An image processing apparatus including: a unit configured to acquire a translucency reference value indicating optical translucency in a specified translucent printing medium; a show-through determination unit configured to determine whether an image that is formed on the translucent printing medium in accordance with print data shows through by determining whether there exists a difference between the density of a pixel in the print data and the density specified by the acquired translucency reference value and whether the density of the pixel in the print data is lower than the density specified by the translucency reference value; and a first determination unit configured to determine whether a user should be notified of information about whether an image that is formed on the translucent printing medium in accordance with the print data shows through in accordance with the results of the determination by the show-through determination unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to formation of an image on a translucent sheet.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an image forming apparatus called an MFP (Multi Function Printer) including the functions as a printer, a scanner, a facsimile, etc., is widely used. Constructing an image forming system in which a so-called printing control apparatus is connected to such an image forming apparatus is also performed widely. The printing control apparatus is an apparatus that performs various kinds of image processing related to print job processing, performs various kinds of setting processing for the image forming apparatus, and gives instructions to perform printing, and is also called a DFE (Digital Front End).
The purpose of connecting the DEF to the MFP is to improve the functions that are provided by the MFP and to provide the functions unique to the DFE. An example of improvement in function is to improve the processing performance of a print job. By causing the DFE to interpret the page description language (PDL) and to generate bitmap data, and by causing the MFP to perform processing to print the generated bitmap data, it is possible to efficiently perform print job processing in a brief time compared to the case where the MFP alone performs all the processing. The functions unique to the DFE include page edition and imposition of a print job, image processing setting, image forming processing in accordance with the kind of a sheet on which printing is performed, etc. There are miscellaneous kinds of printing sheets on which an image can be formed by the MFP, including not only the copy sheet (plain sheet) but also the coated sheet, the label sheet, and the index sheet. Such a special sheet is used in order to add a value to a printed product. The DFE and the MFP collaborate in changing parameters of image processing in accordance with the kind of a printing sheet, in changing the layout of an image, etc.
Some of the printing sheets have a tendency to cause a large amount of light to pass through and characteristics that an image printed on the back side or an image printed on the next page shows through. An example of such a printing sheet is an OHP film, a polypropylene film, or tracing paper. Such a sheet causes light to penetrate therethrough by selecting a material and reducing the thickness of the sheet. The degree of transparency differs from sheet to sheet and there is a sheet whose degree of transparency is high and the back side shows through as it is or a semitransparent sheet whose degree of transparency is reduced and which shows a unique feeling when an image on the back side is seen through. In the present specification, the printing sheet having optical translucency is called a translucent printing medium. In the case where an image is formed on a translucent printing medium, an image that is printed on the back side or on the next page shows through, and therefore, various image forming methods in accordance with purposes have been proposed. In particular, because an image that is printed on the back side can be seen from the front side, there exists a technique to improve quality of a printed product by performing mirror-image conversion on all or part of the image data to be printed on a translucent printing medium and performing printing on the back side. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-112681 has described an image forming method that is effective in the case where the back side of printed matter obtained by using a translucent printing medium is irradiated with light from a light source for an advertisement use. The technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-112681 is a technique to extract only the high-density portions of the front side image and to print the extracted image also from the back side after performing mirror-image conversion on the extracted image in order to keep the gradation properties at low densities while maintaining the high density of the image that is formed.
However, the technique described in Patent document 1 premises that an image that is printed on the back side shows through, but whether the image that is printed on the back side actually shows through the front side is not determined. The translucent printing media are manufactured by many makers and the number of the kinds of the translucent printing media is large. Further, whether or not an image shows through a translucent printing medium depends also on the image forming apparatus that is used and the density of the color material. Furthermore, the determination of whether or not an image shows through may differ depending on the viewpoint of a user. Because of this, it is necessary for a user to check how an image shows through by actually performing trial printing and to repeatedly perform trial printing until an expected printed product is obtained (until an image shows through as expected).

Image processing apparatus, method, and program product determining show-through of image formed on translucent print medium


A distributed architecture and method for MBMS delivery is disclosed. The various embodiments enable selection combining and soft combining by UEs for MBMS transmissions. An MBMS service notification (509) is sent to all E-Nodes (503). The E-Nodes proceed to request counting (511) from the UEs (501). A transmission request (513) is then sent to the anchor MBMS-Transmission Control Function (TCF) (505) from the E-Nodes (503). The anchor MBMS-TCF (505) generates resource allocation and scheduling profiles and segmentation and reassembly (SAR) profiles for the E-Nodes and sends the profiles (515) to the E-Nodes. The E-Nodes (503) use the profiles for resource allocation and configuration (517) and transmit MBMS data (519) in accordance with the profiles. The anchor MBMS-TCF (505) may then coordinate.

The localized multicast approach reduces expended network resources by limiting transmissions to a geographic area defined by the radio coverage area of a base transceiver station or even smaller areas as defined by antenna coverage sectors of the base transceiver station. Multicast services in general are described in various standards such as the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS) standards.
Localized multicast is likewise generally described in the UMTS standards. The UMTS standards, Release 6, define in general, architectures and methods of operation such as a counting procedure for Multimedia Broadcast, Multicast Service (MBMS) whereby the network learns the status of mobile devices in each cell and configures Radio Bearers (RBs) based upon the learned status information.
Two modes of operation are employed in the standards, namely, Point-to-Point (PTP) and Point-to-Multipoint (PTM). Under counting procedures, coverage areas having less than a preset number of users, employ PTP operation which requires setup of RBs individually per user. Conversely, coverage areas having at least the preset number of users will employ PTM for MBMS delivery wherein individual RBs are not required.
For MBMS delivery using PTM, it is desirable for mobile stations, also referred to as "User Equipment" (UEs), to employ macro-diversity, that is, to employ selection combining or soft combining of multiple signal transmissions.
In the case of selection combining, the "Protocol Data Units" (PDUs) from two, or more than two, cells should be generated in the same manner, although they need not be transmitted simultaneously. For soft combining, the PDUs from two cells should likewise be generated in the same manner and also should be transmitted simultaneously.
However, the current Enhanced Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) architecture incorporates cells ("Base Transceiver Stations" (BTS) or "Node Bs"), which provide scheduling and segmentation and reassembly (SAR) functions independently of any central point of control. Such architecture does not account for the UE's need to employ macro-diversity for MBMS PTM as discussed above.

Distributed architecture and methods for broadcast/multicast service


When a personal computer which implements an information processing apparatus according to this invention discovers communicable access points, the personal computer acquires pieces of information of the discovered access points. These pieces of information include, for example, the network name, communication speed, security level, communication channel, and radio field strength. A communication profile to be used by the personal computer is determined on the basis of these pieces of information, communication profiles set for the access points, and the priority of a communication profile to be used by the personal computer. A connection process between the personal computer and a wireless relay apparatus is automatically performed using the determined communication profile.

Recent compact information processing devices such as a notebook-type personal computer and PDA have a function of discovering a peripheral wireless LAN access point in a use environment and performing network connection via the access point. A function of visually monitoring a network is also implemented.
When the user carries and uses such a portable personal computer, PDA, or the like, the wireless LAN must be set with respect to a peripheral wireless device upon a change in communication environment each time the personal computer, PDA, or the like is moved. A long time and much labor are required when the wireless LAN setting is switched by user operation. For example, a current automatic switching function for the wireless LAN setting as disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-244167 provides only a fixed switching function for a given device. In this situation, demands have arisen for a user-friendly communication function considering the user's application purpose, environment, and the like.

Information processing apparatus and information processing method


A bitumen and heavy oil upgrading process and system is disclosed for the synthesis of hydrocarbons, an example of which is synthetic crude oil (SCO). The process integrates Fischer-Tropsch technology with gasification and hydrogen rich gas stream generation. The hydrogen rich gas generation is conveniently effected using singly or in combination a hydrogen source, a hydrogen rich vapor from hydroprocessing and the Fischer-Tropsch process, a steam methane reformer (SMR) and autothermal reformer (ATR) or a combination of SMR/ATR. The feedstock for upgrading is distilled and the bottoms fraction is gasified and converted in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor. A resultant hydrogen lean syngas is then exposed to the hydrogen rich gas stream to optimize the formation of, for example, the synthetic crude oil. Partial upgrading and the commensurate benefits is detailed as well. A system for effecting the processes is also characterized in the specification.

It is well established that certain forms of hydrocarbons require upgrading in order to either transport them or enhance value for sale. Further, refineries are not suited to processing heavy oil, bitumen etc. and thus the viscosity, density and impurity content, such as heavy metals, sulfur and nitrogen, present in such heavy materials must be altered to permit refining. Upgrading is primarily focussed upon reducing viscosity, sulfur, metals, and asphaltene content in the bitumen.
One of the problems with heavy oil and bitumen upgrading is that the asphaltenes and the heavy fraction must be removed or modified to create value and product yield. Typical upgraders exacerbate the problem by the formation of petcoke or residuum which results in undesirable waste material. This material, since it cannot be easily converted by conventional methods, is commonly removed from the process, reducing the overall yield of valuable hydrocarbon material from the upgrading process.
The Fischer-Tropsch process has found significant utility in hydrocarbon synthesis procedures and fuel synthesis. The process has been used for decades to assist in the formulation of hydrocarbons from several materials such as coal, residuum, petcoke, and biomass. In the last several years, the conversion of alternate energy resources has become of great interest, given the escalating environmental concerns regarding pollution, the decline of world conventional hydrocarbon resources, and the increasing concern over tailings pond management, together with the increasing costs to extract, upgrade and refine the heavy hydrocarbon resources. The major producers in the area of synthetic fuels have expanded the art significantly in this technological area with a number of patented advances and pending applications in the form of publications. Applicant's co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 13/024,925, teaches a fuel synthesis protocol.
Examples of recent advances that have been made in this area of technology includes the features taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,958,363, issued to Espinoza, et al., Oct. 25, 2005, Bayle et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 7,214,720, issued May 8, 2007, U.S. Pat. No. 6,696,501, issued Feb. 24, 2004, to Schanke et al.
In respect of other progress that has been made in this field of technology, the art is replete with significant advances in, not only gasification of solid carbon feeds, but also methodology for the preparation of syngas, management of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a XTL plant, the Fischer-Tropsch reactors management of hydrogen, and the conversion of carbon based feedstock into hydrocarbon liquid transportation fuels, inter alia. The following is a representative list of other such references. This includes: U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,776,114; 6,765,025; 6,512,018; 6,147,126; 6,133,328; 7,855,235; 7,846,979; 6,147,126; 7,004,985; 6,048,449; 7,208,530; 6,730,285; 6,872,753, as well as United States Patent Application Publication Nos. US2010/0113624; US2004/0181313; US2010/0036181; US2010/0216898; US2008/0021122; US 2008/0115415; and US 2010/0000153.
The Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process has several significant benefits when applied to a bitumen upgrader process, one benefit being that it is able to convert previously generated petcoke and residuum to valuable, high quality synthetic crude oil (SCO) with notably increased paraffinic content. A further significant benefit is that the raw bitumen yield to SCO is near or greater than 100%, a 20% yield increase relative to certain current upgrader processes. Another benefit is that there is no petcoke and residuum waste product to impact the environment thus improving overall bitumen resource utilization.
A further benefit of the application of the FT process to a bitumen upgrader is that the FT byproducts can be partially and fully blended with the distilled or separated fractions of the bitumen or heavy oil feed stream to formulate a unique bottomless partially upgraded synthetic crude oil (SCO) strategically blended for efficient transport and further processing in downstream refineries. The overall benefit is significant reduction in facility GHG emissions and 100% conversion of the bitumen or heavy oil resource without the formation of wasteful byproducts.
A further benefit of the application of the FT process to a bitumen upgrader is that a sweet, highly paraffinic and high cetane content synthetic crude oil (SCO) is produced. More specifically, beneficial byproducts of the FT process such as paraffinic naphtha and FT vapours (such as methane and liquid petroleum gases (LPG)), have particular value within the bitumen upgrader process and upstream unit operations. FT vapours, virtually free from sulfur compounds can be used as upgrader fuel or as feedstock for hydrogen generation to offset the requirement for natural gas. FT naphtha, primarily paraffinic in nature, can also be used in the generation of hydrogen, but further, due to its unique paraffinic nature, it can also be used as an efficient deasphalting solvent not readily available from current upgrader operations.
It has also been well documented that the use of FT paraffinic naphtha as a solvent for an oil sands froth unit improves the operation and efficacy of fine tailings and water removal at a reduced diluent to bitumen (D/B) ratio and relatively low vapour pressure. This has significant advantages in terms of lowering the size and cost of expensive separators and settlers and increasing their separation performance and capacity rating. This results in virtually dry bitumen froth feed (<0.5 basic sediment and water) to the upgrader, while improving impact on the tailings pond.
Having thus generally discussed the appropriateness of the Fischer-Tropsch technique in synthesizing syngas to FT liquids, a discussion of the prior art and particularly the art related to the upgrading and gasifying of heavy hydrocarbon feeds would be useful.
One of the examples in this area of the prior art is the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 7,407,571 issued Aug. 5, 2008, to Rettger et al. This reference names Ormat Industries Ltd. as the Assignee and teaches a process for producing sweet synthetic crude oil from a heavy hydrocarbon feed. In the method, the patentees indicate that heavy hydrocarbon is upgraded to produce a distillate feed which includes sour products and high carbon byproducts. The high carbon content byproducts are gasified in a gasifier to produce a syngas and sour byproducts. The process further hydroprocesses the sour products along with hydrogen gas to produce gas and a sweet crude. Hydrogen is recovered in a recovery unit from the synthetic fuel gas. The process also indicates that further hydrogen gas is processed and hydrogen depleted synthetic fuel gas is also produced. Further hydrogen gas is supplied to the hydroprocessing unit and a gasifying step is conducted in the presence of air or oxygen. The gas mixture is scrubbed to produce a sour water and a clean sour gas mixture. The sour gas mixture is subsequently processed to produce a sweet synthetic fuel gas and a hydrogen enriched gas mixture from the synthetic fuel gas using a membrane. The overall process is quite effective, however, it does not take advantage of the conversion of synthesized streams which are useful for introduction into the hydroprocessing unit for production of synthetic crude, the recycling of unique streams for use in the upgrader, nor is there any teaching specifically of the integration of the Fischer-Tropsch process or the recognition of the benefit to the process of using a SMR and/or ATR in the process circuit to maximize SCO yields and reducing dependence on natural gas.
Iqbal et. al. in U.S. Pat. No. 7,381,320 issued Jun. 3, 2008, teaches a process for heavy oil and bitumen upgrading. In overview, the process is capable of upgrading crude oil from a subterranean reservoir. The process involves converting asphaltenes to steam power, fuel gas, or a combination of these for use in producing heavy oil or bitumen from a reservoir. A portion of the heavy oil or bitumen are solvent deasphalted to form an asphaltene fraction and a deasphalted oil, referred to in the art as DAD as a fraction free of asphaltenes and with reduced metals content. The asphaltene fraction from the solvent deasphalting is supplied to the asphaltenes conversion unit and a feed comprising the DAO fraction supplied to a reaction zone of a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit with an FCC catalyst to capture a portion of the metals from the DAO fraction. A hydrocarbon effluent is recovered from this having a reduced metal content. Similar to the process taught in U.S. Pat. No. 7,407,571, this process has utility, however, it limits the conversion of the otherwise wasteful asphaltene to production of solid fuel or pellets or conversion to syngas for fuel, hydrogen or electric power production. There is no teaching specifically integrating the Fischer-Tropsch process.
In U.S. Pat. No. 7,708,877 issued May 4, 2010 to Farshid et. al. there is taught an integrated heavy oil upgrader process and in line hydro finishing process. In the process, a hydroconversion slurry reactor system is taught that permits a catalyst, unconverted oil and converted oil to circulate in a continuous mixture throughout a reactor with no confinement of the mixture. The mixture is partially separated between the reactors to remove only the converted oil while allowing unconverted oil in the slurry catalyst to continue on to the next sequential reactor where a portion of the unconverted oil is converted to a lower boiling point. Additional hydro processing occurs in additional reactors for full conversion of the oil. The so called fully converted oil is subsequently hydrofinished for nearly complete removal of heteroatoms such as sulfur and nitrogen.
This document is primarily concerned with hydroconversion of heavy hydrocarbon, while not being suitable for bitumen upgrading. It also fails to provide any teaching regarding the use of Fischer-Tropsch process, usefulness of recycle streams, hydrogen generation or other valuable and efficient unit operations critical to successful upgrading of raw bitumen.
Calderon et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 7,413,647 issued Aug. 19, 2008, teach a method and apparatus for upgrading bituminous material. The method involves a series of four distinct components, namely a fractionator, a heavy gas oil catalytic treater, a catalyst regenerator/gasifier and a gas clean up assembly. The patent indicates that in practicing the method, the bitumen in liquid form is fed to the fractionator for primary separation of fractions with the bulk of the bitumen leaving the bottom of the fractionator in the form of a heavy gas oil which is subsequently pumped to the catalytic treater and sprayed on a hot catalyst to crack the heavy gas oil, thus releasing hydrocarbons in the form of hydrogen rich volatile matter while depositing carbon on the catalyst. The volatile matter from the treater is passed to the fractionator where condensable fractions are separated from noncondensable hydrogen rich gas. The carbon containing catalyst from the treater is recycled to the regenerator/gasifier and the catalyst, after being regenerated is fed hot to the treater.
The method does not incorporate the particularly valuable Fischer-Tropsch process or provide a unit for effecting the Fischer-Tropsch reaction and further, the method is limited by the use of the catalyst which would appear to be quite susceptible to sulfur damage and from this sense there is no real provision for handling the sulfur in the bitumen.
In United States Patent Application, Publication No. US 2009/0200209, published Aug. 13, 2009, Sury et. al. teach upgrading bitumen in a paraffinic froth treatment process. The method involves adding a solvent to a bitumen froth emulsion to induce a settling rate of at least a portion of the asphaltenes and mineral solids present in the emulsion and results in the generation of the solvent bitumen-froth mixture. Water droplets are added to the solvent bitumen-froth mixture to increase the rate of settling of the asphaltenes and mineral solids. The focus of the publication is primarily to deal with the froth. There is no significant advance in the upgrading of the bitumen.
A wealth of advantages are derivable from the technology that has been developed and which is described herein. These are realized in a number of ways including:                a) near 100% or greater synthetic crude oil yield from heavy oil or bitumen without the wasteful production of petcoke or residuum;        b) bottomless partially upgraded synthetic crude oil (SCO) is strategically formulated for high efficiency transport, including pipelining, eliminates crude properties that restrict the amount of heavy oil and bitumen that can be processed in conventional refineries;        c) Maximum utilization of carbon in heavy oil and bitumen to form high quality synthetic fuels and crude oil, with the significant reduction (greater than 50%) in GHG from the facility;        d) the synthetic crude oil (SCO) slate from partial upgrading is higher quality, bottomless crude with more paraffinic and less aromatic and heavy gas oil components, low metals, lower sulfur, lower TAN number and significantly lower Conrad Carbon (CCR) in the product slate;        e) less natural gas is required to generate hydrogen for upgrading as the FT naphtha, FT vapours and hydroprocessing vapours can be recycled to generate a hydrogen rich syngas;        f) pure hydrogen can be generated from the hydrogen rich syngas using membranes, absorption or pressure swing adsorption units, for use in the hydroprocessing (hydrocracking, isomerisation, hydrotreating) units;        g) Fischer-Tropsch (FT) liquids are primarily paraffinic in nature improving the quality and value of SCO product slate;        h) FT naphtha is rarely available in any quantity in current upgraders and would be very preferentially used for deasphalting vacuum bottoms in a Solvent Deasphalting Unit (SDA) and in a oil sands Froth Treatment Unit; and        i) concentrated CO2 is available from the gasifier (XTL) syngas treatment unit, allowing the upgrader to be a low cost carbon capture ready CO2 source for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects.
One object of the present invention is to provide an improved heavy oil and bitumen upgrading methodology for synthesizing hydrocarbons with a substantially increased yield without the production of waste byproducts such as petcoke or residuum.
A further object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a partial upgrading process for synthetic crude which obviates all of the encumbrances associated with diluent handling, transportation and other logistics typically commensurate with currently practiced partial upgrading techniques or dilbit products.
A further object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide for a process for upgrading heavy oil or bitumen to formulate hydrocarbon byproducts. The process comprises:                a) providing a source of heavy oil or bitumen feedstock;        b) treating said feedstock to form a non-distilled bottoms fraction;        c) feeding said bottoms fraction to a syngas generating circuit for formulating a hydrogen lean syngas stream via a partial oxidation reaction, and reacting said syngas in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor to synthesize hydrocarbon byproducts;        d) removing at least a portion of partially upgraded synthetic crude oil for transport as a synthesized hydrocarbon byproduct; and        e) adding an external source of hydrogen to said hydrogen lean syngas to optimize the synthesis of hydrocarbons at least one of which is synthetic crude oil.
The partial upgrading protocol also has a number of benefits all of which have immediately monetizable and expediency attributes.
Generally speaking, the partial upgrading process is a process to upgrade heavy oil or bitumen with density of 15 to 24 API or more perferred 20 API. The process is specifically designed to produce synthetic crude oil for pipeline operations, specifically with viscosity less than 350 centistokes (0.00035 m2 s−1) at 15° C. and eliminate the need for supply of external diluent typically used to reduce viscosity for transportation.
Presently, there is insufficient petroleum diluent available to transport all the heavy crude oil from Alberta. The alternative is to recover and ship the diluent back to Alberta for blending at significant cost impact. The partially upgraded product is further specifically formulated to meet the highly preferred crude feedstock specifications required by conventional refineries allowing for a premium price for approaching West Texas Intermediate(WTI) and Brent value. In addition, the product has properties which resolve environmental impact related to pipeline leaks and oil spills during land and ocean transport. The unique properties include:                a) The product meets 20 API density specification and has a viscosity of less than 350 centistokes (0.00035 m2 s−1) at 15° C. without the addition of external (30 to 50 volume %) diluent and requirement for return shipment of diluent. The use of external diluent reduces the pipeline capacity and increases cost to operate (pumping energy) by more than 30%;        b) The process coverts 100 wt % of the bitumen or heavy oil feed with at least 50% reduction, more preferred 70 to 80% reduction in greenhouse gases (GHG) with no waste byproducts such as unconverted residuum or coke products;        c) The product yield is greater than 108 vol % yield, which is a 38% greater yield than conventional dilbit process and 26% greater than other conventional upgrading processes;        d) The product has 30% less sulfur and is the only bottomless product with greater than 80% of Conrad Carbon (CCR) removed and primarily all 950+F bottoms material removed. Advantageously, this reduces the residuum and coking load on conventional refineries, eliminates the undesirable fouling of conventional refineries, and removes greater than 90% of the heavy metals eliminating major cost impact to a refinery, such as catalyst replacement;        e) The product is compatible with other crude oils as the process does not involve cracking of the distilled and separated streams and eliminates the formation of olefin compounds. The product is stable as no asphaltene compounds can precipitate, as these compounds have substantially been removed. This eliminates the blending restriction typically reducing the mixing limits with other crude feedstocks (typically less than 10% heavy oil or bitumen is permitted in total crude feed);        f) The product has minimal light volatile compounds such as LPG, more paraffinic components versus aromatics and contains an increased distillate component, such as diesel and kerosene. Under spill conditions, the density of the product will remain below a specific gravity of 1.0, typically 0.90 to 0.93 and always be lighter than water;        g) The product contains increase of distillate diesel component and this distillate component is much improved to greater than 55 cetane, versus typical cetane levels less than 35 in conventional dilbit products; and        h) The product process significantly reduces Naphthenic Acid content or TAN number (typically much less than 3, perferrably less than 1) as the naphthenic acid is concentrated in the vacuum bottoms, which is destroyed by gasification process.
The present technology mitigates the oversights exemplified in the prior art references. Despite the fact that the prior art, in the form of patent publications, issued patents, and other academic publications, all recognize the usefulness of a Fischer-Tropsch process, steam methane reforming, autothermal reforming, hydrocarbon upgrading, synthetic oil formulation, stream recycle, and other processes, the prior art when taken individually or when mosaiced is deficient a process that provides the efficient upgrading of bitumen and heavy oil in the absence of residuum and/or petcoke generation.
Synthetic crude oil (SCO) is the output from a bitumen/heavy oil upgrader facility used in connection with bitumen and heavy oil from mineable oil sands and in situ production. It may also refer to shale oil, an output from an oil shale pyrolysis. The properties of the synthetic crude depend on the processes used in the partial or full upgrading. Typical full upgraded SCO is devoid of sulfur and has an API gravity of around 30 to 40, suitable for conventional refinery feedstock. It is also known as "upgraded crude". The processes delineated herein are particularly effective for partial upgrading, full upgrading or full refining to gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuel. Conveniently, the flexibility of the processes allows for fuel synthesis and synthetic crude oil partial upgrading within the same protocol or the partial upgrading as the entire process.
The present invention amalgamates, in a previously unrecognized combination, a series of known unit operations into a much improved synthesis route for a high yield, high quality production of synthetic hydrocarbons. Integration of a Fischer-Tropsch process, and more specifically the integration of a Fischer-Tropsch process with a hydrogen rich syngas generator which uses FT naphtha and/or FT upgrader vapours as primary fuel in combination with natural gas, in a steam methane reformer (SMR) and/or an autothermal reformer (ATR) results in a superior sweet synthetic crude oil which is synthesizable in the absence of petcoke and residuum.
It was discovered that, by employing a steam methane reformer (SMR) as a hydrogen rich syngas generator using Refinery Fuel, Refinery LPG, FT LPG, FT naphtha and FT/upgrader vapours, in combination with natural gas, significant results can be achieved when blended with the hydrogen lean syngas created by the gasification of non-distilled bitumen or heavy oil bottoms. A significant production increase in middle distillate synthetic hydrocarbons range is realized. The general reaction is as follows;Natural Gas+FT Naphtha(v)+FT Upgrader Vapours+Steam+Heat→CO+nH2+CO2.
As is well known to those skilled in the art, steam methane reforming may be operated at any suitable conditions to promote the conversion of the feedstreams, an example as shown in above equation, to hydrogen H2 and carbon monoxide CO, or what is referred to as syngas or specifically as hydrogen rich syngas. Significant benefits resulted in a great than 30% increase in middle distillate synthesized hydrocarbon. Steam and natural gas is added to optimize the desired ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide to approximate range of 3:1 to 6:1. A water gas shift reaction (WGS), pressure swing adsorption (PSA) or membrane unit can also be added to any portion of the SMR syngas circuit to further enrich the hydrogen rich stream and generate a near pure hydrogen stream for hydroprocessing use. Generally natural gas, FT Vapours, Refinery Gas or any other suitable fuel is used to provide the heat energy for the SMR furnace.
The steam reformer may contain any suitable catalyst, an example of one or more catalytically active components such as palladium, platinum, rhodium, iridium, osmium, ruthenium, nickel, chromium, cobalt, cerium, lanthanum, or mixtures thereof. The catalytically active component may be supported on a ceramic pellet or a refractory metal oxide. Other forms will be readily apparent to those skilled.
It was further discovered that employing an autothermal reformer (ATR) as a sole hydrogen rich syngas generator or in combination with the SMR or as a hybrid combination of an ATR/SMR referred to as a XTR, significant benefits resulted in a greater than 200% increase in the FT middle distillate synthetic hydrocarbons. Feedstreams for the ATR or XTR consist of FT naphtha, FT vapours, H2 rich upgrader vapours, CO2, O2 and natural gas.
Similarly, as is well known to those skilled in the art, autothermal reforming employs carbon dioxide and oxygen, or steam, in a reaction with light hydrocarbon gases like natural gas, FT vapours and upgrader vapours to form syngas. This is an exothermic reaction in view of the oxidation procedure. When the autothermal reformer employs carbon dioxide, the hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio produced is 1:1 and when the autothermal reformer uses steam, the ratio produced is approximately 2.5:1, or unusually as high as 3.5:1.
The reactions that are incorporated in the autothermal reformer are as follows:2CH4+O2+CO2→3H2+3CO+H2O+HEAT.When steam is employed, the reaction equation is as follows:4CH4+O2+2H2O+HEAT→10H2+4CO.
One of the more significant benefits of using the ATR is realized in the variability of the hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio. An additional benefit of using the ATR is that external CO2 can be added to reaction to effect a reverse shift reaction to create additional carbon monoxide for enhancement of the FT synthesis unit and reduction of overall facility GHG emissions. In the instant technology, an ATR may also be considered as a hydrogen rich syngas generator, as described previously. It has been found that the addition of the ATR operation to the circuit separately or in combination with the hydrogen rich syngas generation circuit, shown in the example above as a steam methane reformer (SMR), has a significant effect on the hydrocarbon productivity from the overall process. Similarly, a water gas shift reaction (WGS), pressure swing adsorption (PSA) or membrane unit can also be added to any portion of the ATR and combined ATR/SMR or XTR syngas circuit to further enrich the hydrogen rich stream and generate a near pure hydrogen stream for hydroprocessing use.
The present invention further amalgamates, in a previously unrecognized combination, a series of known unit operations to integrate the Fischer-Tropsch process, using a water gas shift reaction for syngas enrichment resulting in a valuable sweet synthetic crude oil which is synthesizable in the absence of petcoke and residuum.
Accordingly, a further object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a process for upgrading heavy oil or bitumen to formulate hydrocarbon byproducts, comprising:                a) providing a source of bitumen or heavy oil feedstock and distilling said feedstock to form a separated portion and a non-distilled bottoms fraction;        b) feeding said bottoms fraction to a syngas generating circuit for formulating a hydrogen lean syngas stream via a partial oxidation reaction;        c) treating at least a portion of the said hydrogen lean syngas stream to a water gas shift (WGS) reaction to generate an optimum Fischer-Tropsch syngas; and        d) treating said optimum Fischer-Tropsch syngas stream in a Fischer-Tropsch unit to synthesize hydrocarbon byproducts, at least one of which is blended with said non-distilled bottoms fraction or said separated portion to form a partially upgraded synthetic crude oil having an API gravity between 15 and 24
In accordance with a further object of one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for synthesizing hydrocarbons, comprising:                a) formulating a hydrogen lean syngas stream in a partial oxidation reaction;        b) catalytically converting said syngas stream to produce hydrocarbon byproducts for formulating a partially upgraded synthetic crude oil;        c) maintaining said partially upgraded API range of between 15 and 24 absent the addition of external diluent; and        d) removing at least a portion of said partially upgraded synthetic crude oil for transportation.
Accordingly, it is another object of one embodiment of the present invention to provide the process, wherein the water gas shift reactor (WGS) is replaced by a hydrogen rich syngas generator (XTR) selected from the group consisting of a steam methane reformer (SMR), autothermal reformer (ATR) or combination thereof.
A further object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a process for synthesizing hydrocarbons, comprising the steps of:                (a) formulating a hydrogen rich stream with a syngas generator;        (b) catalytically converting said stream to produce hydrocarbons, containing at least naphtha and partially upgraded synthetic crude oil having an API index between 15 and 24 suitable for transport;        (c) removing said partially upgraded synthetic crude oil;        (d) recycling at least a portion of said naphtha to said syngas generator to form an enhanced hydrogen rich stream; and        (e) re-circulating said enhanced hydrogen rich stream from step (d) for conversion in step (b) to enhance the synthesis of hydrocarbons.
In accordance with a further aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a process for converting heavy oil or bitumen to transportable synthetic crude oil, comprising:                (a) treating said heavy oil or bitumen in an atmospheric distillation/diluent recovery unit to create a first stream containing at least straight run naphtha, light gas oil and liquid petroleum gas (LPG);        (b) passing a second atmospheric bottoms stream generated from step a) into a solvent deasphalting unit to formulate a deasphalted oil stream and a residuum asphaltene stream;        c) passing said residuum asphaltene stream of the deasphalting unit into a diesel producing circuit having a syngas generator and Fischer-Tropsch reactor to convert said portion to at least a synthetic diesel; and        d) blending said first stream, deasphalted oil stream and said synthetic diesel to form partially upgraded synthetic crude oil.
In accordance with yet another object of one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a process for converting heavy oil or bitumen to a transportable partially upgraded synthetic crude oil, comprising:                a) processing said heavy oil or bitumen with unit operations to produce a treated stream and a non-distilled stream;        b) forming syngas from said non-distilled stream and reacting the syngas in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor to synthesize hydrocarbon byproducts; and        c) blending at least a portion of said byproducts with said treated stream to formulate a transportable synthetic crude oil with an API gravity of between 15 and 24 and a diesel fraction cetane number of not less than 40.
Similar numerals employed in the figures denote similar elements.

Partial upgrading process for heavy oil and bitumen


A converged network accessible by wireless client devices includes a wide area wireless network, a local area wireless network, and a gateway linked to the wide area and local area wireless networks for integrating access to the networks by the wireless client devices.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to wireless data networks and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for converging local area and wide area wireless data networks.
2. Description of Related Art
Wireless data technologies are used to provide Internet and other network access to mobile client devices such as, e.g., laptops, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and smartphones. With the growing popularity of the Internet and the increasing mobility demands from end users, there has recently been increased interest and activity in wireless data networks. Some wireless data technologies are designed to support wide area coverage, while others are designed for the local area.
In the wide area, cellular operators such as AT&T are presently deploying high-speed packet based wireless wide area networks (WANs). Older wide area wireless data technologies have used Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) and circuit switched data. While these older technologies offer coverage over a large area, they are limited in the bit rates offered (˜20 kbps) and accordingly somewhat restrict the types of applications that could be accessed. With the advent of higher-speed technologies such as General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), cellular operators are now building out wireless data networks that will provide moderately high speed (˜100 kbps) access to the Internet. These networks are based on the so-called 2.5 G wireless data technologies, such as GPRS and 1XRTT. It is expected that these wireless data technologies will provide convenient access to the Internet over a large coverage area, with each base station in the network typically covering up to several miles. Due the relatively higher bit rate, various applications are now envisioned that will extend the reach of the Internet to the wireless world. Users are expected to access these networks through various client devices such as next-generation smart phones as well as PDAs and laptops with 2.5 G network interface cards.
In the local area, enterprises and universities are now deploying wireless local area networks (LANs) based on the IEEE 802.11b standard. Users with client devices such as laptops and PDAs use an 802.11 network interface card that enables them to access the Internet without having to be attached to a desktop. The current 802.11 technology allows access at speeds up to 11 Mbps over a range of several hundred feet. In addition to replacing traditional Ethernet-based local area networks, these wireless LANs are now also being deployed in novel settings. Of special interest is the increasing deployment of these 802.11 based networks in public spaces and hot spots such as, e.g., airports, convention centers, hotels, and even local coffee shops. These hotspots promise to provide localized wireless access at fast speeds. The hotspots are typically managed by local wireless Internet service providers (ISPs) such as, e.g., Wayport or by wireless LAN infrastructure integrators such as, e.g., Concourse Communications.
Advantages of WANs include wide coverage and "always on" access. These networks typically cover large areas of several miles. Due to the packet-based nature and the large coverage areas of these networks, 2.5 G enables data access all the time.
Disadvantages of wide area networks include limited bit rate and expensive equipment. Compared with the data speeds of several Mbps typically available in enterprises today as well as the 11 Mbps rate offered by 802.11b, the data rates achievable with 2.5 G are quite limited. For example, most 2.5 G networks will offer data rates of only up to 144 kbps. Also, the equipment needed to deploy the 2.5 G networks is quite expensive, in line with costs of traditional carrier-scale switching systems. A base station, e.g., can typically cost several hundred thousand dollars.
Advantages of the 802.11 LANs include a high data rate and inexpensive equipment. Relative to the 2.5 G networks, the wireless 802.11 LANs can support peak data rates of up to 11 Mbps in current generation technology. Further enhancements to this technology can support upto 54 Mbps data rates as well (802.11g and 802.11a). The cost of 802.11 equipment is also quite reasonable, and is typically a couple of orders of magnitude below that of the WAN networks. Also, the 802.11 networks operate in the unlicensed band. As a result, there are no spectrum acquisition costs associated with wireless LAN deployments.
Disadvantages of 802.11 based networks are limited coverage and no "always on" access. The coverage of each 802.11 base station (called access point) is typically limited to 150-200 ft. Also, since the coverage areas are limited, it is prohibitively expensive to deploy 802.11 based networks over large areas. As a result, it is not practical to obtain the same benefit of 'always on' access for these networks.

Method and apparatus for converging local area and wide area wireless data networks


Biodegradable starch-based extruded products and methods of manufacturing those products are provided. In particular, extruded starch products processed by compression, stretching or compression and stretching provide excellent flexibility, pliability, dimensional stability, resiliency, abrasion resistance and other properties making them attractive for use as packaging materials.

Biodegradable materials are presently in high demand for applications in packaging materials. Commonly used polystyrene ("Styrofoam" (Trademark)), polypropylene, polyethylene, and other non-biodegradable plastic-containing packaging materials are considered detrimental to the environment. The use of such non-biodegradable materials will decrease as government restrictions discourage their use in packaging applications. Biodegradable materials that are flexible, pliable and non-brittle are needed in a variety of packaging applications, particularly for the manufacture of shaped biodegradable containers for food packaging.
For such applications, the biodegradable material must have mechanical properties that allow it to be formed into and hold the desired container shape, being resistant to collapse, tearing or breaking. In addition, biodegradable materials with resiliency, compressibility and bulk density comparable to, "Styrofoam" (Trademark) "peanuts" are needed in loose-fill packaging applications. Further, biodegradable sheet materials having properties comparable to polypropylene and polyethylene materials are needed, for example, in laminating packaging materials.
Starch is an abundant, inexpensive biodegradable polymer. A variety of biodegradable starch-based materials have been proposed for use in packaging applications. Conventional extrusion of starch produces expanded products that are brittle, sensitive to water and unsuitable for preparation of packaging materials. Attempts to prepare starch-based products with flexibility, pliability or resiliency and other mechanical properties acceptable for various biodegradable packaging applications have generally focused on chemical or physico-chemical modification of starch, the use of expensive high amylose starch or mixing starch with synthetic polymers to achieve the desired properties while retaining biodegradability. A number of references relate to extrusion, and injection molding of starch-containing compositions.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,133,784, 4,337,181, 4,454,268, 5,322,866, 5,362,778, and 5,384,170 relate to starch-based films that are made by extrusion of destructurized or gelatinized starch combined with synthetic polymeric materials. U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,866 specifically concerns a method of manufacture of biodegradable starch-containing blown films that includes a step of extrusion of a mixture of raw unprocessed starch, copolymers including polyvinyl alcohol, a nucleating agent and a plasticizer. The process is said to avoid the need for preprocessing of the starch. U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,973 reports biodegradable compositions made by extrusion from destructurized starch and an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,650 relates to injection-molding of mixtures of graft polymers and starch to produce partially biodegradable products with acceptable elasticity and water stability. U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,430 relates to the production of biodegradable articles from destructurized starch and chemically-modified polymers, including chemically-modified polyvinyl alcohol. The articles made are said to have improved biodegradability, but to retain the mechanical properties of articles made from the polymer alone. U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,782 relates to extruded or molded biodegradable articles prepared from mixtures of starch, a thermoplastic polymer and certain plasticizers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,875 relates to blends of starch with acrylic polymers which are melt-processed into thermoplastic articles. U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,804 relates to biodegradable compositions made from starch melts containing converted starch and plasticizers including polyvinyl alcohol. U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,054 concerns methods of manufacturing shaped articles from a mixture of destructurized starch and a polymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,495 relates to a process for manufacture of meat trays from biodegradable starch compositions. Starch granules are chemically modified, for example with a silicone reagent, blended with polymer or copolymer and shaped to form a biodegradable shallow tray.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,438 relates to extrusion and injection molding of starch for the manufacture of capsules. U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,614 also relates to a method of injection molding in which a non-modified starch is combined with a lubricant, texturizing agent and a melt-flow accelerator.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,863,655, 5,035,930 and 5,043,196 report expanded starch materials in which the starch has at least 45% by weight amylose (high amylose materials). Expanded high amylose starch compositions have also been 'modified by reaction with oxiranes (e.g. ethylene oxide) and include the commercially available "ECO-FOAM" (Trademark) in which the starch is modified by reaction with propylene oxide. Expanded packaging materials made from high amylose starch are too expensive for practical commercial use. U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,754 of Knight (May 24, 1994) reports the production of shaped articles from high amylose starch.
EP published application EP 712883 (published May 22, 1996) relates to biodegradable, structured shaped products with good flexibility made by extruding starch having defined large particle size (e.g., 400 to 1500 microns). The application, however, only exemplifies the use of high amylose starch and chemically-modified high amylose starch.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,090 refers to an extrusion process for manufacture of resilient, low density biodegradable packaging materials, including loose-fill materials, by extrusion of starch mixtures comprising polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and other ingredients. The patent refers to a minimum amount of about 5% by weight of PVA. U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,990 reports a lightweight biodegradable packaging material produced by extrusion of corn grit mixed with a binding agent (guar gum) and water. Corn grit is said to contain among other components starch (76–80%), water (12.5–14%), protein (6.5–8%) and fat (0.5–1%). U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,267 reports biodegradable, compressible and resilient starch-based packaging fillers with high volumes and low weights. The products are formed by extrusion of a blend of non-modified starch with polyalkylene glycol or certain derivatives thereof and a bubble-nucleating agent, such as silicon dioxide. U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,271 of Hyrum (Oct. 12, 1993) reports a biodegradable closed cell light weight packaging material formed by extrusion of a modified starch. Non-modified starch is reacted in an extruder with certain mild acids in the presence of water and a carbonate compound to generate CO2. Resiliency of the product is said to be 60% to 85%, with density less than 0.032 g/cm3.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,137,592 relates to gelatinized starch products useful for coating applications produced by intense mechanical working of starch/plasticizer mixtures in an extruder. Related coating mixtures are reported in U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,337 to be manufactured by extrusion of mixture of starch and polyvinyl alcohol. Application of thermomechanical treatment in an extruder modifies the solubility properties of the resultant mixture which can then used as a binding agent for coating paper.
While significant progress has been made toward non-brittle, starch-based biodegradable packaging materials, there nevertheless remains a significant need for lowering production costs and improving the physical and mechanical properties of extruded starch materials.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Resilient biodegradable packaging materials


In some embodiments, a first plurality of representations are extracted from a first data set. A first set of distributions are generated based on the first plurality of representations. A machine learning model is trained based on the first plurality of representations and the first set of distributions. A second plurality of representations are extracted from a second data set different from the first data set. The machine learning model is executed based on the second plurality of representations to produce a second set of distributions. An anomaly score is determined for each datum from the second data set to produce a set of anomaly scores. The set of anomaly scores are determined based on the first set of distributions and the second set of distributions. A notification is generated when at least one anomaly score from the set of anomaly scores is larger than a predetermined threshold.

Some known machine learning apparatus and methods can be useful in a wide range of applications including pattern recognition, image analysis, video analysis, computer vision, audio analysis, natural language processing, time series analysis, and/or the like. Some known apparatus and methods for machine learning, however, do not effectively address data drift challenges in training and executing machine learning models. Thus, a need exists for improved apparatus and methods for machine learning.

Systems and methods for detecting drift between data used to train a machine learning model and data used to execute the machine learning model


This invention relates to adaptive resistance inhibiting 100 to 1,000 Gy, single fraction radiosurgery with inverse Compton scattering gamma ray microbeam and nanobeam. The distance from two adjacent microbeams or the nanobeam generate peak and valley dose. Proliferation of normal tissue's clonogenic cells from low or no dose valley region to peak dose regions makes the normal tissue tolerance to to 100 to 1,000 Gy. The collilinear electron beam and gamma ray microbeam and nanobeam are generated in microfocus carbon tubes in a tissue equivalent primary collimator. Electron beam is absorbed by the tissue equivalent primary collimator. Focusing anode and magnets and multiwalled carbon nanotubes channels the microbeam and nanobeam as focused beams. Methods of spread out or spot scanned or raster scanned collilinear gamma ray microbeam and nanobeam radiosurgery are implemented. Adaptive resistance to cancer treatment is inhibited by inactivation of cancer cell's repair capabilities.

In the recent past, less expensive, compact monochromatic high brilliance x-ray and gamma rays production sources were described, for biomedical use by Carroll et al (1), for phase contest imaging Kaertner et al (2) and for nuclear resonance imaging B arty et al (3). In such high brilliance X-ray source generation, high energy electron is made to interact with laser photon beam. Such high brilliance X-ray generation by inverse Compton scattering interaction of laser and electron beam has several advantages over synchrotron generated microbeam radiation therapy. Barty et al (3) describes this inverse Compton scattering X-ray as gamma rays. Like B arty et al (3), in this invention, the inverse Compton scattering radiation is referred to as Compton scattering gamma rays. Two hundred to five hundred Gy and higher dose radiation therapy with Synchrotron generated microbeam is curative even for most radiation resistant animal tumors like the glioblastoma multiforme (4). The very low energy synchrotron generated X-rays is not suitable for the treatment of deep seated human tumors. In U.S. Pat. No. 8,173,983, this applicant has described apparatus and methods for high dose and dose rate curative "All Fields Simultaneous Radiation Therapy" with monochromatic X-rays generated by inverse Compton scattering (5). In U.S. Pat. No. 8,173,983, the spent electron beam of the inverse Compton scattering is also reused to generate photon beam or electron beam for "All Fields Simultaneous Radiation Therapy" (5). However, like in present conventional radiation therapy, it uses fractionated broad beam radiation that cause normal tissue toxicity and hence the need for fractionated radiation and its limit for tolerable total dose. Inverse Compton scattering radiation renders variable energy, tunable monochromatic X-rays. In a series of US patents, Toshiki Tajima from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has outlined the future path for innovative radiation therapy with laser driven ion accelerators (6, 7, 8). The ion beam minimizes radiation toxicity to the skin and the normal tissue below it while it deposits energy at the spread-out Bragg Peak of the ion beam where the tumor is located. However, these innovative ion beam radiation therapy systems also use fractionated, spread-out Bragg Peak's broad beam radiation that cause still significant normal tissue toxicity and hence the need for fractionated radiation and its limit for tolerable total dose. Likewise a series of US patents by Chang Ming Ma et al from Fox Chase Cancer Center has disclosed device and methods for future radiation therapy with laser driven ion accelerators (9, 10, 11). These systems also use the methods of fractionated, spread-out Bragg Peak's broad beam for radiation that cause still significant normal tissue toxicity and hence the need for fractionated radiation and its limit for tolerable total dose. Hence, they are not suitable for single fraction 100 to 1,000 Gy and higher radiosurgery. On the contrary, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/658,843, "Device and Methods for Adaptive Resistance Inhibiting Proton and Carbon Ion Microbeam and Nanobeam Radiosurgery", this applicant has disclosed the systems and methods for least toxic, single fraction, super high dose curative ion microbeam and nanobeam radiosurgery (12). Because of the only micrometers and nano meters wide segments of peak radiation with microbeam and nanobeam, the peak segment of the radiated tissue and no radiation to tissue segments in between two microbeam or nanobeam, that is the valley region, the unirradiated stem cells from the valley region readily migrates and repopulate the peak region radiated by the peak dose of the microbeam or nanobeam. It spares the normal tissue from radiation toxicity. With microbeam or nanobeams from different angels interlace at the isocentric tumor, there are no peak and valley dose region at the isocentric tumor. Hence there is no sparing of the tumor tissue from the very high dose radiation.

Device and methods for adaptive resistance inhibiting inverse compton scattering microbeam and nanobeam radiosurgery


A belt designed for size adjustability, self-sealing closure, and temporary engagement to the waistband of skirt/slack of the wearer. The belt utilizes an outer face of fashion fabric and an inner face of fabric of mutually adhesive material with the addition of one relatively small strip of mutually adhesive material on one end of the fashion fabric and a closure strip traversely affixed to the opposite end of the fashion fabric. A continuous band is formed by engaging the small strip of mutually adhesive material to the inner fabric at any point along the circumference. The closure strip is folded around the engaged belt and then temporarily affixed to the inner fabric in c-shaped fashion by mutually adhesive material strips securely affixed to the ends of the closure strip. The inner fabric allows the belt to be temporarily secured to the skirt/slack waistband of the wearer by the addition of a relatively small strip of mutually adhesive material being applied to the center back of skirt/slack waistband to prevent the waistband from pulling down below the belt. A design variation incorporates the use of readily removable and interchangeable decorative strips color-coordinated of fabric coordinated to the garment being worn. A second variation splits the belt into two separate pieces that are then interlocked together and secured to the inner fabric of each by a small strip of mutually adhesive material securely affixed to the split ends.

The present invention relates to an article of clothing worn around the torso for decorative and utilitarian purposes of holding a skirt or slack in its proper place, and more specifically to an improved belt construction which enables the article to fit a wide range of sizes while permitting the wearer to neatly and precisely fit the item about the torso and to interchangeably customize the basic item for a specific garment(s).

Belt with mutually adhesive fabric material


A key switch having a replaceable key cap is provided. The key switch includes a main key body (10) having a pair of cross-ribs (14). The pair of cross-ribs (14) define a plurality of recesses within the main key body (10). A replaceable key cap (20) has an upper wall and a substantially annular sidewall which define a hollow chamber therein. A plurality of locking members (22) project from a lower surface of the upper wall within the hollow chamber. Each of the locking members (22) has a locking flange projecting therefrom and each of the plurality of locking members (22) is releasably received by a respective one of the plurality of recesses, with the locking flanges releasably engaging respective cross-ribs (14).

The invention relates to a push key with a replaceable key cap, particularly to a structure wherein a key cap is coupled to a key cap unit, so the key cap can be replaced conveniently to suit the user""s requirements.
At present, keyboards are no longer designed to include only alphabet keys, number keys, cursor up, down, left and right keys, and F1xcx9cF12 function keys. A variety of keys are now added for multi-media functions. These multi-media keys are normally of a smaller size and installed along the top row of the keyboard.
Conventional push key design, particularly multi-media keys, still employ the approach of regular push keys with the emphasis being on easy production and reduced key height. To the manufacturer, however, the number of push keys produced month by month is in the millions. In cases where some of the key caps are already printed (generally, function signs are printed on the key caps), they cannot be replaced for other purposes, which would result in a significant waste of resources.
Most users, especially young people, sometimes feel the need to change the color of the keys. In that case, the entire keyboard must be changed if it is designed to have conventional keys. They cannot change the keys without changing the whole keyboard unit. In case some keys are designed to suit the user""s own definitions, the traditional keys could not be labeled with their individual functions separately.
The primary objective of this invention is to provide a push key having a replaceable key cap, comprising a key cap unit and a key cap, wherein the key cap and key cap unit are coupled to each other, so the key cap can be replaced readily.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a push key with a replaceable key cap, wherein the key cap is transparent, so the user can place a label indicating the function of the key inside the key cap, in order to display the function of the key.
Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a push key with a replaceable key cap, wherein the key is transparent, so that a light emitting unit can be installed inside the keyboard to make the keys look bright and beautiful.


An apparatus for endpoint detection during removal of material from an electronic component includes a mounting plate operable to provide physical and electrical attachment for a device-under-test (DUT), a spindle operable to hold a tip for removing material from the DUT, a signal generator operable to provide an input signal to a first electrode, and a microprocessor connected to use an output signal from a second electrode to terminate the removal of material when an endpoint is reached, the first electrode being one of the tip and the DUT and the second electrode being the opposite one of the tip and the DUT.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to techniques for preparing electronic devices, such as integrated circuit dies, chips, packages, boards, and the like, for failure analysis. More particularly, and not by way of any limitation, the present disclosure is directed to an apparatus and method for detecting an endpoint during removal of material from the sample.
2. Description of Related Art
During failure analysis of integrated circuits (ICs), whether in chips, packages, boards, etc., it is often necessary to create access to specific portions of the IC. Methods of creating these access points include at least chemical, laser, mechanical and plasma usage, yet each method of creating access brings its own problems. Laser decapsulation is slow and places the surface at risk due to ablation damage through the glass beads. Additionally, non-uniformity of removal is problematic with both chemical and laser mechanisms. Physical removal methods, such as milling, grinding and polishing, provide greater planarity of removal, but the process, which is generally performed with a liquid or paste surrounding the moving tip, obscures visibility of the surface of the device-under-test (DUT). In the past, mechanical methods have required iterative guesswork to reach the desired target. One would estimate the depth necessary to provide access without destroying features and perform mechanical removal, e.g., with a milling machine, to the desired depth. The device would then be removed from the milling machine, cleaned and dried, and taken to another machine, e.g., a microscope or electron microscope, for examination to determine whether the desired endpoint had been reached. If further removal of material was necessary, the process would be repeated as many times as necessary until the desired endpoint was reached.

Apparatus and method for endpoint detection during electronic sample preparation


A machine for the cleaning of bottles having an endless conveyor for transporting the bottles through the machine and past associated treatment devices, the endless conveyor being guided in a horizontally extending, spiral-like path through at least two portions of the machine, the path of travel extending in one direction in a first portion and in the opposite direction in a second portion, the two paths of travel of the endless conveyor being disposed one above the other within the machine.

The invention relates to a machine for the cleaning of bottles or the like.
Such a machine is already known from German Patent No. 2844126, in which two portions of an endless conveyor are disposed at the same level in spaced side-by-side relationship with transverse movement in opposite directions. The two portions have in each case different base surfaces, and each winding of the endless conveyor is provided with a housing of its own. This construction is extremely space-consuming and expensive.
The invention is based on the object of substantially reducing the space requirements and the constructional expenditure without impairment to the treatment line in a machine for cleaning bottles or the like.

Machine for the cleaning of bottles or the like

KRONES AG Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik


The present invention is directed to a method of integrating information, including real-time information, into a virtual thematic environment using a computer system, including accessing the stored information from a database or downloading the real-time information from a source external to the thematic environment; inserting the real-time information into the thematic environment; and displaying the information to a user within the thematic environment. In one embodiment, the computer system is connected to a holographic projection system such that the images from the thematic environment can be projected as holographic projections. The computer system includes an interactive software application platform having at least one thematic/publishing logic module which contains thematic environment rules; at least one digital content library module which provides content management on the thematic environment; and at least one quantum imaging environment (QIE) module which interprets content such that the content is manipulated and accessed by any device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an interactive software application platform which can be used in entertainment, business, publishing, and other applications to provide a virtual and real world experience to the user by integrating audio, video, two dimensional (2D), and three dimensional (3D) technology, and other applications or services.
2. Description of the Related Art
Virtual environments are increasingly of interest to users for entertainment (i.e., games) and educational purposes. Based on this increase, the business world is finding new ways to access users through the virtual environments, for product placement and to offer services. In addition, the use of virtual environments to illustrate medical procedures etc., or for business training purposes, are used routinely.
However, the virtual environments, especially those present on the internet, for example, have not provided the user with a real world experience. Accordingly, a way to integrate audio, video, 2D, and 3D technology in order to maximize the real world experience for the user, is desired.

Interactive virtual thematic environment


A multiple vane, variable pitch, fluid active or reactive device to move or be moved by a fluid including first and second wheels each rotatable about its axis and the axes disposed in selected parallel offset relation. Aperatures provided in the first wheel receive rotatable vane shafts. A vane is provided on each shaft and a distal end of each shaft extends through the aperture. Follower members are connected to the distal ends of the shaft and extend generally parallel to the chord line of the vanes to control the pitch angle of the vanes. The second wheel is inset a selected distance from the first wheel and provides cams that extend outwardly from the second wheel to engage the follower members of the first wheel. A drive member is provided so that a rotational force applied to either wheel is transferred by a gear drive to the other wheel. Also, movement of the cams of the second wheel in the followers of the first wheel adjusts the pitch angle of the vanes during the rotation of the first and second wheels. Variable means adjust e offset between the axes of the first and second wheels whereby the relative pitch angle of the vanes and the degree of vane pitch angle variation with rotation can be changed.

The present invention relates to fluid active and reactive devices and more particularly to devices which can be used to impel a fluid or to be impelled by a moving fluid.
The prior art is replete with fluid reactive devices including examples with a multiplicity of vanes, as are devices contemplated by the present invention.
The common squirrel cage fan and paddle wheels are examples of devices utilized to impel fluid. Turbines and the like are examples of multiple vane devices which are impelled by a fluid.
Other arrangements are known that include devices with various means for variation of blade pitch angles.
In general the optimum arrangement for a fluid reactive device is that the maximum blade surface be presented to the flowing fluid in the direction of rotation and that out of the direction of flow a minimum surface be presented to the flowing fluid.
With respect to fluid active devices the optimum condition is that the maximum vane area be located in the fluid in the direction of movement and likewise a minimum blade area be exposed out of the direction of movement.
While numerous prior art arrangements are known for both fluid active and fluid reactive devices none is known which presents the advantages of devices within the scope of the present invention.


A method of spatially-encoded wireless transmission using a wireless communications device that is configured with an electromagnetic radiator involves applying a modulated carrier to one or more radiator elements of the electromagnetic radiator. The radiator elements are selected based on instantaneous samples of baseband information, and the modulated carrier is generated from the baseband information. The modulated carrier is then transmitted via the selected radiator elements.

RF wireless communications devices include a RF antenna and transceiver that allows the communications device to transmit and receive wireless information via a wireless communications protocol. Known wireless communications protocols include long-range protocols (e.g. GSM, GPRS, CDMA, EDGE, UMTS, EvDO, HSPA) and short-range protocols (irDA, Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15), and WiFi (IEEE 802.11x)). None of these communications protocols make optimum use of the available communications bandwidth.

Communication system for spatially-encoded wireless communications


An improved counter electrode assembly for an electrostatic recorder in which the recorder applies electrical charges, in image configuration, upon a movable image recording member by means of a stylus electrode array and a counter electrode assembly aligned with one another and between which the image recording member may be moved. Both the stylus electrode array and the counter electrode assembly are positioned so as to extend transversely to the direction of movement of the image recording member. The counter electrode assembly comprises a support member, an elastica sheet member anchored to the support member and bowed toward the stylus electrode array, and an electrically resistive member urged by the elastica sheet toward the stylus electrode array.

Electrostatic printing upon an image recording medium comprises the formation of a latent, electrostatic image by the selective creation of air ions and the deposition of those ions of a given sign (usually negative) at selected pixel locations on the recording medium. The aggregate of the charged pixel areas forms an electrostatic latent (i.e. non-visible) image which is subsequently made visible at a development station. Development may be accomplished by passing of the recording medium, bearing the latent image, into contact with a liquid solution containing positively charged dye particles in colloidal suspension. The dye particles will be attracted to the negatively charged imaging ions so as to render the image visible. The visual density of the image thus developed will be a function of the potential or charge density of the electrostatic image.
Two types of image recording media in common usage are paper and film. The paper is specially treated so that its bulk will be electrically conductive and is overcoated with a thin dielectric coating on its image bearing side. The film comprises a dielectric substrate (such as Mylar.RTM.) overcoated with a very thin, semi-transparent intermediate conductive layer and a surface dielectric layer upon its image bearing side. To write on the media, electrical contact must be made to bleed off electrical charge. For film, electrical contact is made by conductive stripes painted near the edges of the media which penetrate the dielectric layer to make electrical contact with the conductive inner layer of the media. When writing on paper media, electrical contact is made directly to the backside of the paper. The backplate portion of the writing potential is established in the paper conductive layer by direct contact thereof with the conductive counter electrodes, that is, by essentially resistive coupling. When writing on film, the backplate portion of the writing potential is established in the intermediate conductive layer by capacitive coupling, through the Mylar substrate, between the intermediate conductive layer and the counter electrodes.
Conventionally, an electrostatic image may be formed upon the thin surface dielectric layer of a paper recording medium by passing the recording medium between a recording head, including an array of recording stylus electrodes, and a counter electrode comprising an array of complementary counter electrode segments. A charge is applied to selected pixel locations on the recording medium by the coincidence of voltage pulses applied to opposite surfaces thereof, by the stylus electrodes and the counter electrodes. When the potential difference between the stylus electrodes and the conductive layer of the recording medium is large enough to cause the voltage in the air gap between the stylus electrodes and the surface of the dielectric layer to exceed the breakdown threshold of the air, the air gap becomes ionized and air ions, of the opposite sign to the potential of the conductive layer, are attracted to the surface of the dielectric layer. As the dielectric surface charges up, the voltage across the gap will decrease to a value below the maintenance voltage of the discharge. At that time, the discharge extinguishes, leaving the dielectric surface charged. A potential difference of about 600 volts (about 800 volts for film) is required to establish a discharge. Of that threshold potential, about -200 volts is imposed on the stylus electrodes contemporaneous with the application of about +400 volts (+600 volts for film) on the counter electrodes.
Electrostatic recorders may be typically from 11 inches to 44 inches wide, and in some cases even as wide as 72 inches. Therefore, the writing head stylus array which extends fully across this width may have as many as 2000 to over 17,000 styli (at resolutions of 200 to 400 dots per inch). Because of this very large number of styli it is ordinarily not economically attractive to use a single driver per stylus, and a multiplexing arrangement is commonly used in conjunction with the above-described electrostatic discharge method. The styli in the writing head array are divided into stylus electrode groups (each group being about 0.64 inch to 2.56 inches long) so that each may consist of several hundred styli. The stylus electrodes are wired in parallel with like numbered styli in each group being connected to a single driver and carrying the same information. Writing will only occur in the stylus group whose complementary counter electrode is pulsed.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,522 (Lloyd et al) entitled "Capacitive Electrostatic Stylus Writing With Counter Electrodes" there is disclosed a backplate electrode assembly which is conformable to the arcuate crown of the recording head. A structure of this type is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and is more fully described below. It comprises a plurality of segments of an electrically resistive material mounted upon an elongated, U-shaped, support bar so as to be electrically independent. The segments are anchored to the support bar and are stretched over the channel thereof within which is provided a resilient member for urging the surface of the resistive material into intimate contact with the recording medium. In its commercial application, in electrostatic printer/plotters manufactured by the assignee of the present patent application, the resilient member comprises a strip of foam and an oil-filled bladder for urging the segmented backplate electrodes toward the writing head.
The complexity of the biasing elements of the backplate electrode structure described above increases the cost of manufacture. Furthermore, uniform wrapping tension of each segment upon the support bar is difficult to achieve, and insufficient tension can result in curling of the segment edges which allows debris and chaff to collect in the gaps and thus provide a shorting path. Non-uniform tension along the writing line can also cause image intensity variations across the plot and wear variations across the writing head which result in image striations, i.e. visible striping on the printed image extending in the direction of movement of the recording medium. As the pressure applied by the biasing elements against the recording head increases, so does the likelihood of flaring because flare writing increases with pressure as the media's surface abrades the ends of the styli. Flaring is a phenomenon caused by non-uniform electrical discharge which results in non-uniform electrostatic image spots being created on the recording medium.
Therefore, the objects of the present invention are to overcome these shortcomings by providing a counter electrode in which the biasing element, for urging the electrically conductive material against the recording head, is of simple and inexpensive construction and will conform to the shape of the recording head. Furthermore, it would be desirable if the counter electrode could provide a non-uniform contact pressure sufficient to conform the media to the recording head surface with a minimum force being applied along the nib line.

Elastica counter electrode for an electrostatic recorder


The application discloses an AI real-time microseism monitoring node, which includes a processor and a data acquisition device, an AI calculation device, and a communication device connected to the processor, wherein the AI calculation device is provided with pre-trained microseism data analysis Device, and the processor is configured to perform the following operations: controlling the data acquisition equipment to acquire microseism data; turning on the AI calculation device to calculate the acquired microseism data by means of the microseism data analysis device to determine the valid event data associated with the microseism; and sending the valid event data to the remote data center through the communication device.

Microseism and micro-motion nodes (or microseism and micro-motion geophone) are widely used in passive source geophysical response monitoring scenarios, such as unconventional oil and gas development, induced seismic monitoring, deep geological engineering monitoring, background noise monitoring, and urban underground space detection, etc. Conventional microseism monitoring nodes usually use such a set of monitoring and processing processes, i.e., manually deploying stations, long-term passive source monitoring, manual collection of stations, centralized reading of data and analysis of data results. However, as monitoring requirements increase, there is a growing need to be able to perform real-time monitoring and processing analysis. Real-time monitoring and processing analysis will help to better understand the real-time underground transformation situation and dynamically adjust the construction plan or take emergency treatment means. In recent years, with the rapid development of high-speed mobile networks, microseism monitoring nodes have also started to make attempts toward real-time transmission. A real-time monitoring system and monitoring method for microseism fracturing based on wireless WIFI network has been implemented. However, all these microseism nodes can only transmit back the data, and calculations are still performed in the data center. As the construction of microseism monitoring network continues to advance, a large number of microseism nodes will be connected to the monitoring system and the data acquired will be massive. Taking Smartsolo's current generic microseism monitoring nodes as an example, the amount of monitoring data from 200 three-component microseism nodes in a month will sometimes reach 45 TB. Conventional data return will lead to high system transmission pressure and heavy computing load in the data center, making real-time processing impossible to reach. At the same time, the conventional processing methods of massive data have also encountered the problem of excessive manual intervention and low efficiency.
At present, no effective solutions have been proposed to solve the technical problems in the above-mentioned prior art, such as the massive amount of microseism data analysis is carried out in the data center, which leads to high data transmission pressure, excessive computational load on the data center and inefficiency due to excessive manual intervention.

Artificial intelligence real-time microseism monitoring node

INSTITUTE OF GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES


A card edge type electrical connector including dual-beam ground contacts each having splayed pre-loaded tips and a realignment twist enabling a plurality of such contacts to be gang inserted into the insulator housing of the connector. To adjust the pitch of the pre-loaded tips, a predetermined twist is added to the bottom of the contacts during the stamping operation which re-aligns the tips with the correct contact receiving apertures. The re-alignment twist disappears once the contact(s) are fully seated in the insulator housing, thus allowing the pre-loaded tips to reach their ultimate position within the insulator housing relative other adjacent contacts.

The present invention relates generally to the art of electrical connectors and, more particularly, to a "card edge" electrical connector for a printed circuit board. In even greater particularity, the present invention relates to dual-beam ground contacts having a realignment twist for gang insertion into the insulator housing of a card edge electrical connector.
Historically, prior art electrical connectors have been assembled by very tightly press fitting or molding contacts into receiving blocks of insulative material which form structural members to support the contacts and hold them rigidly within the insulative body. The prior art connector having contacts rigidly fixed within the insulator are then mounted by bolting the insulator to a pair of spaced parallel rails, or by dropping the contact tails into holes in a mounting substrate and soldering them in place. The prior art techniques for assembly of the aforesaid connectors are relatively slow because of the time required to rigidly mount each individual contact into its receiving sleeve within the insulator. Certain prior art connectors have overcome this problem by providing for simultaneous insertion of rows of contacts held together by carrier strips into receiving sleeves which hold them in position within the insulator housing.
A popular type of electrical connector which is used widely in the electronic industry is called a "card edge" connector. A card edge connector receives a printed circuit board having a mating edge and a plurality of contact pads adjacent the edge. Such card edge connectors typically have an elongate insulator housing defining an elongate receptacle or slot for receiving the mating edge of the printed circuit board. A plurality of contacts are spaced along one or both sides of the slot for engaging the contact pads adjacent the mating edge of the board. In many applications, such card edge connectors are mounted on a second printed circuit board. The mating edge board or card is commonly called a "daughter" board, and the board to which the connector is mounted commonly is called the "mother" board.
One of the problems with card edge connectors of the character described above, however, centers around the ever-increasing demands for high density electronic circuitry. The contacts of such a connector are mounted in a housing fabricated of dielectric material such as plastic or the like. Not only are the contacts becoming ever-increasingly miniaturized, but their number or density within the housing is becoming greater and greater, thus significantly increasing the likelihood of short circuiting between the respective contacts. In order to solve the potential problem of short circuiting, separate sleeves may be designed into the housing to partition the contacts so that they are electrically isolated from one another. This technique is very difficult and cost prohibitive because of the miniaturized size and number of contacts. A more viable solution has been to fashion or form the contacts into specific shapes to avoid shorting or being shorted by other contacts. An example of this technique is to pre-load or bend the tip of certain contacts to avoid other non-preloaded contacts within the insulator housing.
However, even pre-loading the tips of contacts to avoid short-circuiting suffers from the standpoint of assembly. While a typical card edge connector utilizes a plurality of contacts formed out of sheet material on a common carrier strip so that they can be simultaneously inserted into the insulator housing, the above described technique of pre-loading tends to offset or mis-align the tips of the contacts with the spacing or pitch of the correct insulator housing slots or cavities, thus preventing simultaneous gang insertion of the contacts. As a result, the tips of pre-loaded contacts typically have to be inserted into the insulator one-by-one.
It is, therefore, desirous to provide electrical contacts which may be manufactured in quantity from sheet material on a carrier strip having pre-loaded tips, yet may be gang inserted into an insulator housing.

Dual-beam ground contacts having a realignment twist for gang insertion into an insulator housing