A nonvolatile memory cell includes a floating gate; a programming region, having a first current path to the floating gate, for programming by providing charge carriers to the floating gate through the first current path or extracting charge carriers stored in the floating gate; and a verification region, having a second current path separated from the first current path, for verifying the charge amount of the floating gate through the second current path during programming.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nonvolatile memory and a method of programming the nonvolatile memory.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, for nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices for mass storage media such as EEPROM and flash EEPROM, the drawback that is the most difficult to overcome is the high cost-per-bit of the memories. In order to solve such a problem, studies on multibit cell have been recently proposed.
The packing density of a conventional nonvolatile memory corresponds in a one to one fashion to the number of memory cells. A multibit cell stores data of over two bits in one memory cell, thus enhancing the density of data on the same chip area without reducing the size of the memory cell.
For the multibit cell, more than three threshold voltage levels should be programmed on respective memory cells. For instance, in order to store data of two bits for every cell, the respective cells must be programmed in 2.sup.2, that is, four, threshold levels. Here, the four threshold levels correspond to logic states 00, 01, 10, and 11, respectively.
In the multi-level program, the most critical problem is that the respective threshold voltage levels have a statistical distribution. The distribution value is about 0.5 V.
As distribution is reduced by precisely adjusting the respective threshold levels, more levels can be programmed, which in turn increases the number of bits for every cell. To reduce the voltage distribution, there exists a method of programming using repeated programming and verification.
According to this method, a series of voltage pulses are applied to the cells in order to program the nonvolatile memory cell at intended threshold levels. To verify whether a cell reaches an intended threshold level, a read operation is performed between the respective programming voltage pulses.
During verification, when the verified threshold level reaches the intended threshold level, programming stops. For this method of repeated programming and verification, it is hard to reduce the error distribution of the threshold level due to the limited pulse width of a program voltage. In addition, the algorithm of repeated programming and verification is implemented with an additional circuit, which increases the area of peripheral circuits of the chip. Furthermore, the repetitive method prolongs the programming time. In order to solve such a drawback, R. Cernea of SunDisk Co., Ltd. suggested a method of simultaneous programming and verification.
FIG. 1A illustrates the symbol and circuit diagram of the nonvolatile memory proposed by Cernea. As shown in FIG. 1A, the nonvolatile memory cell is composed of a control gate 1, floating gate 2, source 3, channel area 4, and drain 5.
When voltages sufficient to cause programming are applied to control gate 1 and drain 5, a current flows between drain 5 and source 3. This current is compared to a reference current and when the current reaches a value equal to or smaller than the reference current, a programming completion signal is produced.
The above-mentioned procedure is illustrated in FIG. 1B. According to this prior art, verification is automatically performed at the same time as programming, which compensates for the drawbacks of the repetitive method in which programming and verification are repeated in succession.
However, in Cerneal's method, a program gate for programming is not used separately. Further, this method does not use a structure in which a programming current path and sensing (or verifying) current path are completely separated. For this reason, in Cernea's method, programming and sensing are difficult to optimize individually. The programming current and monitoring current are not separated so that the cell's threshold voltages are difficult to control and adjust directly. Conventionally, however, multi-level programming has been performed in such a manner that the voltages applied to the respective parts of a memory cell are fixed, and reference currents corresponding to the respective levels are varied. In this method, as shown in FIG. 1B, reference currents for detection have no explicit relation with the cell threshold voltages, and are not linear with them.
The cell structure of an EEPROM or a flash EEPROM is roughly divided into two parts, depending upon where the floating gate is placed on the channel area. The first structure is a simple-stacked gate structure in which the floating gate completely covers the cell channel area. The second one is a split-channel structure in which the floating gate covers only part of the channel area between the source and drain.
In the channel area, a portion where the floating gate is not present is called a transfer transistor, which is introduced to eliminate over-erasure problem. The split-channel cell is undesirably larger than the simple-stacked gate structure.
Another classification type of flash EEPROM depends on whether a double polysilicon gate or triple polysilicon gate is used. The double polysilicon gate is usually employed in the simple-stacked structure. The triple polysilicon gate is used in the split-channel cell. The EEPROM or flash EEPROM memory cells are disclosed in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,318. Conventionally, the third gate in the triple polysilicon gate is an erasing gate used merely for data erasure. In the flash EEPROM, erasure is performed in units of blocks made up of a plurality of cells.
FIG. 2A is a diagram of a conventional nonvolatile memory cell having a simple-stacked gate. FIG. 2B is a diagram of a conventional nonvolatile memory cell having a split-channel structure. FIGS. 2A and 2B show programming and erasing processes as well as the structure of the conventional nonvolatile memory cells.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the conventional stacked gate memory cell includes a control gate 6, a floating gate 7, a source 8, a drain 9, a channel area 10, and an erasing gate 11. As shown in FIG. 2B, the conventional split channel memory cell includes a control gate 13, a floating gate 14, a source 15, a drain 16, a channel area 17, and an erasing gate 18.
In FIGS. 2A and.2B, erasing gates 11 and 18 are not required for programming. Therefore, during programming, the conventional cells of FIGS. 2A and 2B have substantially the same structure as the double polysilicon gate.
In the prior art, programming is carried out only with the control gate, source, and/or drain electrodes so that it is difficult to separate the program current path and verification (sensing) current path within the memory cell for simultaneous programming and verification. Accordingly, it is difficult to control the multi-levels directly and effectively.

Nonvolatile memory and method of programming the same


A method for preparing and printing adhesively-backed notes includes several steps. A divisible note assembly for printing in a laser or ink-jet printer or photocopier is first prepared. The note assembly has a divisible backing sheet and a divisible note paper sheet having a pressure sensitive adhesive coating thereon. The assembly is divided into at least two subsections by perforations extending through both the note paper sheet and the backing sheet. The user prints onto one or more notes with a laser or ink-jet printer or a photocopier. The user may separate one or more subsections from the assembly either before or after printing. If separated before printing, the user may print on less than the full assembly and may save the remainder of the assembly for later use. After printing, the user removes the backing sheet from the subsection and applies the note paper to a substrate. Each note may have an adhesive stripe on the back thereof, with the backing sheet being a strip that covers the adhesive stripe but which is not fully coextensive with the note paper sheet.

Laser printers and ink jet printers have spawned a wide variety of options for personal printing that have not existed previously. A personal computer user can now prepare text on a word processing program and print the text directly onto sheets that pass through the laser or ink jet printer. Such sheets may consist of paper, labels applied to a backing sheet, card stock and a variety of other materials. The sheets may have a variety of different dimensions and can usually be fed into the laser or ink jet printer through a standard paper tray.
One way in which secretaries, in particular, have used laser and ink jet printers has been to print reminder notes and telephone messages on full-sized sheets of paper. A secretary will often post such a note on a surface for someone else to see, such as on a file or on a computer screen. To hold the note in place, the secretary will often use a clip or tape.
This approach has at least two drawbacks that become apparent in every day use. First, the secretary frequently does not really need to print on a full sheet of paper, particularly for brief messages. A smaller sheet of paper would be usually provide sufficient space for a message, and paper is wasted when a full sheet is used.
Secondly, the secretary must have tape or a clip nearby in order to attach the sheet to the desired surface. If the secretary is out of tape or clips and the sheet is not attached to a surface or file, the sheet may get lost and the message never delivered.
With the introduction of adjustable manual feed guides such as those found on the Hewlett Packard LaserJet II, III and IV laser printers and other printers, users may now print on sheets smaller than the typical 81/2.times.11 inch full sheet size. For example, many laser printers may print sheets that are as small as 4 inches long and 3 inches wide. However, to print message notes smaller than a full sheet, the user typically must cut full-sized sheets down to size. Even then, the user must have tape or clips nearby in order to post the message notes.


A solid-state image pickup device relating to the present invention comprises a pixel area where multiple pixels used for photoelectric conversion of incident light are two-dimensionally arranged. Vertical signal input lines to which vertical transfer signals for transferring signal charges generated at the pixels vertically in the pixel area are applied are connected to the pixel area. Furthermore, horizontal signal input lines to which horizontal transfer signals for horizontally transferring the signal charges are applied are connected to a horizontal transfer part for horizontally transferring the signal charges transferred vertically in the pixel area. A signal separation part separates vertical and horizontal transfer signals from a pulse signal supplied via a complex signal input terminal and supplies the separated signals to the vertical signal input line and the horizontal signal input line, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid-state image pickup device applicable to integrated video cameras and digital still cameras and a drive method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, solid-state image pickup devices have been extensively used in the image pickup part of integrated video cameras. Particularly, CCD (charge coupled device) solid-state image pickup devices having excellent noise properties have been extensively used (for example, reference Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. H04-180265).
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plane view showing a structure of a prior art solid-state image pickup device. As shown in FIG. 3, prior art solid-state image pickup device 100 comprises a pixel area 2 where received light is converted to electric signals through photoelectric conversion. Multiple pixels are two-dimensionally arranged in the pixel area 2. Each pixel has a photodiode generating signal charge according to incident light. Furthermore, multiple a vertical transfer parts (vertical CCDs) for vertically transferring (the up-and-down direction in FIG. 3) signal charges generated at the pixels are provided in the pixel area 2. Here, the vertical transfer parts are of a four-phase drive type wherein first to fourth charge transfer electrodes to which drive signals (vertical transfer signals) different from each other are applied are repeatedly provided.
A horizontal transfer part (horizontal CCD) 3 for horizontally (the transversal direction in FIG. 3) transferring the signal charges transferred vertically in the pixel area 2 by the vertical transfer part is placed in juxtaposition with the pixel area 2. Here, the horizontal transfer part 3 is of a two-phase drive type wherein fifth and sixth charge transfer electrodes to which drive signals (horizontal transfer signals) different from each other are applied are repeatedly provided. The signal charges horizontally transferred by the horizontal transfer part 3 are supplied to an amplifier constituting a signal output part 4 in sequence and output as image signals via an output terminal 5.
A first vertical signal input line 6, a second vertical signal input line 7, a third vertical signal input line 8, and a fourth vertical signal input line 9 are connected to the pixel area 2. The vertical signal input lines 6 to 9 are connected to first to the fourth charge transfer electrodes constituting the vertical transfer part, respectively. A first vertical signal input terminal 10, a second vertical signal input terminal 11, a third vertical signal input terminal 12, and a fourth vertical signal input terminal 13 are connected to the vertical signal input lines 6 to 9, respectively. Vertical transfer signals for transferring signal charges vertically in the pixel area 2 are applied to the first to fourth charge transfer electrodes via the vertical signal input terminals 10 to 13.
Furthermore, a first horizontal signal input line 14 and a second horizontal signal input line 15 are connected to the horizontal transfer part 3. The horizontal signal input lines 14 and 15 are connected to the fifth and sixth charge transfer electrodes constituting the horizontal transfer part 3, respectively. A first horizontal signal input terminal 21 and a second horizontal signal input terminal 22 are connected to the horizontal signal input lines 14 and 15, respectively. Horizontal transfer signals for horizontally transferring the signal charges are applied to the horizontal transfer part 3 via the horizontal signal input terminals 21 and 22. The solid-state image pickup device 100 further comprises a power terminal 24 to which a power supply voltage driving the signal output part 4 is applied, a ground terminal 25 to which a reference potential is applied, and a reset terminal 26.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are timing charts of pulse signals supplied to the vertical signal input terminals 10 to 13 and horizontal signal input terminals 21 and 22 for driving the solid-state image pickup device 100 having the above structure. The timing chart of FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of a part of the timing chart of FIG. 4A (the part enclosed by dash-dot lines) in the time axis direction. FIGS. 4A and 4B show pulse signal waveforms by solid lines. Additional dotted lines are used to clarify the potential levels of pulse waveforms. In FIGS. 4A and 4B, pulse signals V1, V2, V3, and V4 are pulse signals applied to the vertical signal input terminals 10, 11, 12, and 13, respectively, and pulse signals H1 and H2 are pulse signals applied to the horizontal signal input terminals 21 and 22, respectively. The pulse waveforms each have a high level ("Hi" in FIGS. 4A and 4B) and a low level ("Lo" in FIGS. 4A and 4B), which are specific, fixed potential levels. In FIG. 4A, the waveforms of the pulse signals H1 and H2 are shown in a simplified manner for time frames in which the pulse signals alternately have a high level and a low level.
When the solid-state image pickup device 100 is driven according to the timing charts shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, signal charges generated in the pixel area 2 are vertically transferred upon application of the pulse signals V1, V2, V3, and V4. Then, the signal charges are horizontally transferred upon application of the pulse signals H1 and H2 and image signals are output from the solid-state image pickup device 100 via the signal output part 4 and output terminal 5.

Solid-state image pickup device having a signal separation part for separating and providing vertical and horizontal signals and drive method thereof


The fixing apparatus includes a pressure fixing device to pressure fix a rod to a circular arc rod engagement portion, and small protruding portions that bite into the rod and have an acute angle in both end sides of the rod engagement portion outside of the pressure fixing device. A recess surface of the circular arc rod engagement portion between the small protruding portions is formed as a rough surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rod fixing apparatus (a rod fixing structure) fixing a rod portion of a rod member for integrally connecting a vertebra in an acantha, and more particularly to a rod fixing apparatus (a rod fixing structure) to prevent a rod portion of a rod member from being displaced in an axial direction and from being displaced in a rotating direction around an axis.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional rod fixing apparatus (fixing structure) is comprised of a screw having a screw portion screwed into a vertebra body in the vertebra, and a head portion integrally provided with the screw. The head portion further includes a groove being engaged with a rod portion of a connection member (a rod member) connecting the separated vertebra bodies, and a rod engagement portion such as an elongated-hole or the like. The rod engagement portion is provided with a pressure fixing device (a fastening screw or the like) for pressure fixing the rod portion engaged with the rod engagement portion.
According to the structure mentioned above, since a position of the rod portion may be displaced with respect to the head portion of the screw, it is necessary to prevent the rod portion from being displaced.
To prevent the rod portion from being displaced, a rod fixing apparatus 103 of a related art (refer to National Publication of Translated Version No. 11-509453) is comprised of a head portion 105 having a screw portion 101 being screwed into the vertebra body (not shown), and the head portion 105 further is comprised of a groove-shaped rod engagement portion 107 having a enlarged-engagement portion 109 being engaged with a enlarged convex rod portion 113 of a rod 111 (refer to FIGS. 1A, 1B).
According to this structure, it is possible to prevent the connection member 111 from being displaced in an axial direction from the rod connecting portion 107 of the head portion 105. However, it is necessary to match a position of the screw 103 and a position of the enlarged convex rod portion 113. Furthermore, it is complicated to manufacture the connection member 111 with the enlarged convex portion 113, and it is impossible to apply the structure to the conventional general rod.

Rod fixing apparatus for vertebra connecting member


A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly having a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate and a separator interposed between the first and second electrode plates; a lower case accommodating the electrode assembly therein; and a cap assembly sealing the lower case. In the secondary battery, the lower case has the electrode assembly and a vent portion, and includes a surface facing the cap assembly. The vent portion includes an intersecting portion formed inside the surface, first and second curved portions curved to extend from the intersecting portion, and an extending portion extended in a straight line from the intersecting portion. The thickness of the intersecting portion includes the minimum thickness of the surface.

1. Field
The disclosed technology relates to a secondary battery, and more particularly, to a secondary battery having a pressure release vent for improved safety.
2. Description of the Related Technology
In general, a secondary battery is a battery which can be charged and discharged many times. As the electronics, communications and computer industries have developed, demands for secondary batteries for use as power sources of portable devices have increased. Studies have been conducted in many fields in order to improve the performance and safety of such batteries.
Requirements of miniaturization and high capacity for a secondary battery have been increased. The size of many secondary batteries has increased in order to increase power storage capacity. However, as a secondary battery is miniaturized, its safety from avoiding such conditions as thermal runaway becomes problematic. Where a secondary battery is used as a power source of an external electronic device, more serious problems may arise due to the synergy effect of the device.


A process for short contact time cracking of heavy feed. A falling, annular curtain of hot regenerated FCC catalyst, or hot inert solids, is formed over a cone shaped plug valve. Hydrocarbons pass from under the cone, or via a hollow stem, in radial in to out flow to contact the falling curtain of solids. After 0.01 to 1.0 seconds of contact time, solids and cracked vapor are separated, preferably in a bell separator beneath the reaction zone. Downflow of reactants into a contiguous upflowing stripper minimizes attrition.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a process and apparatus for the regeneration of fluidized catalytic cracking catalyst.
2 DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
In the fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) process, catalyst, having a particle size and color resembling table salt and pepper, circulates between a cracking reactor and a catalyst regenerator. In the reactor, hydrocarbon feed contacts a source of hot, regenerated catalyst. The hot catalyst vaporizes and cracks the feed at 425.degree. C.-600.degree. C., usually 460.degree. C.-560.degree. C. The cracking reaction deposits carbonaceous hydrocarbons or coke on the catalyst, thereby deactivating the catalyst. The cracked products are separated from the coked catalyst. The coked catalyst is stripped of volatiles, usually with steam, in a catalyst stripper and the stripped catalyst is then regenerated. The catalyst regenerator burns coke from the catalyst with oxygen containing gas, usually air. Decoking restores catalyst activity and simultaneously heats the catalyst to, e.g., 500.degree. C.-900.degree. C., usually 600.degree. C.-750.degree. C. This heated catalyst is recycled to the cracking reactor to crack more fresh feed. Flue gas formed by burning coke in the regenerator may be treated for removal of particulates and for conversion of carbon monoxide, after which the flue gas is normally discharged into the atmosphere.
Catalytic cracking has undergone progressive development since the 40s. The trend of development of the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process has been to all riser cracking and use of zeolite catalysts. A good overview of the importance of the FCC process, and its continuous advancement, is reported in Fluid Catalytic Cracking Report, Amos A. Avidan, Michael Edwards and Hartley Owen, as reported in the Jan. 8, 1990 edition of the Oil & Gas Journal.
Modern catalytic cracking units use active zeolite catalyst to crack the heavy hydrocarbon feed to lighter, more valuable products. Instead of dense bed cracking, with a hydrocarbon residence time of 20-60 seconds, much less contact time is needed. The desired conversion of feed can now be achieved in much less time, and more selectively, in a dilute phase, riser reactor.
There has been considerable evolution in the design of FCC units, which evolution is reported to a limited extent in the Jan. 8, 1990 Oil & Gas Journal article. Many FCC designs have evolved.
The Kellogg Ultra Orthoflow converter, Model F, shown in FIG. 1 of this patent application, and also shown as FIG. 17 of the Jan. 8, 1990 Oil & Gas Journal article discussed above, is an example of a modern, efficient FCC unit. This design (and many other FCC designs not shown) converts a heavy feed into a spectrum of valuable cracked products in 2-10 seconds of residence time in a riser reactor. The units are very efficient for cracking heavy feeds but present some design challenges. One of the most challenging features is the ceramic plug valves used to control flow of solids within a vessel, where no slide valve can be located. These valves tend to stick, and large amounts of purge gas are needed to keep the interior parts of the plug valve free of catalyst.
Hollow stem plug valves, suitable for use in Orthoflow type units are, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,850,364 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,967, which are incorporated by reference.
Most refiners now use all riser cracking today, as compared to dense bed cracking which was the prevalent reactor design in the 40's through the 60's. Refiners know that short contact time riser cracking is beneficial and have tried to use conventional equipment to shorten residence time and minimize thermal cracking. Approaches include riser quenching and closed cyclones which reduce post-riser thermal cracking. Some refiners have dropped pressure to increase selectivity. Some have gone to short contact time cracking reactors, usually involving higher vapor velocities in the risers.
It is difficult to use conventional riser reactors and have short contact time by using high velocities because the higher velocities increase the erosive power of the FCC catalyst. High velocities are hard on the equipment, which is subjected to years of "sandblasting" and hard on the FCC catalyst, which attrits when it hits solid objects at high speed.
A limited amount of work has been done on extremely short contact time FCC reactors. Most of it involves downflow reactors and solving problems associated with intimately contacting hot regenerated catalyst with oil and then separating cracked products from spent catalyst within a second or less. Current state of the art risers have oil residence times as low as one second, while some proposed designs will operate with even less residence time in the riser.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,825 uses a riser of 5 to 40 meters and high velocity in the riser to achieve hydrocarbon residence times of 0.05 to 10 seconds. Material exiting the riser 1 is deflected down by a cap to effect some measure of spent catalyst and cracked product separation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,898 Gartside et al, which is incorporated by reference, teaches a short residence time apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon with hot solids. An annular falling curtain of hot solids contacts opposing spray feed nozzles. Catalyst flow is controlled by changing the pressure (via steam injection) in a solids reservoir above a plug valve 14 having a spherical base portion with arcuate contours 15. There is fairly efficient formation of a large surface area annular sheet of catalyst, but the nozzle configuration shown will not ensure uniform catalyst and oil contact circumferentially around the contours 15. The nozzles are basically point devices, while the catalyst forms a plane, and perfect contact of a plane using a plurality of points is not possible. The catalyst and oil mixture passes down into a larger separation area, comprising a horizontal plate. Cracked products are withdrawn from above the plate so cracked gases follow a 180 degree path from inlet to outlet. The separator is reported to recover from 95 to 99% of the solids.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,984, which is incorporated by reference, teaches a short contact time cracking process, with rapid separation of solids from cracked gases leaving a cracking reactor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,136, which is incorporated by reference, discloses a falling curtain FCC reactor, using very high zeolite content cracking catalyst (40 to 80% zeolite) to crack heavy feed within 0.5 seconds or less. Catalyst falls down, and oil is injected horizontally into a cyclone separator 66. A falling wall of catalyst is contacted by one or more sprays or jets of feed, so there will be some areas with high catalyst concentrations and low amounts of feed, and some areas with excessive amounts of hydrocarbon, especially if a nozzle malfunctions and develops a narrow jet or spray of feed rather than a more diffuse spray. The cyclone dipleg discharged catalyst into a large stripping section 10.
While many improvements have been made in developing an effective short contact time cracking process, none were entirely satisfactory. I was most concerned about two areas: initial contacting of catalyst (or other hot solids in the case of thermal processes) and oil, and the efficient separation of cracked products from spent catalyst (or coked solids).
The falling curtain concept is a good one but creates problems. Achieving an annular curtain or shower of catalyst provides maximum exposure of catalyst to oil, but such flows are hard to control accurately, especially so when a run length of years is contemplated. Formation of a wall or plane of falling catalyst, rather than an annulus, is simpler, but requires a thicker wall for a given amount of catalyst flux as compared to an annulus of catalyst in a vessel with the same diameter.
The rapid separation of catalyst, or solids, downstream of a short contact time reactor presents more challenges to the chemical engineer. The use of an enlarged separation section, with reactor products discharging down onto a horizontal plate in U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,898, forcing the cracked vapor to make a 180 degree turn to a vapor outlet, produces significant separation but is not optimum. Horizontal discharge into a cyclone inlet, as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,136, allows efficient separation but is hard on the cyclones and requires some work because of the pressure drop associated with the cyclone.
An additional problem with a resid cracking unit is higher temperature. The temperature of regenerated catalyst tends to increase as the FCC feed gets worse, and the higher temperatures associated with resid cracking (or short contact time cracking of VGO) weaken the metal used in most catalyst flow control valves.
I realized that most of the difficulties of the existing approaches to short contact time cracking, whether catalytic or thermal, could be overcome by using a plug valve to control flow of and distribute hot solids into an annular, falling curtain or sheet of catalyst, and simultaneously admit part or all of the feed through the radial opening under the plug valve seat. I realized that these conventional plug valves, which have proven highly reliable in years of service in conventional FCC units, could be used as part of a robust short contact time FCC unit or thermal cracking unit. Using the body of the valve to admit feed permitted a measure of preheating of the feed to be achieved and made a vice of these valves (their need for constant addition of purge gas) a virtuous way to add feed, which even cooled the valve. In a preferred design, I couple this new reactor design with an improved catalyst/vapor separator, providing for low impact separation which is also highly efficient.


The invention provides techniques for making polycarbonate or plastic lenses. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, an electrical discharge is applied to a polarized film surface and a treatment applied on the polarized film to make a glue card. An adequate amount of adhesive glue is spread between the polarized film glue card and a polycarbonate lens, and a one-unit lens is formed by photochemical reaction technology. Thermosetting monomer is poured between the unit lens and a glass mold, and heated evenly to create a solid one-piece lens. The thermosetting monomer may be a photochromic or transparent monomer. These or substantially similar techniques may be used to produce polycarbonate polarized lenses, polycarbonate photochromic lenses, polycarbonate photochromic polarized lenses, plastic polarized lenses, plastic photochromic lenses, and plastic photochromic polarized lenses.

Sunlight is a mixture of vertical and horizontal wavelengths of light. A polarized lens selects either wavelength of light, vertical or horizontal, to pass through, and blocks the other wavelength. Thus, the reflection or glare from water surfaces, concrete roads, metal object, etc., will be significantly reduced by a polarized filter. Without the polarization function sunglasses only reduce the total amount of light transmitted therethrough but do not function to filter vertical or horizontal wavelengths to reduce glare.
Conventional polarized plastic lens typically are manufactured by one of the following methods. In one method, flat polarized film typically made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is packed with or without an adhesive with triacetate cellulose, or polycarbonate thin layer, cut to shapes and sizes and then formatted to given curves. Advantages of this process are that it is an easy process to perform and is relatively low cost. Weaknesses of this process are that it produces a relatively unstable optic curve, the lens is easy to scratch, no power correction lens is currently able to be produced, and the material is highly moisture absorptive which leads to the deterioration of anti-glare function in a short period.
In a second method, a so called "sandwich" method is used to laminate a formatted polarized film between two lenses. Advantages of this process are that it is able to produce power correction lens and a hard coating can be applied on the lens surface. However, because air can be introduced during the lamination process bubbling and foaming at the faces of the materials can result and the polarized lens is easily delaminates or separated during the lens edging process or lens wearing period.
In a third method a curved PVA films are incorporated directly in injection molding of acrylic or polycarbonate (thermoplastic polymers) or incorporated in the casting (polymerization) of thermosetting monomers. Advantages of this method are that it an easy process to perform and it can produce lenses with power and hard coating. Weaknesses of this method are that the cost needed for manufacturing set up is relatively high and yield is relatively low, mainly due to material stress, uneven color density and distortion of PVA film inside the lens.
The abovementioned direct molding method and casting method often make the inserted polarized film in an unstable position in the molds and as a result reflect a wave from optic vision; consequently, these methods can generate an unwanted prism power and poor optic function.
The conventional plastic polarized lenses currently marketed have less than optimal resistance to heat and moisture, which leads often to deterioration of anti-glare function after a short period of wearing. This occurs because the polarized film may not be protected and/or isolated by suitable plastic materials completely. Moreover, the conventional plastic polarized lens, compared to those made of the mineral glass, has lower abrasion hardness and resistance. In addition, both conventional plastic and mineral glass polarized lens have poor impact resistance. The polarized lens is very suitable to wear outdoor activities and sport purpose; however, there are few lenses which offer superior impact-resistance function.
It would be desirable to have a method of forming a polarized lens that not only can use polycarbonate materials (by bonding two completely different resin materials between thermoplastic and thermosetting), but also can offer scratch resistance and superior impact resistance.
Conventional polycarbonate (thermoplastic polymer) or plastic (thermosetting monomer) photochromic lenses are made by either inclusion of an organic photochromic dye throughout the resin material or by the Trans-Bonding™ or imbibition (i.e., the absorption of a liquid by a solid or gel) method, where photochromic dye is driven into the front surface of the lens. The amount of light transmittance through the lens will be activated through the UV (ultraviolet) light exposure. The higher the UV light exposure the lower the amount of light transmittance to shade the light (activation of photochromic dyes), and vice versa.
Bonding thermoplastic materials, such as polycarbonates used in lenses as the power portion, to thermosetting materials, such as photochromic monomers is challenging, if it is done outside of the molding process. Molding methods are done at temperatures so high as to typically destroy or diminish the activation function of the photochromic dye inclusion in the polycarbonate resin. One photochromic polycarbonate lens currently commercially available made by the Trans-Bonding™ method is available as Transition™ lenses polycarbonate from Transitions Optical, Inc., SOLA International, Essilor, Younger Optics, and the like.
It would be desirable to produce a photochromic lens in a thermosetting material which can be built on a polycarbonate lens while retaining optical photochromic activity. It would be desirable to have a method of using the photochromic monomer to build upon a polycarbonate lens to manufacture a high optic quality of significantly less inner stress fused polycarbonate photochromic lens as well as fused polycarbonate photochromic polarized lens. It would also be desirable to have a method that would similarly produce a polarized polycarbonate ophthalmic lens.

Method of forming polarized or photochromic lenses by fusing polycarbonate with other plastic materials


The invention relates to a gas turbine, with a flow path for a hot gas, enclosed by a channel wall with at least one measuring probe, arranged in the channel wall, for determination of a parameter of the hot gas, said measuring probe comprising a temperature-resistant measuring tip in contact with the hot gas and a measuring line, arranged outside the flow path in a protective sleeve. According to the invention, such a gas turbine with a structurally uncomplicated protective sleeve for measuring lines from measuring probes, in which the measuring lines can be economically fitted and securely protected from excessively high operating temperatures, may be achieved, whereby the protective sleeve has a flow of coolant running therethrough which may be taken from a coolant supply connected to the protective sleeve.

A gas turbine with a measuring arrangement for recording the temperature of a gas which flows in a passage which is circular in cross section, is known from GB 2 293 923 A. For this purpose, a plurality of thermocouples, which are distributed over the circumference of the passage, are installed in the passage wall. In order to protect their electrical instrument leads against the temperatures which prevail outside the passage, these are laid in a hermetically sealed protective environment which is formed from a system of interconnected tubes and branch boxes of stainless steel or aluminum.
At the terminating or connecting points of the tubes to the branch boxes, however, leakages can occur owing to thermal expansions, as a result of which hot ambient air can penetrate into the protective environment, and the insulation of the instrument leads can be subjected to unacceptably high temperatures. This can lead to erroneous measuring results, to defects on the insulation of the instrument leads, or even to the total failure of a probe.
A further disadvantage is the costly construction of tube-like protective sheaths and their sealed connections to the branch boxes in order to form a hermetic protective environment.
Furthermore, a cooled pyrometer for temperature measuring of a combustion hot gas is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,395. The pyrometer comprises a double-sheathed thermoelement which is coolable in the interspace by water. A further cooled probe is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,535.

Gas turbine with protective sheath for a probe and method for protecting an instrument lead which is laid in a protective sheath


Indexing, searching, and retrieving the content of speech documents (including but not limited to recorded books, audio broadcasts, recorded conversations) is accomplished by finding and retrieving speech documents that are related to a query term at a conceptual level, even if the speech documents does not contain the spoken (or textual) query terms. Concept-based cross-media information retrieval is used. A term-phoneme/document matrix is constructed from a training set of documents. Documents are then added to the matrix constructed from the training data. Singular Value Decomposition is used to compute a vector space from the term-phoneme/document matrix. The result is a lower-dimensional numerical space where term-phoneme and document vectors are related conceptually as nearest neighbors. A query engine computes a cosine value between the query vector and all other vectors in the space and returns a list of those term-phonemes and/or documents with the highest cosine value.

Indexing, searching, and retrieving the content of spoken documents (including but not limited to recorded books, audio broadcasts, recorded conversations) is a difficult problem. Current approaches typically enable search and retrieval via the equivalent of keyword matching, either by matching a user-supplied textual query with textual metadata or by phonetic matching after transcribing the query phonetically. This approach yields low recall, i.e., many relevant speech documents may not be found for a query. Instead of keyword matching, we solve this problem by finding and retrieving spoken documents that are related to a query at the conceptual level, even if these documents do not contain the spoken (or textual) query terms.

Concept based cross media indexing and retrieval of speech documents


A vehicle seat, especially an aircraft passenger seat, has at least one seat component which can be adjusted in its position, such as a seat part. The seat part can be mounted with its seat frame structure (3) by swivelable support legs (7, 11) above a floor structure (1). The support legs (7, 11) act on the seat frame structure (3) in pairs in the area of the front edge (9) and rear edge (5) of the seat of the seat part. An actuating mechanism is connected by action to a pair of support legs (7, 11) for producing a swiveling motion of the support legs (7, 11) causing a change in the position of the seat part. The actuating mechanism is coupled to the assigned pair of support legs (7, 11) by a differential mechanism (13) which converts the swiveling motion of the support legs (11) into a change of the effective length of the assigned pair of support legs (11). The length determines the vertical distance between the seat frame structure (3) and the floor structure (1).

Vehicle seats are known with seat components which are adjustable in their position. Thus, for example, DE 101 07 197 A1 discloses a seat of this type in the form of an aircraft passenger seat.
In vehicles for commercial conveyance of passengers, specifically in commercial aviation aircraft, only a limited installation space is available for seating. In other words, especially for economic reasons, an especially compact construction of the seats is desired. On the other hand, high demands can be imposed on functionality and the comfort to be afforded the seat occupant, especially in aircraft passenger seats for business class or first class. With respect to these requirements, known seats have a plurality of control, actuating and adjustment mechanisms, resulting in a complex structure. In the limited space between the seat frame structure and the floor structure, very little free installation space is available. Therefore, it is difficult or impossible to freely choose the geometry of the pairs of support legs and/or the geometrical locations of their coupling points to the seat frame structure and the floor structure, such that the desired change in the position of the seat part occurs when swiveling motions of the pairs of support legs are caused by the actuating mechanism.

Vehicle seat, especially aircraft passenger seat


A CPU heat sink clamping device including an elongated clamping plate clamped on a CPU to hold down a heat sink and having an invertedly disposed U-shaped bearing portion in the middle suspended from the heat sink and a screw hole at the center of the bearing portion, and a tightening up screw threaded into the screw hole of the clamping plate and stopped against the heat sink to tighten up the clamping plate.

The present invention relates to a CPU heat sink clamping device which comprises an elongated clamping plate clamped on a CPU to hold down a heat sink, and a tightening up screw threaded into a screw hole in the middle of the clamping plate and stopped at the heat sink to tighten up the clamping plate.
When a heat sink is attached to a CPU for dissipation of heat from it, a clamping plate may be used to secure the heat sink and the CPU together. A clamping plate for this purpose according to the prior art is made from a narrow, resilient metal plate having two sloping portions upwardly outwardly extended from two opposite ends of a flat middle section thereof, two vertical retaining portions respectively extended from the sloping portions, remote from the flat middle section, and two hooked portions respectively extended from the vertical retaining portions at one end remote from the sloping portions. This structure of clamping plate is still not satisfactory in function. When installing the clamping plate, much effort must be applied so that the hooked portions of the clamping plate can be hooked on the bottom side of the CPU. Further, when installed, the clamping plate cannot be conveniently removed from the heat sink and the CPU without the use of a tool.

No. 2, Alley 1, Lane 160, Kai De St., Chien Chen Chu


The test device of the present invention is configured to test the continuity and polarity of a plurality of fibers housed by a cable that extends between the multi-fiber connectors on either end of the cable. In its most basic form, the test device of the present invention includes first and second light sources; an optical splitter positioned between the second light source and the connector at the first end of the cable housing the plurality of fibers under test; and a receiver and configured for optical communication with the second end of the cable. The first light source creates a first light pattern, which is distinct from a second light pattern created by the second light source.

Multi-fiber connectors are increasingly ubiquitous in optical fiber dense networks. Basic maintenance of the fiber optic cables within these networks requires testing the multi-fiber connectors for continuity (i.e. whether the fibers are broken) and correct polarity.
There are several common configurations of multi-fiber polarity. Type A polarity, illustrated in FIG. 1A, has a first fiber extend between position 1 at the first connector 14 on one end of the multi-fiber cable 34 to position 1 at the second connector 36 on the other end of the multi-fiber cable 34. The second fiber extends between position 2 at the first connector 14 and position 2 at the second connector 36, and so on. Type B polarity, illustrated in FIG. 1B, has a first fiber extend between position 1 at the first connector 14 and position 12 at the second connector 36. The second fiber extends between position 2 and position 11, and so on. Type C polarity, illustrated in FIG. 1C, has a first fiber extend between position 1 at the first connector 14 and position 2 at the second connector 36. The second fiber extends between position 2 at the first connector 14 and position 1 at the second connector 36. The third fiber extends between position 3 at the first connector 14 and position 4 at the second connector 36. The fourth fiber extends between position 4 at the first connector 14 and position 3 at the second connector 36, and so on. It is understood that such polarities may be used with multi-fiber cables 34 of fewer or greater than twelve fibers, with the same general patterns of the fibers extending between the two connectors 14, 36. It is also understood that the fiber polarities may not fall under any of these common configurations, and may be custom or proprietary.
The requirement to test the multi-fiber connectors for continuity and correct polarity is currently addressed through individual lasers for each fiber or expensive optical switches that couple light into each fiber. Examples of such prior art include the OP280MT Ribbon Visual
Fault Locater sold under the trademark OPTOTEST. This product verifies correct polarity of ribbon fiber connectors by illuminating each of the twelve fibers with bright 635 nm red lasers. Another similar such prior art product is the MT Tracer sold under the trademark AFL. This product is a visual fault locator that provides twelve separately controlled visible lasers that can illuminate a selected fiber or automatically sequence through all twelve fibers. Both of these products use a laser for each fiber. Other prior art test products use one laser and an expensive optical switch to direct the one laser light into each of the twelve fibers. Many of these prior art test products also use expensive intelligent receivers with photodiodes and a display to receive and display the results of the test. Therefore, there is a need for a simpler, less expensive polarity and continuity tester for multi-fiber connectors.

Multi-fiber connector visual polarity and continuity tester


A device that includes: (i) an evaluated circuit; (ii) a leakage current dependent oscillator configured to generate an oscillating signal that has an oscillating frequency that represents a leakage current of the evaluated circuit; (iii) a switching current dependent oscillator configured to generate an oscillating signal that has an oscillating frequency that represents a switching induced current of the evaluated circuit; (iv) a power reduction module that is configured to: (a) compare between an oscillation frequency of the leakage current dependent oscillator and an oscillation frequency of the switching current dependent oscillator, to provide a current comparison result; (b) select a power reduction technique out of a dynamic voltage and frequency scaling technique and a power gating technique in view of the current comparison result; and (c) apply the selected power reduction technique.

In modern wireless devices one of the most important figures of merit is power consumption and, consequently, operation time. In order to reduce power consumption, device defines low-power states.
The power consumption of a circuit includes leakage power and switching power. Leakage power is attributed to leakage current that flows through semiconductors components (such as transistors, diodes, and the like) while switching power is attributed to switching activities of these semiconductor components.
Power gating technique involves operating a circuit (such as a processor) at a maximal frequency and a maximal supply voltage level during activation periods and shutting down the circuit during deactivation periods.
FIG. 1 illustrates a power consumption of a circuit that executes a task when a power gating technique is applied. During activation period 20 the circuit receives maximal voltage supply and clock signal of maximal frequency. Its power consumption includes leakage power consumption (box 12) and dynamic power consumption (box 14). During deactivation period 21 the circuit is shut down and does not consume any power. The sum of deactivation period 21 and activation period 20 is referred to as task period 22.
The overall power consumption of the circuit is illustrated by step-shaped curve 16 and is equal to: [DP(Vmax)+LP]*(Ta/Tt); wherein DP(Vmax) is the dynamic power consumption of the circuit when a maximal voltage (Vmax) is supplied to the circuit, LP is the leakage power consumption, Ta is the duration of activation period 20 and Tt is the duration of task period 22.
FIG. 2 illustrates a power consumption of a circuit that executes a task when a dynamic voltage and frequency scaling technique is applied. During task period 22 the circuit receives a voltage supply (Vs) that is lower than Vmax and receives clock signal of a frequency (Fc) that is lower than the maximal frequency. Its power consumption during task period 22 includes leakage power consumption (box 32) and dynamic power consumption (box 34). Task period 22 is followed by idle period 40 during which the circuit consumes leakage power 32.
The overall power consumption of the circuit is illustrated by step-shaped curve 36 and is equal to: [DP(Vs)+LP]*Tt; wherein DP(Vs) is the dynamic power consumption of the circuit when a voltage (Vs, Vs<<Vmax) is supplied to the circuit, LP is the leakage power consumption, and Tt is the duration of task period 22.
The leakage power depends on the temperature of the circuit and is hard to predict. Accordingly, selecting between these mentioned above power reduction technique is not accurate. In addition, direct measurements of the leakage current of a circuit and its switching current requires to temporarily stop the execution of circuit normal tasks and allocating time for current measurements.

Method for power reduction and a device having power reduction capabilities


According to one embodiment, a buffer stores first hash values and first complementary data. A first conversion unit converts consecutive characters in a second character string into second hash values and second complementary data. A search unit searches for consecutive first hash values from the buffer, and output a pointer. A selection unit selects consecutive first hash values and pieces of first complementary data from the buffer. A second conversion unit converts the consecutive first hash values into a third character string using the pieces of first complementary data. A comparison unit compares the second character string with the third character string to acquire a matching length. An output unit output the matching length with the pointer.

In recent years, a memory system having a function of compressing data has been known in order to effectively utilize a memory area. In such a memory system, when a write command is issued from a host connected to the memory system, the data specified in the write command can be compressed and written to the non-volatile memory.
Dictionary coding is known as a coding method used for data compression. In the dictionary coding, a buffer in which past data (character string) called a dictionary is stored for a certain period is used, and thus, the past data that matches at least a part of input data (character string) is searched from the buffer. When the past data that at least partially match the input data exist in the buffer, a position (hereinafter, referred to as a pointer) of the past data in the buffer and a length (hereinafter, referred to as a matching length) that the input data and the past data match are output. The dictionary coding is a method of reducing the amount of code by replacing the input data with pointers and matching lengths in this way.

Character string search device and memory system


An artificial plant assembly (10) that includes a base (12) which serves as a platform for securing the assembly (10) when it is inserted into a vase or the like. The base (10) which can be made in a variety of geometrical shapes such as a circle, a square or a multi-sided shape includes a central stem bore (18) and a plurality of outer stem bores (20). Into the bore (18) is inserted a central stem support (30) which has an upper edge (38) which includes a plurality of inner stem bores (42). Around the central stem support (30) is located, in a random or symmetrical pattern, a plurality of outer stem bores (20). Into the bores (20 and (42) is inserted an inner core (62) into which is inserted one or a plurality of nested and rotatable bulbous sections (70, 92, 102). Each bulbous section has an upper end which terminates with a flora (84) which may consist of a flower of leaf or a combination of various flora.

For as long as people have been living and working within enclosed spaces, such as houses and buildings, the inclusion of plant life into the decor has been of substantial importance. Whenever plant life is added to an interior decor, a feeling of natural beauty and life, which is usually only found in an outdoor environment, is achieved. The addition of plant life into an enclosed space is also a significant means of improving both the mental well-being and physical health of those individuals who must remain within the enclosed space for extended durations of time. The plant life provides an excellent diversion from normal interior furnishings and can accentuate almost any design scheme.
Although the benefits of interior plant life are obvious, there are deterrents. The most pronounced deterrents are that many types of live plants must have consistent direct or partial sunlight and a constant supply of water. A live plant may be placed in a location where it receives an optimal amount of sunlight, but often this is not sufficient and the plant will eventually die. Also, the locations of optimal sunlight are frequently not the most preferred locations for a decorative scheme.
In response to these problems many different types and species of artificial plants have been created. These artificial plants have evolved to the point where it is now very difficult to tell whether a plant is alive or merely a good artificial reproduction. When artificial plants were first introduced many people were reluctant to use them because of the poor quality and obvious fake appearance of the plants. This problem has been overcome and most artificial plant today are extremely realistic.
One type of widely used artificial plant includes a central stem having attached thereto a plurality of fronds with outward extending leaves. Due to the methods by which this type of artificial plant, as well as many others are currently designed and assembled, there is one aspect that causes the plant to appear artificial. This is the result of how the section of the plant where the branches are joined to the central stem. It is difficult to attach the fronds in a manner that is both structurally sufficient for support and to provide a realistic appearance. For this attachment either the branches are attached in a realistic manner, which can cause them to fall or lean in unnatural positions, or they are insecurely attached, thereby clearly exposing the attachment means and method.
It is therefore readily apparent that some structure/assembly and method of creating artificial plants which does not sacrifice the structural integrity of the plant or its realistic appearance is needed.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention, however the following U.S. patents are considered related:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. INVENTOR ISSUED ______________________________________ 4,215,163 Lee 24 July 1980 3,829,349 Hermanson 13 August 1974 1,153,418 Shing (U.K.) 29 May 1969 2,826,845 Warren 18 March 1958 ______________________________________
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,163 Lee patent discloses an artificial flower assembly that is made from a plastic stem unitarily molded around a reinforcing wire with integral side petioles, an internal calyx and an internal coupling member. A subassembly of fabric petals, preferably silk which may be printed for viewing is made by loosely mounting the petals on a plastic tubular member which is then mounted on the internal coupling member.
The U.S. Pat. No. 3,829,349 Hermanson patent discloses a collapsible artificial tree arrangement. The arrangement is particularly adapted for a Christmas decoration in which simulated branches are freely foldable substantially parallel to the tree's trunk, or they may pivot to an erect position for display. The arrangement includes an elongated trunk core and a plurality of sectional trunk portions some of which have branch holding sockets while others serve as spacing members.
The U.S. Pat. No. 1,153,418 Shing (U.K.) patent discloses a structure for making an artificial flower or the like. The structure includes a one-piece connector which is typically cut from a pliable metal. The connector has a central section from where radiates a plurality of limbs into which are inserted and attached a like plurality of leaves, brackets, petals and other decorative elements. The connector also has a central aperture into which is inserted and attached a stem. Prior to attaching the stem, a plurality of leaves may be attached to the stem by means of a tubular boss.
The U.S. Pat. No. 2,826,845 Warren patent discloses an artificial Christmas tree that can be assembled from readily separate members. The invention is designed to closely simulate a natural Christmas tree while providing an artificial tree which may be assembled or disassembled by unskilled persons with a minimum of direction and time. When not in use the tree may be disassembled and subsequently packed and stored in a relatively small container.
For background purposes and as indicative of the art to which the invention relates, reference may be made to the following remaining patents found in the search.
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. INVENTOR ISSUED ______________________________________ 5,395,664 Thompson, Jr. 7 March 1995 5,320,884 Tai, et al 14 June 1994 4,585,677 Hwang, et al 29 April 1986 4,386,480 Horowitz 7 June 1983 4,106,233 Horowitz 15 August 1978 3,639,196 Hermanson 1 February 1972 3,041,766 Decamp 17 November 1962 2,984,036 Adler, Jr. 16 May 1961 1,495,695 Karr 17 May 1924 ______________________________________

Flat A-D, 5/Fl., City Industrial Complex, 116-122 Kwok Shui Rd.


An oral composition of acceptable taste substantially non-irritating to oral tissue, the composition containing an effective amount of a sodium lauryl sulfoacetate surfactant purified to contain less than 18% by weight impurities. An amount of a nonionic or amphoteric compound is included in the composition to enhance the foaming ability of the purified sodium lauryl sulfoacetate surfactant as well as to further reduce its irritancy potential.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a substantially non-irritating oral composition, and more particularly, to a non-irritating oral composition exhibiting high foaming properties.
2. The Prior Art
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a widely used surfactant in oral compositions. Surfactants, and particularly anionic surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) are an essential ingredient of oral compositions and serve as a solubilizing, dispersing, emulsifying and wetting agent for the other ingredients present in the dentifrice and is especially effective in solubilizing the flavor present. A cosmetic effect of the presence of the surfactant is that it promotes foaming of the oral composition. Oral compositions with strong foaming ability are preferred by consumers since the foaming provides the perception that the oral composition cleans effectively only if it foams well.
The incorporation of anionic surfactants such as SLS in oral compositions such as dentifrices is known to cause adverse reactions to oral tissue as shown in R. C. Caldwell and R. E. Stallard, A Textbook of Preventive Dentistry, 196, W. B. Saunders (1977); L. J. Guarnieri, IADR, Abstract No. 661 (1974); L. J. Guarnieri, Thesis, University of Indiana (1970).
One example is gingival irritation. It is also believed that SLS is responsible for sloughing of the oral mucosa.
The art therefore has been seeking a non-irritating alternative surfactant to SLS as a surfactant for dentifrices.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,690,776 and 5,041,280 disclose the use of the anionic surfactant sodium lauryl sulfoacetate in dentifrice formulations. However, the problem of oral irritation due to the presence of anionic surfactants in the dentifrice is not mentioned in the aforesaid patents.
According to the published literature; namely, "Surfactants in Cosmetics (Marcel Dekker), Vol. 16, Ch. 10, Pages 303-304 (1985), sodium lauryl sulfoacetate is of comparatively little importance commercially in oral hygiene products. According to this publication, although the use of sodium lauryl sulfoacetate has been proposed as a foaming agent in dentifrices and other dental preparations, it is not considered as an organoleptically acceptable product for commercial applications.
Attempts to use commercially available sodium lauryl sulfoacetate as a surfactant in oral products such as dentifrices indicate the problem of a bitter taste associated with the presence of the compound in the oral product. Further, compared to SLS, dentifrices employing sodium lauryl sulfoacetate as the surfactant exhibit inferior foaming properties.


The present invention relates to an arrangement for cooling of a plurality of electrical energy storage units. The arrangement comprises a tubular element forming a cooling channel for a cooling medium which has an extension between an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The tubular element comprises a first plane wall element and a second plane wall element arranged in parallel at a distance from each other which is smaller than the height of the electrical energy storage units and that the first plane wall element comprises through holes each configured to receive and define a mounting position of an electrical energy storage unit in the cooling channel.

Hybrid vehicles and pure electric vehicles may comprise an electric machine which alternately works as motor and generator, an electric energy storage for storing of electrical energy and power electronics for controlling the flow of electrical energy between the electrical energy store and the electric machine. The electrical energy storage has an optimal efficiency within a relatively low temperature range. Furthermore, an electrical energy storage should not be heated to a temperature above a maximum temperature for safety reasons. Consequently, it is important to provide an efficient cooling of the electrical energy storage during operation.
Rectangular battery cells may be bundled into compact battery modules. Traditionally, such battery modules are arranged on a cooling plate and cooled from the underside by a coolant circulating in heat transferring contact with the cooling plate. Due to the fact that it is not possible to arrange cylindrical battery cells in compact battery modules, cylindrical battery cells have to be cooled in a more or less separate state. It is known to cool cylindrical battery cells in a row between two cooling plates provided with half circular recesses. In this case, the cooling plates have a complicated shape and they are large and space consuming.
US 2007/0046259 shows a battery array which cools cylindrical battery modules by flowing cooling air through a holder case housing three or more levels of battery modules. Each battery module comprises a plurality of individual battery cells joined in a straight-line fashion. The holder case is provided with opposing side wall elements defining a flow path of the cooling air in contact with the battery modules. The battery array is provided with an inlet air duct directing air to the holder cases and an exhaust duct receiving air from the holder case.
US 2014/0162106 shows a battery arrangement for cooling a battery in the form of a plurality of cylindrical battery cells. The battery cells are arranged parallel to one another so that an intermediate space exist between adjacent battery cells. A terminal plate and a perforated plate are arranged above the battery. Coolant is sprayed through holes of the perforated plate. The coolant is temporarily accommodated in splash pots of the terminal plate before it passes down through holes in the terminal plate and into the intermediate spaces between the battery cells.

Arrangement for cooling of electrical energy storage units


A method for achieving converter transformer for suppressing DC bias magnet comprises increasing the seaming width of the transformer core lamination, which comprises in detail calculating the width and the height of each stage of lamination according to the reserved seaming width of the lamination, the sectional area of the core, the space between columns, and the height of the window, shearing the lamination based on the width and the height of the lamination obtained by calculating, overlapping two pieces of laminations into one piece of lamination according to the order of stages, placing them on the core frame alternately by stages, and after overlapping all the laminations, fastening each stage of lamination.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a manufacture method of a transformer, and more particularly to a converter transformer with DC magnetic bias inhibition arrangement which is applicable for capacitance of different values.
2. Description of Related Arts
DC grid and geomagnetic variation are factors which increase a neutral ground point of a transformer, causing a DC bias current flowing into a coil of the transformer through the neutral and result in half-cycle saturation of magnetizing current of the transformer.
In the absence of DC current in a coil assembly of a transformer, no load current works in the linear segment of the iron-core magnetization curve Φ (t). At this point, the magnetizing current basically is a sine wave or approximately a sine wave which is symmetrical in shape, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 1(c). Under the influence of DC magnetic bias, which is shown in the broken line of FIG. 1(c), a shift is occurred to the exciting current under no-load condition in the iron-core magnetization curve Φ (t) in which the half wave works in the saturation zone, an elevated peak is occurred, and the sine wave is distorted to become asymmetrical from its originally symmetrical form.
Due to the half cycle saturation phenomenon which is occurred in the core, a large amount of saturated magnetic flux linkage forms a closed loop path outside the core, the exciting current is distorted dramatically, thereby the transformer itself will have increased wear and tear under no load condition and increased level of oscillation, increased noised level. In addition, the core, metal parts and oil tank of the transformer will become overheat while the insulation element will be damaged. When the situation is serious, the electric power system will be jeopardized and the power grid may be collapsed.

Method for achieving converter transformer for DC magnetic bias

TBEA SHENYANG TRANSFORMER GROUP CO., LTD.


An embodiment of a method for remotely controlling power consumption of at least one server, including providing remote control to an administrator over a power state of at least one server, building an instruction command and encoding it into a suitable format for transport over a data network from an administration terminal to the at least one server, and interpreting the command and executing the command by the at least one server without powering down the at least one server.

Power consumption is a growing problem for today's servers. It is desirable to reduce the power consumption of a server to as low a level as possible, while maintaining maximum performance. In addition to saving on electricity costs, which for a large server farm could be considerable, another desirable result of reducing the power consumption by a server is that less internal heat will be generated. Greater heat reduces a server's reliability and increases its total cost of ownership since higher operating temperatures places more stress on internal circuitry such as microprocessors, internal memory chips, and also any integrated peripherals such as internal disk drives, cooling fans, or circuit boards.
Current computer processors contain logic to lower clock speed and thus power consumption on demand. One attempt at solving the power consumption problem is to have an administrator of the servers configure the processor offline for the desired power state. Offline configuration is simple but not desirable for a server as it requires the server to be taken out of use temporarily.

Method of remotely controlling the power consumption of one or more servers

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A brake system is described with a master cylinder actuated by a control rod connected to a plunger piston and an actuator piston acting directly on the primary piston. A hydraulic reaction piston is housed in the piston so it can be subjected to the pressure of the primary chamber and to the opposing action of a reaction spring. The plunger piston can push the reaction piston directly to push the master cylinder.

Vehicle brake systems equipped with an electric servomotor are generally known, as in document French Patent No. 0311580, for example. Such a servomotor is equipped with a reaction disc whose sensitivity is difficult to adjust; in particular, the sensitivity of the reaction disc depends on the external temperature. Another disadvantage is the cost of the reaction disc.
An object of the present invention is a hydraulic-reaction brake system equipped with an electric servomotor that is independent of temperature, whose fabrication is less complex than known fabrications, and whose reliability and endurance is greater than one equipped with a reaction disc.
To that end, the object of the present invention is a vehicle brake system with an electric servomotor of the type described above, characterized in that                the primary piston delimiting the primary chamber in the master cylinder is formed from a body        that, on the exterior of the master cylinder, is extended by a cylindrical skirt forming an external chamber housing a reaction spring one end of which presses against a retaining organ integral with the skirt;        that has an axial through hole connecting the rear of the external chamber and the primary chamber;        the actuator piston cooperates directly with the skirt to push the primary piston;        there is a hydraulic reaction piston;        housed in the bore hole of the body of the primary piston;        integrally bearing an axial thrust rod on the exterior;        equipped with a stop against which the other extremity of the reaction spring rests;        which said stop rests against the rear of the external chamber to push the primary piston or to be pushed by it.
The brake system according to the invention as described above has the advantage of especially simple fabrication and operation independent of the outside temperature with respect to pedal feel. This solution is especially reliable because it does not include a reaction disc, which is generally made of a rubbery material.
According to a particularly advantageous characteristic, the reaction spring consists of a principal spring and an auxiliary spring combined in series, separated from one another by a floating support that is mobile with respect to a primary piston stop to limit the expansion stroke of the principal spring, the auxiliary spring being of reduced hardness with respect to that of the principal spring so it can be compressed before the principal spring. The reaction spring is thus composed of an auxiliary spring with the interposition of a floating support to compensate for the drag of the brake against the brake disc, wherein this does not affect pedal feel.
According to another advantageous characteristic, the retaining organ is a disc traversed by the thrust rod, which is of particular interest if, according to another advantageous characteristic, the thrust rod has a shoulder that cooperates with the retaining organ to define an extreme end-of-travel position for the reaction piston.
According to another advantageous characteristic, the stop has a collar that cooperates with the floating support in compressing the auxiliary spring to limit the compression of the auxiliary spring and thereby press directly upon the floating support.

Vehicle brake system with an electric servomotor and hydraulic reaction piston


A fuel-air premixer for use in a combustor of a gas turbine includes an air inlet, a fuel inlet, a shroud, a central body and a cascade of vanes. The premixer mixes fuel and air in the annular mixing passage into a uniform mixture for injecting into a combustor reaction zone. The air from a compressor is injected into the mixer through an air inlet. The fuel is introduced into air stream via fuel injection holes that pass through the walls of the vanes which contain internal fuel flow passages. The flow field inside the premixer is broken up by the arrayed vanes into a series of small regions each containing a well designed small size mixing eddy which is steadily attached to the surface of the vanes.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to gas turbines and, in particular, to a fuel-air premixer for a combustor of a gas turbine which uniformly mixes fuel and air so as to reduce Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) formed by the combustion progress.
2. Description of the Related Art
The worldwide concerns of air pollution have led to stricter emission standards requiring significant reduction in gas turbine pollution emission. NOx, which is an inducement to atmospheric pollution, is generally formed in the high temperature regions of the gas turbine combustor by direct oxidation of atmospheric nitrogen with oxygen. Thus reducing the emission of NOx can be achieved by decreasing the temperature of the reaction zone. And one preferred method is to premix fuel and air into a lean mixture prior to combustion. The thermal mass of the excess air absorbs heat and decreases the temperature of the reaction products.
There are several problems associated with dry low emissions combustors operating with lean premixing of fuel and air. Specifically, there is a tendency for flammable mixture of fuel and air within the premixing section of the combustor to combust due to flashback, which occurs when flame propagates from the combustor reaction zone into the premixing section, or auto-ignition, which occurs when the dwell time and temperature of the fuel-air mixture in the premixing section are sufficient for combustion to be initiated without an igniter. The combustion in the premixing section results in degradating of emission performance, and overheating and damaging of the premixing section. Therefore, a problem to be solved is to prevent flashback and auto-ignition within the premixer.
In addition, the fuel and air must be uniformly mixed in the premixer and the reaction zone of the combustor so as to achieve a desired emission performance. In regions in the flow field in which the fuel concentration of the mixture is significantly greater than an average, the temperature of the reaction products in these regions will be higher than an average, and thus a large quantity of thermal NOx will be produced, which makes the combustor fail to meet NOx emission requirements. In regions in the flow field in which the fuel concentration of the mixture is significantly leaner than the average, quenching may occur and oxidizing progress of the hydrocarbons or carbon monoxide may be terminated before reaching equilibrium levels, this can result in failure to meet carbon monoxide (CO) or unburned hydrocarbon (UHC) emission requirements. Thus, another problem to be solved is to mix the fuel and the air with significant uniform concentration distribution in the premixer to meet the emission performance requirements.
Still further, in order to meet emission performance requirements imposed upon the gas turbine in many applications, it is necessary to reduce the fuel concentration of the mixture to a level that is close to the lean flammability limit for most fuels. This results in a reduction in flame propagation speed as well as emissions. As a consequence, lean premixing combustors tend to be less stable than the conventional diffusion flame combustors, and often result in high level combustion driven dynamic pressure activities which often lead to hardware damage, flashback or blowoff. Thus, yet another problem to be solved is to control the combustion driven dynamic pressure activity to an acceptable low level.
Lean, premixing fuel injectors for emission abatement are commonly used in heavy duty industrial gas turbines. A representative example of such a device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,184. Such devices have achieved great progress in the gas turbine exhaust emission abatement by reducing the NOx emissions by an order of magnitude or more relative to the diffusion flame burners without using diluent injection. The advantages in emission performance, however, have been obtained at the expense of incurring several problems. In particular, flash back and flame holding within the premixer result in degradation of emission performance and hardware damage due to overheating. In addition, the high level combustion driven dynamic pressure activity results in the problems such as flashback, blowoff, and the reduction in the useful life of the combustor hardware.
An example of a method for reducing the combustion driven dynamic pressure activity in lean premixed dry low emissions combustors can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,438,961, which proposed an inlet flow conditioner upstream of the premixer inlet to improve the air flow velocity distribution through the premixer and the uniformity of the fuel-air mixture in the premixer, which successfully reduces the premixing flow sensitivity to the air flow mal-distribution in the flow field approaching the premixer.
Though those conventional premixers have achieved progress in premixing fuel and air without introducing some associated problems in premix combustion, much improvement is still needed. The first is to reduce the fuel-air mixing non-uniformity in the premixer which limits the combustors to achieve maximum emission reduction. The second is to resist or prevent the flashback and auto-ignition in the case of various operation conditions and different fuels. The third is to reduce the level of combustion driven dynamic pressure activity so as to obtain high combustion performance in the combustors.

Air fuel premixer having arrayed mixing vanes for gas turbine combustor

The Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, The Chinese Academy of Sciences


A multiple flow faucet with passages having at least one base part installed in a mounting element, and a pivoting spout rotatably attached thereto, with at least a cold water line and a filtered water line. The filtered water line has at least one liquid-tight rotatable disconnection point at one or more of the passages.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiple flow faucet having at least one base part installed in a mounting plane and a pivoting spout rotatably attached thereto with at least a cold water line, a filtered water line, and an electronic signal line.
Description of the Background Art
Faucets typically find application in the household area. These faucets are most especially suited for use in both private and commercial kitchen areas. The dual flow nature of the faucet is required in order to separate a first water flow with warm water—mixed from cold water and hot water—from another water flow having filtered water. To this end, for processing as drinking water, tap water is routed through special filters and is thus treated. With multiple flow faucets of this type it is possible to draw filtered water or any desired mixture of warm water from a single tap without mixing the water flows. It is necessary and desirable for this purpose for the spout of the faucet to be designed as a pivoting spout, as is known from kitchen faucets, for example.
Thus, a pivoting spout with a mixing valve is known from DE 198 50 839 A1, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,788. The pivoting spout known therefrom permits any desired pivoting of the spout, wherein two separate lines for hot and cold water extend within the pivoting spout to an opening. A mixing cartridge for hot and cold water is located at the opening. The prior art pivoting spout is cumbersome to install, however, and moreover is not suited to carry mixed water and filtered water separately from one another as desired.

Multiple flow faucet with pivoting spout


In an X-ray installation comprising an X-ray source, a patient support, an X-ray detector and an electronic evaluation system, a distance is determined from an extremity of a patient which is to be imaged to the X-ray detector and is made available as an electronic data value to the electronic evaluation system. If the distance from the X-ray source to the X-ray detector as an electronic data value is also known, then a scale can be calculated for the X-ray image from the two distances on the basis of the imaging laws for the generation of the X-ray image, which scale can be faded into the X-ray image or else electronically assigned to this image for an interrogation of coordinates.

Full information from an X-ray image can include absolute values of the lengths of extremities of a patient being known. Such absolute data can be indispensable, particularly in the planning of an operation.
A lead ruler has been used until now to provide a scale of length. The lead ruler is arranged next to the patient or else fastened to him/her and is also reproduced on the X-ray image. In particular, fastening the lead rule to the patient is laborious and costly and requires the cooperation of the patient. The use of a lead ruler also has the disadvantage that it is difficult to compile multiple images and then determine lengths covering all the images. If therefore lengths are to be derived from the images, recordings of the whole extremity are made at once over a large area, e.g. whole-leg recordings using a film cassette which is 90 or 120 cm long.
From DE 31 28 380 A1, an X-ray diagnostic installation for X-ray tomographic images is known. Certain layers of a patient lying on a patient table are especially highlighted by an X-ray image. In order to calculate the enlargement, a layer height computer is provided which uses the geometric data for the tomograph as an input variable. A marking for the dimensions in the layer plane can be faded into the image. The geometric data for the tomograph is displayed as given and does not have to be measured specifically.
From US 2005/0007387 A1 a device, method and program for the graphical representation of X-ray images are known, wherein in an embodiment for defining an image enlargement the intercept theorems are used. It is not disclosed how the input variables for the intercept theorems are determined.
In DE 101 60 532 C1, a method and a device are known for the three-dimensional locating of an object in a body. The focus of interest is on determining the vertical position of the object. Instead of using a ruler, the object is displaced around a displacement path and the projection of the displacement path determined in an X-ray image. From the intercept theorems, the vertical position of the object can be determined with the aid of the displacement path and the projection and the distance of the radiation source for the X-ray image from the image plane of the projection image.
From EP 1 349 098 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,792,071 B2 methods are known for performing geometric measurements on digital radiological images, in which so-called graphical templates are used. These templates also incorporate as geometric parameters the distances between X-ray source, patient and detector.

Method for generating an X-ray image of an extremity of a patient with a scale of length


Methods and apparatuses are provided for recovering one or more replicated datasets. In accordance to some embodiments of the invention, this is accomplished by determining whether a log contains one or more entries indicating a corruption in a replicated data item; and recovering the replicated data item if the log contains any such entries. The log, however, is maintained at a higher layer in a software hierarchy than the layer at which the replicated data item is recovered. As a result, there is no need to maintain a separate replication log at the layer where the replicated data item is recovered. In accordance to some embodiments of the invention, this is accomplished by recording an entry indicating that an operation was performed on a replicated record in a log at a higher layer in a software hierarchy, determining whether a failure occurred during the operation, and reconciling the replicated record at a lower layer in the software hierarchy if it is determined that a failure occurred during the operation. As a result, the present invention eliminates the need for additional disk writes required by conventional techniques that use a replication log to at the same layer where the data recovery is performed.

In computer systems, redundant copies of important data may be used to provide data availability, reliability and consistency. One way of recovering data from a failure (e.g., crash of a disk, disk array, or other storage device, corruption of a database, application program, or operating system, and the like), is to scan entire datasets to determine and then reconcile inconsistencies. This process, however, may be expensive and introduce significant recovery delays. Another conventional approach to data recovery is to maintain a log of updates that have not been applied to all replicas of a data item. This approach requires only the data segments in the log to be examined to determine and reconcile any differences between replicas, but requires additional disk writes in order to maintain the log.
Conventional systems may involve one or more data item replicas, stored on different storage devices (e.g., physical device, disk drives, disk arrays, RAIDs, solid state memories, and the like). A conventional system may access data on the physical devices, using commands (e.g., "data=read (replica, offset)," "write (replica, offset, data)," and others). For example, the command "dataBuffer=read (A,4352)" reads data stored at offset 4352 on device A into a buffer. An offset provides an indication of a storage location for a particular set of data. A replica is a copy or duplicate of a data item, individual field, record, or other item within a dataset. For example, the command "write (B,2343, 'wombat')" would write the character string "wombat" at offset 2343 on device B. In a system where a data item is replicated at two or more independent locations (also referred to as "replicas"), each replica must be updated in such a way as to maintain consistency with all others replicas. That is, changes made to an item in the dataset must be reflected identically in all replicas of that dataset. We refer to this consistency guarantee as the "replication invariant."
Replicating data items using write commands, however, presents several problems when failures occur. For example, the replication invariant is violated when the system fails after completing the write to device A but before completing the write to device B. To correct this problem, the system must perform an expensive recovery procedure after a failure. In such cases, data on devices A and B must be read to determine whether there are any differences in the copies of the replicated data item stored on those devices. Any differences in the copies resulting from the failure of a storage device require corrections to properly restore the copies.
The process by which all copies of the replicated data items are made identical to each other is referred to as reconciliation. Reconciliation is performed by copying device A's version of the data to device B or vice versa. In this way, a complete and correct copy of the data item is restored. Repeating this process for each replicated data item, however, may be costly both in terms of time and effort, since the entire dataset must be analyzed. As discussed above, another conventional technique for implementing replicated write on a data item is to use a replication log, which keeps track of the offsets that have not been consistently updated on all replicas.
In cases where a replication log is used, a replicated Write(offset, data) operation is logically equivalent to three sub-operations: "log(offset); write(data, A), write(data, B); unlog(offset)," where the unlog operation erases the prior log operation. This type of replicated write operation enables quick recovery from a failure of a physical storage device. In the event of a failure, log entries are examined for updates that were in progress at the time of the failure, and affected replicas are reconciled. Using replication logs is quicker than analyzing the entire set of data for consistency because only a subset of the data items needs to be analyzed (i.e. that portion that was being modified at the time of the failure). In order for the log to be persistent (and thus survive failures), however, it must be written to stable storage. Thus, an extra disk write is required for every replicated write operation using a replication log, thereby significantly increasing the latency of write operations, which results in a severe performance degradation of write-intensive operations.
Thus, what is needed is a solution for recovering from a failure without incurring the extra log write for each replicated write.

Efficient recovery of replicated data items


Agricultural electronics include many components. The components can be connected via an electronic link that connects the various components to components of an agricultural implement. This can include the use of a component type identifier and a master module. The identifier and the module can communicate data, including identification data and instructional data, to easily acknowledge and operate various electrical components of the agricultural implement. Additional sensors can be included to provide even additional data that is communicated between the module and the components of the agricultural implement to aid in providing instructions for operation and to provide additional data information.

Agricultural implements perform a variety of agricultural operations. For example, an agricultural row crop planter is a machine built for precisely distributing seed into the ground. The row crop planter generally includes a horizontal toolbar fixed to a hitch assembly for towing behind a tractor or other implement. Row units are mounted to the toolbar. In different configurations, seed may be stored at individual hoppers on each row unit, or it may be maintained in a central hopper and delivered to the row units on an as needed basis. The row units include ground-working tools for opening and closing a seed furrow, and a seed metering system for distributing seed to the seed furrow.
In its most basic form, the seed meter includes a housing, a seed disk, and a seed chute. The housing is constructed such that it creates a reservoir to hold a seed pool. The seed disk resides within the housing and rotates about a generally horizontal central axis. As the seed disk rotates, it passes through the seed pool where it picks up individual seeds. The seeds are subsequently dispensed into the seed chute where they drop into the seed furrow. The seed meters are given a location along a toolbar of a planter, and the location determines at least some functionality of the meter.
Other areas of a planter include the uses of actuators (hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, or combination), lighting systems, fan systems, vacuums, sensors, location systems, and other systems that are able to control a function of the planter.
As the components of implements such as planters become more electronic, the control of the components and the setup of the same becomes more difficult. This is due, in part, to the variability of the location and functionality of the components. Problems can include wiring requirements (additional costs, unpleasant aesthetics, hardware limitations, etc.), initial and ongoing setups, diagnosis, and issues related to a change of one or more of the components. Still further, the increasing number of electronics requires increased requirements for speed and bandwidth to communicate instructions to and from components, as well as any data that is acquired as part of the functionality and/or operation of the planter.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for improved methods, systems, and apparatus on or in use with an agricultural implement that will allow for the operation of the implement configured with electronic and other intelligent controls.

Control units, nodes, system, and method for transmitting and communicating data


A system may include a powder source; a powder delivery device; an energy delivery device; and a computing device. The computing device may be configured to: control the powder source to deliver metal powder to the powder delivery device; control the powder delivery device to deliver the metal powder to a surface of an abrasive coating; and control the energy delivery device to deliver energy to at least one of the abrasive coating or the metal powder to cause the metal powder to be joined to the abrasive coating.

Systems that use compression of fluids, such as pumps, compressors, turbines, and the like use seals between rotating and static components to improve their functioning, such as efficiency. In low temperature applications, the seals may be formed from materials such as rubber or polymers. In high temperature systems, such as gas turbine engines, rotating components may include an abrasive coating on tips or end walls of the rotating components and adjacent static components may include abradable coatings. During use, the abrasive coating may wear a groove into the abradable coating to form a seal while reducing or substantially preventing damage to the rotating component.

Abrasive coating including metal matrix and ceramic particles