A pneumatic braking device for a utility vehicle includes at least one pneumatically controllable spring accumulator for a parking brake of the utility vehicle with an electronic parking brake device. The electronic parking brake device has at least one electronic control unit, at least one first bistable valve unit, at least one second bistable valve unit, at least one valve device which can be connected in such a way that when there is a decrease in the system pressure for supplying the parking brake of the trailer of the traction vehicle, the parking brake of the trailer can be activated, and a traction vehicle protection valve.

The present invention relates to a pneumatic brake device for a utility vehicle, comprising at least one pneumatically actuable spring store brake cylinder and comprising an electronic parking brake device.
Pneumatic brake devices for utility vehicles (also referred to as commercial vehicles, for example trucks) which can also pull trailers are already known from the prior art. Systems of this kind are also equipped with a parking brake function which can be provided by an electronic parking brake device.
By way of example, in the United States of America, the parking brake function is realized by placing spring store brake cylinders both in the utility vehicle or tractor vehicle and also in the trailer. To this end, the respective spring stores are actuated by a pneumatic parking valve which fills or deaerates the spring stores directly, without the use of a relay valve. Here, the parking valve has a first valve part for the truck and a second valve part for the trailer. Said valve parts can be configured with different colors, for example such that the first valve part for the tractor vehicle has a yellow operating button and the second valve part for the trailer has a red operating button. Due to legal requirements, it may be necessary for the brake device to have a tractor protection valve. The tractor protection valve prevents a drop in the output air pressure for the service brake of the tractor vehicle in the event of a drop in pressure in the service brake of the trailer vehicle.
It is assumed here that compressed air may escape both from the compressed air line which provides compressed air to the trailer vehicle for the service brake and also from the compressed air line which provides compressed air to the trailer vehicle for the parking brake.
This is the case, for example, when the trailer vehicle becomes detached from the tractor vehicle and, in the process, both compressed air lines, which connect the tractor vehicle and the trailer vehicle, are torn away.
In other countries, a tractor protection valve of this kind is not used, but rather bistable valve units are used, as is known, for example, from DE 10 2008 007 877 B3.
As is known, in particular, from WO 2008/025398 A1, bistable valves are rejected in connection with the use of tractor protection valves, and instead it is ensured in some other way that it is possible to safely park the vehicle in the event of a breakdown in the electrical voltage supply.
Further pneumatic brake devices for utility vehicles with a tractor protection valve are known, for example, from DE 101 32 493 A1, WO 00/78591 A1, WO 2009/046779 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,015.
The object of the present invention is to develop a pneumatic brake device for a utility vehicle of the kind outlined in the introductory part in an advantageous manner, in particular to the effect that said pneumatic brake device is of comparatively simple and safe construction and can have additional safety precautions in comparison to the brake devices known from the prior art and is operationally stable in the driving state and in the braked state.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by means of a pneumatic brake device in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
According to the invention, it is provided that a pneumatic brake device for a utility vehicle is provided with at least one pneumatically actuable spring store for a parking brake of the utility vehicle and with at least one electronic parking brake device, further having at least one electronic control unit, at least one first bistable valve unit and with at least one second bistable valve unit, at least further with a first valve device which can be connected up in such a way that, when there is a drop in the system pressure for supplying a parking brake of a trailer of the tractor vehicle, the parking brake of the trailer can be activated, and with a tractor vehicle protection valve.
The invention is based on the basic idea of providing a functionality in a pneumatic brake device for a utility vehicle so that the current condition of the brake device, that is to say driving or parking, is maintained even without electricity owing to the use of bistable valve units. The intention is then for the spring stores of the utility vehicle (tractor vehicle) and also of the trailer to be able to be aerated or deaerated by means of these two bistable valve units. Within the meaning of the invention, the term "bistable valve unit" is intended to be understood to mean, in particular, a pneumatically and/or electrically/electronically actuable valve unit, but not a control switch which pneumatically or electrically actuates a brake device or a parking brake device.
A valve device by means of which the spring stores of the trailer can be deaerated when spring stores of the truck (tractor vehicle) are aerated is additionally provided. This also includes, in particular, an emergency brake functionality which activates the parking brake of the trailer (emergency braking) when there is a drop in the system pressure for the trailer below a specific threshold value. Furthermore, a tractor protection valve is provided, by means of which a drop in the output air pressure for the service brake of the tractor vehicle in the event of a drop in pressure in the output air pressure for the service brake of the trailer is prevented. In other words, the tractor protection valve is arranged in such a way that the compressed-air connection between the tractor vehicle and the trailer vehicle can be interrupted in case of an emergency.
Furthermore, it can be provided that the parking brake of the tractor vehicle can be actuated by means of the first bistable valve unit and the parking brake of the trailer can be actuated by means of the second bistable valve unit. A simple design of the parking brake device is possible in this way.
Since a first bistable valve unit is provided for the tractor vehicle and a second bistable valve unit is provided for the trailer, a stable and robust design of the brake device or of the parking brake device is provided overall. This is because, owing to the use of the bistable valve units, it is possible to be able to maintain the respectively current condition even without electricity, so that stable operating states are possible, here in particular parking and driving.
The tractor vehicle protection valve can be a constituent part of the electronic parking brake device.
As an alternative, it can be provided that the tractor vehicle protection valve is a constituent part of an air treatment system of the pneumatic brake device.
The valve device can have at least one pressure sensor by means of which a drop in the system pressure below a prespecified threshold value can be ascertained and a signal can be generated, it being possible for the parking brake of the trailer to be activated by means of the electronic control unit on the basis of said signal. As a result, it is possible to establish in a simple and reliable manner whether there has been a drop in the system pressure in the trailer and the pressure there has fallen below a specific threshold value. The parking brake of the trailer can then be activated. This function is also called emergency braking.
Furthermore, it can be provided that the valve device has at least one pneumatic valve by means of which the parking brake of the trailer can be activated. As a result, it is possible to activate the parking brake of the trailer separately, independently of the brake device of the tractor vehicle.
The first and/or second bistable valve unit can comprise a bistable valve with feedback. The feedback can have the effect, for example, that an emergency braking function for the trailer can be integrated.
In this context, it can be provided that the bistable valve with feedback is a relay valve. It can be provided here in particular that a bistable valve function is achieved by the use of a relay valve as a bistable valve.
Furthermore, it can be provided that the relay valve for the first bistable valve unit is the relay valve of the utility vehicle. As a result, it is possible to use a valve which is present in any case, such as the relay valve of the tractor vehicle, for forming the bistability and the corresponding functionality which is intended to be achieved by a bistable valve unit.
In addition, it can be provided that the relay valve for the second bistable valve unit is the relay valve of the trailer. It is also the case here that, by virtue of a design of this kind, a valve which is present in any case can be used, as a result of which the design is simplified overall.
Furthermore, it can be provided that the bistable valve unit further has a throttle.
The volumetric flow rate of the feedback from the output of the relay valve to its control side can be limited by means of the throttle. As a result, it is possible to be able to better set the switching points of the relay valve.
Furthermore, it can be provided that the bistable valve unit further has a pressure sensor. As a result, it is possible, for example depending on the ascertained pressure values by means of the pressure sensor, to set a certain switching behavior of the bistable valve unit and to provide a corresponding functionality.
Furthermore, it can be provided that the bistable valve unit further has at least two solenoid valves. By means of connection to two solenoid valves, it is possible, for example, to correspondingly actuate the relay valve for example and to create bistability in a simple and reliable manner.
The valve device can be jointly formed by the relay valve of the trailer.
In this context, it is also contemplated that the valve device is formed by the relay valve of the trailer and two solenoid valves. Here, the term "valve unit" is intended to be understood, in particular, to the effect that a plurality of components of a pneumatic brake device interact with one another in a functional manner. Owing to the interaction of the relay valve of the trailer and the solenoid valves, it is possible to actuate the parking brake device of the trailer, that is to say the spring stores of the trailer, and to do so separately from the parking brake device of the tractor vehicle. This means that it is also possible to be able to aerate the spring stores of the trailer even when the spring stores of the tractor vehicle are deaerated.
Furthermore, it can be provided that the valve device has the relay valve of the trailer, at least two further solenoid valves and also a pressure sensor and a throttle. In this case too, the term "valve device" is intended to be understood to the effect that a plurality of components interact with one another for a specific functionality. Owing to the interaction of the relay valve of the trailer, at least a further two solenoid valves and also a pressure sensor, it is possible firstly to detect a drop in the system pressure for the parking brake of the trailer and a specific threshold value and, depending on this, in particular in interaction with the control electronics system of the pneumatic brake device, to switch the relay valve and the further two solenoid valves in such a way that the parking brake of the trailer can be activated, it being possible for this to be used as an emergency brake. In particular, the supply line downstream of the relay valve of the trailer to the spring stores of the trailer can be monitored by means of the pressure sensor.
The valve device can further have the relay valve of the trailer and at least one deaeration valve. Owing to the deaeration, it is possible to be able to deaerate the spring store of the trailer by means of the deaeration valve.
As an alternative, it is also contemplated that the first and/or second bistable valve unit comprises/comprises a bistable valve without feedback.
In particular, it is contemplated in this context that the bistable valve of the bistable valve unit without feedback is a bistable 3/2-way valve which actuates a relay valve.
The bistable valve can be a relay valve.
In particular, it can be provided that the bistable valve unit further comprises the relay valve of the tractor vehicle. In this connection, it is also contemplated that the relay valve of the tractor vehicle and also a further control valve jointly form the bistable valve unit in a functional respect.
Furthermore, it can be provided that the relay valve for the second bistable valve unit is the relay valve of the trailer.
The first and/or second bistable valve unit can further have a throttle. As a result, it is possible to be able to better set the first and/or second bistable valve unit in respect of their/its switching point.
Furthermore, it can be provided that the bistable valve unit further has a pressure sensor. For example, a drop in pressure in the trailer can be detected by means of the pressure sensor and then a switching operation can be created by means of corresponding valves, in particular solenoid valves, and also the relay valve or valves, and the spring stores, for example of the trailer, can be aerated by means of said switching operation.
In principle, it is feasible that a drop in pressure is recorded by means of a pressure sensor, whereupon the spring stores of the trailer are deaerated by means of an electrical signal and by means of at least one solenoid valve.
In this context, it is feasible, in particular, that the bistable valve unit further has at least two solenoid valves.
As an alternative and/or in addition, a solution can also be provided in which the spring stores of the trailer are deaerated by means of a pneumatic valve when a drop in the system pressure for the trailer below a specific threshold value is detected by means of the second valve device, so that the parking brake of the trailer is activated (emergency braking).
The valve device can be jointly formed by the relay valve of the trailer.
Furthermore, it can be provided that the valve device further has at least one solenoid valve and a pressure sensor. In addition, the valve device can also further have a throttle.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Pneumatic braking device for a utility vehicle

KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH


The present invention relates to an anode active material including natural graphite and mosaic coke-based artificial graphite, and a lithium secondary battery including the same. According to an embodiment of the present invention, an anode active material including natural graphite and mosaic coke-based artificial graphite is used, when applied to a lithium secondary battery, intercalation and deintercalation of lithium ions is more facilitated and conductivity of an electrode is improved even if no or little conductive material is used. Furthermore, the increase in conductivity can lead to not only a further improvement in rate performance of a lithium secondary battery but also a reduction in interfacial resistance.

Recent developments in information and communication industry enable compact, lightweight, thin, and portable electronic devices, and thus high energy densification of batteries used as power supplies of such electronic devices are increasingly demanded. A lithium secondary battery may be a most suitable one to satisfy such demands, and thus studies on the lithium secondary battery are being actively carried out.
Carbonaceous materials are generally used as an anode material of a lithium secondary battery, and the carbonaceous materials include crystalline carbon and amorphous carbon. Representative examples of crystalline carbon may include graphite carbon, such as natural graphite or artificial graphite; and examples of amorphous carbon may include non-graphitizable carbon (hard carbon) obtained by carbonization of a polymer resin and graphitizable carbon (soft carbon) obtained by heat treatment of pitch.
In general, soft carbon is made by applying 1,000 levels of heat to coke which is a by-product produced during crude oil refining, and exhibits high output and short charging time unlike a conventional graphite anode active material or hard carbon-based anode active material.
On the other hand, hard carbon may be produced by carbonization of a material such as resin, thermosetting polymer, or wood. When such hard carbon is used as an anode material of a lithium secondary battery, it has a high reversible capacity of 400 mAh/g or more due to micropores but has low initial efficiency of approximately 70%. Thus, it is disadvantageous in that when hard carbon is used for an electrode of a lithium secondary battery, irreversible consumption of lithium is significant.
Such irreversibility is observed because solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) as a surface film is created by dissociation of electrolyte on the surface of an electrode during charging, or because lithium stored in carbon particles during charging is prevented from being discharged during discharging. Of these two cases, the former case is more problematic and the creation of a surface film is known as a major cause of irreversibility.
Moreover, it is known that most of high-capacity graphite materials have a highly developed layer structure, and thus have a high degree of graphitization and a flake shape. In the case of such flake-shaped graphite, regions where Li ions are intruded between the layers thereof, that is edge surfaces, are small. Thus, when the flake-shaped graphite is used as an anode active material of a lithium secondary battery, a high rate discharge characteristic, which is a characteristic in the case of discharge with high current, is deteriorated.
Furthermore, spherical natural graphite is disadvantageous in that it has a limited ionic conductivity, and empty spaces are created between active materials to increase the resistance of an electrode when only the spherical natural graphite is used as an anode active material, thereby bringing about a decrease in rate performance.
Therefore, it is necessary to develop an anode active material capable of replacing typical anode active materials, and reducing interfacial resistance and improving rate performance when applied to a lithium secondary battery.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Anode active material and lithium secondary battery including the same


Apparatus for progressively dilating the lumen of a narrow natural vessel such as an iliac artery and implanting a tubular device enabling access through the dilated lumen to conduct subsequent procedures via the dilated lumen, includes an inflatable integrated balloon locatable at least partially within the tubular device, the tubular device having a length L1 providing a self-expanding tubular body having at least a portion including stents, so that when the integrated balloon is removed the dilated lumen of the natural vessel remains dilated and supported by the tubular device.

Arteries may be subject to stenosis which is an abnormal narrowing of the lumen within the artery over time. Such narrowing may have adverse consequences including blockage of the artery, restricted blood supply to tissue and elevated blood pressure. Iliac arteries in particular present difficulties because they are often tortuous and of narrow lumen dimension, and these arteries in elderly patients are more susceptible to disease or stenosis due to atherosclerosis or calcification. An iliac arterial occlusion may lead to lower extremity issues such as reduced mobility, fatigue or cramp in the legs, and in neglected cases or diabetic patients, to ulcers and tissue necrosis. Surgical interventions, such as revascularization or by-pass surgery may be possible in some cases, but an endovascular procedure, being a minimally invasive procedure, often offers a more effective approach to treatment with less risk for the patient in most cases.
A typical endovascular procedure would be an endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Typically this involves inserting an endograft on a delivery system via a groin incision along a guidewire or catheter inserted into the femoral artery to ultimately access an aneurysmic site, in one of the major vessels of the vasculature. However, such a procedure can be inhibited or prevented if part of the vascular pathway for delivery is occluded, unduly tortuous, or otherwise of limited patency as in the case of stenosis of the iliac artery.
In an endovascular procedure, a manufactured medical device including a tubular form part is inserted into a natural or native vessel forming part of the vasculature as a graft substitute for a diseased or weakened part of the natural vessel, or as a prosthetic support for the diseased or weakened part of the natural vessel.


A method of installing a security system includes activating a security device. An air-borne identification signal is transmitted from the device in response to the activation. The identification signal identifies the activated device. The identification signal is used to ascertain a type of the device. The device is automatically wirelessly configured dependent upon the type of the device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to surveillance systems including wireless security devices, and, more particularly, to the installation of surveillance systems including wireless security devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Surveillance systems, also known as security systems, are known to include wireless security devices, such as wireless motion detectors, wireless door sensors, wireless window sensors, wireless smoke detectors, etc., for monitoring a secured area of space. The wireless devices each transmit a unique identifier, along with any state change or supervisory data, to a receiver within the system. The unique identifiers are used to verify that a transmission from a wireless device actually belongs to and is being received by the intended security system, instead of, say, being transmitted from a security system in an adjacent building. Thus, each wireless device in use by a security system must be made known to the system by its unique identifier.
Before the surveillance system is operational, each wireless device must be configured. Each input and output device has a configuration that needs to be defined in order for the device to function properly. For wireless devices, the configuration data includes supervision intervals, arming configuration, device type, and the unique identifier, among other things. It is a goal of the security system manufacturer to make the process of configuring a particular wireless device with its unique identifier as simple and as quick as possible for the installer. A traditional approach to establishing a connection within the system between a wireless device and its unique identifier has been to manually enter a series of digits of the unique identifier along with configuration data into a system controller. A human installer examines the panel configuration to determine where devices can be enrolled. The security system is placed into a special programming mode and the installer enters the unique identifier and configuration data for each device that is to be used for a particular installation. The installer then typically walks to each wireless device in turn and performs a physical test of each device in order to ensure that the unique identifiers and configuration data have been entered properly. A problem with this approach is that the process of manually entering each digit of the unique identifier information and configuration data is time-consuming and subject to installer error.
What is needed in the art is a wireless security system that can be installed without the installer having to manually enter identification information and configuration data for wireless devices.

Method and apparatus for installing a wireless security system


The present disclosure generally relates to a method for authenticating a user by means of an electronic device, where the electronic device comprises a first and a second control unit adapted to process a biometric representation from a biometric sensor. Preferably, the second control unit comprises a secure element and/or a secure block adapted to provide a secure processing environment. The present disclosure also relates to a corresponding electronic device and to a computer program product.

The use of biometric techniques to identify and/or authenticate the identity of a user is increasing. Biometric techniques that are promoted for this use include voice, fingerprint, iris, vein pattern and other scans. Currently, the use of fingerprint sensors for capturing a fingerprint has shown to be specifically promising, for example due to its ease of integration with different types of electronic devices, such as smartphones, watches, tablets, or any other type of electronic device where personalized user interaction is advantageous. It has also been suggested to integrate such a fingerprint sensor with smartcard systems, possibly eliminating the need for the user to input a PIN code, for example when performing a financial transaction.
However, due to the mobility of the above mentioned electronic devices there is always a risk that the electronic device falls in the "wrong hands" and/or are presented with e.g. a hacker attack with the purpose to falsify or otherwise affect a biometric identification and/or authentication process.
To counteract such attempts there is a continued attempt to improve the applied biometric identification and/or authentication process. However, such attempts typically result in complex computational processing, thereby increasing the need to equip the electronic equipment with a faster and more computationally powerful processing environment.
In some implementations of the above mentioned types of electronic devices, where a high security and computationally powerful processing environment is desired, it has been suggested to "split" the computational performance into two parts, the first being a high-performance environment and the second being a high-security environment. The high-performance environment generally has higher computing performance but less security. Correspondingly, the high-security environment, for example comprising a so called secure element, generally has higher security but less computing performance.
An example of such an implementation is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,536,131. U.S. Pat. No. 9,536,131 discloses dividing the computational resources needed for performing fingerprint authentication between a first and a second processing unit, the first processing unit providing the above mentioned high-performance environment and the second processing unit providing the above mentioned high-security environment. In accordance to U.S. Pat. No. 9,536,131, the high-performance first processing unit is used for performing a comparison process between an acquired fingerprint image of a user and a prerecorded fingerprint template for a finger of the user that is to be authenticated.
Unfortunately, the solution presented in U.S. Pat. No. 9,536,131 introduces some possible security risks by means of how the computational processing is divided between the first and the second processing unit.

Method and electronic device for authenticating a user


A method for enabling mobile coverage extension and peer-to-peer communications in an ad hoc network is provided. The method includes communicating at least one message among the plurality of nodes, wherein the at least one message comprises: an ad hoc zone, wherein the ad hoc zone comprises at least one channel selected from a group of channels comprising: at least one synchronization channel for synchronizing out of coverage nodes, at least one access channel for peer-to-peer communications, and at least one ad hoc relay data/traffic channel for exchanging data during data sessions between one or more nodes.

A peer-to-peer (P2P) network allows wireless devices to directly communicate with each other. Wireless devices within range of each other can discover and communicate directly without involving central access points.
An "ad hoc network" refers to a self-configuring network of nodes connected by wireless links which form an arbitrary topology. An ad hoc network typically includes a number of geographically-distributed, potentially mobile units, sometimes referred to as "nodes," which are wirelessly connected to each other by one or more links (e.g., radio frequency communication channels). The nodes can communicate with each other over a wireless media without the support of an infrastructure-based or wired network. Links or connections between these nodes can change dynamically in an arbitrary manner as existing nodes move within the ad hoc network, as new nodes join or enter the ad hoc network, or as existing nodes leave or exit the ad hoc network. One characteristic of the nodes is that each node can directly communicate over a short range with nodes which are a single "hop" away. Such nodes are sometimes referred to as "neighbor nodes." A large network can be realized using intelligent access points (IAP) which provide wireless nodes with access to a wired backhaul.
A wireless mesh network is a collection of wireless nodes or devices organized in a decentralized manner to provide range extension by allowing nodes to be reached across multiple hops. In a multi-hop network, communication packets sent by a source node can be relayed through one or more intermediary nodes before reaching a destination node. When a node transmits packets to a destination node and the nodes are separated by more than one hop (e.g., the distance between two nodes exceeds the radio transmission range of the nodes, or a physical barrier is present between the nodes), the packets can be relayed via intermediate nodes ("multi-hopping") until the packets reach the destination node. In such situations, each intermediate node routes the packets (e.g., data and control information) to the next node along the route, until the packets reach their final destination. For relaying packets to the next node, each node maintains routing information collected through communication with neighboring nodes. The routing information can also be periodically broadcast in the network to reflect the current network topology. Alternatively, to reduce the amount of information transmitted for maintaining accurate routing information, the network nodes may exchange routing information only when it is needed.
Recent developments within various Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802 standards have considered support for the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU's) International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) Advanced requirements. (for IEEE standards referenced herein, see, http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/index.html or contact the IEEE at IEEE, 445 Hoes Lane, PO Box 1331, Piscataway, N.J. 08855-1331, USA)
International Mobile Telecommunications-Advanced (IMT-Advanced) is a concept from the ITU for mobile communication systems with capabilities which go further than that of the current system requirements. In the vision of the ITU, there may be a need for a new wireless access technology capable of supporting a wide range of data rates according to economic and service demands in multi-user environments with target peak data rates of up to approximately 100 Mega bits per second (Mbit/s) for high mobility such as mobile access and up to approximately 1 Giga bits per second (Gbit/s) for low mobility such as nomadic/local wireless access.
Spectrum considerations for IMT-Advanced include up to 100 Mega Hertz (MHz) of bandwidth in either licensed or unlicensed spectrum below 6 Giga Hertz (GHz). The IMT-Advanced Network Topology requirement proposes multi-hop, mesh and P2P (peer-to-peer) modes. As such, the IEEE 802.16m operational requirements call for multi-hop relay support as well as self-optimization of network performance with respect to service availability, quality of service (QoS), network efficiency and throughput.
In an ad hoc network topology supporting direct link and multi-hop mesh, several challenges exist to enable peer-to-peer (P2P) communication sessions to support use cases such as out-of-coverage range extension, in-building penetration, social networking, gaming, public safety, and short range communication for high density environments or infrastructure off-loading. These challenges include efficient resource allocations, synchronization, route discovery, and near-far interference. In a system design employing an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Physical Layer (PHY) (such as IEEE 802.16e), an additional challenge is multi-access interference resulting from synchronization errors. With the current IEEE 802.16e frame structure, it is not possible to enable in-band and out-of-band multi-hop relays for peer-to-peer communications unless these challenges are resolved.
Accordingly, there is a need for system for enabling mobile coverage extension and peer-to-peer communications in an ad hoc network.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

System for enabling mobile coverage extension and peer-to-peer communications in an ad hoc network and method of operation therefor


Inversion for marine seismic imaging of a full reflected wavefield can include generating an image of a subsurface formation by full wavefield migrating a recorded seismic wavefield and generating numerically modeled data using the image. A mismatch between the numerically modeled data and the seismic wavefield can be determined. Responsive to determining that the mismatch exceeds an inversion match threshold, the image can be updated using the mismatch between the numerically modeled data and the seismic wavefield.

The petroleum industry has invested heavily in the development of marine survey techniques that yield knowledge of subsurface formations beneath a body of water in order to find and extract valuable resources, such as oil. High-resolution seismic images of a subsurface formation are helpful for quantitative interpretation and improved reservoir monitoring. For a typical marine survey, a marine survey vessel tows one or more marine survey sources below the sea surface and over a subsurface formation to be surveyed for mineral deposits. Marine survey receivers may be located on or near the seafloor, on one or more streamers towed by the marine survey vessel, or on one or more streamers towed by another vessel. The marine survey vessel typically contains marine survey equipment, such as navigation control, source control, receiver control, and recording equipment. The source control may cause the one or more marine survey sources, which can be impulsive sources such as air guns, non-impulsive sources such as marine vibrator sources, electromagnetic sources, etc., to produce signals at selected times. Each signal is essentially a wave called a wavefield that travels down through the water and into the subsurface formation. At each interface between different types of rock, a portion of the wavefield may be refracted, and another portion may be reflected, which may include some scattering, back toward the body of water to propagate toward the sea surface. The marine survey receivers thereby measure a wavefield that was initiated by the actuation of the marine survey source.


An umbrella carrying bag employs an inner and outer sleeve. The inner sleeve is water absorbing and air permeable to help capture and disperse water collected on an umbrella after use. The outer sleeve is air permeable and water resistant to prevent the water collected from the umbrella from being transferred to adjacent articles but to allow evaporation of the water from the inner sleeve. The inner sleeve may include an inwardly facing nap having fingers to wipe the surface of the umbrella as it is placed within the bag, further dispersing the water.

The umbrella is a convenient and ubiquitous article of rain gear. When used in conjunction with a raincoat, it is preferable to hoods or hats in that it provides a relatively broad area of protection without disturbing the user's hair. For light rains, an umbrella alone may provide sufficient protection, obviating the need for a bulky raincoat.
With the advent of foldable umbrellas, those with telescoping handles so as to collapse into a folded state, the umbrella has become the rain gear of choice for commuters. The small size of the foldable umbrella is valuable for commuters who face unpredictable weather for short periods in connecting between otherwise protected modes of transportation. The folded umbrella is convenient to carry and may often be stored in a briefcase or purse.
Despite their obvious advantages, umbrellas have always presented a problem when wet. The preferable method of dealing with wet umbrellas, if space allows, is to place them open in a protected area until they dry. Where space constraints or large numbers of umbrellas prevent such an approach, umbrellas may be put in an umbrella stand, point down, to drain and dry.
Neither option is generally available to users of folding umbrellas, the very existence of such umbrellas contemplating continued portability when wet, either to be placed within a car or on a bus or train after folding. Opening an umbrella to dry, or the use of an umbrella stand, in a car, bus or train is clearly impractical.
Generally, all umbrellas, folding or otherwise, come with a sleeve of a water repellent material similar to that used in the umbrella itself. Such sleeves are intended to protect the umbrella from abrasion and dirt and serve only imperfectly for use in storing a wet umbrella. Frequently, a wet umbrella stored in such a sleeve will remain wet and will drop water on the user when the umbrella is removed and reopened. Worse, the sleeve may allow water to saturate the water resistant fabric of the umbrella in a way that allows water to pass through its surface the next time it is used. Nor are such sleeves entirely successful in preventing the water from the umbrella from leaking outward to dampen articles or clothing adjacent o the thus enclosed umbrella.


A method and system are provided for detecting invalid function calls between segments during the generation of a computer program. A source file and a fixup source file are created for a program file. The source file defines segments in the program file. The fixup source file defines the segments defined in the source file to be a predetermined size. Next, the program file, the source file, and the fixup source file are assembled to create a program object, a source object, and a fixup object. A source library and a fixup library are created from the source object and the fixup object. The program object is linked with the fixup library to generate a dummy output file. During the generation of the dummy output file, a determination is made as to whether an invalid function call is made between the plurality of segments defined in the fixup library. If it is determined that an invalid function call is made between the segments defined in the fixup library, then an error is reported in the dummy output file. If it is determined that no invalid function calls are made between the segments in the dummy output file, then the dummy output file is ignored and the source library is linked with the program file to generate an actual output file.

Computer programs are made up of a series of statements or instructions which when executed, cause a computer to behave in a predetermined manner. When a computer program is compiled, the source instructions are compiled or linked into machine language instructions which can then be executed by a processor in the computer. Generally, the instructions and associated data in a computer program are stored in the computer as a file which is then copied into a main memory or Random Access Memory ("RAM") in the computer where it is executed.
Many modern computer programs are written so that program code is divided into distinct parts which are copied to segments in the RAM memory of the computer. For example, program instructions may be in one segment while program data may be in another segment. Program instructions or functions in one segment may be "called" by program code in the same segment or in a different segment to perform specific tasks. Programs are written so that "calls" to program functions in the same segment are defined as "near" calls while inter-segment calls (i.e., calls between segments) to functions are defined as "far" calls.
The only valid way to call inter-segment functions is to use "far" calls. As a result, programs containing near calls to functions in different segments generate a fixup overflow error when linked and may cause the program to malfunction when the program is executed. In the case of some computer system programs, such as a basic/input output system ("BIOS") program, such a malfunction may be catastrophic as a computer system needs valid BIOS code to boot the computer as well as to perform other important tasks.
Current methods for detecting fixup overflow errors utilize an assembler program which is used to convert source program code to object program code. Then, a linker program is used to convert the object program code into an executable program. When a program is assembled and linked into an executable file by the linker program, the linker checks the validity of each function call defined in the segments of program code based on a default segment size of 64 kilobytes. The linker therefore validates near calls as calls to functions within 64 kilobytes of memory while validating far calls as calls to functions between segments.
There are several problems with the aforementioned current methods for detecting fixup overflow errors. One problem occurs when programmers in writing program code define segments to be less than 64 kilobytes to save space. As a result, an improper near call between two such segments with a combined length of less than 64 kilobytes will cause the assembler program to continue to build the program since the near call is within the same 64 kilobyte boundary which the assembler program processes valid near calls. In response to the near call occurring between segments, the assembler program will generate a generic warning message of a possible error as it continues to successfully build the program. However, as a result of the continuation of the build process, the warning message often goes undetected resulting in a build which may be unusable due to the invalid function call. Another problem is that although the warning may eventually be found by parsing a message log generated after the program build, finding the error requires debugging the entire program which can be a very time-consuming process.
It is with respect to these considerations and others that the present invention has been made.

Method and system of detecting invalid function calls between segments in generating a computer program


A process for preparing a solid electrolytic capacitor comprising application of coverage enhancing catalyst followed by application of a conducting polymer layer. Coverage enhancing catalyst is removed after coating and curing.

The present invention is related to an improved method of forming a solid electrolyte capacitor and an improved capacitor formed thereby. More specifically, the present invention is related to materials and methods for improving corner and edge coverage of solid electrolytic capacitors. The invention also discloses methods for manufacturing the same.
The construction and manufacture of solid electrolyte capacitors is well documented. In the construction of a solid electrolytic capacitor a valve metal serves as the anode. The anode body can be either a porous pellet, formed by pressing and sintering a high purity powder, or a foil which is etched to provide an increased anode surface area. An oxide of the valve metal is electrolytically formed to cover all surfaces of the anode and serves as the dielectric of the capacitor. The solid cathode electrolyte is typically chosen from a very limited class of materials, to include manganese dioxide or electrically conductive organic materials such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene and their derivatives. Solid electrolytic capacitors with intrinsically conductive polymers as the cathode material have been widely used in the electronics industry due to their advantageously low equivalent series resistance (ESR) and "non-burning/non-ignition" failure mode. In the case of conductive polymer cathodes the conductive polymer is typically applied by either chemical oxidation polymerization, electrochemical oxidation polymerization or spray techniques with other less desirable techniques being reported.
The backbone of a conductive polymer consists of a conjugated bonding structure. The polymer can exist in two general states, an undoped, non-conductive state, and a doped, conductive state. In the doped state, the polymer is conductive but of poor processability due to a high degree of conjugation along the polymer chain. In its undoped form, the same polymer loses its conductivity but can be processed more easily because it is more soluble. When doped, the polymer incorporates anionic moieties as constituents on its positively charged backbone. In order to achieve high conductivity, the conductive polymers used in the capacitor must be in doped form after the completion of the process, although during the process, the polymer can be undoped/doped to achieve certain process advantages.
Various types of conductive polymers including polypyrrole, polyaniline, and polythiophene are applied to the capacitors. The major drawback of conductive polymer capacitors, regardless of the types of conductive polymers employed, is their relatively low working voltage compared to their MnO2 counterparts. The polymer capacitors have reliability issues, to varying degrees, when the voltage rating exceeds 25V. This is believed to be caused by the relatively poor dielectric-polymer interface, which has poor "self-healing" capability. The ability to withstand high voltage can be best characterized by the breakdown voltage (BDV) of the capacitors. Higher BDV corresponds with better reliability. For reasons which were previously unknown the break down voltage of capacitors comprising conductive polymers has been limited to about 55V thereby leading to a capacitor which can only be rated for use at about 25V. This limitation has thwarted efforts to use conductive polymers more extensively.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,563,290, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes the slurry/dispersion process. The resulting capacitors show excellent high voltage performances, reduced DC leakage (DCL) and improved long term reliability.
It is highly desirable that the capacitor devices are of high reliability and that they can withstand stressful environments. Therefore, the integrity of the anodes and the robustness of conductive polymer cathodes are essential for high quality capacitor products. However, it is a challenge to form a conductive polymer coating on the anodes that is defect-free, and which is capable of withstanding thermal mechanical stress during anode resin encapsulation and surface-mounting. The improper application of polymer slurry often leads to the formation of a poor polymer coating.
In a manufacturing process to produce conductive polymer based valve metal capacitors the valve metal powder, such as tantalum, is mechanically pressed into anodes that are subsequently sintered to form porous bodies. The anodes are anodized to a pre-determined voltage in a liquid electrolyte to form a dielectric layer onto which a cathode layer of conductive polymer is subsequently formed via an in situ polymerization process comprising multi-cycle oxidizer/monomer coatings and polymerization reactions. The anodes are then coated with graphite and Ag followed by assembling and molding into a finished device.
A particular concern is the formation of adequate polymer coatings on edges and corners. In order to achieve good quality polymer coating on anodes, especially on the corners and edges, many types of chemical compounds are used for either forming a pre-coating on the anode or which are added to the polymer slurry. U.S. Pat. No. 7,658,986, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes the difficulty in coating the edges and corners of the anode with polymer slurry. These materials tend to pull away from the corners and edges due to surface energy effects. The resulting thin coverage at corners and edges leads to poor reliability of the device.
One approach to mitigating poor coverage of the anode corners and edges has been to alter the design of the anode as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,658,986, D616,388, D599,309, and D586,767 each of which is incorporated herein by reference. While changes in the anode design are beneficial in some regards the effect of poor coverage is still present even with anode designs which facilitate corner and edge coverage by polymer slurry as the primary cathode layer.
Another approach for improving coverage of the corners and edges is provided in International Application WO2010089111A1, which is incorporated herein by reference, which describes a group of chemical compounds called crosslinkers, which are mostly multi-cationic salts or amines. International Application WO2010089111A1 teaches the application of a solution of the crosslinker on the anodes prior to the application of polymer slurry to achieve good polymer coverage on corners and edges of the anodes. The effectiveness of the crosslinker is attributed to the cross-linking ability of multi-cationic salts or amines to the slurry/dispersion particles. While crosslinkers are advantageous for improving the coating coverage on corners and edges of the anodes, the addition of these crosslinkers, which are mostly ionic in nature, has the unintended consequences of degrading the humidity performance of a finished product.
Cross linkers, by definition, link one polymer chain to another thus tending to be part of the polymer system. While crosslinkers are advantageous in many applications, it is undesirable to have an ionic crosslinker react to the polymer chain and be part of the polymer chain. Ionic materials, especially low molecular weight ionic compounds or mobile ionic compounds, can diffuse though various cathode layers, especially under humid conditions, and can cause higher leakage current. Unlike coavalently crosslinked molecules, ionically crosslinked molecules, have lower bond strength and can be disassociated when exposed to high temperature and high humidity conditions. Once disassociated, these mobile ions can cause higher leakage current. So a need exists for materials and methods which improves corner and edge coverage while not crosslinked with the polymer system.

Materials and method for improving corner and edge coverage of solid electrolytic capacitors


A method for cleaning an object to be processed in which the atmosphere in a drying chamber is replaced by an inert gas prior to placing an object to be cleaned from an external environment into the chamber. The object is then transported by an elongated retaining member from the drying chamber through a lower opening in the chamber into a processing bath disposed below the chamber. The object is then cleaned in the processing bath. The object is then transported from the processing bath to the drying chamber where it is dried by filling the atmosphere of the drying chamber with organic solvent. The cleaning process in the cleaning bath is carried out while the bath is screened by a nitrogen-gas curtain. The method also includes opening a lid of the chamber prior to insertion of the object into the chamber and closing the lid after insertion of the object, as well as the opening and closing of the lower opening in the chamber. The method may also include exhausting an atmosphere in the drying chamber while supplying inert gas, decompressing the atmosphere in the drying chamber as well as chemical cleaning, water cleaning, and ozone cleaning of the object.

The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus and a cleaning method, by which objects to be processed, such as semiconductor wafers and glass substrates for a LCD (liquid crystal display) unit etc., are immersed and cleaned in chemical and subsequently dried.
For example, in a cleaning treatment of a manufacturing process for a semiconductor device, such as LSI etc., various cleaning apparatuses are employed for removing contaminants on the surfaces of the semiconductor wafers, such as particles, organic contaminants, metallic impurities and so on, and for etching the surface of the wafer. Note, in this specification, the semiconductor wafer(s) will be called the wafer(s) for short, hereinafter. Above all, a cleaning apparatus of xe2x80x9cwetxe2x80x9d type comes into wide use on the grounds that the above contaminants can be removed effectively, the etching can be done and a batch processing can be accomplished to enhance the throughput in the cleaning process.
In such a wet type of cleaning apparatus, the wafers to be cleaned are subjected to a chemical cleaning process (e.g. ammonia treatment, hydrogen fluoride treatment, sulfuric acid treatment etc.), a washing cleaning process using pure water etc., and a drying process using isopropyl alcohol [(CH3) 2CHOH] or the like. Note, the isopropyl alcohol will be referred the IPA, hereinafter. Further, the cleaning apparatus is so constructed to supply the chemicals, the pure water and the IPA to processing baths in processing order and a drying room, respectively. Thus, with the above arrangement, a batch processing method where the wafer in blocks of e.g. 50 sheets are successively immersed in the processing baths and dried in the drying room, comes into wide use.
However, the provision of the processing baths and the drying room for each process causes the apparatus to be large-sized undesirably. In addition, because of a lot of opportunities for transporting the wafers in the apparatus, in other words, being exposed to atmosphere, there is a great possibility of the particles"" sticking to the wafers.
Therefore, in e.g. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (kokai) No. 64-81230 and the same No. 6-326073 etc., there are proposed cleaning apparatuses in each of which the processing baths and the drying room are formed in one body, so that the above-mentioned chemical process and drying process are carried out in one chamber. FIG. 1 shows one example of the cleaning apparatuses in the publications, representatively.
The shown cleaning apparatus comprises a chamber 200 and chemical (liquid) 202 stored in a lower portion 201 of the chamber 200. In processing, a wafer W is firstly immersed in the chemical 202. Thereafter, the wafer W is pulled up from the chemical 202 and then subjected to the drying process using the IPA etc. at an upper portion 203 of the chamber 200.
In the above-mentioned drying process while heating, however, there is a possibility that chemical atmosphere remaining in an upper area of the chamber 200 exerts a bad influence on the wafer W during the drying process. Furthermore, since there is a need to meet respective requirements of the chemical and drying processes simultaneously, the degree of freedom is restricted in design of the cleaning apparatus. Therefore, it is difficult to adopt various ideas to realize a high-speed cleaning process, a miniaturization of the chamber and so on. Meanwhile, in the drying process using the above IPA etc., it is generally executed to decompress the chamber by using a vacuum pump or the like. However, since the chamber in the cleaning apparatus constructed above, in which the chemical treatment etc. and the sequent drying process are executed together, has to have a large capacity volume to a certain extent, there are problems to be solved that it is necessary to increase a wall thickness of the chamber in order to ensure the pressure tightness and a high power vacuum pump is also required.
Accordingly, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning apparatus and a cleaning method, by which an object to be processed is not subjected to a bad influence from the chemical process during the drying process.
It is the other object of the present invention to provide a cleaning apparatus which has a high degree of freedom in design thereby to clean the objects rapidly and miniaturize the apparatus itself, and a cleaning method realized by using the cleaning apparatus.
It is the further object of the present invention to provide a cleaning apparatus which is capable of reducing a capacity of the chamber thereby to decrease a wall thickness of the chamber and an output required for the vacuum pump, and a cleaning method realized by using the cleaning apparatus.
It is the other object of the present invention to provide a cleaning apparatus and a cleaning method, by which it is possible to execute the drying process more effectively.
It is the other object of the present invention to provide a cleaning apparatus which is capable of preventing an occurrence of water marks on surfaces of the object.
It is the other object of the present invention to provide a cleaning apparatus in which a processing bath and a drying section are separated from each other thereby to prevent mist etc. of treatment liquids from entering into a drying chamber thereby to accomplish a stable drying performance of the apparatus, and a cleaning method realized by using the cleaning apparatus.
As a first feature of the present invention, the above-mentioned mentioned objects described above can be accomplished by a cleaning apparatus for cleaning an object to be processed, the apparatus comprising:
a processing bath for storing processing liquid in which the object is immersed;
a drying chamber arranged above the processing bath and provided with an opening which is disposed between a body of the drying chamber and the processing bath and through which the object is transported, the opening being capable of closing;
transporting means for transporting the object between the processing bath and the drying chamber through the opening;
introducing means for introducing inert gas into the drying chamber in order to prevent an atmosphere in the processing bath from moving to the drying chamber; and
filling means for filling the drying chamber with an atmosphere of organic solvent.
As a second feature of the present invention, the above-mentioned objects described above can be also accomplished by a cleaning apparatus for cleaning an object to be processed, the apparatus comprising:
a processing bath for storing processing liquid in which the object is immersed;
a drying chamber arranged above the processing bath and provided with an opening which is disposed between a body of the drying chamber and the processing bath and through which the object is transported, the opening being capable of closing;
transporting means for transporting the object between the processing bath and the drying chamber through the opening;
screening means for screening the opening by a current of inert gas; and
filling means for filling the drying chamber with an atmosphere of organic solvent.
As a third feature or the present invention, the above-mentioned objects described above can be also accomplished by a cleaning apparatus for cleaning an object to be processed, the apparatus comprising:
a processing bath for storing processing liquid in which the object is immersed;
a drying chamber arranged above the processing bath and provided with an opening which is disposed between a body of the drying chamber and the processing bath and through which the object is transported, the opening being capable of closing;
transporting means for transporting the object between the processing bath and the drying chamber through the opening;
filling means for filling the drying chamber with an atmosphere of organic solvent; and
screening means for screening the opening by a current of inert gas;
wherein the screening means includes a pair of first and second doors arranged so as to open and close the opening, the first door having a leading end formed to oppose the second door and provided with an exhaust port for discharging inert gas, the second door having a leading end formed to oppose the first door and provided with an intake port for the inert gas, whereby a current of the inert gas is formed between the leading end of the first door and the leading end of the second door, for screening the opening since the inert gas discharged from the exhaust port of the first door is sucked through the intake port of the second door, in a closing state of the first and second doors.
A fourth feature of the present invention resides in the cleaning apparatus in accordance with any one of the first feature to the third feature, further comprising open and shut means for opening and shutting the opening, alternatively.
A fifth feature of the present invention resides in the cleaning apparatus in accordance with any one of the first feature to the third feature, further comprises open and shut means for alternatively opening and shutting the opening, the first open and shut means in a shutting state thereof also sealing the drying member of the first open and shut means.
A sixth feature of the present invention resides in the cleaning apparatus in accordance with the fifth feature, wherein the filling means includes a nozzle for ejecting gas containing the organic solvent into the drying chamber, the nozzle consisting of at least two inside and outside pipes of different diameters, which engage with each other so that respective circumferential faces thereof are apart from each other; and
wherein the inside pipe is provided, in an axial direction thereof, with a plurality of gas outlets at intervals of a predetermined distance, while the outside pipe is provided, in an axial direction thereof, with a plurality of gas outlets at intervals of a length shorter than the predetermined distance.
As a seventh feature of the present invention, the above objects can be also accomplished by a cleaning method of cleaning an object to be processed, the cleaning method comprising the steps of:
(a) transporting the object before processing from a drying chamber into a processing bath through a lower opening formed in the drying chamber while retaining the object by a retaining member carried on the drying chamber""side;
(b) storing processing liquid in the processing bath before or after transporting the object before processing from drying chamber into the processing bath and subsequently immersing the object in the processing liquid;
(c) transporting the object after processing from the processing bath into the drying chamber; and
(d) filling the drying chamber with an atmosphere of organic solvent and drying the object after processing in the drying chamber.
An eighth feature of the present invention resides in the cleaning method in accordance with the seventh feature, further comprising a step of closing the opening after transporting the object after processing to the drying chamber.
A ninth feature of the present invention resides in the cleaning method in accordance with the seventh or eighth feature, further comprising a step of replacing an atmosphere in the drying chamber with inert gas, before bringing the object before processing from outside into the drying chamber.
A tenth feature of the present invention resides in the cleaning method in accordance with the seventh or eighth feature, further comprising a step of replacing an atmosphere in the drying chamber with inert gas while exhausting an atmosphere in the drying chamber, before bringing the object before processing from outside into the drying chamber.
An eleventh feature of the present invention resides in the cleaning method in accordance with the seventh or eighth feature, further comprising a step of replacing an atmosphere in the drying chamber with inert gas while exhausting an atmosphere in the drying chamber, before filling the drying chamber with the atmosphere of organic solvent.
A twelfth feature of the present invention resides in the cleaning method in accordance with the seventh or eighth feature, after executing the step (d), further comprising a step of introducing inert gas into the drying chamber for recovering the drying chamber of an atmospheric pressure while decompressing the drying chamber, wherein the supply of inert gas during the recover of the drying chamber of an atmospheric pressure is controlled so that a supply volume of the inert gas per unit time increases as time passes.
A thirteenth feature of the present invention resides in the cleaning method in accordance with the seventh or eighth feature, wherein the step (b) comprises the steps of:
executing chemical cleaning of the object;
executing water cleaning of the object; and
executing ozone cleaning of the object after the water cleaning.
A fourteenth feature of the present invention resides in the cleaning method in accordance with the thirteenth feature, wherein the step (b) further comprises a step of executing additional water cleaning of the object after the ozone cleaning.
According to the first feature of the invention, owing to the current of inert gas directing from the drying chamber toward the opening, it is possible to prevent the entering of chemicals from the processing bath to the drying chamber. Further, since the forthcoming process in the next processing bath can be prepared while the drying process is executed, it is possible to improve throughput of the cleaning apparatus. Additionally, since the arrangement allows the drying chamber and the processing bath to be designed under respective conditions independent of each other, it is possible to optimize the cleaning process and further miniaturize the cleaning apparatus because of the enhanced degree of freedom in the process design. Moreover, since the above-mentioned arrangement allows the volume of the drying chamber to be reduced, it is possible to reduce the wall thickness of the drying chamber and the processing bath when it is required to decompress the drying chamber while filling up with the atmosphere of the organic solvent. In addition, it is possible to make the decompression with the low-powered vacuum pump.
According to the second feature to the fourth feature of the invention, owing to the provision of the screening means for screening the opening by the current layer of inert gas, it is possible to screen the processing bath from the drying chamber at the chemical processing for the object, so that the entering of chemicals from the processing bath to the drying chamber can be prevented.
According to the third feature of the invention, when closing the opening by the first and second doors, the clearance between the first and second doors can be screened by the flow of inert gas. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent an invasion of the chemical atmosphere from the processing bath to the drying chamber, furthermore.
According to the fourth feature of the invention, by the open and shut means for opening and shutting the opening of the drying chamber, it is possible to screen the drying chamber from the processing bath at the time of drying the object, so that the object during the drying process is hardly subjected to bad influences derived from the chemicals in the processing bath.
According to the fifth feature of the invention, by separating the drying member from the processing bath in a leak-tight manner at the time of drying the object, the object during the drying process is not subjected to the bad influences derived from the chemicals in the processing bath.
Meanwhile, if gas is introduced into a pipe through an end thereof and then ejected into the drying chamber through gas outlets provided along an axial direction of the pipe, there would be caused a tendency that the closer the gas outlet approaches the other end of the pipe, the less a volume of gas ejected from the gas outlet becomes. Further, in case of ejecting heated gas, there is a tendency that the closer the gas outlet approaches the other end of the pipe, the lower a temperature of gas ejected from the gas outlet gets. According to the sixth feature of the invention, since respective gas flows ejected through a small number of gas outlets on the inside pipe are once joined in a space defined between the inside pipe and the outside pipe and then supplied into the drying chamber through the gas outlets on the outside pipe, it is possible to reduce the differences in volume and temperature of the ejected gas among the gas outlets furthermore.
According to the cleaning method as the seventh feature of the invention, since the drying chamber is separated from the processing bath, the forthcoming process in the next processing bath can be prepared while the drying process is executed, so that the throughput of the cleaning apparatus can be improved. Additionally, since the arrangement allows the drying chamber and the processing bath to be designed under respective conditions independent of each other, it is possible to optimize the cleaning process and further miniaturize the cleaning apparatus because of the enhanced degree of freedom in the process design. Moreover, since the above-mentioned arrangement allows the volume of the drying chamber to be reduced, it is possible to reduce the wall thickness of the drying chamber and the processing bath when it is required to decompress the drying chamber while filling up with the atmosphere of the organic solvent. In addition, it is possible to make the decompression with the low-powered vacuum pump.
According to the eighth feature of the invention, it is possible to screen the drying chamber from the processing bath at the time of drying the object, so that the object during the drying process is hardly subjected to bad influences derived from the chemicals in the processing bath.
According to the ninth feature of the invention, if only the atmosphere of the drying chamber is replaced with predetermined inert gas prior to the loading of the object into the drying chamber, it is possible to lighten contact between oxygen and the object during its movement from the preceding process chamber up to the present cleaning apparatus and to restrict the natural growth of an oxide film. Moreover, as the replacement of inert gas to be executed again during the cleaning of the object can be started from a state having a lower oxygen concentration than that of the air outside, it is possible to shorten time required for lowering the concentration of oxygen to its permissible value remarkably.
According to the tenth and eleventh features of the invention, by supplying the inert gas in the drying chamber while exhausting it, it is possible to enhance an efficiency in replacing the atmosphere in the drying chamber with the inert gas.
According to the twelfth feature of the invention, it is possible to prevent particles on the inner wall of the drying chamber from flying up by the inert gas flows introduced thereinto and sticking on the object after cleaning or drying.
According to the thirteenth feature of the invention, by applying the ozone cleaning for forming a thin oxide film on the object after its chemical and water cleaning, it is possible to prevent an occurrence of water marks on a surface of the object.
The above and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent, and the invention itself will best be understood, from a study of the following description and appended claims, with reference had to the attached drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Apparatus for and method of cleaning object to be processed


A container and sealing closure therefor, includes a container body part having an access opening and includes a continuous peripheral wall surrounding the access opening, and a closure part. The wall of the body part has a peripherally extending continuous sealing edge portion at its upper outer surface, the edge portion being coextensive with the wall. The closure part has a resilient skirt portion. The sealing edge portion of the wall of the container part has a sharp apex forming an included angle of substantially 90 degrees. The skirt portion of the closure part is adapted to mate in spaced relation, with the peripheral wall of the container part and has an inner surface which extends obliquely with respect to the peripheral wall of the body part and which is adapted to engage the apex. There are provided coengaging structural elements on the container body and closure parts, holding the resilient skirt portion of the closure part forcibly against the apex as the closure part is advanced against the container body part to a sealing, closed position thereon.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to containers for cosmetic substances and the like, and more particularly to articles of this type which are intended to provide an air-tight or hermetic seal between a container body and a lid or cover member therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed under 37 CFR Sections 1.97-1.99
The following patents are cited as being of interest in the field to which the present invention pertains.
U.S. Pat. Nos.:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,117,691 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 3,149,747 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,165 PA1 Canadian Patent No. 2,047,926 PA1 British Patent No. 725,882 PA1 British Published Application No. GB 2 100 239A PA1 Japanese Published Application No. 6-144453 PA1 European Published Application No. EP 478 848 A1
U.S. Pat. No. 3,117,691 relates to a container in the form of a vial constituted of HDPE, having on its lip an annular groove (18) with an undercut or shoulder (13). The vial is fitted with a closure cap having an external bead with an undercut shoulder (14), and with a conical lead-in surface (19) on the shoulder so as to facilitate assembly of the cap. Forcible by-pass of the bead and shoulder effects a seating of the edge of the cap into the groove. Sealing is purportedly effected by the engagement of a corner of the bead (14) with a conical surface of the shoulder, as noted in col. 2, line 48 of the patent specification.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,149,747 relates to a retainer construction for releasably joining plastic sheets, utilizing various types of tongue and groove formations, and wherein the respective tongue portions are provided with suitable enlargements or beads so as to enable a snap fit of the tongue portions into the respective groove portions. The use of different plastics is discussed, col. 3, beginning at line 15.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,165 involves a container for storage and shipping of photographic film. FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) illustrate one embodiment wherein a lid (5) is provided with a downwardly facing peripheral groove having an undercut, and is receivable on the lip of a container. The lip in turn, has an enlargement or bead defining a cooperable undercut which can be received in the groove and brought into engagement with the surface of the undercut thereof. The resultant construction is alleged to have sealing characteristics, as noted in col. 3, line 54 of the patent specification.
Still other containers are shown in British Patent No. 725,882 and British Published Application No. GB 2 100 239A.
British Patent No. 725,882 discloses a jar having a lip with an external bead, and a lid having a peripheral groove with an undercut. Assembly of the lid to the jar results in seating of the bead against the undercut surface of the lid groove. British Application No. GB 2 100 239A discloses a container construction utilizing a safety interlock connection effected by cooperable beads on the lid and on the outer wall of a groove of the container lip, the interlock purportedly minimizing the likelihood of the lid being dislodged as a result of internal pressure in the container. Forcible by-pass of the interlocking beads is required during both application and removal of the lid.
Canadian Patent No. 2,047,926 discloses a container/closure construction wherein the lip of the container is provided with an outwardly-facing retainer bead, and the closure lid has a depending skirt with an inwardly facing bead that can by-pass the lip bead when the closure is assembled. An inner depending skirt on the closure is telescopically received in the bore of the neck, to provide a seal of the container interior.
Japanese Published Application No. 6-144453 discloses a method of blow molding a container and simultaneously affixing it to an existing molded closure cap. In accomplishing this, the lip of the container is formed in and occupies a peripheral groove in the closure cap. The latter has various layers of resin incorporated therein, believed to isolate the molded cap from potentially damaging heat transfer that would otherwise occur from the contact of the cap by the molten plastic of the container.
European Published Application No. EP 478 848 A1 relates to a container and closure, wherein the closure and container neck have cooperable bead-and-groove formations which effect a retention of the closure on the container.
One of the problems in the molded plastic container art is that the material must be sufficiently rigid so as to retain the shape and strength of the individual parts, whereby inadvertent distortion of either the container itself or the cap, is minimized. The material must be of sufficient rigidity to avoid being crushed when packaged, and during shipping and storage. At the same time, where it is desired to rely upon a plastic-to-plastic seal between a container lip and a closure cap, some degree of deformation is necessary as a consequence of less than ideal tolerances in the dimensions of the container and cap. Prior efforts to achieve effective seals have, to a large extent, resulted in compromises in the choice of materials, and the particular molded structures utilized for engagement with one another.
In container constructions characterized by relatively large areas of engagement between a lip portion and a closure cap portion, it is generally recognized that gaps tend to develop between the mating surfaces, in spite of the best efforts to avoid them. Stated differently, the absolute contact pressure from one point in a large surface to an adjoining point or to a remote point, is not uniform, in practice. Instead, "high" spots tend to press against each other, and "low" spots tend to become separated from one another. This characteristic is particularly in evidence when sealing a hinged cosmetic compact where cooperating surfaces of the cover and base are held together tightly only at the hinge and clasp; other points of contact are free to gap or bow. It is considered very difficult from a practical standpoint, to reduce this tendency for high and low spots to occur. This is especially true with molded plastic products because of any unpredictable shrinkage which occurs as the plastic cures.
Also, in attempting to provide a rigid container structure, the plastic which is used often lacks the necessary resilience, thereby sacrificing the integrity of any seal that is sought. A rubber gasket is a good example of a resilient article which has the required elastic and memory characteristics to deform and compress as required, when sandwiched between two otherwise rigid components such as a glass jar and a metal lid. Rubber, however, is generally unsuitable as far as possible utilization in the fabrication of containers (compacts, jars) and closures of the type with which the present invention is concerned.

Hermetically-sealed container and closure construction


A solenoid operated pneumatic valve comprises a mechanical latch device movable between three positions, a disabled position, in which an outlet port is connected to exhaust, an enabled position, in which the valve operates normally, and an override position in which the outlet port is connected to a supply of compressed air.

Conventionally glass container manufacturing machines, as for example the well known I.S. or individual section machine, comprise a number of pneumatically operated mechanisms. Such mechanisms are controlled by numbers of pneumatic operating valves, and conventionally these pneumatic operating valves are arranged in a valve block and are caused to operate by pilot air provided from solenoid operated pneumatic pilot valves in the valve block.
Known solenoid operated pneumatic pilot valves comprise a manual override which, when operated, moves the pilot valve into an open condition and holds it there, overriding electrical actuation of the solenoid, thus ensuring that the associated operating valve is supplied with pilot air and is held in an activated position and the mechanisms thus supplied with compressed air whatever electrical signal is sent to the pilot valve. This is frequently necessary if a mechanism is to be adjusted or repaired. However, if it is desirable to ensure that the mechanism is not supplied with compressed air, should that be the appropriate condition for adjustment or repair, this cannot be achieved through the pilot valve but instead a physical interruption by way of a stop cock must be made in the supply of air to the operating valve. This physical interruption can be time consuming and difficult on occasion depending on the location and accessibility of the stop cock.
It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a pneumatic valve suitable for use as a pilot valve which may be mechanically locked in both a position in which it supplies air and in a position in which it does not supply air.


A tablet composition containing 2% to 100% by weight of amorphous crystalline or partly crystalline layer-form sodium silicates corresponding to the formula Na.sub.2 Si.sub.x --O.sub.2x+1.yH.sub.2 O wherein x is a number of 1.9 to 4 and y is a number of 0 to 20, with the proviso that the tablet composition only contains water in a quantity such that the maximum theoretical water-binding capacity of the components of the composition is not exceeded.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to tablets, preferably washing- or cleaning-active tablets, more particularly detergent tablets or compounds in tabletted form for detergents, which contain silicate-based builders.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Detergent tablets have a number of advantages over detergent powders, including simple dosing and minimal packaging volume. However, problems arise out of the fact that, to achieve adequate dimensional stability and breaking strength, relatively high pressures have to be applied during the tabletting of the powder-form components. In view of their high compaction, corresponding tablets often show unsatisfactory disintegrating and dissolving properties in use. Further difficulties arise out of the presence of nonionic surfactants. According to the teaching of the International patent application WO-A-90102165, these problems can be solved if at least two granular components are produced before tabletting, most of the anionic surfactants being present in one component and most of the nonionic surfactants being present in the other component. The component containing the anionic surfactants preferably contains up to 20% by weight of anionic surfactants, including soaps, up to 30% by weight of water-containing zeolite, up to 40% by weight of inorganic salts, such as amorphous silicates and carbonates, up to 5% by weight of polycarboxylates, up to 20% by weight of sulfate and up to at most 5% by weight of water which is not fixed to the zeolite. The last three items apply equally to the second component which, in a preferred embodiment, additionally contains up to 15% by weight of nonionic surfactants, up to 20% by weight of water-containing zeolite and up to 10% by weight of soda. Other components, for example containing bleaching agents and/or enzymes, are also optionally present.
Crystalline layer-form sodium silicates having the formula NaMSi.sub.x O.sub.2x+1.yH.sub.2 O, where M is sodium or hydrogen, x is a number of 1.9 to 4 and y is a number of 0 to 20, preferred values for x being 2, 3 or 4, can replace phosphates and zeolites. Corresponding crystalline layer silicates are described, for example, in European patent application EP-A-0 164 514. Preferred crystalline layer silicates are those in which M stands for sodium and x assumes a value of 2 or 3. Both .beta.- and .delta.-sodium disilicates Na.sub.2 Si.sub.2 O.sub.5.yH.sub.2 O are particularly preferred, .beta.-sodium disilicate being obtainable, for example, by the process described in International patent application WO-A-91/08171. .beta.-Sodium disilicate is commercially available under the name of SKS 7.RTM. while .delta.-sodium disilicate is commercially available under the name of SKS 6.RTM. (both products of Hoechst AG, Federal Republic of Germany). These powders generally have an apparent density below 600 g/l and large fine-particle components, normally of more than 30% by weight, with a particle size below 0.1 mm. Since crystalline layer silicates undergo losses in their effect as builders during the spray drying of detergent-containing slurries, presumably as a result of the partial destruction of their crystalline structure, they should preferably be incorporated in detergents or cleaning formulations by other methods. However, in view of their large fine-particle component and hence their dust-like structure, these powders are also unsuitable for use as a component to be mixed with other granular components of detergents. In the granulation of crystalline layer-form sodium silicates, damage can be caused to equipment on account of the highly abrasive properties of these silicates. This means on the one hand that process safety is endangered and additional inspections of the mixing and granulating tools are necessary and, on the other hand, that the silicate-based product can be contaminated with traces of metals, especially heavy metals, through the erosion of material. It is desirable for ecological reasons to keep the contamination of the end product to a minimum. In addition, it is known to the expert that, for example, the stability of peroxy bleaching agents is adversely affected by heavy metals.
Although amorphous alkali metal silicates, more especially those with a molar M.sub.2 O:SiO.sub.2 ratio of 1:1.9 to 1:4.0, where M is preferably sodium and/or potassium, can generally be spray-dried, the expert knows that the spray drying of slurries containing zeolite in addition to the amorphous silicates can be accompanied by negative interactions so that the exchange capacity of the zeolite is reduced and deposits can form on the washing from which they are difficult to remove. By contrast, granules with a high percentage content of amorphous silicates or pure spray-dried or granulated amorphous silicates are hygroscopic so that they have to be specially protected against atmospheric moisture in storage.
Accordingly, a first problem addressed by the invention was to provide an advantageous form of presentation for products containing amorphous and/or crystalline silicates. In this connection, both process safety and the stability of the other constituents present, if any, would be increased, in addition to which the builder properties would remain intact. Another problem addressed by the invention was to provide builder-containing formulations which would be sufficiently soluble or dispersible for the application envisaged.
According to the invention, these problems have been solved by a formulation with a relatively small specific surface which can be produced with a low water content.


Disclosed herein are an illumination unit and an illumination system. The illumination unit includes a first reflector, a second reflector, a light source module arranged between the first reflector and the second reflector, and a supporting member for supporting the second reflector. The supporting member includes first and second inclined surfaces arranged adjacent to each other at opposite sides of an inflection point. The supporting member has a distance of 15 to 50 mm between a first horizontal line horizontally passing through the inflection point and a second horizontal line horizontally passing through an end of the first inclined surface or an end of the second inclined surface. The supporting member includes projections having asymmetrical side surfaces opposing each other. The height ratio between the side surfaces of the supporting member is 1:1.01 to 80 or 1.01 to 80:1.

Generally, representative large-scale display apparatuses include liquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasma display panels (PDPs), etc.
Unlike self-luminous type PDPs, LCDs require a separate illumination unit because there is no light emitting element equipped in such an LCD.
Illumination units for use in LCDs are classified into edge type illumination units and direct type illumination units according to positions of light sources. In an edge type illumination unit, light sources are arranged at left and right edges or upper and lower edges of an LCD panel, and a light guide plate is provided to uniformly distribute light throughout a surface of the LCD panel. Such an edge type illumination unit ensures enhanced light uniformity and enables production of an extremely thin display panel.
A direct type illumination unit is generally applied to displays of 20 inches or more. The direct type illumination unit advantageously has greater light efficiency than the edge type illumination unit by virtue of a plurality of light sources arranged below a panel. Accordingly, such a direct type illumination unit is mainly used in a large-scale display requiring high brightness.
Conventional edge type or direct type illumination units use cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) as light sources thereof.
Such illumination units, which use CCFLs, however, have several disadvantages, such as consumption of a great quantity of electric power because voltage should always be applied to the CCFLs, low color reproduction efficiency (about 70% that of a cathode ray tube (CRT)), and environmental pollution caused by use of mercury.
Currently, research is being conducted into illumination units using light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a solution to the above described problems.
In the case of illumination units using LEDs, turning on or off a part of an LED array is possible, so that it may be possible to achieve remarkable reduction in power consumption. In particular, RGB LEDs exhibit color reproduction exceeding a color reproduction range of 100% specified by the National Television System Committee (NTSC) and can provide more vivid images to consumers.

Illumination unit and illumination system using the same


A two-stroke internal combustion engine including a cylinder; and a piston movably mounted in the cylinder. The cylinder includes an exhaust port and transfer ports. The transfer ports include a first pair of the transfer ports disposed closer to the exhaust port than a second pair of the transfer ports which are disposed further away from the exhaust port. The first pair of transfer ports are angled relative to each other at a first angle of about 70° to about 85° and the second pair of transfer ports are angled relative to each other at a second angle of about 120° to about 150°. Directional discharge of scavenged air out of the transfer ports 10 establishes a flow path for the scavenged air to minimize losses of the fresh unburned fuel into the exhaust port.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to internal combustion engines and, more particularly to a transfer system.
2. Background Art
U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,432 discloses a two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine which has a quaternary Schnurle-type scavenging system that is configured such that the capacity of a pair of second scavenging passageways are made larger than te capacity of a pair of first scavenging passageways, so that during the descending stroke of the piston, air is allowed to be introduced into the combustion actuation chamber from the second scavenging passageways prior to the introduction of the air-fuel mixture and at the same time, a relatively large quantity of air is allowed to be introduced into the combustion actuating chamber from the first scavenging passageways over a longer period of time as compared with the period of time in which air is introduced from the second scavenging passageways.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,705 discloses a two-stroke internal combustion engine having a Schnurle scavenging system includes a pair of first scavenging ports and a pair of second scavenging ports. An inner horizontal scavenging angle formed close to an exhaust port and an outer horizontal scavenging angle formed remote from the exhaust port by a pair of scavenging flows blown out of the pair of the first scavenging ports are both set to an angle in the range of from 116 to 124 degrees. An inner horizontal scavenging angle formed close to the exhaust port and an outer horizontal scavenging angle formed remote from the exhaust port by a pair of scavenging flows blown out of the pair of the second scavenging ports are set to angles in the ranges of rom 126 to 135 degrees and from 146 to 154 degrees, respectively.
Because of increasing government pollution emissions standards, there is a continuing need to lower engine emissions in two-stroke engines. One of the sources of emission problems has been the discharge of unburned hydrocarbons due to short circuiting of fuel out of an exhaust port during an upward stroke of the piston before the exhaust port is closed. Thus, there is a need to minimize the loss of fresh, short circuit fuel exiting out of the exhaust. This minimization can result in lower hydrocarbon emissions and higher fuel economy.