An electric connecter including a slider for confirming a locked condition between male and female connectors by movement between an intermediate locking position and a final locking position. When both connector housings initially connected partially, the slider comes into contact fitted a locking arm so that movement from the intermediate locking position to the final locking position is prevented, while when both connector housings are completely engaged, slider movement from the intermediate locking position to the final locking position is permitted. For preventing resilient deformation of the locking arm at a final locking position, a locking claw provided on the slider locking and an opposite fitting section with which the locking claw comes into contact, fit with each other at the final locking position for confirming termination of the slider movement toward the final locking position. Also, the locking claw fits with the opposite fitting position so that the slider does not move to the intermediate locking position unintentionally.

The present invention relates to an electric connector in which a locking arm and a corresponding fitting section are provided at a female connector housing and a male connector housing respectively, and in which an engagement of the locking arm with the fitting section make a locked condition between the female connector housing and the male connector housing.
FIGS. 1 to 3 show an electric connector 1 described in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-285280. The electric connector 1, which is formed as a waterproof connecter, comprises a male connector 3, a female connector 5, and a lock-confirming slider 31. A waterproof hood 13, which surrounds a hood 11 of a female connector housing of the female connector 5, is provided in front of an outer peripheral portion of a male connector housing 7 of the male connector 3.
A notch 15 is provided at an upper portion of an outer peripheral wall of the waterproof hood 13, and a locking arm 17 extends from a support 19 fronting the notch 15.
The lock-confirming slider 31 includes a slider body 37 and a lock-confirming arm 39. The lock-confirming arm 39 is inclined slightly upward, a stopper 41 projects from the undersurface of a free end portion thereof, and a supporting guide 43 projects from the front thereof.
When the male connector housing 7 is engaged with the female connector housing 9, a locking projection 23 of the locking arm 17 slides over (FIG. 2) a return-prohibiting member 35 formed on the hood 11 of the female connector housing 9, before the locking arm 17 is deformed upward. With further advancing engagement, the locking arm 17 elastically returns downward before the locking arm is locked by engagement between the locking projection 23 and the return-prohibiting member 35. The lock-confirming arm 39 is deformed upward because the stopper 41 and the supporting guide 43 are engaged with the locking projection 23. When the engagement therebetween is released, the obstacle of the stopper 41 is removed, and the lock-confirming arm 39 advances through the passage 27 (FIG. 3) with the result that the lock-confirming slider 31 arrives at the lock-confirming position.
In this electric connector, the lock-confirming slider 31 first operates when engagement and locking between the female connector housing 9 and the male connector housing 7 are completely implemented, before engagement of the locking arm 17 with the lock-confirming arm 39 is released. Consequently, confirmation of complete implementation of locking is capable of being achieved.
However, in the above-described electric connector, even if the lock-confirming slider 31 arrives at the lock-confirming position, the lock-confirming arm 39 returns to the initial position only as a result its elasticity. The confirmation of whether or not the lock-confirming slider 31 arrives with certainty at the lock-confirming position is implemented by whether or not the the return of the lock-confirming arm 39 can be felt by touch. For this reason, in order to detect with certainty the arrival of the lock-confirming slider 31 at the lock-confirming position, it is necessary to perform a pulling operation of the lock-confirming slider 31 to determine whether or not the stopper 41 is caught by the locking projection 23, with the result that the procedure for confirming the locking state is time-consuming.


A pump arrangement, in particular in a coating installation for the coating of components, such as a painting installation for the painting of motor vehicle body components, is provided. The pump arrangement includes a plurality of adjustable pumps for delivering a coating agent, e.g. for delivering a sealing agent for the sealing of weld seams on a motor vehicle body component. The pumps are connected in parallel such that the pumps extract the coating agent for delivery from a common inlet line and deliver said coating agent into a common outlet line. The arrangement further includes a control device for the open-loop or closed-loop control of one fluid variable at the outlet of the individual pumps, respectively, wherein the control device actuates the individual pumps individually, and/or a monitoring unit, which switches the pumps on and off non-simultaneously.

The present disclosure relates to a pump arrangement, in, e.g., a coating installation for the coating of components, in particular in a painting installation for the painting of motor vehicle body components. The present disclosure further relates to an operating method for a pump arrangement of this type.
In modern painting installations for painting motor vehicle body components, seams (e.g. weld seams, flanged seams) of the motor vehicle body components for painting are normally sealed using a sealing agent (e.g. PVC: polyvinylchloride). The sealing agent can be applied using application robots, which move an applicator over the component surface along the seams. Typically, several application robots are simultaneously used in a coating booth, said robots extracting the coating agent from a common supply line. The material is supplied by several pumps, which are connected together at the inlet side and at the outlet side and pump the sealing agent into the supply line. Since the individual pumps are connected in parallel, it is necessary for the pumping speed to be set manually, so that the pumps can co-operate. In a typical coating operation, the pumps are then simultaneously switched on or off as a group.
A disadvantage of this conventional pump arrangement is that start-up of the pumps cannot be guaranteed when required, i.e. it can happen that individual pumps do not start up when an activation signal is given and then fail. In turn, this can then lead to uneven wear of the pumps, which is undesirable. Furthermore, the sealing agent can harden in the failed pump, which would destroy the pump. In addition, failure of a pump can result in errors in the process sequence. Finally the risk of individual pumps failing requires manual inspection effort.
The prior art also includes DE 600 13 013 T2, DE 101 34 747 A1, DE 41 18 869 A1, DE 40 25 638 A1 and DE 37 11 053 A1.

Pump arrangement and corresponding operating method


A relative document representing system includes: a first storage; a receiving unit; a specifying unit; a calculating unit; and a representing unit.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is related to a relative document representing system, a relative document reproducing method, and a computer readable medium.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, various sorts of technical ideas have been proposed as systems for retrieving electronic documents which are related to a certain electronic document and for representing the retrieved electronic documents. Also, other systems are known in this technical field, which provide such representations that relevancy degrees among electronic documents are expressed as distances on display screens.

Relative document representing system, relative document representing method, and computer readable medium


A component composite between two components used for current conduction, having a receptacle opening formed on the first component and a connection section of the second component, which is situated in the receptacle opening, the connection section of the second component being configured to be pin-shaped and a press-fit connection being formed between the receptacle opening and the connection section. In particular, it is provided that the receptacle opening is configured to be a blind hole.

Such a component composite between two components used for current conduction is generally discussed in the related art. The first component, which is configured in the form of a contact lug or the like, is equipped with a receptacle opening in the form of a through hole. A pin-shaped connection section of the second component is subsequently inserted into the receptacle opening thus formed, wherein the dimensional tolerances between the diameter of the through hole and the external diameter of the connection section are adapted to one another in such a way that a press-fit connection is formed between the two components. Such a press-fit connection has the advantage that it does not require any additional connecting elements, for example, screws or the like, or any welding between the two components.
In particular in the case of components made of different materials, for example, in the case of a first component which is made of copper and a second component which is made of aluminum, the problem exists that as a result of the different coefficients of thermal expansion, the strength of the press-fit connection between the two components is temperature-dependent. In addition, such unprotected electrical connections between two components are fundamentally corrosion-prone. In the event of occurrence of corrosion in the transition area between the two components, the contact resistance is increased. This undesirable resistance increase may become so high depending on the application that the requirements placed on the connection between the two components are no longer met, and the operation of an electrical appliance or the like is therefore no longer reliably ensured when considered over the service life. In particular in the case of the dissimilar materials discussed (copper and aluminum), the connection is particularly sensitive with respect to corrosion. Such component composites are required, for example, in the electrical contacting of lithium-ion batteries with lines used for current conduction. These connections are particularly susceptible to the attack of corrosive media as a result of the different electrochemical potentials. In particular if the electrolyte in the battery reaches the contact point between the copper and the aluminum, the connection point tends very strongly toward corrosion.
In addition, a method for electrical contacting of a battery cell, in which a connecting element has a ring-shaped element, which is introduced into a ring-shaped recess of the connecting element with the aid of a press-fit, is discussed in DE 10 2009 054 476 A1. Upon the connection of a pin-shaped pole of the battery to the connecting element, the pole penetrates the ring-shaped element, which is made of the same material as the pole. In addition, the connection point (in which no press-fit connection is provided) is equipped with a welded joint. In the case of this approach, the immediate connection area between the pole of the battery and the ring-shaped element tends to be less susceptible to corrosion because both areas are made of the same material, but the connecting element itself is relatively complexly configured. In addition, in all component composites in which the receptacle opening is configured in the form of a through opening or a through hole, it is problematic that aggressive media may enter the connection area between the two components from both sides of the through opening, for example.

Component composite between two components used for current conduction and method for manufacturing a component composite


A pharmaceutical composition contains a coxsackievirus A11 type that infects cancer cells or an echovirus 4 type that infects cancer cells. The coxsackievirus A11 type and the echovirus 4 type may have capsid eliminated. The pharmaceutical composition has an intensive cytotoxicity to a cell of cancer selected from the group consisting of small cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, lung squamous cell carcinoma, malignant mesothelioma, colorectal cancer, colon/rectum cancer, esophageal cancer, hypopharynx cancer, human-B-lymphocyte tumor, breast cancer, cervical cancer, and pancreatic cancer, which is the cancer cells of a solid cancer.

Malignant tumor is a primary cause of death for Japanese, and in the face of statistics, one out of three people dies due to malignant tumor. The long time efforts dramatically have improved the results of operative therapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and molecular targeted drugs against malignant tumors. However, the death rate caused by malignant tumor is still high, and there is a need for the development of novel therapeutical modality effective for malignant tumors.
Oncolytic virus therapy as a new therapy method is getting attention because of its direct cytocidal effect. For example, several clinical trials utilizing oncolytic adenoviruses and herpes simplex viruses that are DNA viruses have been carried out for treatment of brain tumor and breast cancer, with the published results demonstrating their safeness and anticancer efficacy.
On the other hand, enteroviruses of Picornaviridae that are RNA viruses have no genome integration in host cells after infection, have little risk of malignant transformation due to the gene mutation, and have no oncogene, thus possessing a relatively higher safety to human beings. Still further, enteroviruses have a fast growth rate in cells, and thus are expected to show a quick and high oncolytic effect.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses oncolytic virotherapy utilizing enteroviruses such as coxsackievirus (CV) A21 (CVA21) type, echovirus (EV) 6 (EV6) type, EV7 type, EV11 type, EV12 type, EV13 type, and EV29 type. In addition, Patent Literature 2 discloses oncolytic virotherapy utilizing enteroviruses such as CVA13 type, CVA15 type, CVA18 type, CVA21 type, EV1 type, EV7 type, EV8 type, and EV22 type.

KYUSHU UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION


An image processing inspection apparatus comprises a TV camera, a plurality of image-processing-use image memories which are provided for a plurality of screen frames, a plurality of display-use image memories which are provided for a plurality of screen frames, a display monitor, a CPU and a switch for selectively connecting for each screen frame one of the image-processing-use image memories with the TV camera and the CPU, and one of the display-use image memories with the TV camera and the display monitor.

Lately, an increasing number of image processing inspection apparatuses have been introduced as production equipment into factories and the like for the purpose of correctly, speedily and automatically executing a variety of visual inspections which have relied on the human visual sense. For example, image processing inspection apparatuses are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication Nos. 7-234934 and 8-043053.
FIG. 15 is a view for explaining a state in which products are inspected by an image processing inspection apparatus. As shown in FIG. 15, the image processing inspection apparatus A' is connected to a TV camera 1 for grabbing an image, a display monitor 5 for displaying the image or the like of the product on the way to inspection and a keypad 7 for performing operations such as various setting operations. The image processing inspection apparatus A' grabs the image of a product (referred to as a target hereinafter) t which is on the way to production and is treated as an object to be measured while being conveyed on a production line in the form of an image signal from the TV camera 1 in accordance with a timing at which an external trigger input from a sensor 3 or the like is inputted. Subsequently, the image processing inspection apparatus A' executes various image processing operations such as position correction, area measurement and barycentric position calculation on the grabbed image, executes numerical calculations with the obtained various results, executes logical calculations for a go/no-go check with the obtained values and then outputs the result. The image processing inspection apparatus A' generally executes the above series of calculation and outputting processes.
Normally, a time from the start of grabbing the image to the completion of all the inspection processes in readiness for the process of grabbing the next image is generally called the inspection time.
The prior art image processing inspection apparatus A' has executed the process of grabbing image data from the TV camera 1 into an image data memory for image grabbing and continuously executed a series of calculation and outputting processes after the completion of the image grabbing. Furthermore, the prior art image processing inspection apparatus has required a specified time for image grabbing, e.g., 33.3 ms in the case of frame image grabbing or 16.7 ms in the case of field image grabbing. In the case where the processing is executed continuously as described above, the inspection time has not been allowed to be reduced further than the time of "image data grabbing time" plus "image processing time plus calculation and output processing time" even when a tact for the inspection is short (i.e., when the inspection must be completed in a short time).
FIG. 16 shows a schematic diagram of hardware of the prior art image processing inspection apparatus. The image processing inspection apparatus A' is comprised of an image data memory 32, a display use output circuit 33, an image processing use circuit 37 and selection switch circuits 34 and 36. In this apparatus, image data from the TV camera 1 is grabbed into the image data memory 32 and simultaneously inputted to the display use output circuit 33 via the selection switch circuit 34, where separately set data from a graphic data memory (not shown) is superimposed on the above data at need and the resulting data is outputted to a display means such as the display monitor 5. The image data grabbed in the image data memory 32 is outputted to the image processing use circuit 37 via the selection switch circuit 36, and the image processing use circuit 37 executes various measurements of the position, shape and so forth of the target based on this image data so as to execute the go/no-go check of the target. Further, the image data grabbed in the image data memory 32 can be outputted to the display use output circuit 33 via the selection switch circuits 36 and 34 and displayed on the display monitor 5.
Furthermore, the image data from the TV camera 1 is required to be displayed as, for example, binarized in the inspection process. In this case, as shown in FIG. 17, the image processing inspection apparatus A' is required to have an arrangement in which a binarizing circuit 39 for binarizing the image data from the TV camera 1 is provided for allowing the selection between the image that is binarized and the image that is not binarized by means of a selection switch circuit 38 or prepare a means for converting the image data grabbed in the image data memory 32 into binarized data and thereafter outputting the resulting data to the display output circuit 33.
As described above, the prior art image processing inspection apparatus has the problem that the inspection time cannot be reduced and the problem that a special circuit is necessary in the case where the image is displayed as processed, e.g., in the case where the grabbed image is displayed as binarized.
The present invention has been developed in view of the above points and it has an object to provide an image processing inspection apparatus capable of reducing the inspection time and setting a variety of inspection process and display modes with a simple construction.


A digital glass enhanced media system (DGEMS) is provided that is capable of performing routing and processing of audio and video inputs received from a plurality of digital glass devices, as well as a plurality of agencies, in order to provide enhanced and coordinated information distribution among the digital glass devices. Such routing may include distributing information received from the devices to relevant agencies providing assistance to the wearers of those devices, as well as to other team member devices. Control is also provided, such that a user of such a digital glass device car select how or what information is received. In this manner, coordinated information distribution can be provided so as to allow users to optimize the coordination of their teamwork.

Field
The disclosure relates to information distribution, and specifically to coordinating the distribution of information to and from digital eyeglass technology during one or more incidents.
Related Art
Recently, digital eyeglass technology has been developed that is capable of connecting to the Internet and providing its wearer with hands-free device-resident and cloud-based audio and video services. This allows for digital information to be superimposed on the wearer's frame of vision. As such, a wearer can view their immediate surroundings as well as digital information provided by way of the digital eyeglass display. One current implementation, Google Glass™, includes a heads-up display, a front-facing camera, a bone-conducting audio transducer, a microphone, and other sensors capable of detecting GPS location, geospatial orientation, and eye blinks, and can connect to IP-based services via WiFi, and can also tether via Bluetooth to legacy mobile phones, keyboards, and other personal area network devices. Other similar devices may include the same or similar functionality or may be logically coupled to include the same or similar functionality.
To date, this technology has been limited in its functionality and uses. Digital eyeglasses operate primarily as a simple internet-connected data sink. In other words, the digital eyeglasses are connected to the internet and operate as any other internet-capable device would operate. For example, based on some criteria (such as user input, for example), the digital eyeglasses receive information from the internet or a server. The digital eyeglasses then provide this information to the wearer, such as via the eyeglass digital display and/or earphone speakers.


A portable ballistic shield for law enforcement, military, and private security contractors operating in high threat cases. More specifically, a ballistic shield with a viewing window, a handle, a ball turret, an aiming laser, and at least one disruptor light used to disorient possible attackers. The shield provides protection to a user's entire upper body and enables a user to fire from a position in which the head of the user is better aligned with the weapon site.

Law enforcement, military and civilian high threat security contractors have a need for protective gear when they respond to active shooter situations, acts of terrorism, military operations, high threat warrants, arrests and other acts of violence that require specialized equipment. The need for a portable lightweight ballistic shield that provides added protection to the military, security and law enforcement operator is imperative.
Conventional ballistic shields typically require that the operator expose his or her hand or arm to return fire. In addition, conventional ballistic shields often require the operator to return fire from a position in which the head of the operator is not aligned with the weapon site. The present disclosure provides an improved ballistic shield and related methods that address the above shortcomings and others.


Wear of the photoreceptor drum can be suppressed, and degradation of image quality of recorded images can be suppressed.

Conventionally, with the image forming apparatus of the xerography type, such as the copying machine, the laser beam printer, and the like, a recorded image is generally formed by forming a toner image on the photoreceptor drum surface according to the image information, and then transferring the toner image to the recording sheet. Specifically, with the laser beam printer, for example, the surface of the photoreceptor drum is first charged to a prescribed background potential, and by using a laser beam modulated on the image information for scanning-exposing the surface of the photoreceptor drum, a latent image is formed. And, the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing apparatus using toner for rendering it visible as a toner image, which is then followed by transferring the toner image to a recording sheet, and by heating the recording sheet with the fuser for fixing, a recorded image is obtained.
Conventionally, for this type of image forming apparatus, which forms an image by heating and fixing, in order to prevent excessive temperature rise in the fuser resulting from the size of the recording sheet being smaller than that of the regular form, the art which, when the recording sheet as the object of image formation is smaller in size, gradually reduces the number of recording sheets per unit time according to the number of continuous recording sheets is disclosed in the patent reference 1.
According to this art, as shown in FIG. 5 as one example, when image formation is continuously performed on recording sheets of regular size the area contacting the fixing roller provided in the fuser for the recording sheet is relatively wide, and no excessive temperature rise occurs, thus image formation is continuously performed to the last page with the running time for one sheet (the period of time per recording sheet in which a prescribed location is passed at the time of image formation) and the paper standby time (the period of time per recording sheet for which the operation of carrying-out the recording sheet from the carrying-out section is halted) which have been predetermined such that a prescribed printing speed (36 ppm (pages per minute) in the same figure) is provided.
Contrarily to this, when image formation is continuously performed on recording sheets of a smaller size, the paper standby time is gradually lengthened for lowering the number of recording sheets per unit time, as the number of recorded sheets is increased in three steps of 1 to 20 sheets, 21 to 50 sheets, and more than 50 sheets, whereby the fuser is prevented from having an excessive temperature rise. In the same figure, the printing speed for the step of more than 50 sheets is fixed because, during the paper standby time, e, which is set for this step, the temperature of the fixing roller is sufficiently lowered, and thereafter on whatever number of sheets image formation is continuously performed, no excessive temperature rise will occur.    Patent reference 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 9-218608

Image forming apparatus and method for controlling wear of a photoconductor drum

Abstract: When instruction information (image information and control information) for instructing formation of a developed image on a plurality of recording sheets S is inputted, driving of the photoreceptor drum 50, the developing device 52 and the transfer roller 56 is controlled such that formation of the developed image on a plurality of the recording sheets S according to the instruction information is continuously performed, and driving of the photoreceptor drum 50, the developing device 52 or the transfer roller 56 is controlled such that, in the course of the continuous image formation, driving of the photoreceptor drum 50, the developing device 52 or the transfer roller 56 is halted at least once.


A method for making a customized orthotic device utilizing a pre-made sole having a plurality of elongated members extending from the bottom of the sole and inserting each of the elongated members into apertures of a cutting device. Once inserted through the apertures, the distal tips of the elongated members contact a resistance layer which resists the downward movement of the elongated members. A person's foot is then rested on the topside surface of the insert; thereby depressing the insert and elongated member tips into the resistance layer. The compressive force of the foot against the resistance layer tends to conform the insert about the plantar aspect of the foot. A cutting mechanism is then used to cut the elongated members. The finished product, is customized to the foot of the person and is ready to be inserted into a shoe.

This invention relates to orthopedic inserts for a shoe and a method to customize the insert for a particular user quickly and efficiently.
The human foot is a unique structure that can be very flexible or very rigid when a person walks depending upon the internal locking and unlocking mechanism of the bones and joints in the person's foot.
This mechanism will not function properly if the bones and joints of the person's foot and ankle are in abnormal alignment. If such an abnormal alignment is present, muscles in the lower extremities will be required to work harder to control the alignment of bones and joints. As a consequence, these muscles become fatigued much quicker resulting in pain and discomfort than if the person had normal alignment.
In response to this problem, there have been many developments in the prior art to correct this problem. Besides surgery, shoe-inserts have been developed. These inserts are positioned between the bottom or plantar aspect of a person's foot and the shoe. The custom sole shoe-insert supports the bones and joints to maintain the normal alignment and redistributes the pressure exerted by a person's body weight upon the plantar aspect of the foot so that the person can walk with greater stability and in more comfort.
A typical method in the prior art is to make a plaster cast of the foot of a person or patient and then have a customized insert manufactured based upon the plaster cast along with any required modifications according to the specific needs of the patient as determined by the attending podiatrist. This type of procedure is expensive, and requires a substantial amount of time between the initial plaster cast and the final product; sometimes on the order of weeks.
The result is that a patient must endure the pain of improper alignment until the insert is completed. Also, due to the expense, a patient normally can not afford additional inserts and will use the same insert when wearing different shoes.

Method for making a customized orthopedic sole-insert


A semiconductor device includes at least two adjacent memory cell blocks, each of the memory cell blocks having a plurality of memory cell units, each of memory cell units having a plurality of electrically reprogrammable and erasable memory cells connected in series, a plurality of cell gates for selecting the plurality of memory cells within the two adjacent memory cell blocks, each of the plurality of cell gates being formed with roughly rectangular closed loops or roughly U shaped open loops, each of the loops being connected to a corresponding cell of the memory cells in a corresponding memory cell unit of the plurality of memory cell units within one of the two adjacent memory cell blocks and being connected to a corresponding memory cell of the memory cells in a corresponding memory cell unit of the plurality of memory cell units within the other memory cell block of the two adjacent memory cell blocks and a plurality of pairs of first and second selection gates for selecting the memory cell block, the plurality of cell gates being located between one pair of the first and second selection gates within a corresponding block of the memory cell block.

The miniaturization of semiconductors is progressing with each generation and largely relies on lithographic technology. As a result, especially in the formation of lines etc, forming a line and space pattern which has a narrower width than lithography's resolution limit is generally difficult.
To cope with this type of problem, a method is proposed whereby a sidewall pattern is formed on a dummy pattern sidewall and etching a material to be processed using this sidewall pattern as a mask is performed. This is known as (sidewall mask transfer technology). According to this method, it is possible to form a line and space pattern at a pitch of half the pitch of the dummy pattern (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publications No. H07-263677, U.S. Pat. No. 7,112,858 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publications No. 2002-280388).
However, even by this method, forming precisely and effectively a line and space pattern or a whole pattern which includes another pattern is in many cases difficult. Also, for example, in the case of forming a cell gate (usually known as a word line but will be explained hereinafter referred to as a cell gate) it is pointed out that when forming a dummy pattern the pattern end becomes narrow or breaks off and there is a danger of it becoming what is called narrow open. Therefore, as miniaturization further progresses, arranging a contact with a sufficient adjustment margin on a line formed using sidewall mask transfer technology is thought to become difficult.

Semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof


A conductive paste composition comprises an organic vehicle, copper powder and an organometallic resinate which includes, as the metal, at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Ni and Bi. The amount of the metal component in the organometallic resinate is preferably in the range of about 0.1 to 5 wt % with respect to the total amount of the copper power and the metal component. The copper powder has preferably an average diameter in the range of about 2 to 30 .mu.m.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a conductive paste, and more particularly to a conductive paste used for forming conductive vias within through holes of a ceramic substrate. The present invention also relates to a method for making a ceramic substrate in which through holes are filled with conductors vias.
2. Description of the Related Art
A ceramic substrate for mounting various kinds of electronic components often has through holes therein and conductive vias are formed in the through holes in order to electrically connect conductive patterns formed on opposing surfaces of the ceramic substrate. Conductive vias are also employed in some electronic components such as certain capacitors, inductors or composite electronic chips thereof.
Such ceramic substrate with conductive vias and conductive patterns has been prepared by the following method. Specifically, a plurality of ceramic green sheets provided with through holes by drilling or punching are first prepared. The through holes are filled with a conductive paste and a conductive paste is printed on the ceramic green sheets so as to form conductive patterns thereon. Thereafter, the ceramic sheets are stacked with each other by pressing, thereby forming a laminate. After the laminate is cut into pieces having a predetermined size, each piece of the laminate is sintered. During the sintering, the conductive paste in the though holes and the conductive paste printed on the ceramic green sheets are also sintered. Thus, prepared is a ceramic substrate which has conductive patterns electrically connected through the conductive vias.
A conventional conductive paste for forming the aforementioned conductive vias is generally composed of copper powder and an organic vehicle. Copper powder is employed because copper is an inexpensive material and is superior in electromigration and resistivity. However, the ceramic substrate prepared using the conventional conductive paste has the following problems. As shown in FIG. 1A, if the conductive paste shrinks more than the ceramic green sheet during the sintering, a void 13 or a crack 14 is formed in a conductive via 12 filled in a through hole 11 of the ceramic substrate 10. On the other hand, if the ceramic green sheet shrinks more than the conductive paste during the sintering, the conductive via 12 swells from the through hole 11 of the ceramic green sheet 10 or a crack 15 occurs along the periphery of the through hole 11, as shown in FIG. 1B. These defects cause disconnections between the conductive patterns in the ceramic substrate, thereby degrading the reliability of the ceramic substrate.
The inventors of the present invention have confirmed that a void 13 or a crack 14 is likely to occur due to insufficient filling of the conductive paste into the through hole or overshrinking of the conductive paste in the case where copper powder used in the conductive paste has an average diameter less than 2 .mu.m. It was also confirmed by the inventors that the conductive via swells from the through hole in the case where copper powder used in the conductive paste has an average diameter more than 2 .mu.m.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a conductive paste which does not cause the aforementioned problems.

Conductive paste composition and method for producing a ceramic substrate


An MR compatible endoscope 1 has associated MR saddle coil 10 mounted on a removeable former 9. The tip 2 of the endoscope has the usual service channels for imaging. The coil 10 provides an additional MR signal. To avoid the need to plug the coil 10 in, it is inductively couples to a pick-up coil 13 and, to enable this to be removable as will from the endoscope, this may be located in one of the service channels 7 of the endoscope. The removable nature of the coil permits easy repair and, more importantly, a range of coils to be fitted to the endoscope to accommodate different magnetic field strengths.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used in medicine to produce images of the internal organs of a patient being examined. In MRI, a static magnetic field is applied to the body of the patient to define an equilibrium axis of magnetic alignment in the region of the body being examined. A radio frequency field is then applied to the region being examined in a direction orthogonal to the static magnetic field direction to excite magnetic resonance in the region. This resonance produces signals in r.f. coils placed adjacent the body. Normally separate coils are used for excitation and detection although the same coil or coils may be used for both purposes. The detected signals are processed to produce signals representing an image of the patient's body and this image is visually displayed. In so-called interventional MRI devices such as catheters, biopsy needles and endoscopes may be physically introduced into the body. The term endoscope is intended to encompass colonoscopes, laparoscopes, cystoscopes and gastroscopes.
The present invention is particularly concerned with the provision of endoscopes which are suitable for use with MRI, such endoscopes having a built-in miniature r.f. coil. Examples of such endoscopes are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4 960 106 and U.S. Pat. No. 5 035 231. It has been proposed in the former patent to make such a coil removable to obtain a better optical field of view when required, but this would cause sealing problems.
In addition, there are a wide variety of MRI systems both in terms of construction and the power of the main magnetic field and therefore, because of the variety of main magnetic fields provided by different designs of MRI equipment each such coil must be tailored/tuned to the appropriate main magnetic field strength. Hitherto, it has been necessary for the MRI equipment user to have a range of particular endoscopes each of which has a different coil to suit a particular main magnetic field strength.

Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus


Provided is an electric control unit which is configured to switch the functions of an LCC, an HSD, and an LSD depending on a load to be connected. A power-supply-side switching element 102 is provided in a path L1 between a power supply 401 and a connector terminal 301. A ground-side switching element 106 is provided in a path L2 between a ground 402 and a connector terminal 302. A freewheeling diode 105 is provided in a path L3 connected to a connection point P1 between the power-supply-side switching element 102 and the connector terminal 301 and a connection point P2 between the ground-side switching element 106 and the connector terminal 302. A switching element 104 is provided in the path L3.

In order to use an automobile electronic control unit (ECU) for general purposes, it is necessary to prepare interface circuits which correspond to various types of vehicles. Here, the interface circuits include a load driving circuit, such as a linear current control circuit (hereinafter referred to as LCC), a low-side on/off control circuit (hereinafter referred to as LSD), and a high-side on/off control circuit (hereinafter referred to as HSD).
However, as various interface circuits are held, the number of connector terminals of the ECU increases and the size of the ECU increases. The ECU has been requested to reduce the size and cost thereof. Thus, there is a demand for an interface circuit which changes a driving form according to a load to be connected.
In contrast, there is known a device having the functions of an LCC and an HSD and capable of switching these functions (for example, see PTL 1). In PTL 1 (FIGS. 3 to 6), the LCC and the HSD are selectively used for the same load connection.


A fiber laser cavity that includes a laser gain medium for receiving an optical input projection from a laser pump. The fiber laser cavity further includes a positive dispersion fiber segment and a negative dispersion fiber segment for generating a net negative dispersion for balancing a self-phase modulation (SPM) and a dispersion induced pulse broadening/compression in the fiber laser cavity for generating an output laser with a transform-limited pulse shape.

Conventional technologies of generating short pulse mode-locked fiber laser are still confronted with technical difficulties and limitations that the pulse shapes of the short-pulse laser cannot be properly and conveniently controlled. The difficulty is even more pronounced when the pulse width is further reduced. There is an urgent demand to resolve these technical difficulties as the broader applications and usefulness of the short pulse mode-locked are demonstrated for measurement of ultra-fast phenomena, micro machining, and biomedical applications.
An active pulse shaping mode locked fiber laser was disclosed by J. D. Kafka, T. Baer, and D. W. Hall in a paper entitled "Mode locked erbium doped fiber laser with soliton pulse shaping," Opt. Lett. 22, 1269-1271 (1989). Different from the active pulse shaping mode locked fiber laser, intensity dependent polarization rotation or nonlinear polarization evaluation (NPE) has been identified as a fast response saturation absorber (SA) to achieve short pulse fiber laser as presented by C. J. Chen, P. K. Wai, in "Soliton fiber ring laser," Opt. Lett. 17,417-419 (1992). However, D. U. Noske, N. Pandit, J. R. Taylor and K. Tamura, H. A. Haus, and E. I. Ippen have showed by their experimental results that longer pulse widths and come with unwanted sidebands that degraded the performance of the soliton fiber lasers. More details can be referred to D. U. Noske, N. Pandit, J. R. Taylor, "Subpico-second soliton pulse formation from self mode locked erbium fiber laser using intensity dependent polarization rotation," Electronics Letters 28, 2185 (1992) and K. Tamura, H. A. Haus, and E. I. Ippen, "Self starting additive pulse mode locked erbium fiber ring laser," Electonics Letters 28, 2226 (1992). To further reduce the pulse width, stretched pulse fiber laser were proposed using short length of fiber cavity and operating at positive dispersion region. A 77 fs pulse fiber laser has been demonstrated. These demonstrations were discussed in K. Tamura, et al., "77 fs pulse generation from a stretched pulse mode locked all fiber ring laser," Opt. Lett. 18, 1080 (1993) and Tamura, et al., Stretched pulse fiber laser, U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,194, 1996. However, they have not achieved transform-limitedly shaped pulse, because the spectrum is not symmetrically Gaussian/Soliton shape and time bandwidth product (TBP) is too large. It is still remained a challenge to obtain transform limited pulse.
More specifically, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,194 Tamura et al. disclosed a fiber laser for producing high-energy ultra-short laser pulses, having a positive dispersion fiber segment and a negative-dispersion fiber segment joined in series with the positive-dispersion fiber segment to form a laser cavity. With this configuration, soliton effects of laser pulse circulation in the cavity are suppressed and widths of laser pulses circulating in the cavity undergo large variations between a maximum laser pulse width and a minimum laser pulse width during one round trip through the cavity. The fiber laser also provides means for mode-locking laser radiation in the laser cavity, means for providing laser radiation gain in the laser cavity, and means for extracting laser pulses from the laser cavity. Using selected positive- and negative-dispersion fiber segments, the laser cavity exhibits a net positive group velocity dispersion, and the ratio of the maximum laser pulse width to the minimum laser pulse width attained during one round trip through the cavity is greater than 5, and preferably greater than 10. The laser cavity may be configured with different cavity geometries and preferably the ring cavity to achieve unidirectional circulation of laser pulses to produce laser pulses having a pulse width of less than 100 fs and a pulse energy of at least 80 pJ. However, as that shown in FIG. 1, the waveform of the short pulse laser still present distorted pulses and the laser so generated is not a transform-limited shape and still have limited applications in telecommunications since such laser pulse is not able to overcome the problems of the non-linearity and dispersion effects of the laser pulses during the transmission. The distorted pulse shapes are caused by the unbalanced dispersion and the non-linearity of control for operating the laser at the positive net dispersion region. For these reasons, the laser disclosed by Tamura et al. cannot achieve a higher laser transmission efficiency of the transformed-limited shape.
Therefore, a need still exists in the art of fiber laser design and manufacture to provide a new and improved configuration and method to provide short pulse mode-locked fiber laser with better controllable pulse shapes such that the above discussed difficulty may be resolved.

Nonlinear polarization pulse shaping mode locked fiber laser


A process for preparing quinazolin-4-one or its derivative by reacting anthranilic acid or its derivative with formic acid or its derivative in the presence of ammonia, or by reacting ammonium anthranilate or its derivative with formic acid or its derivative.

The following processes are known for preparing quinazolin-4-one or its derivatives from anthranilic acid or its derivatives.
1) EP 1029853 discloses a process for preparing 6-iodoquinazolin-4-one by reacting 5-iodoanthranilic acid with formamidine acetate in ethanol for 20 hours. This process has problems in that the reaction period is long, and it is necessary to use expensive formamidine in an excessive amount.
2) Chem. Pharm. Bull., 46, 1926 (1998) describes a process for preparing quinazolin-4-one by reacting anthranilic acid with formamide. This process has a problem in that teratogenetic formamide is used in an excessive amount.
Thus, these processes have various problems, and hence are not satisfactory as industrially employable processes for preparing quinazolin-4-one or its derivatives.

Process for producing quinazolin-4-one and derivatives thereof


The technology of the present application provides an adjustable bed having a stationary base and a shroud. The shroud may be provided in multiple pieces or a solitary strip of material. The shroud has a height sufficient to inhibit the view of the bottom of the adjustable bed. The shroud has either a plurality of protrusions or a plurality of receptacles. The stationary base conversely has a corresponding plurality of receptacles or a plurality of protrusions. The protrusions are sized to slidingly fit into the receptacles in a telescoping fashion. In one aspect, the shroud and stationary base have both protrusions and receptacles.

Adjustable beds have existed for decades. Early beds were rudimentary, but provided therapeutic value. The modern adjustable bed originated with Dr. Willis Gatch in the early 20th century. The early adjustable bed provided for people to angulate a head or leg portion of the mattress with respect to the buttocks to provide a more customary and comfortable position for activities.
Unfortunately, despite being therapeutic and available, adjustable beds remain unsightly. Generally, an adjustable bed has a solid metal base on which the adjustable mattress moves. At best, the adjustable bed may have a singular outer metal finish or an exposed base.
Thus, against this background, it would be desirable to provide an adjustable bed with a shroud that could be changed.

Replaceable shroud for an adjustable bed


A memory card connector includes an insulative housing having a rear terminal-mounting section and at least one side wall section extending forwardly from one end of the rear section defining a card-receiving space therebetween. A first conductive terminal is mounted on the housing and has a first contact portion with a first protrusion thereon. A second conductive terminal is mounted on the housing and has a second contact portion with a second protrusion thereon. The contact portions of the terminals are normally spaced from each other but are juxtaposed so that the contact portions and the protrusions are mutually engaged in response to a memory card inserted into the card-receiving space. The protrusions are offset from each other, whereby the first protrusion of the first terminal engages the second contact portion of the second terminal, and the second protrusion of the second terminal engages the first contact portion of the first terminal.

Memory cards are known in the art and contain intelligence in the form of a memory circuit or other electronic program. Some form of card reader reads the information or memory stored on the card. Such cards are used in many applications in today's electronic society, including video cameras, digital still cameras, smartphones, PDA's, music players, ATMs, cable television decoders, toys, games, PC adapters, multi-media cards and other electronic applications. Typically, a memory card includes a contact or terminal array for connection through a card connector to a card reader system and then to external equipment. The connector readily accommodates insertion and removal of the card to provide quick access to the information and program on the card. The card connector includes terminals for yieldingly engaging the contact array of the memory card.
The memory card connector often is mounted on a printed circuit board. The memory card, itself, writes or reads via the connector and can transmit between electrical appliances, such as a word processor, personal computer, personal data assistant or the like.
Some memory card connectors are provided with a write-protection function by means of a pair of elastic conductive terminals forming a controlling switch. The two switch terminals are mounted at a side of the connector and have respective elastic arms arranged in close proximity to each other and may be moved into mutual engagement by the memory card to close the controlling switch. Some memory card connectors also are provided with a card detector function by means of a third switch terminal which may be moved into engagement with one of the other switch terminals by a memory card, such as by a leading edge of the card. This indicates or detects that the card is fully inserted into the connector.
One of the problems with memory card connectors of the character described above is in maintaining a good positive engagement between the contact portions of the respective switch terminals. Typically, the contact portions are generally planar and establish a good positive contact engagement only if the entire mutually opposing planar surfaces of the contact portions are engaged. Unfortunately, the switch terminals have a tendency to twist and deform, which results in lessening the contact area between the contact portions which causes a higher resistance ratio. In other words, the actual contact area of the opposing contact portions is impaired and, thereby, impairs the conductivity between the two switch terminals. The present invention is directed to solving these problems.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Memory card connector with switch terminals having improved contacts


Provided is a construction machine where a pilot hose is easily routed. The construction machine includes a seat stand, an operator's seat provided on the seat stand, a remote control valve provided just above a front end of the seat stand at least one of right and left sides of the operator's seat; a hydraulic valve; and a pilot hose interconnecting the remote control valve and the hydraulic valve. The seat stand has an upper surface including a specific surface located beneath the remote control valve and a reference surface on which the operator's seat is installed. A step is provided between the specific surface and the reference surface to make the specific surface be lower than the reference surface, thus enlarging a space for routing the pilot hose beneath the remote control valve.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a construction machine such as a hydraulic excavator, more particularly to a construction machine including a remote control valve provided beside an operator's seat, a hydraulic valve configured to be operated by the remote control valve, and a pilot hose interconnecting the remote control valve and the hydraulic valve.
2. Description of the Background Art
The background art of the present invention will be described by taking a small-size hydraulic excavator shown in FIG. 6, as an example.
This hydraulic excavator comprises a crawler-type lower travelling body 1, an upper slewing body 2 mounted on the lower traveling body 1 in such a manner as to be slewable about an axis X perpendicular to a ground surface, and a work attachment AT attached to a front portion of the upper slewing body 2. The work attachment AT includes a boom 3, an arm 4, a bucket 5, and respective hydraulic actuators for actuating the boom 3, the arm 4 and the bucket 5, namely, a boom cylinder 6, an arm cylinder 7 and a bucket cylinder 8.
The upper slewing body 2 includes an upper frame 9, on which a seat stand 10, an operator's seat 11 provided on the seat stand 10, a canopy 12 covering the operator's seat 11 from above, various manipulation devices, an engine, and engine-related devices are mounted. Other than this canopy type, there is also a type in which a cabin is provided in place of the canopy 12, and the seat stand 10 and the operator's seat 11 are provided inside the cabin, namely, a cabin type.
As shown in FIG. 7, the upper frame 9 includes a bottom plate 13, and a floor plate 14 disposed above the bottom plate 13 with a vertical interval. There is formed an underfloor space S in an underfloor region of a front and left portion of the upper frame 9, that is, between the bottom plate 13 and the floor plate 14. In the underfloor space S is installed a multiple control valve unit 15. The control valve unit 15 is an assembly of a plurality of hydraulic-pilot-controlled control valves (see JP 2008-31817 A and JP 2002-227249 A). The terms "front (forward)", "rear (rearward)", "right (rightward)" and "left (leftward)" mean directions on the basis of an operator seated in the operator's seat 11.
The control valve unit 15 is attached, for example, onto the bottom plate 13. On the other hand, there are provided a plurality of remote control valves 16 above the seat stand 10. The plurality of control valves included in the control valve unit 15 are operated by respective manipulations applied to the remote control valves 16.
Rearward of the underfloor space S stands upright a partition wall 17. The partition wall 17 defines an engine room 18 beneath the operator's seat 11 and the seat stand 10 supporting the operator's seat 11.
The plurality of remote control valves 16 are distributed on right and left sides of the operator's seat 11 in a front end region of an upper surface of the seat stand 10, and the remote control valves 16 and the control valves of the control valve unit 15 are interconnected through a plurality of pilot hoses H.
As regards routing of the pilot hoses H, particularly, routing of the pilot hoses H which interconnect the remote control valves 16 located on a side opposite to an entrance way for the operator's seat 11 (in the example shown in FIG. 7, the right remote control valve 16: this remote control valve 16 will hereinafter be referred to as "inward remote control valve") and the control valve unit 15 installed in the underfloor space S as mentioned above, there is the following problem. The position of the inward remote control valve 16 is set to the position for the easiest manipulation by a seated operator, with respect to a height direction, a front-rear direction and a right-left directions, and the space between a hose connection port in a lower surface of the inward remote control valve 16 located at the set position and the upper surface of the seat stand 10 is defined as a routing space: this routing space can have only a small height dimension as shown in FIG. 7, which requires the pilot hoses H to be bent with a great curvature within the routing space when they are routed. The routing with such large-curvature bending requires a complicated joint structure, thus involving increased component cost and deteriorated production efficiency due to an increase in workload in an assembling line.

KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.


A technique includes determining a first set of intra-node port weights for a first switch of a first routing node, determining a set of inter-node port weights including a first inter-node port weight for routing traffic to a second routing node, determining a first inter-node weighted port group for the first switch for traffic directed to the second routing node, the first inter-node weighted port group including a first total port weight based on a first intra-node port weight and the first inter-node port weight and which is applied to a first port of the first switch, and a second total port weight based on a second intra-node port weight and the first inter-node port weight and which is applied to the second port of the first switch, and routing traffic to an output port of the first switch based on the first inter-node weighted port group.

Routers or switches in a network are typically responsible for receiving and forwarding packets. Each switch may perform a routing decision for each packet by, for example, performing a lookup into a forwarding table to identify an output port for forwarding the packet. Various routing algorithms have been used by switches or routers to identify an output port for forwarding each packet.

Weighted cost multipath routing with intra-node port weights and inter-node port weights


According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell, a bit line connected to the memory cell, a sense circuit which senses data of the memory cell based on second current that flows through the memory cell and first current, a first transistor of a first conductivity type, which is connected to the bit line and through which the second current flows, and a second transistor of the first conductivity type, through which the first current flows.

A magnetic random access memory (MRAM) is a memory device using a magnetic element having a magnetoresistive effect in memory cells that store information, and it attracts attention as a next-generation memory device that is featured in high-speed operation, large capacity and non-volatility. Research and development has been made to replace the MRAM with a nonvolatile memory such as a DRAM and an SRAM. It is desirable to operate the MRAM in the same manner as the DRAM and SRAM for reducing costs of the development and facilitating the replacement.


A firestopping device which is held between the flange of water closet flange assembly and the floor surrounding the opening containing the drain pipe which includes a securement section positioned therebetween for being held in place and an intumescent section extending radially inwardly therefrom to a position above the vertical drain pipe opening to facilitate intumescent expansion thereinto responsive to the exposure of heat.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention deals with the field of devices for firestopping around drain pipes positioned in floors which are adapted to be secured with respect to a water closet by the use of a water closet flange assembly. Such devices are commonly subjected to firestopping by traditional caulking which is difficult to perform in view of the fact that the water closet after being bolted in place prevents access to the vertical floor opening. Therefore such caulking normally needs to be done from below which is sometimes very difficult based on the particular application or job. The present invention provides a unique configuration for a firestopping device which includes an outer section for securing it in place and an inner section positionable adjacent to the vertical drain opening in position surrounding the drain pipe which facilitates sealing of this annular region responsive to exposure thereof to heat.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many patents have been designed for the purpose of firestopping of floor, ceiling, and wall openings such as toilet drain floor outlet holes as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,346,230 patented Oct. 10, 1967 to C. O. Tolf, Jr. and assigned to Construction Accessories Mfg. Corp. on a "Pipe Sleeve"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,598 patented Apr. 14, 1981 to Kenneth R. Cornwall on a "Concrete Floor Embedded Coupling For Plastic Pipe"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,286 patented Feb. 2, 1982 to Gerold J. Harbeke on a "Pipe Support Coupling And Method Of Using Same"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,161 patented Nov. 13, 1984 to Lewis B. Issi, Sr. and assigned to Plastic Oddities, Inc. on a "Toilet Bowl Gasket Of Rubberlike Material Having Compressible Concentric Ridge Rings On Both Sides"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,242 patented Jan. 28, 1986 to Charles L. Dunsworth and assigned to Metalines, Inc. on a "Smoke And Heat Barrier"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,471 patented Oct. 28, 1986 to Gerold J. Harbeke on an "Embedded Pipe Coupling Holder"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,170 patented Nov. 18, 1986 to Kenneth R. Cornwall on a "Coupling"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,415 patented Dec. 23, 1986 to Ronald L. Attwell and assigned to Selkirk Division of Household Manufacturing Limited on a "Fire Stop"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,829 patented Jan. 27, 1987 to Kenneth R. Cornwall on a "Firestop Fitting For Carrier Mounted Water Closets"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,139 patented Mar. 10, 1987 to Darryll Stokes on a "Mounting Ring Assembly For A Toilet Bowl"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,759 patented Jun. 2, 1987 to Gerold J. Harbeke on a "Fire-Stop Stack Fitting And Method Of Using Same"; an U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,787 patented Jun. 7, 1988 to Gerold J. Harbeke on a "Pipe Flange Fire-Proofing Kit And Process"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,926 patented Jan. 31, 1989 to Paul C. Beck and assigned to Adolph Coors Company on a "Firebreak For Conduits"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,160 patented Feb. 14, 1989 to Gerold J. Harbeke on an "Automatically-Releasable Pipe-Attachment Device" and U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,043 patented Jul. 18, 1989 to Gerold J. Harbeke on an "Under Floor Fire Stop Coupling And Method; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,385 patented Jul. 25, 1989 to Gerold J. Harbeke on a "Fire Stop Pipe Coupling Adaptor"; and United States Patent No. 4,877,216 patented Oct. 31, 1989 to Gerold J. Harbeke on a "Automatically-Releasable Pipe-Attachment Device"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,886 patented Nov. 28, 1989 to Gerold J. Harbeke on an "Automatically-Releasable Pipe Attachment Device"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,966 patented Jan. 23, 1990 to Paul R. Bailey et al on a "Fire Stopping Apparatus"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,488 patented Feb. 20, 1990 to George Murota et al and assigned to The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. on a "Fire/Smoke Protection Structure For A Plastic Pipe Or Cable Channel Portion In A Floor Or Wall"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,916,800 patented Apr. 17, 1990 to Gerold J. Harbeke on a "Fire-Retardant Fluid Coupling Assembly And Method"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,761 patented Apr. 24, 1990 to Gerold J. Harbeke on a "Method Of Using A Toilet-Flange Cast-In Mount"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,180 patented Oct. 23, 1990 to Gerold J. Harbeke on a "Shower Strainer Mounting Assembly; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,986 patented Oct. 29, 1991 to William Carter and assigned to Water Works Supply Corporation on a "Sleeve Adapter"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,609 patented Apr. 14, 1992 to Thomas L. Thoreson et al and assigned to Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company on an "Intumescable Fire Stop Device"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,592 patented Apr. 21, 1992 to George S. MacMillan et al and assigned to Fire Barrier Installations, Inc. on a "Fire Barrier Device"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,201 patented Jul. 14, 1992 to Eric B. Robertson et al and assigned to National Improvement Company, Inc. on a "Fire Safety Device"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,957 patented Oct. 20, 1992 to Eric B. Robertson et al and assigned to National Improvement Company on a "Fire Safety Device"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,250 patented Aug. 3, 1993 to Anthony S. Bonacci on an "Adjustable Flange For Plumbing Fixtures"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,688 patented May 10, 1994 to Paul Robertson on a "Concrete Slab Penetration Unit For Pipes"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,767 patented Sep. 20, 1994 to Rudolf Roth on a "Fire Retardant Sleeve; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,465 patented Feb. 21, 1995 to James A. Rajecki and assigned to The Lamson & Sessions Co. on a "Passthrough Device With Firestop"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,872 patented Sep. 21, 1999 to George S. MacMillian et al on a "Fire Barrier Assembly"; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,101,774 patented Aug. 15, 2000 to Deryl Heil on a "Slab Plumbing System"; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,564 patented Dec. 19, 2000 to Kenneth R. Cornwall on a "Fire Transmission Prevention System"; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,873 patented Dec. 19, 2000 to Herbert Munzenberger et al and assigned to Hilti Aktiengesellschaft on a "Masonry Lead-In Fixture"; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,297 patented Jan. 8, 2002 to Kenneth R. Cornwall on a "Self Sealing Firestop Coupling Assembly"; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,975 patented Feb. 26, 2002 to Deryl Heil on a "Slab Plumbing System"; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,502 patented Mar. 26, 2002 to James P. Stahl, Jr. and assigned to Specified Technolgies Inc. on a "Firestop Collar Means With Improved Mounting Means"; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,502 patented Jun. 18, 2002 to Kenneth R. Cornwall on a "Firestop Assembly Comprising Intumescent Material Within A Metal Extension Mounted On The Inner Surface Of A Plastic Coupling"; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,438,765 patented Aug. 27, 2002 to Michael W. Johnson et al on a "Toilet Sealing Ring Adapter Assembly"; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,860 patented Oct. 8, 2002 to Norman W. Gavin on a "Pipe Seal For Cast Concrete"; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,635 patented Oct. 29, 2002 to Kenneth R. Cornwall on a "Coupling Assembly With Intumescent Material"; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,643,985 patented Nov. 11, 2002 to Herbert Munzenberger and assigned to Hilti Aktiengesellschaft on a "Tubular Lead-In Fixture"; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,679,015 patented Jan. 20, 2004 to Kenneth R. Cornwall on a "Hub Seal Firestop Device"; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,684 patented Feb. 24, 2004 to DuWayne C. Radke et al and assigned to 3M Innovative Properties Company on a "Pass Through Firestop Device"; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,275 patented Sep. 14, 2004 to Michael W. Spells, Sr. et al on a "Non-Leaking Flush Toilet System".

Method and apparatus for firestopping around a water closet drain pipe in a vertical floor opening


Coating powders with enhanced electrostatic attraction to low conductivity substrates such as engineered wood are disclosed. The addition of conductive fillers to low temperature cure coating powder compositions improves the coating of difficult to coat substrates such as raised panel cabinet doors. Low temperature cure coating powders containing conductive additives can be applied to preheated engineered wood substrates. Also disclosed are methods for forming a powder coating on a low conductivity substrate.

This disclosure relates to coating powder compositions, and more specifically coating powder compositions for deposition on substrates with low electrical conductivity.
Coating powders are dry, finely divided, free-flowing solid materials at room temperature. They are conveniently applied using electrostatic methods. In electrostatic powder coating, an electric potential is generated between the coating powder and the substrate to be coated, causing the powder particles to be attracted to the substrate. Charging of the powder may be effected by an applied voltage or by friction (tribocharging). Electrostatic powder coating has most often been used for metal substrates that are natural conductors of electricity. When substrates are non-conductive or dielectric, the substrates must be treated to make them permanent or temporary electrical conductors.
For materials such as wood, electrically charged primers have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,108 to Nason, et al. discloses applying a non-aqueous, surfactant-free primer comprising a conductive polymeric material to a wooden substrate, drying the coating, then applying a coating powder. A drawback of using a primer is that it requires the application of at least two distinct coats.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,426 to Williams, et al. a process for improving the electrostatic charge developed on a coating powder composition for electrostatic coating is disclosed. The powder, which contains an essential electrostatic property-modifying agent (a polyalkylene ether, a polyalkylene glycol, a polyethoxylated stearyl alcohol, a quaternary ammonium salt or a halogenated ammonium salt) incorporated into the resin, is charged by electrical induction/conduction, and then sprayed onto a grounded solid substrate. Once sprayed, the charge facilitates the adherence of the coating powder to the substrate and enables thermal fusing of the coating powder to produce a permanent finish. A drawback of this method is that the coating is subjected to inductive or electrically conductive conditions, thus adding an extra step to the process.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,747,150 to Yamamoto et al. discloses metal substrates having multiple coating layers deposited by electrostatic methods, wherein an undercoating layer is formed from a coating powder composition comprising conductive particles such as carbon black, a conductive metal oxide such as zinc oxide or tin oxide, or an organic antistatic agent such as known anionic, cationic, or anionic surface-active agent. Use of the conductive undercoating improves transfer efficiency of a subsequent coating powder forming an upper layer. A disadvantage of this method is the use of multiple coats. Similarly, EP 260 638 to Nimura et al. discloses a coating powder composition comprising a conductivity-increasing additive such a metal complex azo compound, a phthalocyanine compound, an anthraquinone compound azine compound, an alkyl onium salt, or the metal salt of an organic carboxylic acid.
Another problem associated with the electrostatic powder coating of wood substrates is that during heating of the substrate, moisture tends to be dispelled at a greater rate from the sharp edges, corners, and intricately machined surfaces. Non-uniform moisture evaporation from the surface tends to render the electrostatic attraction of the powder to these areas difficult. Oftentimes, the surfaces of these areas are not coated at all. The accordingly remains a need for improved coating powders for low conductivity substrates.

Coating powders, methods of manufacture thereof, and articles formed therefrom


The present invention is a method and system for forming a rotated image on an imaging element without requiring vast amounts of physical memory, virtual memory or specialized hardware. Furthermore, the system and technique is efficient and inexpensive to implement.. The present invention effects efficient image rotation by decomposing the image into an array of data blocks defined by a plurality of data block columns and a plurality of data block rows. The present invention independently rotates each data block and writes the rotated data block to a temporary image file starting at a corresponding calculated position. The starting position is such that during a post-processing phase a plurality of rotated data blocks are retrieved and easily processed to form at least one complete scan line of pixels. Finally, the imaging element is sequentially exposed by a radiation source to form each scan line on the imaging element, thereby forming a rotated image on the imaging element.

An imaging system typically includes an input imaging device that generates image information and an output imaging device that forms a visible representation of the image on an imaging element based on the image information. In a medical imaging system, for example, the input imaging device may include a diagnostic device, such as a magnetic resonance (MR), computed tomography (CT), conventional radiography (X-ray), digital radiography (DR) or ultrasound device. Alternatively, the input imaging device may include a user interface device, such as a keypad, mouse, or trackball, which is also capable of generating medical image information. As a further alternative, the input imaging device may include an image archival workstation for retrieving archived images. The output imaging device in a medical imaging system typically includes a digital laser imager. The laser imager exposes the imaging element in response to the image information to form the visible representation of the image. Alternatively, the laser imager may combine multiple images into an "image page" and expose the imaging element to form a visible representation of the images.
The image information generated by the input imaging device includes image data containing digital image values representative of the image and imaging commands specifying operations to be performed by the laser imager. Each of the digital image values corresponds to one of a plurality of pixels in the original image, and represents an optical density associated with the respective pixel. In response to an imaging command, the laser imager converts the digital image values to generate laser drive values used to modulate the intensity of a scanning laser. The laser drive values are calculated to produce exposure levels, on the imaging element, necessary to reproduce the optical densities associated with the pixels of the original image when the element is developed, either by wet chemical processing or dry thermal processing.
Prior to imaging the element, an output imaging device may perform a number of additional operations on the image data to produce a variety of different format and/or appearance characteristics. Often, it is necessary to rotate the image data 90, 180 or 270 degrees prior to imaging the element. One conventional technique is to write an image into a memory in one direction and read it out in an orthogonal direction. This technique, however, consumes vast amounts of system resources. For example, a typical medical image may have 5120 scan lines, 4096 pixels per scan lines and eight bits per pixel. In order to rotate this typical medical image using conventional techniques requires over 40 MB of memory. Therefore, many imaging systems either incorporate specialized hardware or rely on virtual memory to extend the system's overall memory capacity. Specialized image-rotation hardware is, however, extremely expensive and therefore may not be a viable solution for some imaging systems. Furthermore, virtual memory requires a sophisticated operating system and is inherently slow. Thus, a complex operating system and virtual memory may not be well-suited for certain real-time applications that need to quickly and deterministically respond to events.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for an image rotation software system capable of rotating an image without requiring specialized hardware, massive amounts of physical memory or virtual memory. Furthermore, there is a need for such a system which is efficient and inexpensive to implement.

Method and system for forming a rotated image on an imaging element using limited system resources

Minnesota, Mining and Manufacturing 3M Center


Provided is a foreign matter inspection method for positively detecting a foreign matter in the neighborhood of the edge of a mirror-finished substrate without fail. Edge-emphasis and binarization are performed following the taking of an image of a substrate-under-inspection at a contour of its inspection area, to further detect a plurality of sampling points representative of a contour of the inspection area. An estimated inspection area is determined by determining the size, position and rotation angle of contour lines defined, size-reducibly, from the coordinates of the plurality of sampling points. After applying a mask to the binary image data in an area other than the estimated inspection area, a foreign-matter detection step is performed.

Recently, the hard disk drive, representative of a magnetic disk device, is in a conspicuous trend toward the increase of recording density in order to realize small size and large capacity, whose track width is reduced down to 1 μm or smaller. In order for the head to correctly scan over such a narrow track, the head-tracking servo technology plays an important role. The presently available hard disk drive, using such track servo art, is to record a tracking servo signal, an address information signal, a reproducing clock signal, etc. at a constant angular interval in one turn of the disk. The drive device is to detect and rectify the head position according to those signals reproduced at a constant time interval from the head, thus allowing the head to correctly scan over the track.
Because the servo signal, the address information signal, the reproducing clock signal, etc. serve as reference signals for the head to correctly scan over the track, high positioning accuracy is required in the writing thereof (hereinafter, described "formatting"). In the presently available hard disk drive, formatting is performed by positioning in position the recording head with use of an exclusive servo device built with an accurate position detector utilizing light interference (hereinafter, referred to as a servo writer).
However, the following disadvantages exist in the formatting by means of the foregoing servo writer. Firstly, much time is required in writing signals over a multiplicity of tracks while accurately positioning the head in position. Thus, there is a need to operate many servo writers simultaneously in order to improve productivity. Secondly, a great deal of cost is needed in introducing many servo writers and maintaining/managing those. Such disadvantages are more serious as track density improves and track count increases.
In this situation, there is proposed a scheme and magnetic transfer apparatus that, by superimposing a disk called a master previously written with all pieces of servo information with a magnetic disk requiring formatting and then externally providing transfer energy to those, the information on the master is transferred in batch to the magnetic disk without using a servo writer in formatting (e.g. Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. H10-40544).
In the proposal, the substrate has a surface on which a magnetic region of ferromagnetic material is formed in a patterned form for information signals, thus being made as a magnetic transfer master. The magnetic transfer master at its surface is placed in contact with a surface of a sheet-formed or disk-like magnetic recording medium formed with a ferromagnetic thin film or ferromagnetic powder-applied layer, to which predetermined magnetic field is applied. Due to this, the method allows the magnetic recording medium to record a magnetized pattern having a patterned form corresponding to the information signal formed on the magnetic transfer master.
In the magnetic transfer device for use in the formatting according to the foregoing magnetic transfer scheme, formatting is available instantaneously. Nevertheless, in order to obtain preferable magnetic transfer signal quality, there is a need to place the magnetic transfer master and the magnetic disk in close contact with each other without any gap at the entire surfaces. For this purpose, it is significantly important to control the foreign matters and projections existing on a magnetic transfer master surface or a magnetic disk surface. Particularly, for the magnetic disk for magnetic transfer, it is vital to conduct a foreign-matter inspection without fail on the magnetic disk entirely in the planar surface thereof immediately before executing magnetic transfer.
As a foreign-matter inspection apparatus for use in a foreign-matter inspection on a planar region of a magnetic disk, there is known a foreign-matter inspection apparatus that scans a laser spot over a magnetic disk surface and inspects a foreign matter or projection on the magnetic disk by detecting the reflection light thereof (e.g. Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2003-4428).
FIG. 14 shows a foreign-matter inspection apparatus in the prior art. At the first step, by rotating inspection index 101 120 degrees, magnetic disk 102 to be inspected is transported to an inspection position where magnetic disk 102 lying in an inspection position is vacuum-held by inspection stage 103.
At the second step, the AD conversion board in computer 109 is notified of a sampling start.
At the third step, magnetic disk 102 is rotated by rotation driver 104 through inspection stage 103.
At the fourth step, a predetermined voltage is applied to laser light source 105, to emit laser light L1 to magnetic disk 102 on the inspection stage 103. The reflection light and scattering light of the same is received by light-reception camera 106 so that the image outputted from light-reception camera 106 is fetched to the A/D converter board of within computer 109. From the captured image, a foreign matter is detected by image recognition. This operation is performed several times by changing the laser-light irradiation position radially of the disk.
At the fifth step, laser light L2 is irradiated from dimension-measurer's illuminator 107 and passed through the lateral of an edge of magnetic disk 102. Otherwise, the laser light L2 scattered by the edge is received by dimension-measurer's light receiver 108 so that the A/D converter board in computer 109 can input therein a voltage value dependent upon the light-reception amount corresponding to the edge position.
At the sixth step, after terminating the sampling of voltage values (i.e. edge position measurement) during 360 degree rotation of magnetic disk 102, the voltage-value sampling result inputted to the A/D converter board is taken out to calculate a deviation amount (X, Y) from the setting value (0.0) of a rotating center of magnetic disk 102. At the sixth sequence, after detecting foreign matters on magnetic disk 102 throughout the entire area up to the outermost or the innermost, the deviation amount (X, Y) obtained at the fifth sequence is added to each of the obtained foreign-matter detection data.
Then, checking is made as to whether or not each foreign matter the deviation amount has been added has a coordinate lying inside or outside the inspection area. The detection data of a foreign matter lying outside is considered corresponding to the edge of magnetic disk 102 and excluded from the foreign-matter detection data. In this manner, because inspection is conducted while correctly measuring the outer peripheral edge position of magnetic disk 102, it is possible to exclude a erroneous recognition due to an irregular reflection at the outer peripheral edge. By scanning the laser light L1 up to the outer peripheral edge, foreign-matter detection can be effected thoroughly up to the outer peripheral edge.
However, the conventional foreign-matter inspection method and apparatus is to correctly measure the outer peripheral edge position of the disk, thus being required to use an expensive measuring instrument, such as a laser dimension measuring instrument. This raises a disadvantage of increasing apparatus price. Furthermore, because the disk is usually chamfered at its edge, the planar region to be inspected exists inward by a chamfer dimension from the outer peripheral edge. Generally, chamfer is low in working accuracy wherein chamfer dimension has a larger tolerance. Accordingly, even if the disk outer peripheral edge position is measured correctly, it is not easy to correctly determine a contour of the planar region to be inspected. Due to this, there is disadvantageously an increasing possibility to erroneously recognize the light irregularly reflected by the chamfer of the disk as light reflected from a foreign matter.

Method for inspecting a foreign matter on mirror-finished substrate


A coating composition primarily used as a clear coat of a clearcoat/color coat automotive finish; the composition has a film forming binder solids content of about 30-70% by weight contains about. (A) 50-80% by weight, based on the weight of the binder, of an acrylic polymer of polymerized monomers of styrene, and two methacrylate monomers and a hydroxy alkyl methacrylate or acrylate each having 1-4 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and the polymer has a number average molecular weight of about 1,000-12,000 and a calculated Tg of at least 40.degree. C. and PA0 (B) 1-20% by weight, based on the weight of the binder, of a polyol component and PA0 (C) 10-49% by weight, based on the weight of the binder, of an organic polyisocyanate.

This invention is directed to a coating composition and in particular a clear coating composition used for refinishing clear coat/color coat finish of a vehicle such as an automobile or a truck.
Clear coat/color coat finishes for automobiles and trucks have been used in recent years and are very popular. Kurauchi et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,543 issued Mar. 1, 1988 and Benefiel et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,147 issued Feb. 1, 1972 show the application of a clear coat to a color coat or basecoat in a "wet on wet" application, i.e., the clear coat is applied before the color coat is completely cured.
Productivity of conventional refinish operations using these clear coat/color coat finishes has been lacking in that the conventional refinish clear coating in current use does not dry to a tack free state in relatively short period of time and the vehicle cannot be moved without having foreign particles stick to the clear coat nor can the clear coat be buffed until completely dried to form a finish with acceptable gloss and smoothness. In a typical refinish operation, after the color coat is applied, the clear coat is applied to the vehicle and the resulting finish is allowed to dry before the vehicle is moved. Before any further work can be done to the finish, it must be tack free and must be sufficiently hard to buff to improve gloss or remove minor imperfections. Conventional finishes have long drying and curing times and therefore, reduce the productivity of a refinish operation since the vehicles cannot be moved and worked on quickly after application of the finish.
Also, there is a continued need to use compositions with low VOC (volatile organic content) to meet pollution regulations. It is well known that coating compositions that have a reduced VOC have a high viscosity which reduces the ease of sprayability and application of the composition. To reduce the viscosity of such a composition the molecular weight of the film forming polymer of the composition must be reduced. This further lengthens drying and curing times and reduces the productivity of a refinish operation.
The coating composition of this invention which generally is used as a clear coating dries in a relatively short period of time to a tack-free state and to a hard and glossy finish which allows the vehicle to be moved and the finish can be buffed if necessary and the composition has a lower VOC than conventional compositions in current use. The productivity of a refinish operation using this coating composition can be significantly improved.

Coating composition of an acrylic polymer, polyol and polyisocyanate crosslinking agent


Partial denitrations are made practical by an SCR catalyst placed downstream of a NOx adsorber. The SCR catalyst permits partial denitrations to be extended to where a favorable fuel penalty rate presented by driving conditions can be utilized to a sufficient extent that the benefit of the favorable conditions is not offset by the increased start-up fuel penalty associated with conducting opportunistic partial denitrations. Regenerations, including both denitration and desulfations, can be initiated selectively based on a fuel penalty calculation. Examples of such calculations lead to methods in which opportunistic regenerations are based on low oxygen concentrations, condition existing while shifting gears, and throttling events for a diesel engine with a throttled air supply. The methods flexibly take advantage of driving conditions to reduce fuel penalties associated with regenerations. In one embodiment, driving conditions include future conditions predicted based on GPS and map data.

NOx emissions from diesel engines are an environmental problem. Several countries, including the United States, have long had regulations pending that will limit NOx emissions from trucks and other diesel-powered vehicles. Manufacturers and researchers have already put considerable effort toward meeting those regulations.
In gasoline powered vehicles that use stoichiometric fuel-air mixtures, three-way catalysts have been shown to control NOx emissions. In diesel-powered vehicles, which use compression ignition, the exhaust is generally too oxygen-rich for three-way catalysts to be effective.
Several solutions have been proposed for controlling NOx emissions from diesel-powered vehicles. One set of approaches focuses on the engine. Techniques such as exhaust gas recirculation and partially homogenizing fuel-air mixtures are helpful, but these techniques alone will not eliminate NOx emissions. Another set of approaches remove NOx from the vehicle exhaust. These include the use of lean-burn NOx catalysts, selective catalytic reduction (SCR), and lean NOx traps (LNTs).
Lean-burn NOx catalysts promote the reduction of NOx under oxygen-rich conditions. Reduction of NOx in an oxidizing atmosphere is difficult. It has proved challenging to find a lean-burn NOx catalyst that has the required activity, durability, and operating temperature range. Lean-burn NOx catalysts also tend to be hydrothermally unstable. A noticeable loss of activity occurs after relatively little use. Lean-burn NOx catalysts typically employ a zeolite wash coat, which is thought to provide a reducing microenvironment. The introduction of a reductant, such as diesel fuel, into the exhaust is generally required and introduces a fuel economy penalty of 3% or more. Currently, peak NOx conversion efficiencies for lean-burn catalysts are unacceptably low.
SCR refers to selective catalytic reduction of NOx by ammonia. The reaction takes place even in an oxidizing environment. The NOx can be temporarily stored in an adsorbant or ammonia can be fed continuously into the exhaust. SCR can achieve high levels of NOx reduction, but there is a disadvantage in the lack of infrastructure for distributing ammonia or a suitable precursor. Another concern relates to the possible release of ammonia into the environment.
LNTs are NOx adsorbers combined with catalysts for NOx reduction. The adsorbant is typically an alkaline earth oxide adsorbant, such as BaCO3 and the catalyst is typically a precious metal, such as Pt or Ru. In lean exhaust, the catalyst speeds oxidizing reactions that lead to NOx adsorption. Accumulated NOx is removed by creating a rich environment within the LNT through the introduction of a reductant. In a rich environment, the catalyst activates reactions by which adsorbed NOx is reduced and desorbed, preferably as N2. The process of removing accumulated NOx from the LNT is commonly referred to as regeneration, although it may also be referred to as denitration in order to distinguish desulfation, described below.
In addition to accumulating NOx, LNTs accumulate SOx. SOx is the combustion product of sulfur present in ordinarily diesel fuel. Even with reduced sulfur fuels, the amount of SOx produced by diesel combustion is significant. SOx adsorbs more strongly than NOx and necessitates a more stringent, though less frequent, regeneration. Desulfation requires elevated temperatures as well as a reducing atmosphere.
The conditions for denitration may be created in several ways. One approach uses the engine to create a rich fuel-air mixture. This may be accomplished, for example, by injecting extra diesel fuel into one or more engine cylinders after combustion and substantial decompression. Reductant may also be injected into the exhaust downstream of the engine. In either case, a portion of the reductant must be expended to consume oxygen in the exhaust. The reductant can consume oxygen either by reactions in the LNT or by reactions in an upstream unit. For example, U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2004/0050037 describes an exhaust system with a fuel reformer placed inline with the exhaust and upstream of an LNT. The fuel reformer not only consumes excess oxygen, but converts diesel fuel into more reactive reformate. There is a significant fuel penalty, regardless of which approach is used.
Many publications propose reducing the fuel penalty by providing two or more LNTs in a parallel arrangement. During regeneration of an LNT, all or part of the exhaust flow can be diverted to the other LNTs. The implementation of this method requires the use of at least one exhaust valve that for a heavy duty truck must generally fit an exhaust pipe with an inner diameter of at least about 10 cm. U.S. Pat. No. 6,820,417 describes a four-way valve for this purpose. U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2004/0139730 describes a valve that divides reductant and exhaust between two LNTs. In a first position the valve directs reductant to one LNT and exhaust to the other and in a second position switches the flows. The durability and reliability of these valves is not known, although experience with smaller EGR valves suggest durability and reliability will present challenges for these valves.
In certain applications that employ LNTs, as in lean-burn gasoline engines, stoichiometric air-fuel ratios occur during normal operation. It is known to preferentially carry out denitration when such favorable conditions occur during normal vehicle operation. For example, U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2003/0115858, teaches preferentially regenerating an LNT when engine power demand is high, and U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2003/0089103 teaches avoiding regeneration when an engine is at idle.
It is also known that regeneration, especially desulfation, can be carried out more efficiently if initiated while an LNT is relatively hot. U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,899 teaches regenerating a LNT just before fuel cut-off events to avoid having to regenerate the LNT after it becomes cold. U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,198 teaches carrying out partial desulfation when an LNT is at a critical temperature as a result of a normal driving cycle.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,328, suggests reducing the fuel penalty for regenerating a LNT in an exhaust treatment system of a compression ignition diesel engine by performing partial regenerations during deceleration to take advantage of low flow conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,732,507 and U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2004/0076565 suggest improving the efficiency of an LNT by combining it with a downstream SCR catalyst in series. The SCR catalyst captures ammonia produced by the LNT toward the end of a complete LNT regeneration cycle. The SCR catalyst subsequently uses the captured ammonia to convert NOx bypassing the LNT and thereby increases the overall extent of NOx conversion.
In spite of advances, there continues to be a long felt need for an affordable and reliable exhaust treatment system that is durable, has a manageable operating cost (including fuel penalty), and can practically be used to reduce NOx emissions across the spectrum of diesel engines to a satisfactory extent in the sense of meeting U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations effective in 2010 and other such regulations.

LNT regeneration strategy over normal truck driving cycle