range of display technology, which are designed to mimic the appearance of ordinary ink on paper, but that can be written to and erased electronically. Applications of electronic paper include electronic pricing labels, time tables at bus station, mobile phone displays and e-readers able to display digital versions of books and electronic paper magazines.
Electronic paper forms visible images by rearranging charged colored particles using an applied electric field. For example, Comiskey et al. Nature 1998, 394, 253 to 255 describes a display technology called vertical electrophoretic display (EPD). In one embodiment, this technology uses microcapsules having a transparent shell and filled with numerous slightly negatively charged white titanium dioxide microparticles dispersed in a dyed (Oil Blue N) dielectric fluid. The microcapsules are dispersed in a carrier (UV curable urethane) and subsequently coated onto a transparent conductive film (indium tin oxide on polyester). Rear electrodes printed from a silver doped polymeric ink are then applied to the display layer. Applying a positive charge to one or more rear electrodes results in the migration of the slightly negatively charged white titanium dioxide microparticles to the bottom of the local microcapsule, forcing the dyed dielectric fluid to the surface and giving the pixel a black appearance. Reversing the voltage has the opposite effect.
Whereas there are currently black and white electronic papers which mimic the appearance of ordinary ink on paper sufficiently, the development of full-colour electronic papers resembling coloured ink on ordinary paper is still an area of intense research.
Full-colour electronic paper can be generated a) by modulating light in an additive system with the primaries of red, green and blue (RGB-technology), b) by using s substractive system with cyan, magenta and yellow (CMY-technology) or c) by using a substractive/additive hybrid system using both RGB and CMY primaries in a cooperative "biprimary system" (J. Heikenfeld et al. Journal of the SID, 2011, 19/2, 129 to 156).
Both technologies (RGB-technology or CMY technology) require a dispersion of charged coloured particles in a dielectric fluid, wherein the charged particles show a narrow size distribution and thus form homogeneous dispersions.
When using the CMY technology, for example, the charged coloured particles should have a size in the range of about 1 nm to 100 nm. When using CMY technology in video applications, it is desirable to use charged coloured particles of the the smallest particle size possible, as a decrease in particle size yields an increase in the switching frequency of the images.
WO 2007/147742 describes a coloured compound of general formula
wherein    each of A and A′ is, independently of the other, C1-C4 alkyl;    CAGE is a moiety of the formula IA
wherein the asterisks (*) mark the bonds binding the moieties of the formula,
shown above, respectively,    D is a chromophoric moiety, with the proviso that all 8 moieties D in a molecule of the formula I are identical;    E is **—C(R3a)(R3)—C(H)(R3b)—** and/or
wherein the double asterisks (**) mark the binding bonds, respectively, and wherein each of R3, R3a and R3b, independently of the others, is hydrogen or unsubstituted or substituted C1-C12alkyl; L is unsubstituted or substituted C1-C25alkylene which is linear or branched, which alkylene may be bound* and/or be interrupted by at least one of the radicals selected from the group consisting of —O—, —S—, —N(R4)—, —CO—, —O—CO—, —CO—O—, —N(R4)—CO—, —CO—N(R4)— and phenylene, wherein R4 is hydrogen or unsubstituted or substituted C1-C12alkyl;    X is —NR5— or —O—; and    R5 is hydrogen or unsubstituted or substituted C1-C12alkyl;    or a salt thereof.
The coloured silsesquisiloxanes are used as colorants, pigments and dyes.
WO2007/048721 describes the use of functional particles as electrophoretic displaying particles, wherein the functionalized particles are SiO2, Al2O3 or mixed SiO2 and Al2O3 particles comprising covalently bound to an oxygen atom on the surface, a radical of formula (1),
wherein R1 and R2 are independently of each other hydrogen, particle surface —O—, or a substituent, n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, B is the direct bond or a bridge member, and D is the residue of an organic chromophore.
WO 2010/149505 describes a composition comprising charged particles, preferably having an inorganic core of SiO2, Al2O3 and/or TiO2, and a counter ion comprising a silicon atom which is directly bound to a carbon atom. Said composition may be used in electrophoretic displays. Preferably, said charged particles comprise a dye attached to said inorganic core and said counter ion comprise a (poly)siloxane moiety linked via suitable bridge members to a quaternary, positively charged nitrogen or phosphorus atom, or to a moiety carrying an anionic functional group. Exemplified are charged particles having a SiO2 core.

Abstract: (ii) a chromophoric moiety D, which may which may be substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of C1-10-alkyl, phenyl, halogen, OC1-6-alkyl, OH, NH2 and NO2, and        (iii) a moiety of formula

Abstract: wherein        L4 is C1-20-alkylene, phenylene-C1-20-alkylene or C1-20-alkylene-phenylene-C1-20alkylene,        R11, R12, R13 and R14 are independently from each other hydrogen or C1-4-alkyl,        R15, R16, R17 and R18 are independently from each other C1-4-alkyl,        R19 is C1-20-alkyl, which may be substituted with phenyl, O—C1-6-alkyl or NO2, and        d is an integer from 1 to 25,and electrophoretic devices comprising the salts.


In a process for production of ultrafine nickel powder, raw material gas having a partial pressure of nickel chloride vapor within a range from 0.2 to 0.7 is fed into a reducing furnace and the nickel chloride vapor is reduced with hydrogen while flowing the raw material gas in this reducing furnace at a space velocity (SV) within a range from 0.02 to 0.07 secxe2x88x921.

The present invention relates to a process for production of ultrafine nickel powder in which ultrafine nickel powder having an average particle diameter of 1.0 xcexcm or less can be produced by reducing raw material gas including nickel chloride vapor with hydrogen, and in particular, relates to a technique in which the quality of the ultrafine nickel powder can be improved while the productivity thereof is maintained at a high level.
Conductive metal powders such as nickel, copper, silver, palladium, etc., are useful for internal electrodes in multilayer ceramic capacitors, and in particular, since nickel powder, which is a base metal, is inexpensive, such application has recently attracted attention. As a process for production of such a nickel powder, a process in which nickel chloride vapor is generated and is reduced with hydrogen charged into a reducing furnace is known. In addition, multilayer ceramic capacitors generally have a construction such that ceramic dielectric layers and metallic layers used for internal electrodes are alternately laminated. Recently, reduced thickness and reduced resistance in the internal electrode, etc., are required for miniaturization and capacity increase of the capacitors, and therefore, the average particle diameter of the ultrafine powders is preferably 1.0 xcexcm or less, more preferably 0.5 xcexcm or less, and most preferably 0.1 to 0.4xcexcm.
In order to reduce the particle diameter of the nickel powder, it is necessary that the residence time of the nickel chloride vapor in hydrogen be shortened, and in addition, it is necessary that the nickel powder be formed so as to be as spherical as possible, that the particle diameter thereof be made uniform, and that the desired particle diameter be obtained. Furthermore, in order to increase the production yield of the nickel powder, it is effective for the flow rate of raw material gas fed into the reducing furnace to be increased or for the partial pressure of the nickel chloride vapor in the raw material gas to be increased; however, stabilization of quality and further improvement thereof are then difficult.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a process for production of ultrafine nickel powder in which the following targets can be met.
{circle around (1)} Ultrafine nickel powder is produced in which the average particle diameter thereof is preferably 1.0 xcexcm or less, and more preferably 0.1 to 0.4 xcexcm.
{circle around (2)} Qualities such as uniformity of shape and particle diameter of the ultrafine nickel powders are improved, while manufacturing efficiency is maintained at a high level.
The inventors have performed intensive research with regard to the conditions under which the raw material gas is fed into the reducing furnace. As a result, they have discovered suitable conditions which can meet the above targets. That is, a first process for production of ultrafine nickel powder, in which ultrafine nickel powders are produced by vapor-reducing nickel chloride vapor, is characterized in that raw material gas having a partial pressure of nickel chloride vapor within a range from 0.2 to 0.7 is fed into a reducing furnace, and the nickel chloride vapor is reduced with hydrogen while flowing the raw material gas in this reducing furnace at a space velocity (SV) within a range from 0.02 to 0.07 secxe2x88x921.
In addition, a second process for production of ultrafine nickel powder, in which ultrafine nickel powders are produced by vapor-reducing nickel chloride vapor, is characterized in that hydrogen is discharged from a first outlet nozzle provided at an inlet nozzle of a reducing furnace, raw material gas having a partial pressure of nickel chloride vapor within a range from 0.2 to 0.7 is simultaneously discharged from a second outlet nozzle provided so as to surround the first outlet nozzle, and the nickel chloride vapor is reduced with hydrogen while flowing the raw material gas in this reducing furnace at a space velocity (SV) within a range from 0.02 to 0.07 secxe2x88x921.
More preferred embodiments of the above first or second production processes are as follows.
{circle around (1)} Raw material gas having a partial pressure of nickel chloride vapor within a range from 0.3 to 0.7 is fed into a reducing furnace and the nickel chloride vapor is reduced with hydrogen while flowing the raw material gas in the reducing furnace at a space velocity (SV) within a range from 0.025 to 0.07 secxe2x88x921 .
{circle around (2)} In order to obtain ultrafine nickel powders having an average particle diameter within a range from 0.1 to 0.2 xcexcm, raw material gas having a partial pressure of nickel chloride vapor within a range from 0.25 to 0.6 is fed into a reducing furnace and the nickel chloride vapor is reduced with hydrogen while flowing the raw material gas in this reducing furnace at a space velocity (SV) within a range from 0.03 to 0.07 secxe2x88x921, and it is preferable that raw material gas having a partial pressure of nickel chloride vapor within a range from 0.3 to 0.55 be fed into a reducing furnace and that the nickel chloride vapor be reduced with hydrogen while flowing the raw material gas in the reducing furnace at a space velocity (SV) within a range from 0.035 to 0.07 secxe2x88x921.
{circle around (3)} In order to obtain ultrafine nickel powders having an average particle diameter within a range from 0.25 to 0.4 xcexcm, raw material gas having a partial pressure of nickel chloride vapor within a range from 0.3 to 0.7 is fed into a reducing furnace and the nickel chloride vapor is reduced with hydrogen while flowing the raw material gas in the reducing furnace at a space velocity (SV) within a range from 0.02 to 0.06 secxe2x88x921, and it is preferable that the raw material gas having a partial pressure of nickel chloride vapor within a range from 0.3 to 0.7 be fed into the reducing furnace and that the nickel chloride vapor be reduced with hydrogen while flowing the raw material gas in the reducing furnace at a space velocity (SV) within a range from 0.03 to 0.06 secxe2x88x921.
{circle around (4)} Raw material gas is discharged from a second outlet nozzle to a reducing furnace at a linear velocity within a range from 0.5 to 5.0 m/second.
{circle around (5)} Hydrogen is discharged from a first outlet nozzle provided at an inlet nozzle of a reducing furnace, and raw material gas is discharged from a second outlet nozzle provided around the first outlet nozzle. At this time, hydrogen at 30 to 100 mol % of the theoretical amount required to reduce nickel chloride vapor is discharged from the first outlet nozzle.
In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail. Terms used in the present description are defined as follows.
{circle around (1)} xe2x80x9cRaw material gasxe2x80x9d refers to a gas in which nickel chloride vapor is diluted with inert gas and/or halogen gas such as chlorine gas and which is a mixture as a raw material to be reduced. Inert gas or halogen gas acts to dilute the nickel chloride vapor and/or as a carrier thereof. As the inert gas, nitrogen gas or argon gas is generally employed, and in addition, the gas can also be employed with halogen gas in combination.
{circle around (2)} The xe2x80x9cpartial pressure of nickel chloride vaporxe2x80x9d refers to the mole percentage of the nickel chloride vapor occupied in a mixture of nickel chloride vapor with inert gas and/or halogen gas.
{circle around (3)} xe2x80x9cSpace velocityxe2x80x9d is indicated by SV (space velocity; units: secxe2x88x921) and refers to a ratio of feeding speed (liter/second; conversion at reduction temperature and at 1 atm) of nickel chloride vapor fed into a reducing furnace to volume V (liters) of a reacting portion in the reducing furnace (volume of a space from an inlet nozzle portion of raw material gas to a cooling portion for cooling formed ultrafine nickel powder). Although the nickel chloride vapor is fed as a mixture of inert gas and/or halogen gas, SV is the value for nickel chloride excepting the inert gas.
{circle around (4)} xe2x80x9cLinear velocityxe2x80x9d refers to the discharging speed (m/second; conversion at reduction temperature) of raw material gas in the case in which the raw material gas is fed from a second outlet nozzle to a reducing furnace.
As a process for production of nickel chloride vapor which is a component of raw material gas to be reduced, a process in which solid nickel chloride is evaporated by heating, or a process in which nickel metal is brought into contact with chlorine gas, thereby converting it into a metal chloride, can be employed. In particular, the latter process is preferably adopted in the present invention since the production amount of nickel chloride is easily controlled by feeding a set amount of chlorine. As raw material gas fed into the reducing furnace in the present invention, a mixture of nickel chloride vapor with halogen gas and/or an inert gas is preferred. The partial pressure of nickel chloride vapor is preferably 0.2 to 0.7, is more preferably 0.25 to 0.7, and is most preferably 0.3 to 0.7. The range of such partial pressures is a preferable aspect in the case in which an objective ultrafine nickel powder having qualities such as particle diameter, uniformity thereof, shape, crystallinity, sinterability, etc., is produced.
B-1. Overall Composition
FIG. 1 shows an example of a reducing furnace 10 used in the present invention; however, the present invention is not limited to this. At the top of the reducing furnace 10, a raw material gas feeding nozzle 30 connected with a raw material gas feeding pipe 42 is provided, and in addition, a hydrogen feeding pipe 20 is provided at another portion. Furthermore, a cooling gas feeding pipe 11 is provided. A space between a tip (shown by 13a in the figure) of the raw material gas feeding nozzle 30 and a position (shown by 13b in the figure) of the cooling gas feeding pipe 11 is a reaction portion 12. The ultrafine nickel powder produced by a reductive reaction is conveyed to a separation and collection process and to a purification process with surplus hydrogen and by-product hydrogen chloride.
B-2. Feeding Process for Raw Material Gas and Hydrogen
The raw material gas discharging nozzle 30 may be a single pipe, as is shown in FIG. 1, and may branch into two or more branches. The discharging speed of the raw material gas from a raw material gas outlet nozzle, that is, the linear velocity, is desirably set for 0.5 to 5.0 m/second (calculated value converted at the reduction temperature). In the case in which the line velocity is above this range, the reductive reaction becomes nonuniform.
In order to satisfy both productivity and quality requirements for the ultrafine nickel powder, a double-pipe structure (often referred to as a xe2x80x9cmulti-nozzlexe2x80x9d) which provides a hydrogen discharging nozzle 24 in the raw material gas discharging nozzle 30, as is shown in FIG. 2, is preferred. Thus, the reductive reaction for nickel chloride can thereby be carried out more efficiently. As another aspect, nozzles in which multiple raw material gas outlet nozzles are divided around the hydrogen discharging nozzle 24 at the center may be used. According to such an arrangement, nickel chloride vapor is fed from the raw material gas outlet nozzle extremely stably, uniformly, and efficiently so as to react with hydrogen, and ultrafine nickel powder in which the particle diameter distribution is small can thereby be obtained even at high partial pressures of nickel chloride vapor.
B-3. Feeding Amount of Hydrogen
The total amount of hydrogen fed into the reducing furnace is a theoretical amount (chemical equivalent) or more, which is necessary for reducing nickel chloride in the raw material, and specifically, hydrogen of 110 to 200 mol % of the theoretical amount is fed. In the case in which the double-pipe nozzle is used, as shown in FIG. 2, it is preferable, in order to accomplish the object of the present invention, that hydrogen of 30 to 100 mol % of the theoretical amount be fed from the hydrogen discharging nozzle 24 provided at the center and that the remainder which is required be fed from the hydrogen feeding pipe 20 so that the total amount is 110 to 200 mol %. Although there is no problem even if hydrogen is fed above 200 mol % of the theoretical amount, this case is economically inferior. As a preferable aspect, it is particularly effective that 40 to 90 mol % of the theoretical amount be fed from the hydrogen discharging nozzle 24 using the double-pipe shown in FIG. 2, and that 30 to 90 mol % thereof be separately fed from the hydrogen feeding pipe 20, so that the total hydrogen feeding amount is 110 to 180 mol % of the theoretical value.
B-4. Reaction Condition and Space Velocity
The reductive reaction in the reducing furnace is carried out in the reaction portion 12 at 950 to 1150 xc2x0 C. When raw material gas having a partial pressure of nickel chloride vapor within a range from 0.2 to 0.7 is fed from the raw material gas outlet nozzle to the reducing furnace, nickel chloride vapor immediately brings into contact with hydrogen, and a core of nickel is formed and grows. Then, it is rapidly cooled by feeding inert gas from the cooling gas feeding pipe 11 provided at the lower portion of the reducing furnace, etc., and growth thereof is stopped. The ultrafine nickel powder produced by such a procedure is conveyed to a separation and collection process.
In the present invention, it is important to combine the partial pressure of nickel chloride vapor in the raw material gas with a setting of 0.02 to 0.07 secxe2x88x921 for the space velocity (SV) of the nickel chloride vapor in the reaction portion 12 from the outlet nozzle of the raw material gas feeding nozzle 30 to the cooling portion. In the case in which the space velocity (SV) is below 0.02 secxe2x88x921, manufacturing efficiency is extremely low. In contrast, in the case in which it is above 0.07 secxe2x88x921, the quality of the ultrafine nickel powder is tends to be unstable. The space velocity (SV) is preferably 0.025 to 0.07 secxe2x88x921, if conditions are further limited from this viewpoint.
FIG. 3 shows the relationship between partial pressure of nickel chloride vapor and space velocity (SV) thereof to the average particle diameter of the produced ultrafine nickel powder. As is apparent from FIG. 3, in order to control the average particle diameter, ranges of partial pressure of nickel chloride vapor in raw material gas and space velocity (SV) are set as mentioned above, and ultrafine nickel powder having an average particle diameter within a range from 0.1 to 0.2 xcexcm or an average particle diameter within a range from 0.25 to 0.4 xcexcm can thereby be selectively produced.
{circle around (1)} In particular, in order to produce ultrafine nickel powder having an average particle diameter within a range from 0.1 to 0.2 xcexcm, raw material gas having a partial pressure of nickel chloride vapor within a range from 0.25 to 0.6 is fed into a reducing furnace and the nickel chloride vapor is reduced with hydrogen while flowing the raw material gas in the reducing furnace at a space velocity (SV) within a range from 0.03 to 0.07 secxe2x88x921. It is more preferable that raw material gas having a partial pressure of nickel chloride vapor within a range from 0.3 to 0.55 be fed into a reducing furnace and that the nickel chloride vapor be reduced with hydrogen while flowing the raw material gas in this reducing furnace at a space velocity (SV) within a range from 0.035 to 0.07 sec1.
{circle around (2)} In order to produce ultrafine nickel powder having an average particle diameter within a range from 0.25 to 0.4 xcexcm, raw material gas having a partial pressure of nickel chloride vapor within a range from 0.3 to 0.7 is fed into a reducing furnace and the nickel chloride vapor is reduced with hydrogen while flowing the raw material gas in the reducing furnace at a space velocity (SV) within a range from 0.02 to 0.06 secxe2x88x921. It is more preferable that raw material gas having a partial pressure of nickel chloride vapor within a range from 0.3 to 0.7 be fed into a reducing furnace and that the nickel chloride vapor be reduced with hydrogen while flowing the raw material gas in this reducing furnace at a space velocity (SV) within a range from 0.03 to 0.06 secxe2x88x921.
{circle around (3)} Even if the average particle diameter is the same, in the case in which the partial pressure of nickel chloride vapor is low, or in the case in which the space velocity (SV) is small, crystallinity of the produced ultrafine nickel powder is superior and the below-described sinterability is also improved. In this case, since productivity is lowered, partial pressure and space velocity (SV) are appropriately set in consideration of a balance of quality and properties.
As a more preferable aspect, hydrogen is brought into contact with raw material gas and is simultaneously discharged in the reducing furnace, and a reductive reaction is carried out at the above partial pressure of nickel chloride vapor in raw material gas and a space velocity (SV) thereof.

Process for production of ultrafine nickel powder


A fluid dynamic-pressure bearing includes a thrust dynamic-pressure bearing between a bearing member and a rotor hub and a tapered sealing portion continuous with the thrust dynamic-pressure bearing and defining a radial gap whose width gradually increases in the axial direction. A neck is formed in a passageway between the thrust dynamic-pressure bearing and a lubricating fluid/air interface maintained in the tapered sealing portion for increasing flow resistance of the lubricating fluid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fluid dynamic-pressure bearing, a spindle motor including the fluid dynamic-pressure bearing and a recording disk driving device including the spindle motor.
2. Background Art
In recent years, spindle motors have been required to have a stable deflection characteristic against vibrations, impacts and the like, since they are required to perform reading and writing from and onto a disk, even in the event that vibrations, impacts and the like are imposed on the spindle motor.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a thrust dynamic-pressure bearing 4 is formed between the axially upper end surface of a bearing member 1 and the lower surface of a rotor hub 2. A taper sealing portion 6 for preventing the leakage of lubricating fluid to the outside is formed below the thrust dynamic-pressure bearing 4 in the axial direction. The lubricating fluid is retained continuously from the thrust dynamic-pressure bearing 4 to the taper sealing portion 6. A lubricating-fluid flow channel 8 is defined by a flange portion 1a of the bearing member 1 and an annular member 10 mounted to the rotor hub 2 such that it has a substantially L-shaped cross-sectional area. Further, the gaps other tan the bearing gap are defined to have greater dimensions than that of the bearing gap, in order to prevent increases of the torque loss.
However, with the configuration having the thrust dynamic-pressure bearing 4 formed between the upper end surface of the bearing member 1 and the lower surface of the rotor hub 2, a large amount of lubricating fluid is retained in the thrust dynamic-pressure bearing 4 during the rotation of the rotor hub 2, since the thrust dynamic-pressure bearing 4 has a large diameter. Accordingly, if an external force is exerted thereon from outside of the motor, this will cause a large amount of lubricating fluid to move within a short time.
As a result, a large amount of lubricating fluid will move to the taper sealing portion 6 located below the thrust dynamic-pressure bearing 4 in the axial direction, which will make it impossible to retain all the lubricating fluid with the taper sealing portion 6, thereby resulting in leakage of lubricating fluid to the outside of the taper sealing portion 6.
In order to cope therewith, it is possible to increase the gap dimension of the taper sealing portion 6 for enabling the retaining of a larger amount of lubricating fluid. However, there is a limit to the volume of lubricating fluid which can be retained by the taper sealing portion 6.

Fluid dynamic-pressure bearing, spindle motor and recording disk driving device


Defects are prevented from occurring during an exposure process by detecting vibration of and measuring the relative position of components of the exposure apparatus. The exposure apparatus includes an external frame on which a reference mirror is disposed, a projection lens, a first mirror fixed relative to the projection lens, a wafer stage, a second mirror fixed relative to the wafer stage, and an interferometer system that detects vibration of the projection lens using the reference mirror and the first mirror and detects the position of the wafer stage relative to the projection lens using the first and second mirrors. A second interferometer system may be provided to detect vibration of the first interferometer system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the photolithography process used in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to an exposure apparatus for exposing a layer of photoresist disposed on a substrate, and to a method of controlling the position of the substrate relative to components of the exposure apparatus during the exposure process.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, semiconductor devices are manufactured by performing series of processes on a semiconductor substrate. These processes include a photolithography process, an ion implantation process, a deposition process, and an etching process.
Photolithography entails coating the semiconductor substrate with photoresist, exposing the photoresist to light having a predetermined wavelength and passed through a reticle, and developing the photoresist. The reticle bears a fine pattern corresponding to a pattern, e.g., a circuit pattern, to be formed on the substrate. This reticle pattern is transferred to the photoresist when the photoresist is exposed to light directed through the reticle. The developing process removes select (exposed or non-exposed) portions of the photoresist to thereby form a photoresist pattern. A fine pattern is then formed on the semiconductor substrate by etching one or more layers disposed under the photoresist pattern, i.e., by using the photoresist pattern as an etch mask. This process is repeated for several layers formed one above the other on the substrate.
The exposure apparatus for performing the exposure process includes a lens that reduces and projects an image of the pattern reticle onto the semiconductor substrate, and a device for measuring the position of the semiconductor substrate relative to the exposure apparatus so that the image of the reticle pattern can be transferred to a precise position on the layer of photoresist. The precision of the exposure process is crucial to realizing a proper alignment of the fine patterns to be formed on the layers stacked on the semiconductor substrate. Thus, the lens and the measuring device should be fixed during the exposure process while the device is measuring the relative position of the semiconductor substrate.
However, the semiconductor substrate is supported on a movable stage in the exposure apparatus, and the unit for moving the stage or external factors may induce vibrations in the lens or in the measuring device during the exposure process. If vibrations do occur, the image of the reticle pattern may not be transferred to the desired location on the semiconductor substrate. As a result, the fine patterns may not be properly aligned throughout the layers on the substrate.

Exposure apparatus for manufacturing semiconductor device, method of exposing a layer of photoresist, and method of detecting vibrations and measuring relative position of substrate during an exposure process


In a mist recovering apparatus for recovering a mist contained in a gas, provided with a filter having pores of pore size increasing from a gas inlet side toward a gas outlet side, the gas containing the mist is passed from the gas inlet side of the filter, through the filter toward the gas outlet side of the filter. The mist is trapped by the filter and grows into droplets as the gas containing the mist flows through the filter, and the droplets drip down along the gas outlet surface of the filter and are collected under the filter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mist recovering method and a mist recovering apparatus for recovering a mist contained in a gas, suitable for recovering, for example, sodium from an inert gas, such as argon gas, containing sodium vapor and flowing at a high flow rate through a dry cleaning apparatus having a cleaning tank in which the inert gas is blown against a spent nuclear fuel used in a sodium-cooled fast breeder to remove sodium adhering to the spent nuclear fuel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Sodium contained in a gas in a sodium mist has been recovered by either a method which solidifies sodium from a sodium mist and collects solidified sodium by a filter for recovery or a method which changes a sodium mist into sodium droplets and collects the droplets for recovery.
When recovering sodium by the former conventional method, the filter needs to be changed occasionally because solid sodium deposits on the filter and, eventually, clogs up the filter. When recovering sodium by the latter conventional method, the filter is not clogged up in a short time because sodium is collected in sodium droplets. However, the method needs another recovering apparatus below the filter because the sodium droplets are scattered again in a sodium mist from the filter. Thus, these conventional methods are unable to recover the sodium mist efficiently and require troublesome maintenance work.
A metal mist trapping method which recovers sodium in sodium droplets from a sodium mist contained in a cover gas system is disclosed in JP-B No. 8-8968 published Jan. 31, 1996. This metal mist trapping method uses a metal mist trapping apparatus having a vessel having a vertical gas passage packed with horizontal metal wire nets stacked in layers. The upstream metal wire nets with respect to the flowing direction of a gas containing a sodium mist are formed of finer metal wires and have smaller meshes than the downstream metal wire nets. The metal wire nets are heated at a temperature not lower than the melting point of sodium by a heating unit during operation. Since the gas passage of the vessel is fully packed with the horizontal metal wire nets stacked in layers, the sodium mist is trapped mainly by the metal wire nets near the gas inlet of the vessel and liquid sodium layers held on those metal wire nets enhances the sodium mist trapping performance of the metal mist trapping apparatus if the gas containing the sodium mist flows through the gas passage at a relatively low flow rate.
However, if the gas containing the sodium mist flows through the gas passage at a high flow rate at which the gas flows when a dry cleaning apparatus is used, and the size of droplets produced by the condensation of the sodium mist is as small as several micrometers, liquid sodium layers held on the metal wire nets are blown off the metal wire nets and discharged through the gas outlet of the vessel, which reduces the sodium mist recovering efficiency of the metal mist trapping apparatus.