This disclosure is related to high yield strength steel where mechanical properties, such as elongation, ultimate tensile strength and yield strength in a sheet are maintained or enhanced via thermal treatment optionally provided during a galvanization coating operation.

Third Generation Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS) are currently being developed for automobile uses, and in particular automobile body applications. Advanced High-Strength Steels (AHSS) steels are classified by tensile strengths greater than 700 MPa with elongations from 4% to 30% and include such types as martensitic steels (MS), dual phase (DP) steels, transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) steels, and complex phase (CP) steels. Example targets for 3rd Generation AHSS are provided in the banana chart for autobody steels which is published by World Auto Steel (FIG. 1).
Tensile properties such as ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and total elongation are important benchmarks for establishing combinations of properties. However, AHSS materials are not generally classified by the yield strength (YS). Yield strength of a material is also of large importance to automobile designers since once a part is in service and if the part is stressed beyond yield, the part will permanently (plastically) deform. Materials that have high yield strength resist permanent deformation to higher stress levels than those with lower yield strength. This resistance to deformation is useful by allowing structures made from the material to withstand greater loads before the structure permanently deflects and deforms. Materials with higher yield strength can thereby enable automobile designers to reduce associated part weight through gauge reduction while maintaining the same resistance to deformation in the part. Many types of emerging grades of third generation AHSS suffer from low initial yield strengths, despite having various combinations of tensile strength and ductility.
A component in an automobile that experiences early yielding during normal service and undergoes permanent plastic deformation would be unacceptable based on most design criteria. In a crash event however, lower yield strengths, especially when coupled with a high strain hardening coefficient can be advantageous. This is especially true in the front and back ends of a passenger compartment which are often called the crumple zones. In these areas, a lower yield strength material with higher ductility can deform and strain harden increasing strength during the crash event leading to high levels of energy absorption due to the high starting ductility.
For other areas of the automobile, low yield strength would be unacceptable. Specifically, this would include what is called the passenger cage of an automobile. In the passenger cage, the materials utilized must have high yield strength since only very limited deformation/intrusion into the passenger cage is allowed. Once the passenger cage is penetrated this can lead to injury or death to the occupant(s). Thus, a material with high yield strength is required for these areas.
The yield strength of a material can be increased in a number of ways on the industrial scale. The material can be cold rolled a small amount (with a reduction <2%) in a process called temper rolling. This process introduces a small amount of plastic strain in the material, and the yield strength of the material is increased slightly corresponding to the amount of strain that the material was subjected to during the temper pass. Another method of increasing the yield strength in the material is through a reduction in the material's crystal grain size, known as Hall-Petch strengthening. Smaller crystal grains increase the required shear stress for the initial dislocation movement in the material, and the initial deformation is delayed until higher applied loads. The grain size can be reduced through process modifications such as altered annealing schedules to limit grain growth during the recrystallization and growth process that occurs during annealing after plastic deformation. Chemistry modifications to an alloy such as the addition of alloying elements that exist in solid solution can also increase the yield strength of a material, however the addition of these alloying elements must take place while the material is molten and may result in increased costs.
Developing high yield strength in the passenger cage from a low yield strength version of AHSS is a possible route. However, it is difficult in many metalworking operations to strain harden the finished part uniformly. This means that while the heavily cold worked areas of a part are much higher yield, there would still be lower yield strength areas which might then deform and cause an unacceptable intrusion into the passenger space.
Cold working steel from a fully annealed state is a known route to increase yield strength and tensile strength. It can be applied uniformly across a sheet during processing through cold rolling increasing the yield strength and tensile strength. However, this approach results in a decrease in total elongation and often to levels much below 20%. As elongation decreases, the cold forming ability also decreases, reducing the ability to produce parts with complex geometries resulting in a decrease in the usefulness of the AHSS. Higher ductility with a minimum of 30% total elongation is generally needed to form complex geometries through cold stamping processes. While processes such as roll forming can be used to create parts from lower elongation material, the geometric complexity of parts from these processes is limited. Cold rolling also can introduce anisotropy into the material which will farther reduce its ability to be cold formed into parts.
Steels, which are not stainless, corrode under normal atmospheric conditions and because the oxide spalls, the corrosion or rusting process often continue until failure. Zinc is reportedly used to coat steels and a zinc coating onto steel is applied through a process called galvanization. Zinc coating prevents the steel from corroding and, unlike for iron, the corrosion byproduct is adherent and provides additional corrosion protection.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

High yield strength steel with mechanical properties maintained or enhanced via thermal treatment optionally provided during galvanization coating operations


A syncDRAM memory interface is provided that is capable of extending data burst during a data transfer in a syncDRAM memory so as to provide a continuous draw of data from the syncDRAM memory banks. Included in the interface is a pipeline request path configured to receive pipeline request data from a microprocessor, a pipeline command generator configured to generate pipeline commands and transfer them to the syncDRAM memory such that a pipeline data transfer command is transferred to the syncDRAM memory in parallel with a primary command generated from the microprocessor and sent to the syncDRAM. This pipeline data transfer command is received by the syncDRAM through the same internal address latch used in response to a primary data transfer request. A pipeline arm generator is also provided to communicate with the pipeline request path and the data transfer controller to indicate that the syncDRAM interface is ready to transfer data in response to a pipeline request.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to data processing systems and, more particularly, to devices for performing data transfer in a computer system.
2. Description of Related Art
In conventional computer systems, data is processed by transferring and decoding instructions, such as from software programs, that define operations to be performed. Within these instructions are data transfer requests for transferring data throughout the computer system. These computer systems typically have extensive memory banks that take on a variety of characteristics. In particular, synchronous DRAM ("syncDRAM") memories are a modern advancement that provides DRAM capability where the outputs are referenced to the rising edge of the system clock pulse. Furthermore, when a read operation is performed, more than one word is loaded into a high speed shift register where these words are shifted out, one word per clock cycle. These multi-word transfers are called "bursts". As a result, a memory system built out of syncDRAMs has a peak (ideal) bandwidth equal to the system's clock frequency multiplied by the number of data lines in the system's bus. Therefore, the memory bandwidth is directly proportional to the clock frequency.
Modern syncDRAMs can deliver a burst of information of four to eight cycles of data, with the address word appearing first followed by the remainder of the block. This allows for a large amount of data to be transferred at the same rate as the system clock. Each burst of data is transferred in response to a primary request from a microprocessor, the primary request having a corresponding address that is latched in the syncDRAM with the command sent by the microprocessor. The primary request could also originate from the PCI master controller or any other peripheral controller sitting off of a PCI bridge.
In a typical data request from a syncDRAM, the host interface which interprets the system bus, or host bus, of the computer system sends a request out for data in response to a command from a microprocessor. The receiving unit in the system indicates its readiness to do the cycle requested by the host interface by asserting an ARM signal back to the system. The syncDRAM interface will begin to drive a cycle to SyncDRAM on the rising edge of the system clock in which both the ARM signal and the request signal from the host interface are sampled active together. A data transfer controller (sometimes referred to in the art as the B-unit) having buffer memory capable of storing addresses controls the transfer of data between the syncDRAM memory and the PCI bus. The data transfer controller provides an interface between the host interface, the syncDRAM memory and the peripheral component interface (PCI) of the system. With the added complexity in modern systems of additional data transfer request sources (other than the CPU) and maintaining cache coherency, the B-unit is crucial in modern computer systems. The data transfer controller provides for interface among these components, keeps track of what data is in the correct buffers and determines whether a certain cycle can start or if an ongoing cycle needs to be completed. The buffers in the data transfer controller store addresses and controls what cycles will occur and when.
The data transfer controller signals the readiness of the controller to allow the cycle by initiating an ARM signal or BHarm which indicates the readiness of the data transfer controller to accept the cycle requested by the host interface. This indicates that the data transfer controller is either idle or simply has the capacity to accept the cycle. After the transfer controller asserts BHarm, the receiving unit then can begin receiving data.
After the data has been requested and sent, the syncDRAM is then ready to latch another address in response to a data transfer request and begin a new cycle. From the time when the data is finished being delivered until a number of clocks corresponding to the CAS latency of the syncDRAM after the next request and address are received by the syncDRAM unit, a lag time occurs where no data is being transferred. Due to the CAS latency, the syncDRAM could receive a request on the clock after the last data was delivered and the result would still be a period of time equal to the CAS latency where no data is transferred. It would be useful during this time to continue transferring data from the syncDRAM unit. As will be seen, the present invention makes use of this time to transfer data from the syncDRAM unit in a simple, elegant manner.

Method for parallel processing of dram read request in a memory-cache controller system


A system for pumping fluid is provided, having two or more submersible pumps, each submersible pump having an inlet, an outlet, a pumping mechanism that pumps fluid from the inlet to the outlet, a fluid level sensor for measuring a fluid level above the inlet, and a controller. The controller is programmed to activate the pumping mechanism when the fluid level sensor senses a minimum fluid level above the inlet and control the speed of the pumping mechanism based on the fluid level sensed by the fluid level sensor above the minimum fluid level between a minimum operating pump speed and a maximum operating pump speed. The submersible pumps are arranged in a vertical stack with the inlets of the submersible pumps spaced vertically. Each controller of each submersible pump operates autonomously relative to controllers of other submersible pumps in the vertical stack.

When performing work on municipal water systems, such as drains, sewers, etc., it is often necessary to divert the water upstream of the work site. Other situations also require water to be moved from one location to another. For example, underground or low lying areas may be prone to filling with water due to high ground water levels or rain events, or water may be require to be moved for industrial purposes. U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,299 (Scarsdale) entitled "SUBMERSIBLE PUMPING SYSTEM" teaches a pumping system used in waste fluid disposal applications. U.S. Pat. No. 8,662,829 (Pasquesi et al.) entitled "PUMP GUARD ADAPTOR, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ADAPTATION THEREOF" teaches sump pumps for removal of water that may be used in a stacked configuration.


A pixel arrangement structure, a display substrate, and a display device. The pixel arrangement structure comprises pixel groups (10) extending in a first direction and arranged in a second direction, and each pixel group (10) comprises a first sub-pixel row (100), a second sub-pixel row (200), and a third sub-pixel row (300). The first sub-pixel row (100) comprises a plurality of first sub-pixels (110), the second sub-pixel row (200) comprises a plurality of second sub-pixel pairs (210), and the third sub-pixel row (300) comprises a plurality of third sub-pixels (310). The pitches of the plurality of first sub-pixels (110), the plurality of second sub-pixel pairs (210), and the plurality of third sub-pixels (310) in the first direction are same. In each pixel group (10), a line connecting the centers of a first sub-pixel (110) and a third sub-pixel (310) adjacent to each other are substantially parallel to the second direction, and the first sub-pixel row (100) and the second sub-pixel row (200) are shifted by one half of the pitch in the first direction. The orthographic projections of a second sub-pixel pair (210) and a first sub-pixel (110) adjacent to each other on a straight line extending in the first direction are overlapped, and the first sub-pixel rows (100) in the two adjacent pixel groups (10) are shifted by one-half of the pitch in the first direction. The pixel arrangement structure reduces the grainy sensation of the second sub-pixel pairs during display.

When display resolution of a display is equivalent to resolution of human eyes, the difference in the resolution of human eyes for different color sub-pixels can be utilized to change the conventional arrangement mode of red, green and blue sub-pixels. For example, a virtual pixel method of reducing the number of sub-pixels by sharing part of the sub-pixels, on the premise of forming an image of the same resolution, can reduce the density of physical sub-pixels, thereby reducing the process difficulty in the manufacturing process of the display device, improving the yield and reducing the cost.

Pixel arrangement structure, display substrate, and display device


An article of manufacture for transporting, using and storing golf clubs and related accessories required to play golf, with: a) a base that provides fifteen individual compartments lined with material to protect club heads; connected to b) a three-tiered top with rubberized slots for individual club shaft containment; with c) individual flexible material bags attached to each top tier providing storage; with d) the ability to be attached to a standard two person motorized golf cart; with e) attachable wheels and an attachable handle that converts the carrier to a pull cart; with f) front and back rings available to attach a shoulder strap for carrying. This new concept of having the golf clubs outside the storage compartments provides increased storage, while providing orderly club storage and protection for each club head and shaft.

This invention relates generally to the field of golf club carriers and more specifically to an article of manufacture for carrying and storing golf clubs and related accessories required to play golf.
As golf clubs increase in value, there is a need for better club protection. Along with club protection there is a demand for more orderly storage of clubs for convenient and faster play. There has been no easy, low cost way to determine if a club is missing while playing. Golfers generally use a motorized golf carts, but at times may walk and shoulder carry or pull a bag on a pull cart. Increased storage area is desirable for those times when additional items are to be carried with the golfer.
There is nothing available that offers all of these features in one unit. Storing each club head in an upright manner in an individually protected compartment, while having a rubberized slot to securely and conveniently protect and store each club shaft offers new and innovative features. On occasion a golfer will hand carry several clubs to advance the ball and accidentally leave one on the golf course. With this club storage and carrier system, a missing club will quickly be noticed.
By increasing the storage area, insulated compartments for beverages will be added. Storage compartments may have transparent material showing the golfer a view of the contents of each compartment.
It is an object of this current invention to provide an innovative alternative to conventional methods of transporting, storing and protecting golf clubs and golf accessories, while offering flexible usage and features not currently available.
Carriers of golf clubs with dividers, handles and wheels are known in the prior art such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,114,730; 6,460,867; 6,056,301; 5,112,068; 4,911,465; 4,890,856; 4,860,889; 4,792,152 and 4,726,597. However, none of these patents offer the specific combination of features of the present invention.
Prior technology does not provide a golf club carrier that stores each club independently, outside the storage compartments, with club heads down, eliminating the need for club head covers while providing protection for each golf club against damage. Current systems used on motorized golf carts do not enable the user to quickly notice a missing club. Standard storage compartments currently available on golf bags are not sufficient to provide additional space for storage of cold beverages as well as having transparent material allowing the user to view compartment contents.

Article of manufacture for carrying and storing golf clubs and related accessories required to play golf


The present invention provides a data mining framework for mining high-quality structured clinical information. The data mining framework includes a data miner that mines medical information from a computerized patient record (CPR) based on domain-specific knowledge contained in a knowledge base. The data miner includes components for extracting information from the CPR, combining all available evidence in a principled fashion over time, and drawing inferences from this combination process. The mined medical information is stored in a structured CPR which can be a data warehouse.

Health care providers accumulate vast stores of clinical information. However, efforts to mine clinical information have not proven to be successful. In general, data mining is a process to determine useful patterns or relationships in data stored in a data repository. Typically, data mining involves analyzing very large quantities of information to discover trends hidden in the data.
Clinical information maintained by health care organizations is usually unstructured. Therefore, it is difficult to mine using conventional methods. Moreover, since clinical information is collected to treat patients, as opposed, for example, for use in clinical trials, it may contain missing, incorrect, and inconsistent data. Often key outcomes and variables are simply not recorded.
While many health care providers maintain billing information in a relatively structured format, this type of information is limited by insurance company requirements. That is, billing information generally only captures information needed to process medical claims, and more importantly reflects the "billing view" of the patient, i.e., coding the bill for maximum reimbursement. As a result, billing information often contains inaccurate and missing data, from a clinical point of view. Furthermore, studies show that billing codes are incorrect in a surprisingly high fraction of patients (often 10% to 20%).
Given that mining clinical information could lead to insights that otherwise would be difficult or impossible to obtain, it would be desirable and highly advantageous to provide techniques for mining structured high-quality clinical information.


An image forming medium includes a substrate and an imaging layer including a photochromic material and a polymer binder coated on the substrate, where the photochromic material exhibits a reversible homogeneous-heterogeneous transition between a colorless state and colored state in the polymer binder.

Many paper documents are promptly discarded after being read. Although paper is inexpensive, the quantity of discarded paper documents is enormous and the disposal of these discarded paper documents raises significant cost and environmental issues. Accordingly, there is a continuing desire for providing a new medium for containing the desired image, and methods for preparing and using such a medium. In aspects thereof it would be desirable to be reusable, to abate the cost and environmental issues, and desirably also is flexible and paper-like to provide a medium that is customarily acceptable to end-users and easy to use and store.
Although there are available technologies for transient image formation and storage, they generally provide less than desirable results for most applications as a paper substitute. For example, alternative technologies include liquid crystal displays, electrophoretics, and gyricon image media. However, these alternative technologies may not in a number of instances provide a document that has the appearance and feel of traditional paper, while providing the desired reimageability.
Imaging techniques employing photochromic materials, that is materials which undergo reversible or irreversible photoinduced color changes are known, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,961,948 discloses an imaging method based upon visible light induced changes in a photochromic imaging layer containing a dispersion of at least one photochromic material in an organic film forming binder.
One type of composition that can be used for forming photochromic papers is disclosed in Buncel et al. (J. T. C. Wojtyk, P. M. Kazmaier, E. Buncel, J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Comm, 1703, (1998)). The composition exhibits life-times of at least two days for solutions in acetone of spiropyrans modified with chelating groups in the presence of metallic cations. The metal cation Mn+ can stabilize the open merocyanine form through chelation.
These and other photochromic (or reimageable or electric) papers are desirable because they can provide imaging media that can be reused many times, to transiently store images and documents. For example, applications for photochromic based media include reimageable documents such as, for example, electronic paper documents. Reimageable documents allow information to be kept for as long as the user wants, then the information can be erased or the reimageable document can be re-imaged using an imaging system with different information.
Although the above-described approaches have provided reimageable transient documents, there is a desire for reimageable paper designs that provide longer image life-times, and more desirable paper-like appearance and feel. For example, while the known approaches for photochromic paper provide transient visible images, the visible images have tended to be either purple in color, which provides less image contrast and not the desired black-and-white image, and/or tended to be short in duration such as on the order of several hours, which does not provide adequate life-times for some applications. Furthermore, there is the desire to provide reimageable transient documents that have an appearance and feel comparable to traditional paper, i.e., flexible, capable of being fed through a printer or imager, and having the texture of paper.


Plug-on ground fault modules are configured with a housing and at least one ground fault terminal. The at least one ground fault terminal can be a rigid or semi-rigid member that is configured to slidably engage a circuit breaker terminal. The modules also include aground fault circuit coupled to the ground fault terminal and at least one printed circuit board in the housing with components of the ground fault circuit including at least one solenoid assembly coupled thereto with a respective magnetized or magnetic plunger member residing on or adjacent thereto, and at least one current transformer. The modules also include at least one collar assembly residing in the housing spaced apart from the solenoid assembly and plunger member that is arranged to be able to engage a lever in the circuit interrupter to delatch the circuit interrupter.

Circuit interrupters such as circuit breakers are one of a variety of overcurrent protection devices used for circuit protection and isolation. The circuit breaker provides electrical protection whenever an electric abnormality occurs. In a typical circuit breaker, current enters the system from a power line and passes through a line conductor to a stationary contact fixed on the line conductor, then to a movable contact. The movable contact is fixedly attached to a pivoting arm. Arc chutes can be used to direct an arc away from the electrical contacts into the arc chute. The arc chute is situated proximate to the stationary contact of the circuit. As long as the stationary and movable contacts are in physical contact, current passes between the stationary contact and the movable contact and out of the circuit breaker to down-line electrical devices.
In the event of an overcurrent condition (e.g., a short circuit), extremely high electromagnetic forces can be generated. The electromagnetic forces can be used to separate the movable contact from the stationary contact. Upon separation of the contacts and blowing open the circuit, an arcing condition occurs. The breaker's trip unit will trip the breaker which will cause the contacts to separate. Also, arcing can occur during normal "ON/OFF" operations of the breaker.
Conventional ground fault circuits reside inside a housing of the circuit breaker placing sensitive electronics relatively close to arcing components which can limit amperage and interrupting levels. Also, conventional thermal magnetic circuit breakers with ground fault circuits have complicated wiring arrangements making assembly challenging.

Ground fault modules and related circuit interrupters and methods


In at least one illustrative embodiment, a rotary impact tool may include an anvil and at least one hammer configured to impact the anvil to cause the anvil to rotate. The anvil may include an output shaft, a first lug extending outward in a radial direction from the output shaft and extending a first distance around the output shaft in a circumferential direction, and a second lug extending outward in the radial direction from the output shaft and extending a second distance, different from the first distance, around the output shaft in the circumferential direction.

Rotary impact tools are used to tighten or loosen fasteners. Rotary impact tools often include a drive motor with a motor shaft, a hammer driven by the motor shaft, and an anvil that is impacted by the hammer so that the anvil is rotated and thereby drives a fastener. Most impact mechanisms are configured to transmit high-torque rotational force to the anvil (and subsequently a fastener) while requiring relatively low-torque reaction forces be absorbed by the motor and/or an operator holding the rotary impact tool. More specifically, by using the motor to repeatedly accelerate the hammer while it is out of contact with the anvil and then bringing the hammer only briefly into contact with the anvil, the anvil is imparted with a high-torque rotational force from the impacts of the hammer, while the motor's stator is exposed only to low-torque reaction forces corresponding generally to the free acceleration of the hammer.


The invention relates to providing extended user assistance to the user of a portable electronic device. In particular, the invention relates to providing using assistance for a user of a portable electronic device, comprising a display and a Near Field Communication (NFC) circuit. The method comprises swiping the portable electronic device over an NFC tag comprising user assistance data, accessing user assistance information based on the user assistance data and displaying the user assistance information on the display. The application also relates to a method for providing context-based user assistance information and to a corresponding device.

When buying portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, the devices are normally delivered in a box comprising information and accessories. The box and its contents are often called "phone kit". A "phone kit" normally comprises a user guide, i.e. written information guiding the user to how to operate the portable electronic device. In cases where the same phone kit is shipped to different countries, several printed user guides in different languages, are included in the "phone kit".
However, reduction of printed material in the box is highly wanted for economic and environmental reasons. Costs for printing and reprint are often high.
Furthermore, providing a full printed guide is often time-critical, because the final draft of the user guide has to be ready several weeks before launch of a new product, in order to print a large number of copies for delivery with the products. Hence, a printed guide is often delivered without support for late updates. Therefore, a full printed user guide is not always included in the kit. Instead, the mobile phone may be delivered with shorter start-up guide.
Today, for most electronic devices, a full user guide is also available online using e.g. a desktop computer. Furthermore, portable electronic devices of today, often comprise large, high-quality displays. Hence, an online user guide may as well be retrieved and displayed using the portable electronic device.
However, it is not always easy to find the correct guide on the manufacturer's home page, due to the large number of electronic products released on the market today.
Furthermore, electronic devices of today are generally quite complex. Therefore, it may be difficult to find the right section in the online user guide, even if the right document has been found.
Hence, today there does not exist any flexible and cost efficient way of providing intuitive user assistance to users of portable electronic devices. Therefore, a method for extended user assistance, which overcomes any of the above mentioned problems, would be welcome.


The present invention relates to the use of an alkyl glycoside or of a mixture of at least two alkyl glycosides as agent intended for inhibiting microbial growth, in particular in a cosmetic, pharmaceutical or food composition.

Alkyl glycosides and their applications are known, in particular from the documents US 2006/0046969 and WO 2006/107386.
Patent application US 2006/0046969 discloses an antibacterial composition comprising at least one alkyl glycoside, at least one saccharide and at least one therapeutic agent.
International patent application WO 2006/107386 discloses a composition for inhibiting and/or treating vaginal infections comprising a non-ionic surfactant which may be an alkyl glycoside of formula (Z)n—O—R, in which Z is a saccharide, and R is a generally linear alkyl group comprising between 8 and 30 carbon atoms.
However, the applicant has sought to enhance the performance of compounds of this chemical family for antimicrobial applications.

Methods of inhibiting microbial growth using deoxyaldohexoses


In capacitive sensor circuits where physical contact is required and excess pressure may be inadvertently applied to the sensor surface, aluminum is not sufficiently hard to provide “scratch” protection and may delaminate, causing circuit failure, even if passivation integrity remains intact. Because hard passivation layers alone provide insufficient scratch resistance, at least the capacitive electrodes and preferably all metallization levels within the sensor circuit in the region of the capacitive electrodes between the surface and the active regions of the substrate are formed of a conductive material having a hardness greater than that of aluminum. The selected conductive material preferably has a hardness which is at least as great as the lowest hardness for any interlevel dielectric or passivation material employed. The selected conductive material is employed for each metallization level between the surface and the active regions, including contacts and vias, landing pads, interconnects, capacitive electrodes, and electrostatic discharge protection lines. Tungsten is a suitable conductive material, for which existing processes may be substituted in place of aluminum metallization processes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to scratch protection for integrated sensor circuits, and more specifically to improvement of scratch protection in capacitive sensor circuits through selection of metallization materials.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fingerprint acquisition circuits employ arrays of sensors coated with a dielectric onto which the finger is placed with the epidermis in contact with the dielectric. The ridges and grooves on the epidermal layer of the finger are then detected by the sensors, which transmit signals representative of the detected pattern. Although various sensors are possible (e.g., resistive, etc.), capacitive sensors have been found to provide the best performance. Since capacitance between two capacitive plates is inversely proportional to the distance between the plates, using the contacting dermal tissue itself as one capacitor plate and the sensor electrode as the other and then determining capacitance for each sensor electrode in the array, it is possible to locate the ridges and grooves of the fingerprint.
Such capacitive sensors cannot be mechanically protected because physical contact on the surface of the integrated circuit with the finger is necessary. However, some scratch resistance protection for the capacitive sensor electrodes is required to prevent "scratch" damage to the sensor electrodes. Such damage typically results from undue (and unnecessary) pressure on the surface of the integrated circuit, alone or in combination with some sharp edge or protrusion such as a callous or scar, fingernail, dust or dirt particle, etc. While extremely hard passivation stacks employing silicon carbide (SiC) have been developed for these circuits, the capacitive electrodes may still become very badly damaged through use.
It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a mechanism for preventing damage to integrated circuits resulting from required contact with a sensor portion of the integrated circuit.

Scratch protection for direct contact sensors


A method for inventory maintenance and leak detection in liquid storage tanks and dispensing lines, that combines tank level measurements, tank product temperature measurements, output flow measurements, liquid product characteristics data, initial product delivery volume data, and redundantly calculates changes in the quantity of liquid product within the tank and compares these calculations to determine abnormalities in the changes in the quantities of product within the tank. Changes in the quantity of product within the tank are verified as either the delivery of additional product into the tank or the dispensing of product from the tank as with a customer sale. Changes that cannot be verified as either delivery into or dispensing from the tank are appropriately characterized as possible leak conditions in the tank or lines. The system additionally incorporates an accuracy improving process of restrapping or recharacterizing the physical conditions within the tank and recalibrating the flow meters associated with dispensing product from the tank. The combination of redundant measurements of volume changes and continuous recalibration of system measurements, along with the incorporation of product temperature measurements and product liquid/vapor state determinations, allows the system to detect with greater accuracy anomalies in the quantity of product within the tank.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed generally to methods for detecting and quantifying leakage from storage tanks. The present invention is more specifically directed to improved techniques for continuous and automatic calibration of systems designed to detect and quantify leakage from liquid storage tanks and their lines to the meters, particularly those used with petroleum based products.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are two related problems that occur in the management of large quantities of liquid product within above ground or underground storage tanks. The first of these problems involves simple inventory control and tracking of the quantity, level, and condition of the product within the tank. The second is a related problem and involves the detection of any unintentional releases of the liquid product from the tank most commonly through the existence of a leak. Both of these problems involve the accurate, real time, determination of the quantity of the product within the tank and the change in this quantity over periods of time. Because of cost controls and environmental concerns, it has become increasingly important in recent years, to very accurately determine and control industrial and other liquid products contained within storage tanks.
It is well known in the field to use both level monitors and flow meters to determine the quantity of a liquid product within a tank and/or to determine the amount of product that is dispensed from the tank by a user. The use of tank level meters, even accurate ones, typically involves a number of assumptions about the characteristics of the liquid product and the environmental characteristics such as temperature and pressure. The use of a level meter in conjunction with what is referred to as a tank "strap chart" is intended to provide the user with an indication of the quantity of the liquid remaining in the tank and, therefore, to some extent the quantity of liquid that might have been dispensed from the tank. A tank strap chart is a manufacturer's calculation or determination of the amount of liquid that would exist in the tank if a level meter in a particular position in the tank registered a specific level. Because the tanks are typically cylindrical in structure, a tank strap chart might either be determined based upon experimentation or based upon a mathematical model of the approximate dimensions of the tank. In any case, regardless of the actual shape of the tank, the combination of a level meter and a tank strap chart could, for example, allow the user to determine how much product was dispensed from the tank when the level dropped from 4.8 feet to 4.5 feet according to the level meter. Of course, that dispensed quantity would be different from the amount reflected by a drop from say 1.5 feet to 1.2 feet, even though the vertical level change is the same.
The problems associated with this relatively straight forward method of determining the quantity of liquid product in the tank and the amount that might have been dispensed, involve the impropriety of making assumptions about the effects of temperature and pressure and variations in the specific gravity of the product that might be placed within the tank. Temperature, pressure, and specific gravity all affect the volume per mass value for a particular product and, therefore, as these factors change the actual quantity of liquid product in the tank might be inaccurately measured.
As a rough example, a given quantity of petroleum product within a storage tank will register at one level when the temperature is at a cooler value and register at a slightly higher level when the temperature is warmer. In addition to temperature affecting the volume of the liquid product, the enclosed tank is actually an equilibrium environment in which the product exists in both a liquid state and a vapor state in the "ullage" or space above the liquid product. This equilibrium constantly transfers products from liquid state to vapor state and affects the actual quantity of the product measured by a level meter within the tank, especially when the product is being dispensed from or placed into the tank.
Finally, the method of simply using a tank strap chart and a level meter for determining the quantity of liquid product within a tank involves a number of inaccuracies associated not only with the level variations that are due to temperature, etc., but also with the assumption that the tank strap chart continues to be accurate over time. Even if a tank strap chart is accurate at the time it was created, most likely by the manufacturer immediately after sale, chances are that the tank itself has become deformed or dented or misconfigured in some way. Any alteration of the three dimensional configuration of the tank can significantly affect the accuracy of the tank strap chart. Failure to keep these inaccuracies in mind could reduce the final accuracy of any measurements associated with inventory control of the tank product. Even more importantly when the user becomes concerned with more difficult to measure changes in the product level such as those caused by leakage, these inaccuracies could make the possibility of detecting a leak altogether impossible.
Efforts to supplement the above methods of inventory and quantity control for a liquid product within a tank by more accurately measuring the flow of the product in and out of the product of the tank have helped, but have by no means solved the problems. In the typical application of a petroleum product liquid storage tank, namely the neighborhood gas station, gasoline products may be continuously being dispensed from a tank during 24 hour day. Intermittently, the tank is refilled by the placement of a large quantity of fuel from a delivery tank. Theoretically, accurate measurements of flow into and out of a tank could allow the station manager or owner to determine whether any fuel was leaking from the tank in an uncontrolled manner. Obviously if it took more to refill the tank from a delivery tank than was dispensed from the tank and measured by way of flow meters in the station's gasoline pumps, then there would be some indication that leakage from the tank was occurring. Even here, however, there is some need to accurately determine a specific level within the tank so as to define when the tank is full upon delivery and then filled to that level again upon delivery.
Temperature variations and differences in the characteristics of liquids dispensed also affect this method of measuring and inventory control. Even more importantly, however, are inaccuracies that exist in the various flow meters used for both dispensing liquid product from the tank and placing the liquid product within the tank upon delivery. Although these meters are calibrated, in many cases as required by law, these calibrations do change not only with respect to individual meters and over time, but with respect to temperature, pressure, and the characteristics of the liquids being pumped.
Even the combination, therefore, of a tank level measuring means and a flow meter arrangement has a number of inherent inaccuracies that result from factors that are not typically addressed in an analysis and determination of inventory quantity. Such systems are capable of measuring rather significant anomalies in inventory that might result from large leaks, but are not capable of accurately determining inventory so that small leaks can be detected and more accurate control of the product can be achieved.
There is a significant need, therefore, especially in the area of petroleum product storage, for a method and system for accurately detecting and quantifying leakage from underground and above ground storage tanks. It is important to take into consideration all factors that are known to affect the ability of existing technology to make accurate level and flow measurements and to collect level and flow data and analyze it in conjunction with known liquid characteristics. This would accurately characterize the controlled inflow and outflow of product from the tank not only for the purpose of controlling costs and monitoring inventory, but perhaps more importantly for the purpose of detecting and immediately quantifying leakage of sometimes toxic liquids from storage tanks.

Storage tank and line leakage detection and inventory reconciliation method


The present invention provides a thermal printing sheet which enables to realize a stable low friction coefficient within a heating range by a thermal head and which has a superior preservation stability without giving an adverse affect to dye layers.. The thermal printing sheet according to the present invention includes a substrate sheet 1, on one side of which are formed thermal dye layers 2 and on the other side of which is formed a heat resistant slide layer 3. The heat resistant slide layer 3 contains polyoxyalkylene sorbite fatty acid ester which exhibits a superior lubrication characteristic, enabling to obtain a low friction coefficient even under a high temperature. Moreover, the polyoxyalkylene sorbite fatty acid ester is neutral and does no adversely affect the dye layers. The heat resistant slide layer 3, in addition to the polyoxyalkylene sorbite fatty acid ester, may contain polyglycerin fatty acid ester and metallic soap.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermal printing sheet and in particular, to a thermal printing sheet having a superior running feature and a superior preservation stability.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The thermal method using sublimating dyes transfers a plenty of color dots by heating within a significantly short time so as to express a full color image using the color dots of various colors.
In this thermal method, as a thermal printing sheet is used a so-called sublimating heat-transfer sheet consisting of a substrate sheet made from a polyester film or the like, on one side of which are formed dye layers made from sublimating dyes and binder.
In the aforementioned thermal method, the thermal printing sheet is heated from its back by a thermal head according to the image information, so as to transfer the dye from the dye layers onto a printing paper, forming an image.
When carrying out a printing on a printing paper by using the thermal printing sheet, a heat is applied to the heat resistant slide layer from the thermal head so as to transfer dye from the dye layers of the thermal printing sheet onto the printing paper, the color formation concentration is in proportion to the heat quantity, according to which the surface temperature of the thermal head varies by several hundred degrees. For this, while the thermal printing sheet moves along the thermal head, the friction coefficient between the thermal head and the heat resistant slide layer is easily changed according to the temperature change. If the friction coefficient between the thermal head and the heat resistant slide layer changes, the thermal printing sheet cannot travel at a constant velocity, disabling to obtain a clear image.
For example, when the friction coefficient is large, the thermal printing sheet temporarily moves at a reduced speed, for which portion the concentration is increased, causing a so-called sticking (line-shaped printing disorder).
In order to prevent this sticking, it is necessary to reduce the friction coefficient especially at a higher temperature. Conventionally, phosphoric ester has been used as a lubricant for reducing the friction coefficient under a high temperature.
However, the phosphoric ester is a strong acid and the use of this phosphoric ester in the heat resistant slide layer causes various troubles are caused.
For example, when a thermal printing sheet is preserved in a rolled state, the dye layers are brought into contact with the heat resistant layer, and especially when preserved at a high temperature, the phosphoric ester dissolves a portion of the dye from the dye layers, causing a concentration decrease during a printing as well as a printing unevenness.
Moreover, when a lubricant of a strong acidity such as phosphoric ester is used, a dye which is easily subjected to a chemical reaction including decomposition in an acid environment such as indoaniline pigment is easily deteriorated, causing a color formation change and decreasing the transfer concentration.


An apparatus and method for thawing a product. The apparatus includes a heating chamber, and an electrical control unit. The heating chamber includes a product chamber that holds a product, at least one heating element, each heating element emitting infrared energy in a direction of the product, and at least one temperature sensor, each temperature sensor measuring a surface temperature of the product. The electrical control unit includes a processor that controls and monitors said at least one heating element, and said at least one temperature sensor to raise a temperature of the product from an initial temperature to a set-point temperature, a connection to each heating element, and a connection to each temperature sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to the field of radiant heating devices. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus that thaws a product with infrared energy.
2. Description of the Related Art
Health care facilities use medical products, such as plasma, Fresh Frozen Plasma, blood, and the like, at surgery centers and urgent care facilities. It is a common practice to freeze the product in its sealed prepackaged plastic pouches for storage, and thaw it when necessary. The prior art describes a wet-bath heating system for thawing the frozen product. A health care professional places the frozen product into a temperature-controlled water bath to thaw it to a liquid state. After thawing the product, a health care professional removes it from the water bath, and places it in a temperature-controlled area for use anytime during the next twenty-four hour period.
The prior art wet-bath heating system has certain flaws. Since these prior art systems submerge the medical product in the water bath, there is contact between the heating system and the product. This contact provides the potential for system contamination. If the water bath is contaminated with bacteria, even though the plastic pouch provides a barrier against direct contamination of the contents of the pouch, water from the bath may seep into contact with an inlet end of a connector tube for the pouch. Bacteria in or near a connector tube creates the possibility that when the connector tube seal is punctured, the contents may contact the bacteria, thereby contaminating the contents. A prior art method avoids this class of contamination by placing the pouch to be thawed inside another pouch. Unfortunately, this solution may increase the time required to thaw the contents due to the increased thickness of the plastic in the double-walled pouch, and the double-walled pouch configuration may cause the inner pouch to float. Another drawback of the prior art wet-bath heating system is that if pouch ruptures, the water bath is contaminated and must be sanitized before it can be used again.
Infrared radiators (emitters) use electromagnetic radiation to transfer heat from an energy source to an object. The transfer of the heat occurs without the need for any contact between the emitter and the object, or any transfer medium between the emitter and the object. The wavelength of the infrared radiation ranges from 780 nm to 1 mm, with mid-infrared in the range from 780 nm to 1400 nm, medium infrared in the range between 1400 nm and 3000 nm, and far infrared or dark emitters for everything above 3000 nm.
Thus, there is a need for a heating device that utilizes infrared energy to thaw a product, reduces the time to thaw the product, and maintains separation between the heating system and the pouch to reduce the potential for contamination. The present invention addresses this need.


A ceramic heater device for use in a glow plug for a diesel engine has a gradually varying cross-sectional composition which eliminates distinct interfacial junctions between a resistive layer, an insulative layer and a highly conductive layer. The heater is manufactured by slip casting where the proportions of conductive and non-conductive ceramic particles in a slip are varied as the slip is passed through an absorbent mold.

Conventional ceramic glow plugs have used a multi-layered construction. Such glow plugs are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,742,209, 5,304,778 and 5,519,187. In general, the glow plugs have a ceramic heater with a conductive core enclosed by insulative and resistive ceramic layers, respectively. The layers are separately cast and fitted together. The resulting green body is sintered to form a unitary ceramic heater. During use, these glow plug experience cyclic heating and cooling, which results in high internal stresses at the interfacial junction between the ceramic layers, promoting eventual failure of the glow plugs.
The internal stresses of a layered glow plug are mainly the result of differences in the coefficients of thermal expansion between the differently composed layers. The different layers of the glow plug expand and contract at different rates. Further, residual stresses are the result of manufacture, particularly from uneven contraction in the cooling period which occurs below the plastic deformation state of the ceramic composition, and from non-uniform attachment between the layers.
Oxidation and corrosion of the outer resistive surface in the highly corrosive atmosphere in a diesel engine cylinder is also a problem. The ceramic heater tip becomes caked with a carbon coating during normal use which reduces the lifespan and effectiveness of the glow plug. The presence of carbon residue in the engine cylinder is also highly undesirable and may damage the engine head.

Method for making ceramic heater having reduced internal stress


A method for on-behalf ATM processing via blockchain includes: receiving, by a receiver of an automated teller machine (ATM), a transaction identifier; receiving, by an input device interfaced with the ATM, a withdrawal amount; identifying, by the ATM, a blockchain transaction in one of a plurality of blocks comprising a blockchain, wherein the blockchain transaction includes at least the transaction identifier and a current balance; and processing, by the ATM, withdrawal of the withdrawal amount based on the current balance, where processing includes dispensing, by a dispenser interfaced with the ATM, currency equivalent to the withdrawal amount if the withdrawal amount is less than or equal to the current balance or displaying, by a display device interfaced with the ATM, a message indicating an insufficient balance if the withdrawal amount is greater than the current balance.

Automated teller machines (ATMs) provide a number of conveniences to users that may be otherwise difficult or time consuming. Most commonly, ATMs are used for making balance inquiries or withdrawing cash from a transaction account that is associated with a payment instrument supplied to the ATM, such as a check, debit card, or credit card. In many cases, banks and other issuing institutions will have ATMs placed in strategic locations where their customers are able to access these functions associated with their transaction account(s) issued by that same institution. However, to help service their customers in additional areas, issuing institutions often enable their customers to access ATMs managed by other institutions or service providers, often at a fee, where the other institution or service provider will charge a few to perform the functions on behalf of the issuing institution. The result is an international network of ATMs that are all connected to a vast number of issuing institutions in one manner or another, enabling a user to withdraw cash or check their balance practically anywhere.
In order to provide these services across various issuing institutions, an ATM must be able to communicate with the issuing institution. As a result, when a user inserts their payment instrument into the ATM or otherwise provides their account details, the ATM will contact the issuing institution to for the balance inquiry, to get approval for a requested withdrawal, or to otherwise receive data and get authorization for functions requested by the user. Due to the strength of the infrastructure used for ATMs, this can often be performed quickly. However, because such communications are required, any interruption or delay in service may prevent the user from being able to access their account functions. In many cases, it can be detrimental to a user to be unable to inquire as to their account balance or to be unable to withdraw cash. In these instances, it may lead to the user switching to a different financial institution or utilizing an alternative payment method, which may be disadvantageous for the issuing institution as well as the user.
Thus, there is a need for a technological solution to enable account functions to be performed at an ATM that are processed by the ATM itself on behalf of an issuing institution without requiring any communication with the ATM at the time of interaction by the user.

Method and system for facilitating ATM transactions using blockchain


A device having radiating elements includes a support structure defining a plurality of unit cells, at least one electronic circuit, connection for supplying at least one input signal to the electronic circuit and at least one radiating element connected to an output of the electronic circuit in order to radiate in response to reception of a signal produced at the output of the electronic circuit. The electronic circuit is encapsulated in a dielectric module to form a microwave electronic module comprising a plurality of unit structures stacked to form a block, each structure comprising a bottom dielectric layer on the top surface of which is disposed an integrated circuit. The radiating element is disposed directly on a first face of the module.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a device with radiating elements, such as an antenna, and a method of manufacturing a device of this kind. The antenna is intended to be integrated into a satellite, for example.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,425 describes an active antenna having a support structure including electronic circuits and radiating elements known as patches. The support structure is made from a carbon fiber material that is metallized on its surface. This support structure defines a plurality of closed unit cells disposed in a matrix in the manner of a "honeycomb". Electronic circuits are disposed inside these cells. The top surface of the support structure supports an antenna body to which the radiating elements are fixed. Each radiating element radiates in response to receiving an output signal produced by an electronic circuit. The bottom surface of the support structure defines a base supporting conductive connecting members for applying input signals to the electronic circuits.
The main disadvantage of the antenna described in the above prior art document is its complex structure, requiring many manufacturing steps.
In order to remedy these drawbacks, a first objective of the invention is to provide a device with radiating elements having a structure which is considerably simplified compared to the prior art. Another objective of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a device of this kind comprising fewer steps than prior art methods.


Polymer or oligomer ionic compound made of a polycationic part (A.sup.+).sub.p comprising a plurality of onium units and a sufficient number of anions X.sup.- to provide electrical neutrality to the compound, characterized in that. the onium units are selected from the group consisting of biaryliodonium, arylsulfonium, arylacylsulfonium, diazonium, organometallic cations comprising a transition metal which is complexed by at least one unsaturated cycle comprising 4 to 12 carbon atoms;. X.sup.- is an imide anion [R.sub.F SO.sub.2 NSO.sub.2 R'.sub.F ].sup.- or a methylide anion [R.sub.F SO.sub.2 C(Q)SO.sub.2 R'.sub.F ].sup.- in which:. 1) Q represents: PA4 H--, Cl--, F--, Br--or CN--; PA4 an alkyl radical having 1 to 30 carbon atoms; PA4 an aryl, alkylaryl or arylakyl radical having 6 to 30 carbon atoms; PA4 a group R".sub.F or a group R".sub.F SO.sub.2 ; PA3 2) R.sub.F and R'.sub.F, as well as R".sub.F possibly when X.sup.- is a methylide anion, are independently selected from the group consisting of fluorine, perhaloalkyl groups having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, (perhaloalkyl)alkyloxy groups, perhalogenated cycloaliphatic groups having 3 to 30 carbon atoms possibly containing hetero atoms selected from O and N, and/or possibly comprising at least one perhaloalkyl chain, the perhalogenated aryl having 6 to 30 carbon atoms; or PA3 3) R.sub.F and R'.sub.F together form a bivalent radical constituting a cycle respectively with group --SO.sub.2 --N--SO.sub.2 -- or with group --SO.sub.2 --C(Q)--SO.sub.2 --, or when X.sup.- is a methylide anion, R".sub.F constitutes with one of the radicals R.sub.F or R'.sub.F a bivalent radical constituting a cycle respectively with group --SO.sub.2 --C--SO.sub.2 -- or group --SO.sub.2 --C--, said bivalent radical being selected from perfluorinated alkylene radicals having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, the third radical which is possibly present being selected from the monovalent radicals mentioned above in 2); PA3 4) p represents the number of onium units.. These compounds are useful as photoinitiators for cationic polymerization or cross-linking of monomers or for the modification of polymers for example when they are used as photoresists. The preparation of these compounds is also disclosed.

a) Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns polyionic compounds, the process of preparation and use thereof as photoinitiators for the cationic polymerization or cross-linking of monomers and prepolymers, or for the modification of the solubility parameters of certain polymers which can be used as photoresists.
b) Description of Prior Art
A polymerization which involves a mechanism of the cationic type has many advantages. In particular, it is fast, even at low temperature, the coefficient of utilization of the monomer is high and the sensitivity towards atmospheric contaminants, such as oxygen, is low as compared to radical or anionic polymerizations.
Monomers, prepolymers and polymers containing cycloaliphatic epoxy functions, and vinyl ethers are increasingly used, for example in the paint, varnish, ink, glue, and antiadhesive support industries. Moreover, vinyl ethers generally appear to be non-toxic as opposed to acrylates and methacrylates. Monomers and prepolymers of the epoxy or vinyl ether types may be polymerized according to various methods, ionic polymerization being particularly preferred.
Cationic polymerization catalysts are generally considered as being acids within the meaning of Bronsted HX (proton donors) or as being acids within the meaning of Lewis (acceptors of electronic doublets), the latter operating in the presence of a co-catalyst which is a source of protons. These acids may be sufficiently strong to ensure the stability of the cationic species which is carried either by the monomer or by the growing macromolecular chain, which means that the corresponding anion X.sup.- should have a nucleophilic power which is as low as possible. The Bronsted acids which are most commonly used as cationic polymerization catalysts are CF.sub.3 SO.sub.3 H, HClO.sub.4, HBF.sub.4, HPF.sub.6, HAsF.sub.6 and HSbF.sub.6. These acids are classified as follows with respect to speeds of initiation of propagation as well as of obtention of the highest molecular weights: EQU CF.sub.3 SO.sub.3 H<HClO.sub.4 .apprxeq.HBF.sub.4 <HPF.sub.6 .apprxeq.HAsF.sub.6 .apprxeq.HSbF.sub.6.
More recently compounds with an acid character have also been used, such as bis(perfluoroalkylsulfonyl)imide (U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,036 Koshar et al.) or bis(perfluoroalkylsulfonyl)methane (U.S. Pat. No. 3,632,843 Allen et al).
It is known that the in situ preparation of polymerization catalysts has many advantages. The in situ production of an acid which is capable of catalyzing the cross-linking of a monomer enables indeed to obtain a monomer or a fluid prepolymer (thermoplastic material or solution) and to give it its final properties, for example by the simple action of a radiation. This technique is very much in use for inks, paints, adhesive films and anti-adhesive films. It should also be noted that the in situ preparation of the acid from a salt, in many cases enables to dispense with the stocking and handling of acid compounds which are more corrosive than the corresponding salts.
The catalysts may be prepared in situ by heat treatment. For example, ammonium or metal salts of bis(perfluoroalkylsulfonyl)imide (U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,036 Koshar et al.) or ammonium or amine salts of bis(perfluoroalkylsulfonyl)methane (U.S. Pat. No. 3,632,843 Allen et al.) have been used to obtain in situ, by heating, bis(perfluoroalkylsulfonyl)imide or the corresponding bis(perfluoroalkylsulfonyl)methane which thereafter act as catalysts. These catalysts called "latent", present, however, only a limited interest because of the necessity of extended heating at high temperature to achieve the removal of the acid, this removal being in addition progressive and not integral at the start. The result is that, on the one hand, the reaction speed is slow and, on the other hand, the polymers obtained are of poor quality with respect to molecular mass, polydispersity and coloring.
Acid catalysts may also be prepared in situ by actinic radiation (such as photons in which the wavelength corresponds to ultraviolet, visible, .gamma. and X radiation), or with .beta.-radiation (beam of electrons) on a suitable salt. Such salt, which is chemically labile under the action of an actinic or .beta.-radiation which reduces the release of the corresponding acid having a strong catatalytic activity, is a photoinitiator. The advantages of such a process are numerous: the release of the catalyst by radiation is rapid and practically complete which results in a simultaneous initiation of the growth of the chains and therefore a more homogeneous distribution of the masses with less polydispersity and better mechanical properties. Polymerization may be carried out at a relatively low temperature which prevents the decomposition or coloring of the materials obtained, as well as the formation of bubbles when a solvent is used or when the reaction mixture contains a volative additive which is designed to be maintained in the final material and which plays the role of plasticizing agent.
The capacity of different salts (hexafluoroantimonates, hexafluoroarseniates, hexafluoroplatinates and tetrafluoroborates) of aryldiazonium, aryliodonium, arylsulfonium, arylacylsulfonium or areneferrocenium to form acids (respectively HSbF.sub.6, HAsF.sub.6, HPF.sub.6, HBF.sub.4), under the action of actinic radiation, which can be used as cationic polymerization catalysts, is known. However, all these salts have a toxicity which is not negligible and which is mainly associated with the central element of the anion part, Sb, As, P and B, as well as with the fluorine ions which may be released during the reaction of photolysis or during a later treatment of the polymer (fusion, extrusion . . . ). To fix a general value, diphenyl-iodonium hexafluoroantimonate has an LD50 of 40 mg/kg (measured according to Test No. 10929 TAR) and falls in the category of products classified as "highly toxic".
Other salts containing cations of the same nature but containing less toxic anions have then been proposed. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,664 describes salts in which the anion is selected from tris(alkylsulfonyl)methylides, tris(arylsulfonyl)-methylides, bis(alkylsulfonyl)imides and bis(arylsulfonyl)imides in which the alkyl group or the aryl group is perfluorinated or is highly fluorinated and whose cation is an iodoniun, a sulfonium or an organometallic. These compounds may be used, for example, as polymerization initiators after activation in situ. When these salts are used as polymerization photoinitiators, they leave, after decomposition initiated by actinic radiation, fragments which may diffuse at the surface of the material and modify the chemical properties, adhesiveness or appearance in a very notable manner. In the case of sulfonium salts, these residues contain thiols and thioethers in which the repulsive odor is perceptible at extremely low rates, which limits the use of these salts to particular applications. These compounds are also corrosive towards metals, such as copper or various components used in microelectronics. Thus, Kukzynski (U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,171) considers that the diffusion of the catalytic residues is the main cause of failure of computer storage discs.
Photosensitive polymers produced by the association of a polydiazonium polycation and a polysulfonate polyanion are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,655. Such polymers are used to increase cross-linking efficiency. The solubility of these complexes is only obtained with diazodium contents clearly lower than 10% by weight and only in the presence of quartenary ammonium salts which are used for decreasing electrostatic interactions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,623 describes a composition based on polydiazoniun associated with contra-ions of the type PF.sub.6 intended for the preparation of photoresists. These anions are, however, toxic and are not compatible with microelectronics because they contain an element which is capable of contaminating silicon (B, P, As or Sb).
It is also known to use acids produced by means of actinic radiation in order to degrade the resins contained in a film constituting a photoresist. This technique is particularly efficient for photoresists with chemical amplification in which very small quantities of protons catalyze the decomposition of groups, such as esters containing a group derived from a tertiary alcohol (such as for example a tertiobutyl group) which is part of a macromolecular chain. This technique thus enables to modify the solubility parameters of the resin exposed to actinic radiation and to carry out masking and selective engraving operations such as those used in microelectronics.
When a photoresist composition or a resin composition with chemical amplification used in microlithography contains a photoinitiator, it is considered that the diffusion of the ionic species of the initiator or of the acid formed determines the limit of spatial resolution which is many tens of microns with non-polymer initiators. Now, actually resolutions lower than 1 micron are requested for the electronic industry of microprocessors and memories.

Polyionic polymeric compounds, process of preparing same and use thereof as photoinitiators

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique


A method and apparatus for pressure cleaning, wherein fluid from a source of pressurized fluid is injected into, passes through, and is ejected from the crankshaft of a motor toward a surface that is to be cleaned. The crankshaft defines a crankshaft passage therethrough and has a crankshaft inlet end into which the fluid is injected and a crankshaft outlet end out of which the fluid flows. A distribution assembly is attached to the crankshaft outlet end and the fluid flowing out of the crankshaft outlet end flows through the distribution assembly and is discharged therefrom. The crankshaft rotates and causes the distribution assembly to rotate. The rotation and orientation of the distribution assembly causes the velocity of the fluid discharged from the distribution assembly to be greater than the velocity that would be achieved solely due to the pressure differential between the source of pressurized fluid and the environment at the outlet of the distribution assembly.

The present invention relates generally to the field of pressure cleaning, and, in its most preferred embodiments, to the field of rotary pressure cleaners.
Pressure cleaners, and the manner of using them to clean durable surfaces, are well known. Pressure cleaners are used, in conjunction with a source of pressurized fluid, to cause a high velocity stream of fluid to impact upon the surface to be cleaned. The impact of the fluid upon the surface to be cleaned has a cleaning effect. Pressure cleaners are very effective at lifting stubborn dirt and stains from a variety of surfaces. A simple "wand" pressure cleaner consists of a nozzle or tube that is connected to the source of pressurized fluid by a hose. Due to the pressure differential between the source of pressurized fluid and the environment at the nozzle or tube outlet, fluid passes from the source of pressurized fluid, through the hose, and out of the nozzle or tube at a velocity that is sufficient for cleaning.
A rotary pressure cleaner is an advanced type of pressure cleaner. Rotary pressure cleaners are similar to "wand" pressure cleaners in that they also include a nozzle, or nozzles, that are in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid. However, the nozzles of rotary pressure cleaners are rotated about a central point.
A typical rotary pressure cleaner includes a deck that is supported by wheels. A vertical tube that is in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid passes through the deck. The vertical tube is attached to the middle portion of a horizontal tube that is positioned below the deck, and the vertical tube is in fluid communication with the horizontal tube. The horizontal tube has nozzles connected thereto at a distance away from the middle portion of the horizontal tube. The nozzles are oriented at least partially downward such that fluid flows from the source of pressurized fluid, through the vertical tube, into the horizontal tube, through and out of the nozzles toward a surface located below the rotary pressure cleaner. The nozzles are set into motion by a motor that is mounted to the deck. The rotational output of the motor is translated to the nozzles by a belt that connects the motor output shaft to a pulley that drives the horizontal tube.
There are several potential problems associated with the typical rotary pressure cleaner. These problems have to do with the manner in which the rotational output of the motor is translated to the nozzles. As is specified above, several components are used to translate the rotational output of the motor to the nozzles. These several components add to the weight and cost of the rotary pressure cleaner. These several components also add to the amount of maintenance that must potentially be done to the rotary pressure cleaner.
There is, therefore, a need in the industry for a method and an apparatus which solve these and other related, and unrelated, problems.


The semiconductor laser comprises a Sn doped InP substrate 1, n-InGaAsP wave guide layer 2, 5 nm thick InGaAs well layer 3, 3.5 nm thick undoped InGaAsP layer 4, 3 nm thick p-InGaAsP modulation doping layer 5, 3.5 nm thick undoped InGaAsP layer 6, a modulation doping quantum well layer 7 with ten wells, a 90 nm thick p-InGaAsP layer 8, a p-InP clad layer 9 (Zn=7.times.10.sup.17 cm.sup.-3), p-n-p current block layer 10, and a mesa-shaped active layer region 11. An Au/sn n-electrode 12 and if Au/Zn p-electrode 13 are formed by vapor deposition to complete the laser structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high performance semiconductor laser required for optical fiber communications, and to a manufacturing method therefor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Research into single quantum well (SQW) and multiple quantum well (MQW) lasers, devices in which a quantum well structure is used as the active layer of the semiconductor laser, has been pursued in hopes of improving the characteristics of the semiconductor laser. Semiconductor lasers featuring a quantum well active layer can be expected to provide characteristics superior to those of common bulk active layer lasers because of the quantum size effect. For example, high efficiency, high output operation is possible at a low threshold level by increasing differential gain and reducing transverse magnetic wave (TM) emissions, and high speed response and low chirping can be obtained by increasing the relaxation oscillation frequency and reducing the line width amplification coefficient.
The use of a modulation doping MQW structure in which doping is applied to the quantum well barrier layer is also being studied in addition to the application of a strained quantum well and thin film barrier layers when differential gain is further increased. [K. Uomi, T. Mishima, N. Chinone, Appl. Phys. Lett., 51 (2), 13 July 1987 ]
A conventional semiconductor laser as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 comprises an n-GaAs substrate 31, an n-GaAs buffer layer 32, an n-Ga.sub.0.6 Al.sub.0.4 As clad layer 33, an undoped AlGaAs wave guide layer 34, an undoped GaAs well layer 35, an undoped Ga.sub.0.8 Al.sub.0.2 As layer 36, Be-doped Ga.sub.0.8 Al.sub.0.2 As layer 37, modulation doping quantum well layer 38, p-AlGaAs clad layer 39, n-GaAs current constriction layer 40, SiO.sub.2 insulation layer 41, Zn diffusion region 42, an Au/Cr p-electrode 43, and an AuGeNi n-electrode 44.
The modulation doping quantum well layer 38 shown in FIG. 8 consists of the undoped GaAs well layer 35, and a barrier layer formed by the undoped GaAlAs barrier layer 36 and modulation doping (Be-doped GaAlAs) layer 37, as shown in FIG. 9(b).
In a conventional modulation doping quantum well semiconductor laser device as described, the current is input from the p-electrode 43, constricted by the Zn diffusion region 42, and then input to the modulation doping quantum well layer 38. The relaxation oscillation frequency, which is increased by increasing the differential gain, is confirmed to be increased in the modulation doping quantum well structure shown in FIG. 8, but not in an undoped quantum well structure.
As described above, the modulation doping quantum well layer 38 in a modulation doping quantum well semiconductor laser device such as that shown in FIG. 8 consists of the undoped GaAs well layer 35, and a barrier layer formed by the undoped GaAlAs barrier layer 36 and modulation doping (Bedoped GaAlAs) layer 37.
Comparing the relaxation oscillation frequency of this semiconductor laser with a uniformly doped quantum well semiconductor laser in which the well layer and barrier layer are uniformly doped as shown in FIG. 9 (d), an equivalent increase in the relaxation oscillation frequency is confirmed in both semiconductor laser constructions relative to an undoped quantum well semiconductor laser device. The probable cause for this is that post-doping heat treatment of the modulation doping constructions shown in FIGS. 9 (b) and (c) disperses the doping elements, effectively eliminating the modulation doping structure, and resulting in a uniformly doped construction. This is shown in FIG. 9 (a) . The modulation doping quantum well construction shown in FIG. 9 (b) has a high Be concentration only in the modulation doping layer before beat treatment, but a uniform Be concentration after heat treatment because of Be diffusion. As a result, there is no effective difference in the laser output of a uniform doping construction and a modulation doping construction. This is because the elements used for doping are diffused throughout the construction at high temperatures.

Semiconductor laser of modulation doping quantum well structure with stopper against dopant dispersion and manufacturing method thereof

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


In an optoelectronic hybrid integrated module, an insulating layer 31 is overlaid on a substrate 3, an insulating layer 2 containing an optical waveguide 21 is formed on the insulating layer 31, a lower ground electrode 61, an upper ground electrode 62, conductive vias 71, and the like are electrically connected on and under the insulating layer 2, and the optical waveguide 21 is coupled with a transmitting portion 11 mainly composed of a light emitting device and a transmitting LSI and with a receiving portion mainly composed of a light receiving device and a receiving LSI. Signal light for driving the light emitting device in the transmitting portion 11 is coupled with the optical waveguide 21 and optically transmitted. Although stray light 41 which is not incident on the optical waveguide 21 is transmitted in the insides of the substrate 3 and the insulating layer 2 or in a space together with electromagnetic noise 42, they are scattered by the conductive vias 71 and reflected by the upper and lower ground electrodes 61, 62, thereby only signal light is coupled with the light receiving device of the receiving portion 12.

Recently, it is expected to realize a high speed, less expensive, and small optical transceiver which is used in optical communications represented by local area networks, metropolitan area networks, and the like as well as used in optical links in and between servers and routers. The optical transceiver is composed of a light transmitting portion and a light receiving portion, in which a module of the light transmitting portion has a transmitting LSI and a light emitting device such as a semiconductor laser and the like, and a module of the light receiving portion has a receiving LSI and a light receiving device such as a photodiode.
Heretofore, in this type of optoelectronic hybrid integrated modules, a light coupling system is formed by mounting an optical device on a substrate on which an optical waveguide is formed and coupling it with the optical waveguide, and light is input from and output to the outside by coupling an end of the optical waveguide with an optical fiber. Further, to compose input/output fibers of a single fiber, an access network employs a structure for discriminating the signal wavelengths of a light emitting device and a light receiving device and sorting the wavelengths by inserting an optical filter in a midway. Then, in a transmission/reception integral type optical module, since it is necessary to suppress stray light and electromagnetic wave noise, various reduction means are conventionally employed. For example, a conventional light transmitting module disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-249241 (pages 3-4, FIGS. 1 and 2) employs such a structure that a light shield plate having a hole is inserted into an optical waveguide between a light emitting device and a light receiving device so that light passes in the vicinity of the light emitting device and is shielded on the outside of it to thereby suppress stray light which is not coupled with the optical waveguide from the light emitting device.
Further, as another structure capable of suppressing stray light, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-174675 (page 3, FIGS. 1 and 2), for example, proposes a structure arranged such that the peripheries of a light emitting device and a light receiving device are covered with a transparent resin in a dome state, and the outsides of them are coated with light shield resin covering portions. According to the structure, stray light can be prevented from being leaked to the outside as well as the light from the outside is prevented from being received by the light receiving device.
In contrast, as a structure for suppressing electromagnetic wave noise, there are employed a countermeasure of increasing a distance between a transmitting portion and a receiving portion to prevent electromagnetic wave noise caused by driving a light emitting device from reaching a receiving side and being amplified by a receiving LSI, and a countermeasure of covering an overall substrate, on which a device of a receiving portion, for example, is mounted, with an electromagnetic wave shielding module package.


An expansion joint for coupling two conduits in a manner allowing relative axial movement therebetween and including an external shell or housing receiving the ends of both conduits and receiving an end of at least one of the conduits in a manner allowing relative axial movement of the end of the conduit in the shell, a flexible metal bellows in the shell connected to the shell and to the end of the one conduit for allowing relative axial movement between the ends of the conduits and for providing a fluid seal between the interiors of the conduits and the end of the expansion joint which receives the one conduit, and characterized by a safety flow restrictor operatively associated with the shell and with the one conduit for restricting fluid flow out the end of the expansion joint which receives the one conduit in the event the bellows fails to maintain the afore-mentioned fluid seal. The safety flow restrictor comprises a member surrounding the other conduit in close-fitting axially movable relation and a retainer defining an axial region holding the member against axial movement relative to the shell and allowing limited movement of the member in directions substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the other conduit and the shell. The safety flow restrictor can be incorporated in a single expansion joint wherein one conduit is fixed to the external shell or housing and the other conduit is movable therein and it can be incorporated in a double expansion joint including two conduits having ends thereof axially movable within a common external shell or housing.

This invention relates to the art of pipe expansion joints, and more particularly to a new and improved expansion joint providing restriction against fluid leakage.
One area of use of the present invention is with externally pressurized guided expansion joints, although the principles of the present invention can be variously applied. Such expansion joints couple the ends of two pipes or conduits containing high pressure steam or similar fluids in a manner accommodating limited axial movement of the two pipes. In particular, in an illustrative expansion joint an end of one pipe is fixed via a first annular ring to one end of an external shell. The other end of the shell is provided with a second annular ring through which an end of another pipe extends in an axially movable manner, and a flexible coupling member such as an axially expandable bellows is joined between the end of the other pipe and the second annular ring within the external shell to accommodate limited axial movement of the pipes.
The outer surface of the bellows is exposed to the fluid in both pipes. The external shell is designed to withstand full line pressure thereby preventing the escape of fluid in a radial outward direction. In order to accommodate some degree of relative movement between the pipes in other than axial directions, such as during installation of the expansion joint or during use, there must be a gap of sufficient size between the outer surface of the above-mentioned other pipe and the inner surface of the second annular ring. However, such gap or space can provide an escape path for axial flow of fluid in the event of a leak in the flexible coupling or bellows.
It would, therefore, be highly desirable to provide such an expansion joint of the externally pressurized, guided type which limits or restricts flow of fluid out of the end of the joint in the event of a leak in the flexible coupling or expandable bellows thereof.

Safety flow restrictor for expansion joints