A centralizer system is provided for use in a marine riser system with an insulated pipe, which may be a titanium stress joint. The centralizer system utilizes one or more centralizers mounted such that insulation material is provided in an annulus between the one or more centralizers and the stress joint. A clamp is utilized to axially affix either one centralizer or multiple centralizers to the stress joint. The clamp is comprised of a plurality of sections with cylindrical interior surfaces which are tightened together using fasteners. The cylindrical interior surfaces avoid damage to the insulation layer which may be elastomeric. The clamp and each centralizer have radially directed projections thereon which interlock the clamp with each centralizer. Because the clamp is axially affixed, the centralizer is then also axially affixed. In one embodiment, the centralizer is axially moveable to a desired axial position prior to being interlocked to the tightened clamp.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to high-load centralizer systems and, more specifically, provides a system for securing one or more centralizers to a pipe coated with elastomeric or other suitable insulation material which in one preferred embodiment may be utilized as non-fixed riser interconnection or stress pipe riser interconnection between a floating platform and/or a subsea wellbore.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Marine risers have been utilized in the past with non-fixed riser interconnections, also referred to herein sometimes as stress joints and/or keel joints, which provide riser interconnections to floating platforms and/or drill ships and/or wellheads. A stress joint utilized adjacent the floating platform may sometimes be referred to herein as a keel joint because it extends through the bottom or the keel of the platform or other marine vessel. As used herein floating platform may refer to any marine structure. The floating platforms are generally maintained above the wellhead, or in the general vicinity of a plurality of wellheads. One type of non-fixed connection for this purpose is described in some detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,694, issued Jan. 29, 1980, to E. E. Horton, which is incorporated herein by reference. More specifically U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,694 provides for a marine riser system which extends between a floating offshore platform and one or more well means in a seabed formation and which has riser end portions non-fixedly connected in to the floating platform and to wellhead structure at the well hole. Each end portion of the riser may be adapted to yield axially, laterally, and rotatively during movement of the riser relative to the platform and to the wellhead structure. Each end portion of the riser is provided with fulcrum or pivot contacts, which may preferably comprise centralizers, with hawse pipe carried by the platform and with hawse pipe or casing means provided in the wellhead structure. Bending stresses at the riser end portions or stress joints are reduced at the platform and at the wellhead structure by utilizing the non-fixed connection described in greater detail therein.
The non-fixed connections, which may also be referred to herein as stress joints, utilize centralizers which are subject to considerable forces, as the centralizers act as fulcrums as described in the above cited U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,694. Due to the high stresses involved, over time undesirable axial slippage of the centralizers may occur with respect to the non-fixed riser connection or stress joint. Other problems with the non-fixed connections that may exacerbate the slippage of the centralizer include corrosion and/or galvanic action between for instance, the wellhead and the non-fixed riser connection or stress joint wherein the wellhead and centralizers may comprise steel and the stress joint may comprise titanium and/or steel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,659, issued Mar. 30, 1999, to B. J. Watkins, discloses an assembly including a protective sleeve spaced about an intermediate pipe of a riser which is adapted to extend through an opening in the bottom of a vertical compartment of a offshore rig for use in drilling or completing a subsea well, with a ball shaped portion on the upper end of the sleeve is closely received by ball shaped surfaces of the upper portion of the riser pipe, while a ball shaped part on the lower portion of the riser pipe is so received within the lower end of the sleeve to permit them to swivel as well as to move vertically with respect to one another.
Other attempts to reduce minimize or distribute forces applied to stress joints and/or keel joints are shown in the following documents:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,791, issued Jul. 23, 2002, to Pallini, Jr. et al., discloses an attachment which extends between an outer sleeve and an inner riser pipe where the pipe penetrates the keel of a platform. In one version, the attachment is a conically-shaped with a small diameter ring that engages the riser pipe and a large diameter ring that engages the outer sleeve. This attachment has elements that are very flexible in bending but relatively stiff and strong in axial load. Other versions include flat rings where lateral load is taken directly into tension and compression in the beams, allowing for relatively high lateral load transfer. Both the conically-shaped attachment and the flat ring have a number of variations that provide low bending stiffness but high axial stiffness of the elements. Depending on whether resistance to axial loads, lateral loads, or resistance to combination of both loads is desired, the attachment and the flat ring may be used alone or in combination. Other variations of the device provide two opposing conical shaped attachments or a conical and flat ring attachment installed together to provide load capability in both axial and lateral directions while still providing angular flexibility.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,205, issued Nov. 4, 1997, to J. E. Halkyard, discloses a stress relieving joint for pipe such as risers, tendons, and the like used in floating vessel systems wherein a vessel is subject to heave, pitch, and roll motion caused by wind, currents, and wave action; the pipe passing through a constraint opening in the vessel and connected to the sea floor and subject to bending or rotation at the constraint opening. The joint comprises a sleeve member of selected length with ends at opposite sides of the constraint opening and centralizing annuli or rings at sleeve member ends for providing spaced contact points or areas to distribute bending stresses imparted to the sleeve member at the constraint opening to the pipe at the sleeve member ends.
U.S. Patent Application Publication 2002/0084077 A1, published Jul. 4, 2002, to Finn et al., discloses a spar type floating platform having risers passing vertically through the center well of a spar hull. A gimbaled table supported above the top of the spar hull is provided for supporting the risers. The table flexibly is supported by a plurality of non-linear springs attached to the top of the spar hull. The non-linear springs compliantly constrain the table rotationally so that the table is allowed a limited degree of rotational movement with respect to the spar hull in response to wind and current induced environmental loads. Larger capacity non-linear springs are located near the center of the table for supporting the majority of the riser tension, and smaller capacity non-linear springs are located near the perimeter of the table for controlling the rotational stiffness of the table. The riser support table comprises a grid of interconnected beams having openings therebetween through which the risers pass. The non-linear springs may take the form of elastomeric load pads or hydraulic cylinders, or a combination of both. The upper ends of the risers are supported from the table by riser tensioning hydraulic cylinders that may be individually actuated to adjust the tension in and length of the risers. Elastomeric flex units or ball-in-socket devices are disposed between the riser tensioning hydraulic cylinders and the table to permit rotational movement between the each riser and the table.
The above cited prior art does not disclose suitable means for prevention of axial slippage of centralizers in a stress joint which may be subject to substantial forces as well as to corrosion and/or galvanic action. Consequently, there remains a need to provide an improved centralizer system with improved centralizers and centralizer mountings that are not subject to the above problems. Those of skill in the art will appreciate the present invention, which addresses the above problems and other significant problems.


A beach building structure for underwater installation along the shoreline of a body of water having periodic onshore wave action. The structure includes a base frame adapted to rest on the bottom of the body of water, a ballast supporting member secured to the base frame in order to receive ballast such as rocks to help anchor the structure in position. A barrier plate is secured to the seaward portion of the base frame and is angularly disposed to slope upwardly and toward the shoreline and to extend above the mean water level to present a sloping surface to onshore waves.

This invention relates to beach building and the related function of preventing shoreline erosion due to wave action. More particularly, the invention relates to a beach restoration structure which is placed in relatively shallow water a small distance from the shoreline, the structure being readily transportable to the shore site and adapted to be assembled in side-by-side relation with other units, in a partly submerged condition to define an off shore barrier.
Shorelines and beaches are subject to erosion from the action of waves impinging thereon. Wave action erodes beaches by several different mechanisms. Waves mobilize shoreline materials and then redistribute them. Shoreline structures including sea walls, pilings, etc. often increase beach erosion by causing wave reflection, turbulence, eddies and currents. These conditions mobilize the beach material which may be transported offshore, thus destroying the existing beach. Further, heavy storms can impinge high waves on beaches and shorelines imparting heavy forces which carry away the beach material and crumble the shoreline leading to catastrophic erosion.
In a natural beach/water ecosystem, the shallow water extending up to the beach and the beach face itself act to dissipate the energy of the waves, thereby preventing erosion of the land behind the beach. Typical waterfront profiles include (1) a surf zone of relatively shallow water where the waves break into surf, (2) a beach zone where a wave expends its last landward energy, and (3) the land behind the beach. During severe storm conditions when the waves are commonly two to three times their normal height or more, the typical result is the loss of material from the beach zone.
Many methods have been employed in an attempt to reduce shoreline erosion. These attempts have included both protruding and submerged breakwaters located offshore. The protruding breakwater reflects and/or dissipates the waves. A submerged breakwater either reflects and/or dissipates waves, or causes the waves to break further offshore. These breakwaters are typically constructed of concrete or stone and are solid structures, commonly rubble or rocks are piled in a line offshore to form a breakwater.
Breakwaters have several deficiencies. First of all, they are expensive to build and maintain. Rubble breakwaters erode by losing rock to the action of waves and unstable subsoils commonly cause the rocks or concrete segments to sink into the sea or lake bed. Wave action scours and undercuts the base of the breakwater and eventually causes portions to topple outward, thus rendering the structure useless.
Typically, these breakwater structures are built close enough to the shore for waves to come crashing in and hit with full force. The wall stops the forward movement of the wave and the wave ruptures transforming the forward energy of the wave into an equivalent level of vertical energy. The fraction of the wave deflected downward drives into the bottom material and the result is similar to directing a fire hose at the base of a wall causing scour and undercutting.
Revetments and sea walls are also used to reduce shoreline erosion. However, these structures actually inhibit beach formation. Although they may protect the shore behind the beach, they tend to erode the beach by creating intensified water currents which may permanently transport beach material away from the shore.
The unique beach building structure of the present invention resolves the difficulties described above and affords other features and advantages heretofore not obtainable.


A user is connected to the Internet by a proxy server that impersonates the user. Websites are accessed by sending an HTTP request to the proxy server. The HTTP request is encoded with characters that are understood by the proxy as requiring that the HTTP request be intercepted and either an identified script be executed or data within the request be extracted. The impersonating proxy automatically carries out the steps that would otherwise be carried out by the user when performing a transaction at a website. In one example, a user checks a bank website for a balance inquiry. A first HTTP request includes a script identifier. The proxy retrieves and executes the identified script, which in turn causes a an HTTP response to be sent to the user's browser for personal information (e.g., user name and password). That personal information is extracted from a second HTTP request returned to the proxy, and the proxy accesses the bank website, enters the personal information, retrieves the account balance, and provides it to the user.

Networked connections to the Internet are common, particularly in a corporate environment where multiple users are connected, via an intranet network and a proxy web server, to the Internet. The proxy server may store content (e.g., web site pages) for access by users outside the intranet. The server also provides internal network users with a portal or gateway to the Internet and runs many important internal applications. For example, the proxy server may act as a firewall to screen out harmful data and viruses. It may allocate connections, by permitting many users to share a single, high bandwidth connection to the Internet. It may also cache popular websites (saving access time) and block access to objectionable websites.
Because it serves as a user's portal to the Internet, a proxy or web server may be set-up to offer easy and convenient access to useful websites and data that are accessed via the Internet. The proxy server may be designed to provide a user interface with convenient links to selected pages of websites (e.g., the headline page of a news site). One drawback to such access is that it may be difficult to personalize (for each user) the content of those websites. Customizing and personalizing content can require use of passwords, "cookies", or other personal information, and there are practical difficulties in the proxy server storing personal information for every user. Even if such personal information can be stored, it may not be entirely useful since such information is periodically updated and there is no assurance that the stored information is the most current. Software can be loaded on a user's machine to personalize the content of a website (even if access is through a proxy server), but often the manger of a corporate network will not permit software (other than specifically authorized programs) to reside on user machines.


A wet blast machine for cleaning or preparing surfaces comprises: a treatment source for providing a pressurised mixture of treatment material; a nozzle, the nozzle comprising: an inlet for receiving the pressurised mixture of treatment material; an outlet for ejecting the pressurised mixture; and at least one hole in a wall of the nozzle, the hole for feeding one or more products into the nozzle such that one or more surfaces of the product are exposed to the treatment material whilst within the nozzle, allowing for a more efficient wet blast of the products.

In the wire manufacturing industry, after drawing of a wire, the wire often needs cleaning or treated to be rendered suitable for the intended application. For example, for cleaning, this is traditionally done by acid baths, however, environmental considerations have put pressure on companies to find alternative methods.
One such technique is to apply a vapour blast (also known as a wet blast) of treatment material using a pressurised treatment material passed through the nozzle of a blast gun. The wire or other material to be treated is fed past the exit treatment or blast stream of pressurised treatment material exiting the nozzle to treat or clean the wire as it passes.
However, blasting small diameter wires is expensive as the vapour blast stream needs to be quite large to allow for the wire vibrating in the blast stream. Whilst it is possible to add guides near the blast stream, these have a tendency to wear out quickly and also add to the complexity of the machine required to feed the wire past the treatment or blast stream.
Additionally, this technique is quite inefficient as the volume of treatment material and cone width of the blast stream is nowhere near spent after just hitting a single small diameter wire.


Provided is an electromagnetic-wave absorber composition and an electromagnetic-wave absorber that can favorably absorb a plurality of electromagnetic waves of different frequencies in a high frequency band in or above the millimeter-wave band. The electromagnetic-wave absorber composition includes a magnetic iron oxide that magnetically resonates at a high frequency in or above the millimeter-wave band and a resin binder. The electromagnetic-wave absorber composition has two or more extrema separated from each other on a differential curve obtained by differentiating a magnetic property hysteresis loop at an applied magnetic field intensity of from 16 kOe to −16 kOe. The electromagnetic-wave absorber includes an electromagnetic-wave absorbing layer formed of the above-described electromagnetic-wave absorber composition.

Mobile communications such as mobile phones, wireless LAN and electric toll collection system (ETC) utilize electromagnetic waves called "centimeter waves" having a frequency band of several gigahertz (GHz).
As an electromagnetic-wave absorbing material for absorbing such centimeter waves, Patent Document 1 proposes a stacked sheet in which a rubber electromagnetic-wave absorbing sheet and a paper sheet material (e.g., corrugated paper) are stacked (see Patent Document 1). Patent Document 2 proposes an electromagnetic-wave absorbing sheet whose thickness is adjusted by alternately stacking thin sheets containing anisotropic graphite and a binder, so that electromagnetic-wave absorbing properties are stabilized, regardless of the incident direction of electromagnetic waves (see Patent Document 2).
Furthermore, in order to absorb electromagnetic waves in a still higher frequency band, Patent Document 3 proposes an electromagnetic-wave absorbing sheet that can absorb electromagnetic waves in a frequency band of 20 GHz or higher, by aligning the longitudinal direction of flat soft magnetic particles with the plane direction of the sheet (see Patent Document 3).
Moreover, it is known from Patent Document 4 that an electromagnetic-wave absorber that has a packing structure of particles having epsilon iron oxide (ε-Fe2O3) crystal in the magnetic phase, exhibits electromagnetic-wave absorbing performance in a range of 25 to 100 GHz (see Patent Document 4).
Further, Patent Document 5 proposes a noise reduction cable for reducing electromagnetic noise in a wide wave band by covering insulated electric wires with a magnetic insulating layer in which two types of magnetic powders with different frequency characteristics are mixed (see Patent Document 5).

Electromagnetic wave absorbing composition and electromagnetic wave absorbing body


A pressure relief valve system is provided that makes it possible to provide numerous varied pressure relief functions with a minimum of structural changes. For this purpose, a standard distributing valve housing is equipped with a valve core that makes it possible to construct a double-acting pressure relief valve with an individually adjustable pressure system on each valve side. However, there is also the possibility of completely shutting off the pressure system on one side. The valve core and/or the valve elements are preferably exchangeable, and the valve elements can be separately controlled by an adjusting device, for example in the form of a proportional magnet, to generate a pressure output signal corresponding to an input signal in each of the independent pressure systems independent of one another.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an adjustable pressure relief valve or to an adjustable pressure relief valve system for generating a pressure output signal corresponding to a certain input value or signal in the valve connection area.
2. Discussion of the Background
Such pressure relief valves are known in various designs and, among other things, direct control or adjustment by precontrol can be performed. Pressure relief valves are also controlled by so-called proportional magnets, i.e., by a controllable direct voltage magnet that usually works in oil and converts an electrical signal into a proportional force that acts on the valve element of the pressure relief valve. With this type of action, a pressure relief valve with good adaptability is successfully incorporated in hydraulic control loops, and use is made of the advantage that the adjusted magnetic force remains constant over the entire control range.
However, the disadvantage of these previous attempts is that the pressure relief valves in question often had to be individually designed and constructed for different applications, and then a relatively expensive structural design was necessary. This design, matched individually to the application, results in a very limited flexibility with respect to the application possibilities of such valves in hydraulic systems of the most varied functions and requirements. Consequently, also the quantities of these valves remained limited each time. It is true that it was attempted to combine details of different basic pressure valve designs to make the production process more economical. But in known designs, this integration of the individual parts into other functional groups was able to be performed only at great expense in some cases.


Aerated confections in the form of pieces having a body color and a body exterior surface importantly characterized by at least a portion of which has been modified to provide an appearance disparate to the body. The aerated food products comprise 50 to 98% of a saccharide component; about 0.5 to 30% of a structuring agent; and about 1 to 8% moisture. The aerated food products have a density of about 0.1 to 1.0 g/cc. The products are additionally characterized by having an external surface, and wherein at least a portion of the external surface has a distinguishing feature differing from the body in color, texture or structure. Preparation methods are disclosed directed to a mass of aerated confection pieces having at least one colored portion and having an external surface; applying a substance, at least a fraction of which has a second color, to adhere to the external surface and to define sticky aerated confection pieces; and, forming the sticky aerated confection pieces into finished non-sticky coated pieces, The confectionery food products find particular suitability for use as ingredients for children""s RTE cereals.

The present invention is directed generally to food products and to their methods of preparation. In particular, the present invention is directed to improved aerated confectionery products such as dried marshmallows having a modified surface and to processes for making such surface modified aerated, confectionery products.
Aerated confections products are popular food items. Some products are fabricated from aerated confections compositions that comprise a fat constituent while others are substantially free of such fat constituents. An illustrative fat free aerated confection is the common marshmallow. Such marshmallow products are familiar in both larger and smaller sizes.
It is well known that such marshmallows when fresh are soft and pliable but will stale by losing moisture and become hard. Indeed, purposefully pre-dried aerated confections are also well known. These products, particularly in smaller or bit sizes, are commonly added to certain popular Ready-To-Eat (xe2x80x9cRTExe2x80x9d) breakfast cereals, particularly those marketed to children. Due to their small size (i.e., having a number count of 4 to 6/g), these dried aerated confectionery marshmallow products are sometimes colloquially referred to as xe2x80x9cMar.xe2x80x9d bits or xe2x80x9cmarbitsxe2x80x9d. The marbits must be pre-dried prior to admixture with the RTE cereal in order to reduce unwanted moisture migration from the marbit to the cereal and thus to forestall the multiple problems resulting therefrom.
While there are many types of marshmallow products on the market, their methods of preparation generally fall into two main process groups: extruded marshmallow and deposited marshmallow. In both types, a sugar syrup and a structuring agent (such as an albumin, agar or, preferably a gelatin) are the two main ingredients. Typically, the sugar syrup is heated to reduce moisture and is thereafter cooled down, and then combined with the gelatin solution to form a slurry. That slurry is then aerated to form a foam, and after aeration, colors and flavors are then added to the foam. The particular marshmallow product may be formed into its final shape by an extrusion process. That is, after aeration, the foam is extruded through a dye to form a rope. The dye imparts the desired peripheral shape to the extrudate rope. The rope is allowed to rest briefly to set, and then is cut into desired sizes. For dried marshmallows, the process can additionally include one or more drying steps. (See, for example U.S. Pat No. 4,785,551 issued Nov. 2, 1988 to W. J. Meyer entitled xe2x80x9cMethod of Drying Confection Piecesxe2x80x9d).
While marshmallows of a single color are most common, marshmallows having two or even a plurality of colors (collectively herein, xe2x80x9cmulti-coloredxe2x80x9d) are also known (see, for example, D 376,039 issued Dec. 3, 1996 entitled xe2x80x9cFood Productxe2x80x9d showing a two color marbit design) as well as methods for their preparation. (See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,380 issued Oct. 20, 1986 entitled xe2x80x9cMulticolor Confection Extrusion System and U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,404 issued Feb. 28, 1990 entitled xe2x80x9cMulticolor Confection Extrusion Systemxe2x80x9d, each of which are incorporated herein by reference). Both the ""404 and ""380 well describe the difficulties and sensitivities of such foam product preparation. The conventional processes for making multi-colored marshmallows teach to divide the aerated foam into a plurality of sub-streams, to admix a desired colorant to each sub-stream, and then extrude these colored sub-streams in substantially equal portions into a single rope or multiplicity of such ropes.
While multi-colored marshmallow pieces have enhanced consumer appeal particularly for children""s products, there is a continuing need for new confection products having novel appearance and appeal.
The present invention provides improvements to aerated confections especially dried marshmallow pieces. More particularly, the present invention relates to dried marshmallow pieces having surface modifications to alter their appearance and to methods of preparing such appearance modified aerated confection pieces.
In certain preferred embodiments, the provision of a surface modified appearance involves applying a topical particulate coating. Since fresh or undried aerated confections are naturally sticky, a topical starch coating is conventionally applied to eliminate the sticky surface attribute. Excess starch is removed such as by vibration. While effective, residual starch renders the aerated confections"" surface so resistant to adhesion that providing a coating, especially a discontinuous particulate coating, that resists separation is difficult. Adhering particulate coating is even more challenging for dried aerated confection since drying further reduces surface stickiness. The present invention provides methods for preparing coated dried aerated confections that overcome the problems of resistance to adhesion.
In its product aspect, the present invention resides in aerated confections in the form of pieces having a body color and a body exterior surface importantly characterized by at least a portion of which has been modified to provide an appearance disparate to the body.
The aerated confections comprise a body fabricated from an aerated confection comprising:
about 50 to 95% of a saccharide component;
about 1 to 30% moisture;
about 0.5 to 30% of a structuring agent; and, The confection compositions have densities of 0.10 to 1.0 g/cc.
The products are additionally characterized by a size of 0.1 to 5/g. These products can have a body of one color or the body can comprise a plurality of disparately colored phases. The products further can comprise a surface including a coating in a weight ratio of coating to body ranging from about 0.1:100 to about 30:100.
In its principal method aspect, the present invention provides methods for preparing an aerated confection, comprising the steps of:
A. Topically applying a substance to adhere to aerated confection pieces having at least one portion having a first color and having a moisture content of about 1% to 30% to provide sticky aerated confection pieces having the substance adhered thereto; and
B. Processing the sticky aerated confection pieces having the substance adhered thereto to form non-sticky, dried aerated confection pieces with the substances adhered having a moisture content of about 1% to 8%.

Appearance modified aerated confection and method of preparation


An apparatus including a body configured for resilient contortion from a neutral equilibrium shape by a user, the body having an exterior surface that resiliently contorts in response to user actuation and defines at least part of an exterior surface of the apparatus; and electronic circuitry including at least a processor and a display, controlled by the processor on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the body.

There are various different ways in which a user can control an apparatus via a man-machine-interface (MMI). For example, the apparatus may comprise a cursor control device such as a mouse or trackball. For example, the apparatus may have devices that enable tactile actuation such as keys, touch screens etc. For example, the apparatus may have devices that enable audio actuation such as a microphone and voice recognition circuitry.


The present disclosure provides a computing apparatus and a method for securing access to the computing device. The computing apparatus comprises a housing, a data storage device disposed in the housing, a cover movably coupled to the housing to secure the data storage device in the housing, and a controller coupled to the data storage device. The controller is configured to grant access to the data storage device upon detecting an authorized attempt of opening the cover and to deny access to the data storage device upon detecting an unauthorized attempt of opening the cover.

Conventional data storage device secured in a housing in a computing system includes a Self-Encryption Drive (SED) for encrypting the data to prevent unauthorized access in situations where the housing is intruded. No solution is available in known data security apparatuses and methods which is capable of determining access grant to authorized user. It is therefore desirable to provide a data security apparatus which is capable of assessing a nature of attempted access to the data storage device based on predetermined criteria and determine access grant or denial accordingly.

LENOVO Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) PTE. LTD


A continuous jet module for discharging a high viscosity printing fluid and apparatus which includes a plurality of the printing modules is provided. The module includes a housing having a printing fluid reservoir for storing and providing said high viscosity printing fluid and a plurality of channels. The reservoir has a first longitudinal direction and includes a plurality of openings in a second direction. Each channel is disposed in one of the corresponding openings and each channel receives the high viscosity printing fluid from the reservoir through its corresponding opening and generates therefrom a continuous jet of high viscosity printing fluid.

Ink jet printing systems are well known in the art. Generally speaking, ink jet printing systems fall into two main categories--continuous-jet and drop-on-demand.
In both categories, droplets are formed by forcing a printing fluid, or ink, through a nozzle. Hence, the ink-jet devices typically include a multitude of very small diameter nozzles. Drop-on-demand systems typically use nozzles having openings ranging from 30 to 100 .mu.m while continuous-jet systems typically use nozzles having openings ranging from only 10-35 .mu.m.
One deficiency of prior art continuous jet ink-jet systems is that they are not suitable for printing and coating with high viscosity printing and coating fluids, respectively. However, printing with high viscosity printing fluids and coating of printed substrates with a high viscosity coating fluid are desired for many applications, such as on textiles and for overprint coatings, respectively.

Apparatus and method for multi-jet generation of high viscosity fluid and channel construction particularly useful therein


A ratcheting compression device is provided which is very strong, which can be customized in length, which can be retightened periodically to maintain compression, which allows precise placement and alignment of bones with both grossly tuned compression and finely tuned compression, and in which only a limited inventory of parts is required. The two-piece compression device comprises (a) a novel first piece having a bone screw located at a first end thereof and having a ratcheting means located near the second end thereof and comprising teeth having their crests lying substantially in a plane and (b) a novel second piece comprising an anti-rotation means which acts in cooperation with the ratcheting means of the first piece to compress two segments of bone together.. In yet other embodiments, two embodiments of a driver are provided for quickly driving the stop onto the ratcheting means to a desired extent.. In a further embodiment, a customized method for compressing and fixing a first bone segment and a second bone segment together is provided.

In the prior art, a variety of devices for compressing bone have been known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,005, U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,561, U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,612 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,462. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,664 a ratcheting bone screw is disclosed.
It is an object of this invention to provide another compression device which is very strong, which can be customized in length, which can be retightened periodically to maintain compression, which allows precise placement and alignment of bones with both grossly tuned compression and finely tuned compression, and in which only a limited inventory of parts is required.


An apparatus and method for analysing temperature-dependent molecular configurations such as folding comprises a multi-channel flow-through chip (12) along which molecules to be analysed pass. A temperature gradient is maintained along the length of the chip. As molecules pass along the channels they fold or unfold, in response to the changing temperature. These changing molecular configurations are investigated by simultaneously measuring the extent to which the molecules absorb UV light, and the extent to which they fluoresce. The absorption and fluorescence information is supplied to a computer system (26) for real-time analysis.

Proteins are made up of a string of sub-units called amino acids, the sequence of which is known as the primary structure of the protein. This first level of organisation of the protein is directed by the gene sequence encoding the protein, wherein a sequence of three nucleic acids (a codon) in the gene specifies the nature of the amino acid at any particular position. In addition to the primary structure, most proteins also exhibit a higher level of structural organisation. It is this three dimensional, or tertiary, structure, which allows the protein to function in its biological role. Many proteins in the cell exist as aggregates of two or more folded proteins, or sub-units. This level of organisation is referred to as the quaternary structure of a protein.
Typically, proteins are made up of a number of folded domains, i.e. compact regions of folded structure. Several varieties of domains exist, including α-helices, β-sheets and β-turns.
A folded protein is held in its secondary or tertiary structure by several types of bonds. These include electrostatic interactions, which occur between the oppositely charged side chains of the amino acids making up the primary structure; hydrogen bonds between amino acids; weak interactions between uncharged groups (known as van der Waals interactions): and disulphide bonds between cysteine amino acid residues. Unfolding a protein by reversing these interactions is known as denaturing the protein, back to its primary structure. This may be achieved by placing the protein in a high temperature environment, or in SDS solution.
The folding of a protein to its final, functional conformation is one of the last steps in protein production. It is a vital step in a complex process, and any error in the process can induce massive physiological problems. For example, there is strong evidence to suggest that Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) stems from a mis-folded protein (Horwich et al Cell 89 499-510 (1997)). An understanding of protein folding and stability will provide a clearer insight into the causes of disease, and therefore will allow the development of better treatments or preventative measures for disease.
There exist a number of techniques to study proteins. These include X-ray crystallography ((Blundell et al Protein Crystallography London: Academic press (1976)); NMR (Clore et al Progress in NMR Spectroscopy 23 43-92 (1991)); differential scanning calirometry (Blaber et al protein structure and Stability Florida State University (1995)); and unnatural amino acid engineering (Mendel et al Science 256 (5065) 1798-1802 (1992)).
X-ray crystallography is a preferred method for determining the three dimensional structure of proteins. However, this technique has the fundamental problem that it can only be employed when the proteins are crystallised, and this is not always easy or even possible. This puts constraints on the ability to study conformational changes in the protein, changes in the folding in response to changes in environment, or interaction with other factors.
Florescence and absorption by certain optically active amino acids in a protein have also been used to monitor conformational changes in protein and to measure protein concentration (Chen et al Biochemistry 37 9976-9982 (1998)). These amino acids contain an indole chromophore whose transitional geometry is responsible for the optical activity of the amino acid (Callis et al Chemical Physics Letters 244 53-58 (1995); Fender et al Chemical Physics Letters 262 343-348 (1996) and Fender et al Chemical Physics Letters 239 31-37 (1995)). The main amino acids contributing to this are tryptophan and tyrosine, while phenylalanine and the disulphide bond between cysteine residues also show some fluorescence.
The problem encountered with all of the above mentioned techniques is that they are not capable of real-time protein folding analysis. This imposes significant constraints on protein folding and stability analysis, and therefore also on the use of proteins in the diagnosis and prevention and/or treatment of disease. Furthermore, current systems often reveal little about the relationship between the dynamics of the folding and the static conformational information available.
The present invention will be useful in any method where it is desirable to analyse the folding and/or stability of a protein, and/or the interaction of a protein with biological factors including ligands, receptors, sugars, hormones, nucleic acids and therapeutics agents. Other long chain or macromolecules may also be studied, as long as they are able to fold or otherwise change their physical configuration in response to a temperature change.

Analysis of temperature-dependent molecular configurations


A semiconductor light emitting diode having a textured structure and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor light emitting diode includes a first semiconductor layer formed into a textured structure, an intermediate layer formed between the textured structures of the patterned first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a third semiconductor layer sequentially formed on the first semiconductor layer and the intermediate layer.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor light emitting diode, and more particularly, to a semiconductor light emitting diode that improves light extraction efficiency using a textured structure and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A light emitting diode (LED) is a device used for converting electrical energy into infra red rays, visible light, or other light using the characteristics of a compound semiconductor. The light emitting diode is a type of electro luminescent (EL) device, and presently, the light emitting diodes that employ an III-V group compound semiconductor are being practically utilized.
The III-V group compound semiconductor is a direct transition semiconductor, and is widely used for LEDs or laser diodes (LDs) since it provides stable operation at a higher temperature than devices that use other semiconductors. The III-V group compound semiconductor is typically formed on a substrate formed of sapphire Al2O3 or SiC. To improve light emission efficiency, or light extraction efficiency, a variety of LED structures have been studied. Presently, a study is being carried out to improve the light extraction efficiency by forming a textured structure on a light extraction region of the LED.
Light is hindered at an interface of material layers having different refractive indexes according to the refractive index of each of the material layers. In the case of a flat interface, when the light passes from a semiconductor layer having a greater refractive index (n=2.5) into an air layer having a smaller refractive index (n=1), the light must enter the flat interface at less than a predetermined angle with respect to the normal. If the light enters at an angle greater than the predetermined angle, the light totally is internally reflected at the flat interface, thereby greatly reducing the light extraction efficiency. To avoid the total internal reflection of light, a method of incorporating a textured structure at the interface has been attempted.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are cross-sectional views illustrating a conventional light emitting diode having a textured structure. Referring to FIG. 1A, a p-GaN layer 102, an active layer 103, an n-GaN layer 104 are sequentially formed on a p-electrode 101, and an n-electrode 105 is formed on the n-GaN layer 104. When light generated by the active layer 103 is extracted upward through the n-GaN layer 104, to change the incidence angle of the light, a textured structure 106 is incorporated at an interface between the n-GaN layer 104 and the air layer.
Referring to FIG. 1B, an n-GaN layer 112 is formed on a sapphire substrate 111, and an n-AlGaN layer 113, an active layer 114, a p-AlGaN layer 115, a p-GaN layer 116, and a p-electrode 117 are sequentially formed on a region of the n-GaN layer 112. An n-electrode 118 is formed on a region of the n-GaN layer 112 where the n-AlGaN layer 113 is not formed. This is a flip-chip structure in which light generated by the active layer 114 is mainly extracted through the transparent sapphire substrate 111. Here, the light extraction efficiency is improved by forming a textured structure 120 on the surface of the sapphire substrate 111.
A conventional semiconductor light emitting diode incorporates the textured structure 120 to improve the light extraction efficiency. However, particularly as depicted in FIG. 1B, when the textured structure 120 is incorporated by patterning the sapphire substrate 111, the growth of a semiconductor layer with a uniform quality is difficult, because there is a great possibility of generating defects in the semiconductor layer due to unmatched crystal structure between the sapphire substrate 111 and the semiconductor layer formed on the sapphire substrate 111. As a result, the light extraction efficiency is reduced due to the internal crystal defects.

Semiconductor light emitting device having textured structure and method of manufacturing the same


A scroll compressor has structure in the tips of at least one of its wraps that reduces a force separating the scroll wraps. In one embodiment, the structure includes recesses formed in the tip such that low pressure fluid is tapped across the surface between the tip and the opposed scroll base. The low pressure fluid reduces the separating force between the scroll wrap. Separating walls may be formed to define separate recesses. In a second embodiment, an intermediate pressure fluid is tapped into a groove. Again, the low pressure reduces the separating force component across the scroll wrap. This invention is particularly valuable in the type of scroll wraps having thick wraps.

This invention relates to a structure for minimizing separating pressure in a scroll compressor by tapping an intermediate suction pressure to the tip of at least one of the scroll members.
Scroll compressors are becoming widely accepted in the HVAC and refrigeration industries. Scroll compressors are relatively inexpensive, and typically more efficient and less noisy than reciprocating compressor counterparts. Scroll compressor technology has advanced greatly over the past several years. However, scroll compressor design still presents challenges in achieving reliable operation over a broad range of suction and discharge conditions. One major challenge is the reduction of the separating force between the orbiting and fixed scroll members.
FIG. 1 is a view of a known scroll compressor 20. An orbiting scroll 22 is driven through a shaft 24 to move relative to a fixed scroll 26 and compress a fluid captured between orbiting scroll 22 and fixed scroll 26. Fixed scroll 26 has a scroll wrap 28 and the orbiting scroll has a scroll wrap 27. As known, the two scroll wraps contact each other at several points along the flanks, as well as opposing baseplates, that defines compression chambers between fixed and orbiting scroll wraps.
Refrigerant captured between orbiting scroll 22 and fixed scroll 26 creates a separating force tending to move the two scroll members away from each other. It is desirable to maintain the two scroll members in contact with each other to minimize leakage and avoid instability. When a scroll compressor becomes instable, the orbiting scroll is not in equilibrium. Instead, it may pivot or overturn until it comes in contact with another mechanical element. This action, coupled with the orbital movement of the orbiting scroll results in a sort of wobbling motion with axial contact occurring along the edge of the part. This wobbling, or instability, results in leakage through the gaps opened by the separated tips, edge loading of the scroll surfaces, and angular misalignment of the scroll drive bearing. All of these could quickly lead to loss of performance and premature failure of the compressor.
In effect, the separating force tries to push orbiting scroll 22 away from the fixed scroll 26. To combat this separating force, a back pressure chamber 29 is created between two sealing elements 30 and 32 mounted in a crankcase 33 which is also fixed to the fixed scroll 26. Back pressure chamber 29 receives fluid from a tap, such as tap 34. The aspects of compressor 20 described to this point are as known in the art and form no portion of this invention.
However, the back chamber force is limited in magnitude, because of space limitations on the back chamber area and maximum achievable back chamber pressure. Essentially, the force in back pressure chamber 29 must overcome the separating force and press orbiting scroll 22 upwardly against fixed scroll, as well as be high enough to avoid orbiting scroll instability. The problem becomes most pronounced for refrigeration applications, with a broad range of operating pressures. Thus, it would be most desirable to reduce the separating force to minimize the restrictions on the compressor operating range.
The separating force across a portion of the scroll is shown graphically in FIG. 2. The dotted line 28 shows the location over the tip portion of scroll wrap. As is known, a higher pressure is applied on one side of wrap 28 and a lower pressure exists on the opposed side. The separating force is created by the pressure multiplied by the area over which the pressure is applied.
The present invention is directed to reducing the component of separating force applied across the scroll wrap tip. There is a pressure transition or gradient 35 across the tip of scroll wrap 28. The transition can be estimated by assuming a straight slope between the high pressure to the low pressure across the width of the wrap. While this estimation may not always be accurate, it is generally a good approximation. In practice, however, there are some variations and the pressure gradient is not always a constant slope. The problem to be solved by this invention will be explained by reference to the constant pressure slope shown in FIG. 2. However, it should be understood that the slope may be a curve or other irregular shape. The problem to be solved would still exist.
As shown in FIG. 2, there is changing pressure shown by cross-hatching beneath gradient 35 across the width of scroll wrap 28. This pressure multiplied by the area it covers contributes a portion of the separating force. Originally, scroll wraps were thin and of constant width. The separating force component across the scroll wrap tips was relatively small in this type of prior art systems, since the area of the scroll wrap was relatively small.
However, more recently, varying width scroll wraps have been developed such as shown in FIG. 1. These varying width scroll wraps have some relatively wide locations. At the wide locations, the separating force component over the scroll wrap tips becomes significant, and as such it becomes beneficial to reduce it for the reasons mentioned above.

Scroll compressor with reduced separating force between fixed and orbiting scroll members


An improved method for applying polymeric antireflective coatings to substrate surfaces and the resulting precursor structures are provided. Broadly, the methods comprise plasma enhanced chemical vapor depositing (PECVD) a polymer on the substrate surfaces. The most preferred starting monomers are 4-fluorostyrene, 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorostyrene, and allylpentafluorobenzene. The PECVD processes comprise subjecting the monomers to sufficient electric current and pressure so as to cause the monomers to sublime to form a vapor which is then changed to the plasma state by application of an electric current. The vaporized monomers are subsequently polymerized onto a substrate surface in a deposition chamber. The inventive methods are useful for providing highly conformal antireflective coatings on large surface substrates having super submicron (0.25 μm or smaller) features. The process provides a much faster deposition rate than conventional chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods, is environmentally friendly, and is economical.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention is broadly concerned with methods of forming antireflective coating layers on silicon and dielectric materials as well as the resulting integrated circuit precursor structures. More particularly, the inventive methods comprise providing a quantity of a polymer generated by the subliming of monomers into the plasma state by electric current and subsequent polymerization thereof onto the surface of a substrate.
2. Background of the Prior Art
Integrated circuit manufacturers are consistently seeking to maximize silicon wafer sizes and minimize device feature dimensions in order to improve yield, reduce unit case, and increase on-chip computing power. Device feature sizes on silicon chips are now submicron in size with the advent of advanced deep ultraviolet (DUV) microlithographic processes. However, reducing the substrate reflectivity to less than 1% during photoresist exposure is critical for maintaining dimension control of such submicron features. Therefore, light absorbing organic polymers known as antireflective coatings are applied beneath photoresist layers in order to reduce the reflectivity normally encountered from the semiconductor substrates during the photoresist DUV exposure.
These organic antireflective layers are typically applied to the semiconductor substrates by a process called spincoating. While spincoated antireflective layers offer excellent reflectivity control, their performance is limited by their nonuniformity, defectivity and conformality constrictions, and other inefficiencies inherent within the spincoating process. As the industry approaches the adoption of eight-inch or even twelve-inch semiconductor substrates, the inherent inefficiencies of the spincoating process become magnified.
When spincoated at thicknesses ranging from 500 Å to 2500 Å, commercial organic antireflective coating layers require polymers specifically designed to prevent molecular intermixing with adjacent photoresist layers coated and baked thereon. Although high optical density at DUV wavelengths enable these pre-designed polymers to provide effective reflectivity control at prior art dimensions, they have numerous drawbacks.
Another problem with the currently available antireflective coating application processes is inadequate planarization. Organic antireflective coatings are usually formed by spincoating. The formed layers typically lack uniformity in that the thickness at the edge of the substrate is greater than the thickness at the center. Furthermore, spincoated antireflective coating layers tend to planarize or unevenly coat surface topography rather than form highly conformal layers (i.e., layers which evenly coat each aspect of the substrate and the features). For example, if an antireflective coating layer with a nominal layer thickness of 1000 Å is spincoated over raised features having feature heights of 0.25 μm, the layer may prove to be only 350 Å thick on top of the features, while being as thick as 1800 Å in the troughs located between the raised features. When planarization occurs with these ultramicroscopic feature sizes, the antireflective coating layer is too thin on the top of the features to provide the desired reflection control at the features. At the same time, the layer is too thick in the troughs to permit efficient layer removal during subsequent plasma etch. That is, in the process of clearing the antireflective coating from the troughs by plasma etch, the sidewalls of the resist features become eroded, producing microscopically-sized—but significant—changes in the feature shape and/or dimensions. Furthermore the resist thickness and edge acuity may be lost, which can lead to inconsistent images or feature patterns as the resist pattern is transferred into the substrate during subsequent etching procedures.
Other problems can occur as well due to the fact that spincoating of these ultra-thin antireflective coating layers takes place at very high speeds in a dynamic environment. Accordingly, pinholes, voids, striations, bubbles, localized poor adhesion, center-to-edge thickness variations, and other defects occur as a consequence of attendant rapid or non-uniform solvent evaporation, dynamic surface tension, and liquid-wavefront interaction with surface topography. The defects stemming therefrom become unacceptable with increased wafer size (e.g., eight- to twelve-inch wafers) and when patterning super submicron (e.g., 0.25 μm or smaller) features.
There is a need for an improved process of depositing antireflective coatings on various substrates. This process should overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks while providing for rapid deposition of the antireflective coatings.

Polymeric antireflective coatings deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition


Long products are hot rolled and sized by being subjected to progressively diminishing area reductions in a succession of at least three mechanically interconnected two roll passes driven by a common mill drive. The area reductions are achieved by imparting a first cross sectional configuration to the products rolled in the first roll pass, and by imparting a different second cross sectional configuration to the products being rolled in each of the second and third roll passes. A wide range of product sizes is accommodated by selectively adjusting the speeds at which each of the roll passes is driven by the common mill drive in order to vary the drive speed ratios between successive roll passes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the rolling of long products, and is concerned in particular with an improved method and apparatus for continuously hot rolling ferrous rods and bars.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the conventional steel rod rolling mill, as depicted schematically in FIG. 1, a plurality of roll stands S1-S27 are aligned along a rolling line to continuously roll billets received from a furnace 10 or other like source. The roll stands are arranged in successive groups which typically include a roughing group 12, an intermediate group 14 and a finishing group 16. The roll stands of the roughing and intermediate groups are usually individually driven, and are arranged alternately with horizontal and vertical work rolls, or in some cases with housings that can be adjusted to achieve either horizontal or vertical work roll configurations.
The roll stands of the finishing group 16 are usually mechanically connected to each other and to a common drive to provide an arrangement referred to as a "block" (illustrated diagrammatically at 18 in FIG. 1). U.S. Pat. Nos. Re.28,107 and 4,537 055 provide illustrative examples of blocks well known and widely employed throughout the metals industry. The mill rolling schedule will usually be based on an oval-round pass sequence, with guides being arranged between the roll stands to direct the product from one roll pass to the next along the rolling line.
Modern mills of the above-described type must have the capability of meeting diverse and increasingly demanding customer requirements, not the least important of which is the ability to supply a wide range of product sizes. For example, a rod mill should ideally be capable of supplying round rods ranging from about 3.5 to 25.5 mm in diameter.
When changing from one product size to another, the mill must be shut down in order to afford operating personnel an opportunity to make the necessary adjustments to the rolling equipment. Such adjustments include changing work rolls and guides, rendering selected stands inoperative by either removing them from the rolling line or removing their work rolls (a practice commonly referred to as "dummying"), etc.
The duration and frequency of such shutdowns can have a severe negative impact on overall mill utilization. For example, in the conventional mill illustrated in FIG. 1, even when making a relatively modest change from rolling a family of products having as its smallest size a 5.5 mm diameter round to another family of products having as its smallest size a 6.0 mm round, the work rolls of the roll passes in stands S12 to S19 of the intermediate mill 14 and all of the work rolls in stands S20 to S27 of the block 18 must be changed. In addition, most if not all of the guides between stands S12 to S29 also must be changed. This can take up to an hour to complete, at a significant loss in production time and profit to the mill owner.
Because of this, mill operators are reluctant to frequently make major changes to product sizes, preferring instead to roll the same or closely related sizes within the same family for protracted periods. This not only increases product storage requirements and inventory costs, but also fails to provide the flexibility often needed to meet customer requirements. The need to store a wide variety of work rolls and guides further exacerbates inventory costs.
There is also a growing demand to have products "sized", i.e., finish rolled to extremely close tolerances on the order of those approaching cold drawn tolerances. The tolerances achieved through sizing enable products to be employed "as rolled", i.e., without having to be additionally subjected to expensive machining operations such as "peeling" or "broaching". Such high tolerance products are required, for example, in the manufacture of bearing cages, automotive valve springs, etc. Also, depending on the type of steel being processed and the intended end use of the product, the customer may further require that finish rolling be carried out at temperatures at or about the A.sub.3 temperature (a process which can be classified as "thermomechanical rolling"). Thermomechanically rolled products rolled below the recrystalization temperature retain a flattened or "pancaked" fine grain structure which increases tensile strength while at the same time shortening the time required for subsequent heat treatments, e.g., spheroidized annealing.
In the conventional sizing operation, the product exiting from the last stand of the finishing group 18 is subjected to further rolling in so-called "sizing" stands. The sizing stands achieve the desired close tolerances by affecting relatively light reductions in a round-round pass sequence. A recent development in sizing technology as it relates to larger diameter bar products is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No 4,907,438 issued Mar. 13 1990 to Sasaki et al. Here, the sizing stands are grouped in block form at a location downstream from the delivery end of the finishing section of a bar mill. The sizing stands have fixed interstand drive speed ratios and a round-round pass sequence adapted to take relatively light reductions on the order of 8.7-13.5%. By changing groove configurations and/or roll partings in the roll stands of the sizing mill, and by dummying out selected upstream roll stands in the intermediate and/or finishing mill sections, it is theoretically possible to produce an incremental range of finished product sizes, thereby improving operating efficiency and mill utilization.
However, experience has indicated that such improvements may be offset and in some cases put entirely out of reach by the development in certain products of a duplex microstructure, where the grains throughout the cross-section of the product vary in size by more than about 2 ASTM grain size numbers*. This phenomenon, commonly referred to as "abnormal grain growth", is particularly pronounced in medium carbon and case hardening steel grades. FNT * Measured in accordance with ASTM E112-84.
It is generally recognized that a variation of more than about 2 ASTM grain size numbers in the cross-section of a product can cause rupturing and surface tearing when the product is subjected to subsequent cold drawing operations. Such grain size variations also contribute to poor annealed properties, which in turn adversely affect cold deformation processes.
It has now been determined that abnormal grain growth can occur as a result of the time interval which conventionally occurs between the last significant reduction which takes place during normal rolling and the lighter reductions which take place during sizing.
More particularly, in the roll stands of the roughing, intermediate and finishing groups, the product is subjected to relatively high levels of successive reductions on the order of 15 to 30%. Each such reduction produces an increased energy level in the product sufficient to create a substantially uniform distribution of fine grains. Depending on time, temperature and chemical composition, after each sequential reduction the internal energy produced by deformation instantly begins to dissipate by recovery, recrystallization and grain growth. At each successive significant reduction, the increased internal energy state is reestablished, which again refines the microstructure. Thus, as the product proceeds through the mill and is rapidly subjected to relatively high levels of successive reductions, it retains a substantially uniform fine grained microstructure.
However, after the last significant reduction, grain growth again commences. The extent to which grain growth continues is directly dependent on time, temperature and the chemical composition of the steel being rolled. The relatively light reductions which are taken subsequently in the sizing stands are insufficient to affect the entire microstructure of the product, since only grains at the product surface are deformed.
Thus, unless sizing occurs sufficiently soon after the last significant mill reduction, the intervening unabated grain growth coupled with only localized surface grain deformation during sizing will produce an unacceptable dual grain microstructure, with the size of grains varying significantly throughout the cross-section of the product.
This phenomenon is further illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG. 2A includes photomicrographs (X150) showing the grain structure at selected locations in the cross-section of a 12.5 mm rod, steel grade 1040, with uniform grain structure prior to sizing. FIG. 2B includes photomicrographs at the same magnification of the same rod after it has been subjected to a 7.6% reduction in two round sizing passes. The resulting duplex microstructure is plainly evident.
As the rolling schedule changes and stands are progressively dummied back through the finishing and intermediate sections of the mill in order to feed the sizing stands with progressively larger products, the time interval between the last significant reduction and the commencement of sizing increases, thereby exacerbating the abnormal grain growth problem.
Some attempts have been made at eliminating duplex microstructures by taking higher reductions in the round passes of the sizing stands. While this practice does yield more uniform microstructures, it does so at the cost of poorer tolerances and a marked decrease in the ability of the mill to roll a range of product sizes without changing roll grooves (a practice commonly referred to as "free size rolling").
The fixed interstand drive speed ratios of conventional sizing stands also seriously limit the possibility of combining sizing with other operations, e.g., thermomechanical rolling.

Method and apparatus for continuously hot rolling ferrous long products


A semiconductor device comprising a metal base, a metal frame, a semiconductor element, a feedthrough, and a metal side plate is disclosed. The semiconductor element is mounted on the metal base in a space defined by the metal base and the metal frame. The feedthrough is inserted into a cutout of the metal frame, and includes a wiring, a lower block mounting the wiring thereon, and an upper block mounted on the lower block. A combined sectional shape of the lower block and the upper block is a projecting shape. A part of the upper block is located inside the space. The metal side plate is provided between a side surface of the feedthrough and the cutout of the metal frame. The metal side plate has a projecting shape and covers the entire side surface of the feedthrough.

In a field of semiconductor devices, electronic components such as a semiconductor element may be hermetically sealed for protection from moisture and foreign matters. Input and output of signals with respect to the sealed electronic components are performed via feedthroughs. In such a hermetically sealed package, a projecting shaped feedthrough made of alumina is applied with stress from a metal wall surrounding the feedthrough due to a temperature change to generate a crack, so that the hermeticity may be lost. JP2012-038837A discloses a configuration in which the thickness of the upper portion of the feedthrough is formed to be larger than the thickness of the metal wall so as to prevent the hermeticity from being lost.

SUMITOMO ELECTRIC DEVICE INNOVATIONS, INC.


When a print data reception circuit 2 receives a print command, the print data reception circuit 2 transmits data indicating this to a drive signal generating circuit 6, and also transmits data indicating a desired member of ejections per dot to a drive signal correction circuit 8. Based on memory content of a reference data storage circuit 4, the drive signal generating circuit 6 produces a reference drive signal, which includes a predetermined maximum number of ejection pulses for printing each single dot, and transmits it to the drive signal correction circuit 8. The drive signal correction circuit 8 produces a print drive signal by removing unnecessary ejection pulses from the reference drive signal, in accordance with the desired number of ejection pulses indicated in the print command, and than transmits the print drive signal to a charge/discharge circuit 10. The charge/discharge circuit 10 controls electric potential difference between electrodes 619, 921 in accordance with high and low levels of the application drive signal. The piezoelectric material between the electrodes 619 and 621 deforms according to the electric potential difference, so that a desired number of ink droplets are ejected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink ejecting device for forming images on a recording medium, such as paper, by ejecting ink from nozzles in accordance with print commands.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ink jet printers are a type of non-impact printer. They are based on the simplest operation principle and are also easily adapted for both tonal and color printing. Drop-on-demand type ink jet printers, which eject only ink required for printing, have good ejection efficiency and low running costs and so are becoming rapidly more popular. Conventional ink ejection units are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,879,568, 4,887,100, 4,992,808, 5,003,679, and 5,028,936 and in Japanese Patent Application Publication (Kokai) No. SHO-63-247051, which corresponds at least partially to all of these U.S. patents.
Next, an explanation will be provided for an exemplary conventional shear mode type ejection unit that uses piezoelectric material for ejecting ink droplets. The ink ejection unit includes a plurality of ink chambers. Each ink chamber is defined by side walls made from piezoelectric material, and a nozzle plate formed with a nozzle through which ink droplets are ejected from the ink chamber. At the lengthwise end opposite the nozzle plate, the ink chamber is in fluid connection with a manifold through which ink is supplied to the ink chamber.
When an ink droplet is to be ejected from an ink chamber, a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric wells of that chamber, so that the walls of the chamber deform in a direction for increasing volume of the ink chamber and for reducing pressure in the ink chamber. The application of voltage is continued for a time T required for a pressure wave to propagate once from the nozzle plate to the manifold, that is, along the lengthwise direction of the ink chamber. During this time, ink is drawn from into the ink chamber from the manifold. The time T is calculated using the following formula:
T=L/a
where L equals the length of the ink chamber; and
a equals speed of sound through the ink filling the ink chamber.
According to theories on pressure wave propagation, when the time T elapses after start of application of the voltage to the side walls, the pressure in the ink chamber inverts to a positive pressure. At this timing, the voltage applied to the piezoelectric side walls of the ink chamber is switched to zero volts, whereupon the piezoelectric side walls revert to their condition of before deformation, thereby applying pressure to the ink filling the ink chamber. This pressure applied to ink in the ink chamber by the side walls is added to the positive inverted pressure from the pressure wave. As a result, a fairly high pressure is generated near the nozzle of the ink chamber, so that an ink droplet is ejected from the nozzle.
It is well-known that pressure fluctuations, such as those described above, can be used for various purposes. For example, the pressure fluctuations can be used to eject a plurality of ink droplets in succession, in order to increase the surface area where ink clings to the recording medium. That is, when residual pressure wave vibration from a prior ink ejection inverts to a negative pressure, the piezoelectric walls can be applied with a voltage to deform them in the direction for increasing the volume of the ink chamber. When the residual pressure wave vibration inverts back to a positive pressure, then the piezoelectric walls are deformed in the direction for decreasing the volume of the ink chamber. As a result, a plurality of ink droplets are ejected in succession. The plurality of ink droplets either couple together in flight and impinge on the recording medium as a single layer droplet, or impinge on the recording medium separately as a plurality of ink droplets shifted slightly from each other, but in an overlapping condition. In other words, by changing the number of ink droplets ejected in succession, the surface area of ink clinging to the recording medium can be controlled.
Alternatively, the pressure fluctuations can be used to cancel out vibration in the ink in order to prevent undesired ink ejections. In this one, when the residual pressure wave vibration from a prior ejection inverts to a position pressure, the piezoelectric walls are deformed in the direction for increasing the volume in the ink chamber. Afterwards, when the vibration of the residual pressure wave inverts to a negative pressure, the actuator walls are deformed in the direction for decreasing the volume in the ink chamber. As a result, the residual pressure wave vibration is canceled out. The residual pressure wave vibration in the ink chamber undesirably pushes the ink meniscus out of the nozzle or pulls the meniscus into the ink chamber. However, when the residual pressure wave is canceled out in this manner, it has been proven experimentally that undesired ejection of ink from the nozzle can be prevented.
Tonal printing, wherein different tones are achieved by printing in different densities of ink, can be performed using this type of ink ejection unit by changing the number of ink droplets ejected onto the recording medium for each dot""s worth of print data. Conventionally, a ROM or other storage device stores separate date for different drive signal types. For example, the ROM or other memory medium stores data for a drive signal for ejecting a single ink droplet for each dot, a drive signal for ejecting two ink droplets for each dot, a drive signal for ejecting three ink droplets for each dot, and the like. Each time a print command is received from an external device, such as a computer, the data for the corresponding drive signal is retrieved from the ROM or other memory medium, and the drive signal is prepared accordingly.
To properly cancel out residual pressure wave vibration, the signal for canceling out the residual pressure wave vibration must be applied at a fixed timing after a prior ejection signal. Therefore, when a plurality of ink droplets are ejected in succession, the signal for canceling out is added after the plurality of ejection signals. For this reason, the ROM or other memory also stores signals for canceling out the residual pressure wave vibration, separately for each drive signal for ejecting a plurality of ink droplets.
Because data for a variety of different types of drive signal needs to be stored, conventional ink ejection units need to be provided with a memory medium having a relatively large capacity.
It is an objective of the present invention to overcome the above-described problems and to provide an inexpensive ink ejecting device that changes the number of ink droplets ejected in accordance with print data for each dot and that requires only a small capacity memory medium.
According to one aspect of the present invention, an ink ejecting device that prints single dots on a recording medium by ejecting one or more droplets, includes an ink chamber portion, an actuator that applies pressure to the ink in the ink chamber to perform an ink ejection to eject an ink droplet from the nozzle, and a drive unit.
The ink chamber portion is formed with an ink chamber and a nozzle. The ink chamber is filled with ink and the nozzle is in fluid communication with the ink chamber.
The actuator applies pressure to the ink in the ink chamber to perform an ink ejection to eject an ink droplet from the nozzle.
The drive unit applies a drive signal to the actuator to drive the actuator to perform ink ejections. The drive unit includes a generation unit and a correction unit. The generation unit prepares a reference drive signal for driving the actuator to perform a preset maximum number of ink ejections per dot. The correction unit produces a print drive signal for driving the actuator to perform a number of ink ejections required to print a particular single dot. The correction unit produces the print drive signal by removing unnecessary portions from the reference signal, according to the number of ink ejections required to print the particular single dot.
With this configuration, the generation unit of the drive unit prepares the reference drive signal for ejecting the maximum number of ink droplets for printing a single dot. The correction unit of the drive unit removes unnecessary portions from the reference drive signal in accordance with the number of ink droplets required to print the particular dot. The correction unit then applies the resultant signal to the actuator. For example, when the maximum number of ejections performed by the ink ejecting device is three ejections in succession, the generation unit always prepares a reference drive signal for ejecting three ink droplets for printing a single dot. In this case, when a print command is received for printing a particular dot by ejecting two ink droplets, the correction unit removes unnecessary portions from the reference drive signal to produce a print drive signal for performing two ink ejections for printing the particular dot. Then, the correction unit applies the resultant application drive signal to the actuator, whereupon the actuator is driven to eject ink filling the ink chamber from the nozzle.
The ink ejecting unit only needs to prepare the reference drive signal, remove unnecessary portions from the reference drive signal according to the number of ink ejections required to print the particular dot, and then apply the resultant signal to the actuator. Therefore, there is no need to store data for a variety of different drive signals. As a result, the memory capacity of the memory medium can be quite small so that the cost of the memory medium can be greatly reduced.
It is desirable that the generation unit generate the reference drive signal configured from a maximum number of ejection pulses in series, with adjacent ejection pulses separated by a predetermined time interval. In this case, each ejection pulse is for performing a single ink ejection to eject a single ink droplet and the maximum number of ejection pulses is equal to the preset maximum number of ink ejections per dot. Also, the correction unit produces the print drive signal by removing one or more ejection pulses from the maximum number of ejection pulses in the reference drive signal.
With this configuration, the correction unit produces an application drive signal by removing from the reference drive signal, an ejection pulse of the difference between the maximum number of ejections, and the number of ink ejections required to print the particular dot. For example, when the maximum number of ejections performed by the ink ejecting device is three ejections in succession, then in order to print a single dot using two ink ejections in succession, the correction unit removes a pulse for a single ink ejection as an unnecessary portion from the reference drive signal. The resultant signal is applied to the actuator. This configuration could be realized by an AND gate inputted with a reference drive signal and a correction signal, wherein the correction signal results in unneeded ejection pulses in the reference drive signal reverting to a low level. The output from the AND gate, that is, the logical sum of the reference drive signal and the correction signal, is then applied to the actuator.
An ink ejecting unit with this configuration can perform operations for removing unnecessary portions from the reference drive signal in order to more easily and accurately produce the application drive signal.
The present invention can be applied to a variety of different ink ejecting devices that use different types of actuators. For example, the actuator of the ink ejecting unit according to the present invention can be the type that heats ink to generate a vapor bubble in the ink filling the ink chamber, in order to eject ink droplets using force from the rapidly expanding vapor bubble.
Alternatively, the actuator can be a piezoelectric element or other element for converting electricity into mechanical force. As described previously, when a drive signal is applied to this type of element, the element deforms a wall or other portion of the ink chamber. The volume in the ink chamber changes as a result, thereby generating pressure wave vibration that applies ink ejection force to the ink in the ink chamber. With such a configuration, a plurality of ink drops can be effectively ejected in succession. Also, undesired ink ejection can be prevented. However, in this case, even if the number of ink droplets to be ejected changes, there is a need to cancel out the residual pressure wave vibration at a fixed timing after the last ejection.
Therefore, when the actuator ejects an ink droplet by changing volume of the ink chamber based on the print drive signal in order to generate pressure wave vibration in the ink chamber, it is desirable that the generation unit further generate a cancellation pulse in order to drive the actuator to substantially cancel out the pressure wave vibration in the ink chamber, and also that the generation unit generate the cancellation pulse after the maximum number of ejection pulses in the reference drive signal. In this case, it is desirable that the correction unit produce the print drive signal by removing one or more ejection pulses starting from a lead end of the reference drive signal.
With this configuration, even if the number of ejection pulses changes, a cancellation pulse for canceling out residual pressure wave vibration can always be generated at a fixed timing after the last ejection pulse. As a result, residual pressure wave vibration can be reliably canceled out. It should be noted that canceling as used in the present specification does not necessarily mean to completely eliminate residual pressure wave vibration, but also refers to a situation for suppressing residual pressure wave vibration to the extent where undesired ink droplet ejections are prevented.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the drive unit is configured differently, wherein the generation unit prepares an ejection pulse for driving the actuator once to perform a single ink ejection. The correction unit outputs the ejection pulse from the generation unit to the actuator in a dot print number equaling a number of ink ejections required to print a particular single dot. The correction unit outputs adjacent ejection pulses separated by a predetermined interval.
With this configuration, the generating unit of the drive unit prepares an ejection pulse for ejecting a single ink droplet. The correction unit of the drive unit outputs ejection pulses to the actuator in a number equaling a number of ink ejections required to print a particular single dot. Adjacent ejection pulses are separated by a predetermined interval. For example, the generating unit prepares only a single ejection pulse and the correction unit repeatedly outputs the ejection pulse a required number of times for printing the particular dot. Also, the generation unit prepares an ejection pulse for the maximum number of ejections used to print a single dot. The correction unit outputs the ejection pulse in a required number as determined by logic calculation of the ejection pulse and a signal that represents the number of ink ejections for the particular dot. With this configuration, there is no need to store data for a variety of different drive signals so that the memory medium needs only have a small capacity.
When the actuator is a type that ejects an ink droplet by changing volume of the ink chamber based on the print drive signal in order to generate pressure wave vibration in the ink chamber, it is desirable that the generation unit further generate a cancellation pulse to drive the actuator to substantially cancel out pressure wave vibration in the ink chamber generated when the actuator is driven by the print drive signal. In this case, it is desirable that the correction means output the print drive signal configured from the print number of the ejection pulses followed by the cancellation pulse after a predetermined interval.
With this configuration, the actuator changes the volume of the ink chamber and generates pressure wave vibration in the ink chamber accordingly. The actuator can efficiently eject a plurality of ink droplets in succession and also can prevent undesired ejections of ink droplets.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, configuration of the drive unit is different, wherein the generation unit prepares an ejection pulse for performing a single ink ejection, and a cancellation pulse for substantially canceling out the pressure wave vibration generated in the ink chamber by the ejection pulse. The correction unit outputs the ejection pulse from the generation unit to the actuator in a predetermined maximum number and then, after a predetermined interval, outputs the cancellation pulse to the actuator. The correction unit also outputs the ejection pulse from the generation unit to the actuator in dot print number equaling a number of ink ejections required to print a particular single dot and then, after a predetermined interval, outputs the cancellation pulse.
With this configuration, the generation unit of the drive unit prepares an ejection pulse for performing an ink ejection and also prepares a cancellation pulse for canceling out pressure wave vibration generated in the ink chamber by the ejection pulse.
The correction unit of the drive unit outputs the ejection pulse to the actuator in a number equaling a number of ink ejections required to print the particular single dot. In this case, pulses in the number required to print the particular single dot are disposed in the end side of the predetermined maximum number of pulses. The cancellation pulse is outputted after a predetermined interval after the final ejection pulse. For example, when the generation unit prepares a single ejection pulse and a single cancellation pulse, then the correction unit repeatedly outputs the ejection pulse in the required number. Also, the generating unit prepares an ejection pulse and a cancellation pulse, both based on a maximum number of ejections predetermined for print data for a single dot.


A method for replenishing a solution in a film processor having a sump tank. The method provides for adding a sufficient amount of replenishment solution to the sump tank upon powering up of the film processor and in response to removing processing fluid from the sump tank and supplying it to the processor so as to raise the level of the processing fluid in the sump tank to a predetermined level. The addition of further replenishment solution is delayed until a predetermined amount of photosensitive material has been processed through the film processor. Thereafter replenishment solution is supplied to the sump tank in accordance with the amount of film that has been processed by the film processor.

The present invention is directed to a processing apparatus of the type which generally include upper and lower tanks for holding a processing fluid and a narrow processing chamber located between the tanks through which a sheet of photosensitive material is advanced for processing of latent images on the material. Processing fluid is delivered to opposite sides of the photosensitive material from each of the tanks for forming a processing fluid layer on each side of the photosensitive material. A return drain is provided on each side of the photosensitive material for removing and returning the processing fluid to the sump tank. Example of such devices are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,028; U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,840; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,997. Such devices are often referred to as fluid suspension processors.
In fluid suspension processors of the type illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,997, processing fluid is pumped from a sump tank into the lower tank and is allowed to freely flow from the lower tank to the upper tank. During initial start up of the processor, a significant amount of processing fluid must be pumped into the tanks, thus significantly lowering the level of the processing fluid in the sump tank. This results in the processing fluid in the upper tank cascading a large distance when returning to the sump tank which in turn results in bubbles forming due to the high agitation in the processing fluid. This high agitation can significantly reduce the available chemistry in the processing fluid and thereby increase the total amount of chemistry used by the processor per unit of film. Additionally the lowering of the processing fluid in the sump tank results in a large quantity of fresh replenishment solution be supplied to the sump tank. This provides a large quantity of new chemistry for processing of photosensitive material. However, the processor still continue to add additional replenishment solution in accordance with the amount of photosensitive material that is processed. This results in significant reduction in the efficient use of the available chemistry in the processing fluid.
The present invention is directed to solving the problems of the prior art by providing means for minimizing the distance the processing fluid must travel to the sump tank and for the efficient utilization of the new chemistry added to processing fluid.

Apparatus for processing photosensitive material


An electronic apparatus includes a storage section, a first generation section, a second generation section, an update section, and an output section. The storage section stores contents, titles thereof, and viewing history information on viewing histories of the contents by a user. The first generation section generates, based on the stored viewing history information, recommendation display information containing as a recommended-content list a list of titles of contents that the user has not viewed among the stored contents. The second generation section generates dependence information on first and second contents among the stored contents by analyzing text information on a network, the second content being created dependently on the first content. The update section updates, based on the dependence information, the recommendation display information so that the user is prevented from viewing the second content before the first content. The output section outputs the updated recommendation display information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus capable of recommending contents to a user, a content recommendation method for the electronic apparatus, and a program therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, as techniques of recommending contents such as a television program and an on-demand video to a user, there have been known techniques using an algorithm such as a collaborative filtering and a content-based filtering.
In a recommendation technique using the collaborative filtering, for example, content-viewing preferences (histories) of many users are accumulated and then contents are recommended to a user using a viewing preference of another user, the viewing preference being similar to that of the user (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-332265).
In a recommendation technique using the content-based filtering, contents similar to contents that have been viewed by a user are recommended based on metadata included in contents (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-058842).

Electronic apparatus, content recommendation method, and storage medium for updating recommendation display information containing a content list


A structural truss (3) with crimp/clamp (18) and method of making same wherein the truss (3) includes disposed U-shaped channel chords (2) and struts (1) interconnected to one another at alternately extending apices (6) wherein successive segments of the struts (1) have U-shapes and inverted U-shapes at their mid-sections and flat apices (6) at their respective ends. The ends (4) of successive segments of the unit lengths of the struts (1) and the chords (2) have holes for the insertion of a tapered pin (9), thus precisely controlling the length of successive trusses. The truss member (3) also has vertical load-bearing strut sections (17) at the end of each manufactured length of truss (3) to support a cantilevered section of chord (10). The crimp/clamp (18) is crimped and clamped onto the chords (2) so as to clamp the struts (1) to the chords (2).

This invention relates to trusses, more specifically, an improved open web structural truss and process of making same.
Conventional structural trusses and methods of making same are difficult in some respects.
First, the truss members of predetermined length, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,117, comprise oppositely disposed U-shaped channels between which a strut member is positioned, comprising alternately extending strut segments having flat end portions which are generally U-shaped in a cross section at the center and gradually tapering toward the flat end portions at the end. The strut member is then bent at the flat portions to form alternately extending apices which contact the opposing chord elements. When this is done, however, the opposite apices become substantially different in shape, thereby materially affecting the quality of their connections to the opposing chords. Thus, there exists a need for improvement in the quality of those connections.
Second, current production machines for the manufacturing of trusses, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,827,117 and 3,961,738, teach using preset lengths and quantities of trusses being formed continuously on the production machinery as controlled by a computer program. Although these machines efficiently manufacture the truss members described in the cited prior art at low cost with a minimum of labor and in a manner to provide uniformity and utility, these machines do not provide the following capabilities: a) providing a means for precise location for fastening struts and chords, b) providing a means for precisely measuring the distance points from apex to apex, and c) providing a vertical member for the support of the cantilevered ends of each truss length.
Finally, the quality of current trusses may be compromised at connecting points of strut and chords because of lack of uniformity of the shape of strut apices.
The prior art includes the following U.S. patents:
Patent No.InventorAssigneeFiling DateIssue DateD230,265OllmanC-O, Inc.Aug. 11, 1971Feb. 05, 19743,882,653OllmanC-O, Inc.Mar. 16, 1973May 13, 19753,827,117OllmanC-O, Inc.Apr. 11, 1973Aug. 06, 19743,961,738OllmanC-O, Inc.Jul. 01, 1974Jun. 08, 19764,030,256OllmanN/ANov. 20, 1975Jun. 21, 1977

Structural truss with crimp/clamp method of making same