The device for driving an elevator at the time of a service interruption according to the present invention has a circuit for varying d-axis magnetic flux command to prevent regeneative power that can damage the elements in an inverter from being generated at the time of an interruption eliminating the need for a regenerative power consumption circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for driving an elevator at the time of a service interruption which is driven by a PWM inverter and more particularly to a device for driving an elevator at the time of a service interruption wherein a regenerative power consumption circuit is deleted to achieve cost reduction.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a PWM inverter has been used for controlling an induction motor for driving an elevator in order to achieve purposes such as the reduction of power consumption. In the case of this type of elevator control device, since the PWM inverter is driven by the power supplied by a battery at the time of a service interruption, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to provide a complicated inverter controller, insulated DC-DC converter, or constant voltage circuit. For example, FIG. 5 illustrates the configuration of a conventional device for driving an elevator at the time of a service interruption disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 64-314.
In the FIG. 1 represents a three-phase AC commercial power source; 2 represents normally open contacts of a contactor which is connected to the commercial power source 1 and excited when an elevator is running; 3 represents a PWM converter (hereinafter simply referred to as converter) converting the three-phase AC voltage of the commerical power source 1 into DC voltage; 4 represents a capacitor for smoothing the output voltage of the converter 3; 5 represents a regular PWM inverter (hereinafter referred to as regular inverter) for converting the DC voltage across the capacitor 4 into VVVF (variable voltage variable frequency) three-phase AC voltage; and 6 represents an induction motor for driving the elevator driven by the regular inverter 5.
7 represents a control circuit for controlling transistors in the regular inverter 5 in response to three-phase voltage command values V.sub.lU, V.sub.lV, and V.sub.lW. 8 represents a velocity detector for detecting the rotor angular velocity .omega.r of the induction motor 6. 9 represents current detectors for detecting three-phase AC currents 1.sub.lU, 1.sub.lV, and 1.sub.lW flowing from the regular inverter 5 to the stator (primary winding) of the induction motor 6.
10 represents a resistor connected across the capacitor 4. 11 represents a transistor which is series-connected to the resistor 10 to be controlled by the control circuit 7. The series circuit comprising the resistor 10 and transistor 11 constitutes a regenerative power consumption circuit for consuming the regenerative power generated by the induction motor 6 at the time of a service interruption. 13 represents a three-phase transformer which supplies power to the control circuit 7 and is connected to the commercial power source 1 at the primary side thereof.
14 represents a battery for supplying power to the regular inverter 5 and control circuit 7 at the time of an interruption at the commercial power source 1. 15 represents normally open contacts of a contactor which is connected to the battery 14 and is excited at the time of a service interruption. 16 represents a diode for supplying the regular inverter 5 with the DC power of the battery 14. 17 represents an inverter for service interruption which converts the DC voltage from the battery 14 into three-phase AC voltage at the time of a service interruption.
18 represents normally open contacts inserted between the inverter for service interruption 17 and the primary of the three-phase transformer 13. 19 represents normally closed contacts inserted between the commercial power source 1 and the primary of the three-phase transformer 13. The normally open contacts 18 and normally closed contacts 19 cooperate with a relay excited when the commercial power source 1 is interrupted, constituting a switching means for switching from the commercial power source 1 to the inverter for service interruption 17 to connect the latter to the primary of the three-phase transformer 13.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the control circuit 7 in FIG. 5 in detail.
21 represents a three-phase-to-two-phase converter connected to the current detectors 9, for converting the three-phase AC currents 1.sub.lU - 1.sub.lW into primary currents in a two-axis (d-q) rotary coordinate system, i.e., a d-axis current I.sub.l d corresponding to an exciting current and a q-axis current I.sub.l q corresponding to a torque current according to an AC frequency .omega..sub.l.
22 represents a magnetic flux computing unit connected to the three-phase-to-two-phase converter 21 for computing a d-axis magnetic flux .phi..sub.2 d which interlinks with the rotor (secondary) side according to the currents I.sub.l d and I.sub.l q and voltage command values V.sub.l d and V.sub.l q of the two axes.
23 represents a two-phase-to-three-phase converter for outputting the three-phase voltage command values V.sub.lU, V.sub.lV, and V.sub.lW to the regular inverter 5. It converts the voltage command values V.sub.l d and V.sub.l q in the two-axis rotary coordinate system into the three-phase voltage command values V.sub.lU, V.sub.lV, and V.sub.lW according to the AC frequency .omega..sub.l.
24 represents a d-axis current controller for amplifying the deviation between a d-axis current command value I.sub.lD and the d-axis current I.sub.l d of the primary winding to generate the d-axis voltage command value V.sub.l d. 25 represents a q-axis current controller for amplifying the deviation between a q-axis current command value I.sub.lQ and the q-axis current I.sub.l q to generate the q-axis voltage command value V.sub.l q. 26 represents a magnetic flux controller for amplifying the deviation between a predetermined d-axis magnetic flux command value .phi..sub.2D according to the rating of the induction motor 6 and the d-axis magnetic flux .phi..sub.2 d to generate the d-axis current command value I.sub.lD. 27 represents a velocity controller for amplifying the deviation between a rotor angular velocity command value .omega..sub.R and a rotor angular velocity .omega.r to generate the q-axis current command value I.sub.lQ.
28 represents a divider for obtaining the ratio I.sub.lQ /.phi..sub.2d of the q-axis current command value I.sub.lQ to the d-axis magnetic flux .phi..sub.2d. 29 represents a coefficient unit for multiplying the calculation result of the divider 28 by .alpha. to obtain a slip frequency command value .omega.s.
30 represents a subtracter for obtaining the deviation between the d-axis magnetic flux command value .phi..sub.2D and the d-axis magnetic flux .omega..sub.2 d. 31 represents a subtracter for obtaining the deviation between the rotor angular velocity command value .omega..sub.R and the rotor angular velocity .omega.r. 32 represents a subtracter for obtaining the deviation between the d-axis current command value I.sub.lD and d-axis current I.sub.ld. 33 represents a subtracter for obtaining the deviation between the q-axis current command value I.sub.lQ and the q-axis current I.sub.l q. 34 represents an adder for adding a slip frequency command value .omega.s and the rotor angular velocity .omega.r to generate the AC frequency .omega..sub.l.
Next, the operation of the conventional device for driving an elevator at the time of a service interruption shown in FIG. 5 will be described.
When the commercial power source 1 works properly, the normally open contacts 15 and 18 are open and the normall closed contacts 19 are closed, so the control circuit 7 is fed by the commercial power source 1. When the elevator is running, the normally open contacts 2 are closed. The regular inverter 5 is then fed by the commercial power source 1 through the converter 3. Therefore, the regular inverter 5 outputs three-phase AC power of a voltage and frequency in accordance with the three-phase voltage command values V.sub.lU, V.sub.lV, and V.sub.lW from the control circuit 7 to control the torque and revolution speed of the induction motor 6.
When the induction motor 6 generates regenerative power, the converter 3 regenerates the regenerative power at the side of the commercial power source 1 through the capacitor 4.
On the other hand, at the time of a service interruption of the commercial power source 1, the normally open contacts 15 and 18 are closed by the power of an emergency auxiliary power source (not shown) or the like to open the normally closed contacts 19. As a result, the control circuit 7 is disconnected from the commerical power source 1 and fed by the battery 14 through the inverter for service interruption 17.
At this time, the inverter for service interruption 17 converts the DC voltage from the battery 14 to generate three-phase AC voltage which is applied to the primary of the three-phase transformer 13 to feed the control circuit 7.
The DC voltage output by the battery 14 is also applied to the DC side of the regular inverter 5 through the diode 16.
Therefore, the control circuit 7 controls the regular inverter 5 in the same way as in the case that the commercial power source 1 works properly, and the regular inverter 5 controls the torque and the revolution speed of the induction motor 6.
At the time of a service interruption of the commercial power source 1, even if regenerative power is generated by the induction motor 6, it can not be returned to the commercial power source 1. As a result, there is a possibility that the voltage at the DC side of the regular inverter 5 will be increased and the elements in the regular inverter 5 are broken. Therefore, the control circuit 7 detects the regenerative power and brings the transistor 11 into a conducting state to consume the regenerative power through the resistor 10.
Next, the operation of the conventional control circuit 7 will be described with reference to FIG. 6.
First, the current detector 9 detects the three-phase AC currents I.sub.lU, I.sub.lV, and I.sub.lW flowing from the regular inverter 5 to the primary winding of the induction motor 6.
The three-phase-to-two-phase converter 21 converts the detected three-phase AC currents I.sub.lU, I.sub.lV, and I.sub.lW into the d-axis current I.sub.l d and q-axis current I.sub.l q viewed from the two-axis rotary coordinate system (d-q coordinate system) rotating in synchronism with the frequency .omega..sub.l of the three-phase AC voltage applied to the primary winding of the induction motor 6.
According to the d-axis voltage command value V.sub.l d, the d-axis current controller 24 performs control so that I.sub.l d equals I.sub.lD and a current in accordance with the command value flows. Similarly, according to the q-axis voltage command value V.sub.l q, the q-axis current controller 25 performs control so that I.sub.l q equals I.sub.lQ.
That is, the voltage command values V.sub.l d and V.sub.l q are converted by the two-phase-to-three-phase converter 23 into three-phase voltage command values V.sub.lU, V.sub.lV, and V.sub.lW which are in turn applied to the regular inverter 5 to cause the desired current to flow through the induction motor 6.
On the other hand, the divider 28 and coefficient unit 29 calculate the slip frequency command value .omega.s on the basis of the relationship .omega.s=.alpha..I.sub.lQ /.phi..sub.2 d. The adder 34 adds the slip frequency command value .omega.s and the rotor angular velocity .omega.r to obtain the AC frequency .omega..sub.l of the voltage applied to the primary winding which is input to the three-phase-to-two-phase converter 21 and two-phase-to-three-phase converter 23.
Thus, the two-phase-to-three-phase converter 23 controls the regular inverter 5 so that the voltage with the AC frequency .omega..sub.l is actually applied to the induction motor 6.
As described above, when the induction motor 6 is controlled by the regular inverter 5 according to the control circuit 7 to decelerate and stop the elevator car or to drive it downward with a heavy load, the regenerative power produced by the induction motor 6 is returned to the DC side through the regular inverter 5. Further, when the commercial power source 1 is interrupted, in order to prevent the elements from being broken by the voltage increase at the DC side of the regular inverter 5, the transistor 11 is brought into a conducting state so that the regenerative power is consumed by the resistor 10.
As described above, the conventional device for driving an elevator at the time of a service interruption requires the regenerative power consumption circuit for protecting the elements in the regular inverter 5 as a countermeasure against the regenerative power produced by the induction motor 6 when the commercial power source 1 is interrupted, resulting in the problem of cost increase.

Device for driving elevator at service interruption


An index data structure has a plurality of index keys for uniquely identifying potential data object context nodes. Each index key is, in turn, associated with one or more potential context nodes. Moreover, the index key has a label that provides semantic content to a user. The index data structure further includes one or more routing tables associated with each index key that generally include a plurality of path references.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to index data structures, in particular useful in indexing data objects relating to distributed peer-to-pear network systems.
2. Background Art
Finding semantically relevant information and searching dynamic content in the Internet today is still a challenging problem, even with the comprehensive coverage of exposed static content provided by centralized information retrieval search engines such as the fantastically successful Google, Yahoo and MSN Search. Search engines attempt to assign significance to information, such as with reverse page link counting, but the semantic indexing capabilities and thus intelligent query, in general, is limited to information retrieval, IR, keyword matches over cached copies of static information. These popular search engines use a client-server model. Other client-server centralized systems include Kazaa and Gnutella.
In contrast, in peer-to-peer ("P2P") systems each node participates as both a client and server simultaneously. About 72 percent of the traffic on the Internet is peer-to-peer. Furthermore, the number of endpoints will continue to grow, perhaps into the trillions for sensors alone, and the money and creativity is still at the edge of the network. The P2P model is antithetical to the top-down structure client server mode. The goal of P2P systems is to share information in a large-scale distributed environment without centralized coordination or structure. Furthermore, P2P nodes have no availability guarantees. Nodes are constantly joining and leaving the network. Therefore, substantial redundancy is needed to maintain network connectivity.
Dynamic content indexing, sometimes referred to as "deep-content", is not done well, if at all, by client-server search engines. One approach to dynamic content indexing, using registry technology, is provided in the Web Services architecture with UDDI. UDDI is a centralized registry database that provides descriptions of available Web Services. The centralized "phone book" approach of UDDI is conceptually and architecturally inconsistent with distributed P2P goals, and has experienced limited success outside of the enterprise.
Some progress has been made in adapting XPath to P2P networks using Distributed Hash Tables ("DHT"). The problem with DHT is that range queries aren't supported, as the precise object name must be known in advance. XPath queries that use structure or predicate range filters on node sequences and node sets do not work with hash structures. Other proposed index structures are unsuitable for broad based deployment. Support for complex P2P queries is generally lacking.
Accordingly, there is a need for a generic and extensible distributed database architecture that can support complex queries and semantically index disparate information, both structured and unstructured, including static documents and dynamic content such as online web services and real time sensor networks.

Index data structure for a peer-to-peer network


A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method for the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a gate pattern formed at an upper part of the semiconductor substrate to overlap one side of a drift region, and a shallow oxide region disposed adjacent to the gate pattern, having a shallower depth than a plurality of device isolation layers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method for the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In general, methods for forming a device isolation trench have recently been applied in manufacturing semiconductor devices in accordance with design rules of less than 0.25 μm. In other words, trench technology has been used for device isolation in which trenches between devices are formed according to predetermined design rules by partially etching a semiconductor substrate.
Currently, a shallow trench isolation (STI) method is generally used for device isolation. According to the STI method, trenches are formed by partially etching a silicon substrate, and an insulating film, for example, an oxide layer, is vapor-deposited into the trench. Next, the insulating film is removed from an active region by a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process so that the insulating film remains only on a field region.
However, according to the general STI method, the length of a current path is increased compared with isolation structures formed by a local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) as shown in FIG. 1. As a result, an on-resistance is increased.
Furthermore, since an N-drift region is formed by etching the silicon to form the STI trench, the surface dopant concentration of the N-drift region is reduced, accordingly causing an increase in the on-resistance.

Semiconductor and manufacturing method for the same


A chuck (4) grasping the front edge of a tire component material (S) which is supplied from a material feeder (3) generates a motional locus through an initial ascending motion and through a forward motion toward the former and through a subsequent descending motion to the former to lay the front edge onto the carcass (T). A pressing mechanism (6) operates to press the introduced material (S) on the carcass (T), and concurrently the former (2) rotates by a predetermined rotation angle to adhere the tire component material (S) onto the carcass (T). Thereafter a cutter assembly (5) operates to cut the tire component material (S) in a length corresponding to the sum of a required length for joint and a full circumferential length of the carcass. The former (2) rotates again to adhere the tire component material (S) onto the full circumference of the carcass (T), and the front edge and a last edge of the tire component material are jointed by the pressing mechanism (6) so that the adhesion is completed. The method and the apparatus for adhering tire component material when compared with the manual work of the workers, enables a sharp improvement of the productivity to be made due to automation and no longer requires a high degree of worker's skill. Additionally, the quality of the products becomes stable and high, and the tire uniformity is improved.

In a green tire building step of a radial tire, particularly having a structure called tread-over-sidewall construction (a structure in which in the cross section of the tire the edge of the tread layer is located over the top of the side wall layer and stacked on it), a cylindrical carcass is formed by adhering tire component materials thereof directly and successively onto the former first, and then the side wall material, for example, integratedly molded by extruding together with the clincher apex is adhered onto the carcass. Hitherto, this adhering work was manually done by workers, but the adhering work required a high degree of skill and the resulting quality was apt to be unstable and uneven because this adhering work was an adhesion of unflat material onto an unflat surface. Furthermore, the nature of the adhering work not only caused a problem that the uniformity of the tire was directly influenced but the nature itself became an unfavorable factor impeding the automation of the adhering operation.
A purpose of the present invention is to solve the problem of the above-mentioned conventional method for adhering a tire component material to provide a method and an apparatus used therefor which enable a worker to efficiently produce a green tire always having uniform quality regardless of his or her skill, experience or individuality.

Apparatus for adhering tire component material


A coupling device for coupling two or more ducts together includes a number of frames each having four beams secured together for forming a square shape and for securing onto the ducts. The beams each includes a flange extended upward and each includes a panel formed on each of two ends and inclined relative to the beams. A number of fasteners may secure the panels together for allowing the beams to be secured to the duct. A number of blocks may be engaged between the panels for allowing the beams to be secured to the duct of greater size.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coupling device, and more particularly to a coupling device for duct.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical ducts for air conditioning apparatus comprise a parallelepiped body having two ends that are required to be coupled to the other ducts for forming an air passage for the air conditioning apparatus. Typically, a square frame is first formed by welding process and is then secured to the end portion of the duct by welding process. It may take a long time to assemble the ducts together in order to form the air passage. In addition, the frames are normally made of alloy materials having zinc applied onto the outer peripheral surface by electroplating process. However, when the zinc material is heated in the welding process, poisonous gas will be generated and will hurt the workers. Accordingly, the workers or the operators are required to set up an air drawing facility for drawing and for discharging the poisonous gas. This further complicates the assembling works to the ducts.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional coupling devices for ducts.


A mixed analog and digital gain control circuit for controlling the amplitude of an analog input signal. The circuit has a variable gain amplifier that receives the signal from a read/write recording head preamplifier. The output of the variable gain amplifier is connected through a multiplexer and equalizer to an analog to digital converter for converting the analog signal to digital sample values at controlled sampling times. A gain control circuit receives the digital values and the output of a pulse detector indicating when a pulse has occurred. A gain error detector within the gain control circuit determines the amount of error in the amplitude of each detected pulse, and this error amount is filtered and sent through a digital to analog converter and then through an exponentiating circuit. The output of the exponentiating circuit is connected to a gain control input of the variable gain amplifier.

In a magnetic disk or tape data storage device, data is commonly stored on a magnetic medium by saturation recording in which each portion of the medium is magnetized to the point of saturation in one of two directions. The data to be stored is typically encoded to satisfy certain constraints and the encoded data is used to modulate the direction of magnetization. In a coded representation known as NRZI, each "one" bit of the encoded data causes a transition in the direction of magnetization, while each "zero" bit of the encoded data causes the magnetization direction to remain unchanged. A clock signal is used to write a sequence of encoded NRZI bits as a recording head moves along a track on the medium such that one bit is written at each clock tick.
When a read head is passed over the recorded data track, a voltage pulse is produced at each transition in magnetization. Successive voltage pulses have opposite polarity since successive magnetic transitions are in opposite directions. The NRZI data sequence that was written may be reconstructed from the resulting voltage waveform by associating a "one" bit with every clock tick at which a pulse occurs and a "zero" bit with every clock tick at which no pulse occurs. The original user data may then be decoded from the NRZI data.
Similar waveforms composed of pulses sometimes occur in other applications, including data storage on optical media and data communications via modem, network, radio, or fiber-optic link.
To recover the written or transmitted data sequence, the receiver must be able to detect and time the pulses read. This requires that the amplitude of the pulses be controlled so that the pulse sent to the detection circuit and the timing recovery circuit has a consistent level.
Inter-symbol interference (ISI) occurs when pulses are placed so close together in a waveform that they overlap significantly. The position of a peak in a waveform can be shifted by ISI from other nearby pulses. Thus the recording density of a peak detection channel is limited by the fact that ISI must not be permitted to move a peak from one window to another. ISI also causes amplitude variations that must be adjusted for by a gain control circuit.

Gain control circuit for synchronous waveform sampling


An apparatus for locating a workpiece on a processing surface includes a first locator arm assembly, a second locator arm assembly, and a pivotal member. The first locator arm assembly includes a first multiple position locator jaw disposed for lateral movement and mating engagement with a first portion of the workpiece. The second locator arm assembly includes a second multiple position locator jaw disposed for lateral movement parallel to the first multiple position locator jaw and further for mating engagement with a second, opposite side, portion of the workpiece. Lastly, the pivotal member is disposed for pivotal movement about a pivot point. The pivotal member is symmetrically coupled between the first locator arm assembly and the second locator arm assembly for inducing an equal but opposite lateral movement in the first and second locator jaws to accurately locate the workpiece on the processing surface between the first and second locator jaws as the locator jaws move towards one another.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for locating and positioning a workpiece on a surface and, more particularly, to a locator actuation method and apparatus for locating and positioning a substrate, such as, a multilayer ceramic substrate (MLC), during manufacture and testing thereof.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Substrate testers are known in the art for performing network integrity tests on substrates, such as multilayer ceramic substrates (MLCs). A substrate refers to a packaging unit that provides an interface between a semiconductor chip (e.g. a very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuit chip) and a higher level packaging unit (e.g., a printed circuit board). A network is generally defined by a set of one or more electrically connected common points on a substrate. Networks are used to distribute electrical signals and voltages externally and/or internally about the substrate in accordance with the requirements of a particular integrated circuit chip. Substrate testers are used during substrate manufacturing to guarantee that there are no process or design created defects (corresponding to opens or shorts) on a particular substrate being tested. Typically, a substrate tester performs a test using a particular contacting scheme. A test matrix scanner is then used to provide an electrical stimulus on each point of the networks contacted by the contacting scheme and then systematically scans the remaining points in the test matrix to guarantee all desired connections exist (opens test) and that there are no unwanted connections (shorts), as the case may be.
In current manufacturing techniques of MLC substrates, there is a need to improve the accuracy and cost structure of substrate locators in an effort to satisfy more stringent manufacturing process requirements. Conventional substrate locators require many moving parts which disadvantageously contribute to tolerance build-ups, inaccuracies, and thus higher manufacturing costs. Conventional substrate locators also use many high precision parts, which are not performance efficient or cost efficient for meeting the current manufacturing requirements. For example, multi-cam drive assemblies are exceedingly costly in terms of their use in the manufacturing process.
Current state of the art substrate locators include a number of moving parts, which may include parts such as precision cam slots, cam followers, gears, etc.. The moving parts contribute to a build up of tolerances. This build up of tolerances prevents a precise and absolute locating and positioning by the locator with respect to a centering of the substrate parts over or under a workstation, wherein the workstation requires extreme positioning accuracy and repeatability. The workstation may also include a high speed substrate tester (HSST) which has traditionally been characteristically large and slow.
Features on MLC substrates are very small and in close proximity to one another. For example, any one particular MLC substrate may include more than one thousand pin or pad connections in an area on the order of one-quarter square inch of space, as can been realized in the current state of art for MLC substrates. It is thus very critical to align the substrate parts in a repeatable manner, for example, with respect to a testing and a placement of test contacts, or other processing and manufacturing options, such as chip placement, discrete wiring, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,436,385, issued Mar. 13, 1984 and entitled "Specimen Holder for Inverted Microscopes" discloses a specimen holder having a wide range of capability for replaceably accepting and holding any one of a variety of sizes and shapes of specimens. In one embodiment, the specimen holder includes a release and clamp mechanism for one-handed operation. A series of interconnected mechanical links are disposed between a first plate and a second plate. The interconnected links pivot with respect to each other at their respective interconnections. Furthermore, one of the interconnected links includes a pin and slot connection to one of the plates, which further pivots about a pivot point for moving the plates towards each other or away from one another via the multiple interconnected links. However, a given amount of movement in one direction by the pin and slot connected linkage does not produce a corresponding same amount of movement of the corresponding connected plate when the pin and slot connected linkage is moved the same given amount in an opposite direction. Accurate determinable positioning is thus not attainable. This is because the specimen holder suffers from an undesirable buildup of tolerances as a result of the multiple interconnected linkages and the slot and pin connection. Non-uniform plate movement further results in a different centerline location for each successive clamped specimen. In addition, not all of the components of the specimen holder are in tension during a clamping operation, thus the specimen being clamped is subject to a non-uniform clamping force and possible mis-positioning.
In addition, in today's MLC substrate manufacturing environment, a wide variety of substrate sizes are manufactured. For testing of the various sized substrates, the substrate tester must undergo a product changeover to accommodate a substrate of a different size from that which it was previously set up for. This has lead to the use of expensive multiple hardware for making a product changeover, further resulting in a lengthy and inefficient changeover process.
It would thus be desirable to provide a locator which can accurately locate and repeatably position MLC substrates with respect to a centerline location during a manufacturing process, and furthermore, reduce the manufacturing costs of producing the same.
It would further be desirable to provide a product tester having capability for handling a wide variety of substrate sizes in a manner which enables product changeover to be economical, relatively quick and efficient.

Substrate tester method and apparatus having rotatable and infinitely adjustable locator jaws

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention is a resorbable, viscous to solid wax for the mechanical staunching of blood on hard body tissue, particularly bones, based on oligomers of glycolic acid and/or lactic acid and derivatives thereof with monofunctional and/or polyfunctional alcohols and/or corresponding carboxylic acids. The new waxes are characterized by containing body-compatible salts of organic and/or inorganic acids which are formed by corresponding reaction of any free carboxyl groups present in the oligomer wax and/or are incorporated in the wax in homogeneous distribution as added salts.

Related Art
Published German patent application P 32 29 540.5 discloses resorbable waxes for the mechanical staunching of blood on hard body tissue, and particularly on bones. The waxes are characterized in that they comprise wax-like polyester oligomers of lower hydroxycarboxylic acids which range from viscous fluids to solids at body temperature. By virtue of their structure, these waxes are degradable by the body's metabolic processes, the degradation rate being adjustable in a known manner. Oligomers of glycolic acid are degraded more quickly by metabolic processes than oligomers of lactic acid. Accordingly, the degradation rate can be regulated, for example, by mixed esterification of the two hydroxycarboxylic acids. The preferred waxes have average molecular weights in the range from about 200 to 1,500 and more preferably in the range from about 300 to 1,000.
According to the published German patent application cited above, monofunctional and/or difunctional alcohols or carboxylic acids or carboxylic anhydrides and/or primary or secondary monoamines may be used to regulate the average molecular weight of the polyester oligomers. A definitive average molecular weight may be determined in advance in known manner by selecting suitable ratios of hydroxycarboxylic acid and the monofunctional or difunctional component. It is known that the reaction products obtained are not uniform in their degree of oligomerization, and contain certain quantities of the starting components.
German patent application P 37 16 302.7 discloses a further optimization of resorbable waxes for the mechanical staunching of blood on hard body tissue. According to this patent application, body-compatible and, in particular, tissue-compatible waxes are obtained when, in accordance with the disclosure of the published German patent application cited above, a certain trifunctional alcohol, namely glycerol, is used to adjust the average molecular weight. The combination of glycerol with oligoesters of lactic acid and/or glycolic acid leads to degradable waxlike components which, on implantation in living body tissue, are distinguished by particularly pronounced compatibility with the body.
Applicants' earlier patent application then discloses that unwanted tissue damage can be avoided particularly safely when through the production process and through subsequent purification of the degradable wax, its content of unreacted carboxyl groups is greatly reduced or is almost completely eliminated. Free carboxyl groups are present in the reaction mixture in the absence of the molecular-weight-regulating dicarboxylic acids proposed in Applicants' above-cited published German patent application. The statistical molecular weight distribution which occurs directly from the production of the waxes always leaves a certain number of free carboxyl groups, which are present at least predominantly as free monomeric hydroxycarboxylic acids, in the oligomeric reaction mixture, even when the desired average number value is adjusted for the molecular weight.
In one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention described in the earlier application, the wax-like material is at least largely freed from its content of unreacted starting components. In particular, the content of unreacted hydroxycarboxylic acids is reduced to residual contents below 0.5% by weight and preferably to residual contents below about 0.2% by weight. In general, the residual contents of unreacted hydroxycarboxylic acids in the waxes will be at or below 0.1% by weight.
The unreacted reactants are said to be preferably removed by a precipitation process in which the desired oligomer fractions are precipitated from a solution or suspension while the unreacted components and/or reaction products of low molecular weight remain in solution.
The problem addressed by the present invention is to further improve resorbable bone waxes in several respects with particular emphasis on the following considerations:
The present invention also seeks to increase the tissue compatibility of the wax implanted in the human or animal body by reducing or substantially eliminating the content of free carboxyl groups in the reaction product. In addition the invention improves the practical handling properties of the waxes to make the work of the surgeon easier. Oligoesters of lactic acid are frequently distinguished by such pronounced viscosity that the wax can be difficult to handle during an operation. The stringing of the oligoester rich in lactic acid, which is particularly useful on physiological grounds, prevents rapid and interference-free handling during the removal of material from the package and during sealing of the bone. Such difficulties arise to only a limited extent, if at all, in the case of oligomeric esters of glycolic acid. For physiological reasons, however, it may be desirable to use waxes based largely on lactic acid. It is known that the degradation of glycolic acid by the body's metabolism takes place by way of oxalic acid. Degradation of lactic acid in the body does not form oxalic acid. If the prevention or restriction of additional oxalic acid formation in the body is indicated, waxes based predominantly on lactic acid will become particularly important for use in operations where a bone wax is used. Accordingly, it is important that the bone wax is easy to handle in practice.


The invention relates to a device for generating laser radiation (3) having a linear intensity distribution (11), comprising a plurality of laser light sources for generating laser radiation (3) and optical means for transforming laser radiation (3) exiting from the laser light sources into laser radiation (14) that has a linear intensity distribution (11) in a working plane (9), wherein the laser light sources are constructed as fundamental mode lasers and the device is designed such that each of the laser beams (3) exiting from the laser light sources does not overlap with itself.

Definitions: Unless expressly stated otherwise, laser beam, light beam, partial beam or beam does not refer to an idealized beam of geometrical optics, but to a real light beam, such as a laser beam with a Gaussian profile or a modified Gaussian profile or a top-hat profile which does not have an infinitesimally small, but rather an extended beam cross section. Top-hat distribution or top-hat intensity distribution or top-hat profile refers to an intensity distribution that can be described at least in one direction substantially by a rectangular function (rect (x)). Real intensity distributions that deviate from a rectangular function in a percent range or have sloping edges shall also be designated as a top-hat distribution or a top-hat profile.
A device of the aforementioned type is known from DE 10 2007 001 639 A1. In the device described therein, a plurality of laser light sources in multi-mode operation is provided. Their laser beams are intermixed in a rod-shaped homogenizer and superimposed on themselves. They are thereafter converted by collimating and focusing lenses into a linear intensity distribution in a working plane.
Such laser systems with a line focus and a homogeneous intensity distribution are known in the prior art from many technical applications with multi-mode laser sources and are currently in use. The physical reason therefor is that the radiation from multimode lasers can be divided into beams, wherein these beams can be later optically overlapped and mixed or homogenized virtually without any interference fringes. As a result, homogeneous light fields with almost any geometry can be created from multi-mode laser sources. Technically used are in particular rectangular and linear light fields with rectangular top-hat intensity distribution.
It turns out to be problematic that fundamental mode laser are not suitable for the homogenization and overlap described in DE 10 2007 001 639 A1. Fundamental mode laser are currently used in most cases with the familiar point focus. In a few exceptional cases, beam shaping optics is used with fundamental mode lasers, which however operates according to physically principles different from beam shaping optics used with multimode lasers: The radiation of fundamental mode lasers is very coherent, producing strong interference fringes when overlapped with itself. The beam shaping used with fundamental mode lasers is therefore according to the prior art produced by diffraction effects, meaning diffractive or coherent deformation of the wave front.
The problem underlying the present invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned type which can produce a comparatively homogeneous linear intensity distribution in a working plane in spite of the use of fundamental mode lasers.

Device for generating laser radiation having a linear intensity distribution


A frequency modulation apparatus capable of reducing a peak level of a radiation noise of a characteristic frequency band due to an image clock. This frequency modulation apparatus is used in an image formation apparatus having an image bearing body to be scanned by a laser beam. An auxiliary clock calculating portion calculates an auxiliary clock period based on a reference clock period and a modulation coefficient, and an image clock generating portion generates the image clock in which a frequency is different at least in one portion and other portions of an image area on a main scan line to be scanned by the laser beam on the image bearing body based on the initial period value set in advance and the auxiliary clock period, and the image clock generating portion performs a frequency modulation so that the frequency of the image clock changes within a predetermined fluctuation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a frequency modulation apparatus and a frequency modulation method, which generate an image clock used for an on/off control of a laser beam scanning on a image bearing body such as a photosensitive drum and the like.
2. Related Background Art
In general, in an image forming apparatus of an  electro-photographic system, while laser light emitted from a semiconductor laser is turned on and off, this laser light is scanned by a polygonal rotating mirror (polygon mirror) so as to irradiate a photosensitive body, thereby performing a latent image formation.
In such an image forming apparatus, an image clock of a constant frequency is used for an on/off control of the laser light. The reason why is because, if the frequency of this image clock is not constant, the on/off timing of the laser light deviates from a normal timing, and thereby a dot forming position of an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive body is subtly displaced, and this results in the occurrence of an image distortion, a color drift and a color shading.
Further, between the polygonal mirror and the photosensitive body, there is provided a f-θ lens. This is because the f-θ lens has an optical characteristic such as a corrective operation of a distortion aberration which guarantees a converging operation of the laser light and time linearity of a scan, thereby allowing the laser light having passed through the f-θ lens to be joint-scanned on the photosensitive body in a predetermine direction at an equal speed. However, due to a displacement of the characteristic of the f-θ lens, the laser light irradiated on the photosensitive body is sometimes displaced from an ideal image forming position. Hence, a frequency modulation technology is employed, in which this positional displacement of the image due to the f-θ lens characteristic is modulated to match a reference image clock so that the on/off timing of the laser light is subtly adjusted, thereby correcting the position of the dot formed on the photosensitive body (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Patent No. H2-282763).
However, when the image clock is always constant, there are often the cases where a radiation noise is generated and the level of the radiation noise exceeds the value defined in the international radiation noise standard in the transmission path in which the on/off signal for turning on/off the laser light is transmitted from the generating circuit to a laser light driving circuit.
Further, when the frequency modulation technology is employed, though the radiation noise level is reduced, in the case where the f-θ lens having a characteristic to such an extent that there is no need for performing the frequency modulation is used, the image clock frequency becomes constant, and therefore, the radiation noise level becomes much severe.
Particularly, in a color image forming apparatus of a tandem system and the like in which the color drift in a main scan direction becomes a problem, the frequency modulation is often used for correcting the characteristic of the f-θ lens, while in the color image forming apparatus of one drum system in which there is no need for being very sensitive about the color drift in the main scan direction or a black and white image forming apparatus in which there is no need for taking into consideration the color drift, the frequency modulation is scarcely performed, and even in that case, there are often the cases where the radiation noise level exceeds the value of the international radiation noise standard, and this becomes a problem.

Frequency modulation apparatus and frequency modulation method


A selectable aspect ratio raster is generated on a CRT with a 16:9 aspect ratio screen by a deflection yoke and deflection amplifier. The deflection amplifier is coupled in a non-floating configuration to the deflection yoke. This permits a switching arrangement to control the horizontal deflection amplitude by the selectable addition of inductance in series, with the yoke. The switching arrangement also controls other deflection circuit parameters to provide optimum raster correction at the selected aspect ratio.

The introduction of 16:9 aspect ratio picture tubes requires a method to adapt the display width and height to the format of the picture to be displayed. In particular, when a 4:3 aspect ratio picture is displayed on a 16:9 picture tube, the display width must be reduced. This may be achieved by appropriate digital video signal processing or simply by reducing the deflection current amplitude. A reduction of horizontal scan width obviates the requirement to digital process (shrink) the 4:3 aspect ratio signal prior to display with a 16:9 aspect ratio tube.
The inventive arrangements described herein teach a switching arrangement which reduces the horizontal scan width by 25%, this being the reduction required to permit the display of a 4:3 aspect ratio video source, without geometrical distortion, on a 16:9 video display.
The circuit takes advantage of a raster corrected horizontal deflection circuit with grounded yoke. This circuit arrangement provides a low cost solution in which a single transistor switch controls all deflection parameters, for example deflection current amplitude, retrace time, raster correction and "S" shaping.


Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to applying user configurable options during bootstrap and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for user selectable configuration options application for inaccessible nonvolatile storage at bootstrap. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for user selectable configuration options application for inaccessible nonvolatile storage at bootstrap can be provided. The method can include powering up a motherboard for a computer system and reading user selectable configuration options for the computing system from sticky bits prior to bootstrap for the motherboard. The method further can include applying the user selectable configuration options to the computing system. Finally, the method can include performing bootstrap for the motherboard subsequent to applying the user selectable configuration options.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of computer motherboard organization and more particularly to applying user selectable configuration settings during bootstrap.
2. Description of the Related Art
The computer has evolved over time from a massive collection of electronic and electrical components to a tightly integrated marvel of technology packaged within the smallest imaginable confines. The computer generally includes a motherboard hosting multiple integrated circuit chips. The motherboard chipset for a computer generally includes a central processing unit (CPU), dynamic and non-volatile memory, and one or more peripheral devices. Modern motherboard designs incorporate both a north bridge chipset and a south bridge chipset. The north bridge chipset is responsible for controlling data transmission among the CPU, dynamic memory and a video display. The south bridge chipset, by comparison, manages communications between the CPU and the peripheral devices.
Exemplary peripheral devices include legacy bus technologies such as a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) slots and industry standard architecture (ISA) slots, fixed drive drives, universal serial bus (USB) controllers, local area network controllers, fire-wire controllers and the like. The latter require relatively high transmission speeds and enjoy near direct access to non-volatile memory, while the former peripheral devices do not require high transmission speed to transmit the data and store data through an input/output (I/O) chipset. Notably, the south bridge chipset manages access to the basic input output system (BIOS) utilized during bootstrap to initialize the operational functionality of the underlying computer.
In modern computing systems, non-volatile memories like FLASH memory containing the boot code of the BIOS are increasingly supported by the north bridge chipset rather than the south bridge chip set. In consequence, the basic functionality for the computing system can be enabled immediately after power on reset of the motherboard before establishing a communicative path from the CPU to the south bridge. Thus, the CPU can execute the boot code in the BIOS through the north bridge chipset and, as a result, the computing system can be configured at an earlier stage of bootstrap. Still, user configurable options associated with the BIOS remain in battery backed up non-volatile storage managed by the south bridge. Thus, user configurable options cannot be applied during bootstrap until a communicative path has been established between the CPU and the south bridge chip set.

User selectable configuration options application for inaccessible nonvolatile storage at bootstrap

International Business Machines Corporation


Embodiments of this application provide example data analytics methods and example data analytics apparatuses. An example method carried out by a user plane data processing network element includes: obtaining information about at least one feature set from a data analytics network element, where information about each feature set in the information about the at least one feature set corresponds to at least one service type or at least one execution rule; obtaining a feature parameter of user plane data based on the information about the at least one feature set; sending the feature parameter to the data analytics network element; obtaining a response result of the feature parameter from the data analytics network element; obtaining, based on the response result, a service type associated with the user plane data or an execution rule associated with the user plane data.

In a 5th generation (5G) communications network, a network data analytics (NWDA) network element is introduced. The NWDA network element performs model training by using a big data analytics method, and analyzes data by using a trained model. However, a specific method for analyzing data by using the NWDA network element in the communications network is not provided in the prior art.


A pressure sensor includes a case, terminals, a pressure sensing element, a port, and a temperature sensing element. The terminals are assembled to the case by insert molding and connectable to an external device. The pressure sensing element is electrically connected with the terminals and housed in the case. The port having a pressure receiving hole through which a pressure transmitting medium is led to the pressure sensing element is connected with the case. The temperature sensing element is electrically connected with the terminals and arranged in the pressure receiving hole. A part of each terminal is passed through the pressure receiving hole and extended to the temperature sensing element. The extended part is electrically connected to the temperature sensing element. The extending portion is formed as an insert molding portion of the case and held with a material forming the case.

A pressure sensor having an integrated temperature sensor is proposed in JP-A-2003-75019 and shown in FIG. 4. The pressure sensor 900 is used in a vehicle for measuring pressures in an intake manifold and intake air temperatures. An engine of the vehicle is controlled based on signals indicating the measurements.
A sensor case 910 houses a mold IC 921 including a pressure sensing element 920 that detects pressures. The mold IC 921 is electrically connected to terminals 911 via a lead frame 922. The terminals 911 are provided for outputting pressure signals to an external processing circuit. A port 930 is connected to the case 910 such that a pressure sensing chamber is defined with the case 910 and the port 930. The port 930 has two pressure receiving holes 931 that are formed by dividing the inside of the port 930 with a dividing plate 932.
One of the pressure receiving holes 931 is provided as a medium leading hole 931a through which a pressure transmitting medium is led to the pressure sensing element 920. The other pressure receiving hole 931 is provided as a temperature sensing element housing hole 931b in which a lead wires 924 are arranged. The lead wires 924 are electrically and mechanically connected to the terminals 911 by welding. A temperature sensing element 940 is arranged at about ends of the lead wires 924.
A resin shock absorbing member 925 is arranged in the temperature sensing element housing hole 931b around the lead wires 924 for reducing vibrations of the temperature sensing element 940 and the lead wires 924. If the shock absorbing member 925 is not provided, the temperature sensing element 940 is only supported by the lead wires 924. As a result, the temperature sensing element 940 swings with a connecting point 923 between the lead wires 924 and the terminal 911 as a supporting point when the pressure sensor 900 vibrates.
In such a case, stress is repeatedly applied to the connecting point 923, and the lead wires 924 touch an inner wall of the port 930. As a result, the lead wires 924 are damaged. The lead wires 924 are fixedly supported by the shock absorbing member 925. Thus, the swinging motions of the temperature sensing element 940 and the lead wires 924 are reduced, and their resistance can be improved.
The lead wires 924 are covered with a tube or a coating member for protection from corrosion or grime such that it is not bare in a measurement environment. The connecting point is covered with a potting member 926 for protection. Namely, the pressure sensor 900 requires the tube or the coating member for protecting the lead wires 924, the potting member 926 for protecting the connecting point 923, and the shock absorbing member 925 for supporting the lead wires 924. The lead wires 924 require a complicated configuration for ensuring the vibration resistance of the temperature sensing element 940.

Pressure sensor having integrated temperature sensor


A method for adjusting an optical system in a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus includes establishing, for a given actual position of a polarization-influencing component, a distribution of IPS values in a pupil plane of the projection exposure apparatus. Each IPS value denotes the degree of realization of a predetermined polarization state for a light ray reflected at a respective mirror element of the mirror arrangement. The method also includes changing the position of the polarization-influencing component on the basis of the established distribution.

1. Field of the invention
The invention relates to a method for adjusting an optical system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus.
2. Prior art
Microlithography is used for producing microstructured components such as e.g. integrated circuits or LCDs. The microlithography process is carried out in a so-called projection exposure apparatus, which has an illumination device and a projection lens. Here, the image of a mask(=reticle) illuminated via the illumination apparatus is projected via the projection lens onto a substrate (e.g. a silicon wafer), which is coated with a light-sensitive layer (photoresist) and arranged in the image plane of the projection lens, in order to transfer the mask structure onto the light-sensitive coating of the substrate.
During the operation of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus, there is the need to set defined illumination settings, i.e. intensity distributions in a pupil plane of the illumination device, in a targeted manner. To this end, in addition to the use of diffractive optical elements (so-called DOEs), the use of mirror arrangements has also been disclosed, for example in WO 2005/026843 A2. Such mirror arrangements comprise a multiplicity of micro-mirrors which can be set independently of one another.
Furthermore, a number of different approaches are known for setting, in the illumination device, specific polarization distributions in the pupil plane and/or in the reticle in a targeted manner for the purpose of optimizing the imaging contrast. In particular, it is known to set a tangential polarization distribution in both the illumination device and the projection lens for the purpose of contrast-rich imaging. "Tangential polarization" (or "TE polarization") is understood to mean a polarization distribution in which the oscillation planes of the electric field strength vectors of the individual linearly polarized light rays are oriented approximately perpendicularly to the radius directed at the optical system axis. By contrast, a "radial polarization" (or "TM polarization") is understood to mean a polarization distribution in which the oscillation planes of the electric field strength vectors of the individual linearly polarized light rays are oriented approximately radially to the optical system axis.
In respect of the prior art, reference is made, for example, to WO 2005/069081 A2, WO 2005/031467 A2, U.S. Pat. No. 6,191,880 B1, US 2007/0146676 A1, WO 2009/034109 A2, WO 2008/019936 A2, WO 2009/100862 A1, DE 10 2008 009 601 A1, DE 10 2004 011 733 A1 and US 2011/0228247 A1.
Here, a possible approach for flexible setting of the polarization distribution comprises the use of a polarization-influencing optical arrangement made of a plurality of polarization-influencing components, which are arranged such that they are displaceable transversely with respect to the light-propagation direction, in combination with a mirror arrangement which comprises a multiplicity of mirror elements which can be adjusted independently of one another. Here, depending on the degree of cover of the mirror arrangement by the polarization-influencing components, in conjunction with a likewise variable setting of the mirror elements of the mirror arrangement, it is possible, in a flexible manner, to realize different polarization distributions in the pupil plane of the illumination device.
However, in the case of this approach, the problem that can occur in practice is that if the polarization-influencing components are not positioned precisely, one example being the inadvertent partial or complete cover of one or more mirror elements by one or more polarization-influencing components of the polarization-influencing arrangement, then components of the light reflected in the pupil plane by the mirror arrangement are actuated with an incorrect polarization state, and so the polarization distribution obtained in the pupil plane deviates from the desired polarization distribution. Overall, this can result in an adverse effect on the performance of the projection exposure apparatus as a result of imaging errors, and in a loss of contrast.

Method for adjusting an optical system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus


A vehicle steering device comprises a steering column (22) and a steering wheel with a steering wheel rim (24). Arranged inside the steering column (22) is a vibration device (26; 26′). The vibration device is designed such that it can generate a haptic signal which can be felt by a driver on a surface (28) of the steering wheel rim (24).

Known vehicle steering devices are composed of a steering column and a steering wheel with a steering wheel rim, and employ a safety system incorporated in the vehicle steering device.
The increasing level of irritation to which a driver is exposed in traffic leads to an increasingly higher stress and hence to an increased risk of accident. Therefore, it is expedient if the driver can be made aware of potentially dangerous situations in good time by warning signals.
Haptic signals which are given to the driver for example via the steering wheel rim, are well suited to attracting the driver's attention without distracting or startling him.
The invention proposes a possibility for generating a haptic signal in a simple manner.

Vehicle steering device and safety system


A composite material is disclosed which includes a substrate, an oriented film provided on a surface of the substrate and formed of a crystal of a Y123 metal oxide of the formula LnBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.y wherein Ln stands for Y or an element belonging to the lanthanoid and y is a number of 6-7, and a layer of a Y123 metal oxide of the formula LnBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.y wherein Ln stands for Y or an element belonging to the lanthanoid and y is a number of 6-7 formed on the oriented film.

This invention relates to a composite material metal oxide layer of a Y123 crystal structure. The present invention is also concerned with a method of preparing such a composite material.
One known method for the preparation of a metal oxide crystal having a Y123 crystal structure includes contacting a seed material with a molten mixture of metal oxides to allow the desired crystal to grow on the seed material. The term "Y123 crystal structure" used in the present specification and claims is intended to refer to a crystal structure similar to that of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x where x is a number of 0-1. The term "Y123 metal oxide", is intended to refer to a metal oxide having a Y123 crystal structure.
As the seed crystal, a magnesia single crystal, a Sm123 metal oxide crystal or a Y123 metal oxide crystal has been hitherto used. The use of a magnesia single crystal has a problem that the crystal which has grown on the magnesia seed crystal forms a Y123 polycrystal rather than a single Y123 crystal. When a Y123 crystal is used as the seed crystal, the molten mixture climbs along the seed crystal so that a holder thereof will be wetted and reacted with the molten mixture.

International Superconductivity Technology Center


A direct-to-plate method of lithographic printing is disclosed which enables to recycle the lithographic substrate of the printing master. The method comprises the steps of

The present invention relates to a cleaning method for recycling the lithographic substrate of a printing master.
In conventional lithographic printing, ink and an aqueous fountain solution are supplied to the surface of a printing master which contains ink-accepting (oleophilic) and water-accepting (hydrophilic) areas. The inked image pattern is then transferred from the surface of the master to a blanket cylinder having a compressible surface. From the blanket cylinder the image is impressed onto paper. The master is typically a printing plate which carries an image on a dimensionally stable substrate such as an aluminium sheet. The imaged aluminium plate is secured to the plate cylinder of a printing press by a mechanical lock-up mechanism which defines positional registration between the plate and the surface of the cylinder. After the end of the press-run, the mechanical lock-up system is released so that the printing plate carrying the printed image can be removed and discarded and another printing plate can be positioned and locked into place. A new print job can then be started.
Printing masters are generally obtained by the so-called computer-to-film method wherein each colour selection is transferred to graphic arts film using an image-setter. After processing, the film can be used as a mask for the exposure of an imaging material called plate precursor and after plate processing, a printing plate is obtained which can be used as a master. These steps are usually performed in dedicated exposure and processing equipment and the printing plates are then transported to the printing press and attached to the printing cylinder by press operators using a lock-up mechanism built into the cylinder itself. Although the attachment of the printing cylinder is generally a manual operation, robotic means have been developed for positioning and securing the printing plates.
In recent years the so-called computer-to-plate method has gained a lot of interest. This method, also called direct-to-plate method, bypasses the creation of film because the digital data are transferred directly to a plate precursor by means of a so-called plate-setter. On-press imaging is a direct-to-plate method (also called direct-to-press), wherein the image is exposed on the plate while said plate is mounted on the plate cylinder of a printing press. The major advantage of the latter method compared to off-press plate-making is the improved registration between printing stations of a multi-colour printing press.
Two types of such on-press imaging methods are known. According to a first type, a printing plate precursor is mounted on a printing press, image-wise exposed, optionally developed, and then used as a printing master and finally removed from the press and disposed of, thus requiring a new plate material for each image. An example of this technology is the well-known Heidelberg Model GTO-DI, manufactured by Heidelberg Druckmaschinen AG (Germany) which is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,737. A drawback of this method is the need to use a new plate for each press-run, thus increasing the cost of the printing process.
In a second type of on-press imaging systems, the same lithographic substrate is used in a plurality of press-runs (hereinafter called printing cycles). In each printing cycle, a heat-sensitive or photosensitive layer is coated on the lithographic substrate to make a printing plate precursor and after image-wise exposure and optional development a printing master is obtained. After the press-run, the ink-accepting areas of the printing master are removed from the lithographic substrate in a cleaning step so that the substrate is recycled and can be used in a next cycle of coating, exposing and printing without the need to mount a new plate on the cylinder. Examples of such on-press coating and on-press imaging systems are described in e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,188,033; 5,713,287; EP-A 786 337 and EP-A 802 457. The latter patent application describes an apparatus comprising a printing member, means for applying a uniform coating, means for scan-wise exposing said uniform coating in accordance with an image pattern and means for developing said uniform coating to leave an image on said printing member, the image consisting of ink-accepting areas on an ink-repellent background or ink-repellent areas on an ink-accepting background. According to a preferred embodiment, the coating comprises hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles in a hydrophilic binder.
In the known on-press coating methods, the cleaning of the lithographic substrate often fails because no suitable compromise can be found between the chemical reactivity of the cleaning liquid versus the ink-accepting areas which have to be removed on the one hand and the required inertness of said cleaning liquid versus the fragile lithographic surface on the other hand. A typical lithographic surface is mechanically as well as chemically quite vulnerable. A lithographic surface consists generally of a micro-pore structure in order to differentiate the spreading properties of the ink and the fountain. Anodised aluminium plates comprise a lithographic surface containing one or more metal oxides on which absorption phenomena can take place. These metal oxides are very susceptible to chemical conversion into forms which are no longer lithographically active.
The above mentioned micro-porosity of a lithographic surface is also highly susceptible to mechanical damage. The presence of solid particles in cleaning liquids, which is often required for efficient mechanical cleaning of the lithographic surface, results inevitably in a disturbance of the micro-structure of said surface. Because ink and the coated imaging layer penetrate in the micro-pore structure, it is necessary to carry out a vigorous cleaning so as to avoid phantom images in the subsequent printing cycle, which are due to an insufficient removal of the previous image.
In addition, the known cleaning liquids typically contain solvents which are harmful to hoses, pumps and sealings and/or require a very thorough rinsing with water because these liquids are not compatible with the coating step in the next printing cycle.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a lithographic printing method comprising a cleaning step whereby the ink-accepting areas of a printing master can be removed effectively so that the substrate can be reused in a next print cycle. More particularly, a cleaning step is required which is characterised by a low risk of deteriorating the lithographic surface of the substrate. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a printing method wherein a cleaning liquid is used which does not affect the hardware of the printing press or the cleaning apparatus, in particular a liquid which is inert towards rubber, and which does not require a long rinsing step after the cleaning.
The above objects are obtained by the method of claim 1. The cleaning liquid defined in claim 1 effectively removes the ink-accepting areas of the printing master defined in claim 1. No ghost images are observed after several ( greater than 10) print cycles of coating, exposure, printing and cleaning. Rubber hoses and seals are not affected by the cleaning liquid and low amounts of water suffice in the optional rinsing step.
Further objects of the present invention will become clear from the description hereinafter.
Preferred embodiments of the method of the present invention are defined in the dependent claims.
The cleaning liquid used in the method of the present invention contains an aliphatic or aromatic compound having a structure comprising at least 6 carbon atoms and preferably at least one double bond. Suitable examples of such compounds are: toluene, xylene, propylbenzene, methylhexane, 3-methyl-6-isopropyl-1,4-cyclohexadiene, 3-(1-methylpropylidene)-cyclohexene, 6-methyl-1-(1-methylethyl)-1,3-cyclohexadiene, 4-methyl-5-(1-methylethenyl)-cyclohexene, o-mentha-4,6-diene, o-mentha-2(8),3-diene, o-mentha-1(7),4-diene, 6-methyl-1-(1-methylethenyl)-cyclohexene, 1-methyl-5-(1-methylethyl)-1,4-cyclohexadiene, isosylvestrene, 4-ethyl-3-ethylidene-cyclohexene, 1-ethyl-6-ethylidene-cyclohexene, o-mentha-3,6-diene, o-mentha-2,5-diene, o-mentha-1,4-diene, 3-methyl-4-isopropenyl-1-cyclohexene, 3-methyl-5-isopropenyl-1-cyclohexene, 2-methyl-3-propyl-1,3-cyclohexadiene, 1-methyl-6-propylidene-cyclohexene, tetranaphtalene, isophorone, limonene and mesitylene. Limonene (formula I) and derivatives thereof are highly preferred.
Petrol destillates also provide useful compounds, e.g.
CYCLOSOL 150(trademark) (trademark form Shell Chemicals, Rotterdam), a destillate having a flash point of 142-150xc2x0 C. and an initial boiling point of 182xc2x0 C.; this destillate comprises 99.8% of compounds having at least 8 carbon atoms.
CYCLOSOL 100(trademark) (also trademark from Shell Chemicals), a destillate having a flash point of 111xc2x0 C. and an initial boiling point of 160xc2x0 C.; this destillate comprises 99.4% of compounds having at least 8 carbon atoms.
Hydrotreated petrol destillates in the boiling point range between 160 and 230xc2x0 C., such as Shell Sol 142T (range 160-188xc2x0 C.).
Mineral spirits in the destillation range between 160 and 188xc2x0 C.
Blends of paraffins, cycloparaffines and/or aromatics with a destillation range between 60 and 140xc2x0 C.
The above compounds can be supplied to the printing master as such or as an emulsion in water, said emulsion preferably comprising between 5% and 80% by weight of the above compound(s), more preferably between 10% to 50% by weight and most preferably between 20% and 35% by weight of the above compound(s). The emulsion is preferably stabilised with an emulsifying agent or, otherwise, freshly prepared just before the cleaning step.
The cleaning liquid preferably also comprises a surfactant in an amount between 0.001% and 5% by weight.
The above cleaning liquids are very suitable for removing the ink-accepting areas from a printing master which is obtained by coating a hydrophilic substrate with a coating solution containing hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and a hydrophilic binder. The imaging material thus obtained is negative-working, i.e. hydrophobic areas are formed upon exposure. These areas define the printing areas of the master. It is believed that the applied heat induces a coagulation of the hydrophobic polymer particles, thereby forming a hydrophobic phase, whereas the hydrophobic polymer particles remain unchanged in the non-heated areas. Coagulation may result from heat-induced softening or melting of the thermoplastic polymer particles.
The cleaning liquids of the present invention are capable of removing the ink remaining on the printing areas as well as the hydrophobic phase itself which gives rise to the ink-accepting properties of the printing areas.
The imaging material used in the present invention preferably contains hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles having an average particle size between 40 nm and 2000 nm, and more preferably between 40 nm to 200 nm, so as to improve sensitivity and throughput and to avoid scumming. Furthermore the polymer particles preferably have a coagulation temperature above 50xc2x0 C. and more preferably above 70xc2x0 C. There is no specific upper limit to the coagulation temperature of the polymer particles, however the temperature should be sufficiently below the decomposition temperature of the polymer particles. Preferably the coagulation temperature is at least 10xc2x0 C. below the temperature at which the decomposition of the polymer particles occurs.
Preferred examples of thermoplastic hydrophobic polymer particles for use the present invention have a Tg above 80xc2x0 C. The weight average molecular weight of the polymers may range from 5,000 to 5,000,000 g/mol. Preferably the polymer particles are selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl carbazole etc., and copolymers or mixtures thereof. The most preferred examples are polystyrene and polymethylmethacrylate or copolymers thereof.
The polymer particles are present as a dispersion in the coating solution and may be prepared by the methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,476,937. Another method especially suitable for preparing an aqueous dispersion of the thermoplastic polymer particles comprises:
dissolving the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer in an organic solvent which does not mix with water,
dispersing the thus obtained solution in water or in an aqueous medium and
removing the organic solvent by evaporation.
Suitable hydrophilic binders for use in the present invention are preferably water-soluble (co)polymers for example synthetic homo- or copolymers such as polyvinylalcohol, a poly(meth)acrylic acid, a poly(meth)acrylamide, a polyhydroxyethyl(meth)acrylate, a polyvinylmethylether or natural binders such as gelatin, a polysaccharide such as e.g. dextran, pullulan, cellulose, arabic gum, alginic acid, inuline or chemically modified inuline.
The coating solution preferably contains surfactants which can be anionic, cationic, non-ionic or amphoteric. Perfluoro surfactants are preferred. Particularly preferred are non-ionic perfluoro surfactants. Said surfactants can be used alone or preferably in combination.
The coverage of the coated layer ranges preferably from 0.3 to 20 g/m2, more preferably from 0.5 to 5 g/m2. The amount of hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles contained in the coated layer is preferably between 2 and 40% by weight and more preferably between 10 and 20% by weight of the total weight of said layer.
The above coating solution can be sprayed or jetted onto the substrate, but other known coating techniques are also possible.
The substrate used in the present invention can be a plastic support or a ceramic but is preferably a metal such as aluminium. The substrate has a hydrophilic surface and is preferably characterised by a roughness value of at least 0.2 xcexcm, more preferably of at least 0.3 xcexcm, e.g. electrochemically and/or mechanically grained and anodised aluminium. The substrate can be a sheet-like material such as a plate but, alternatively, the coating solution may be applied directly to the plate cylinder of a rotary printing press, said cylinder thereby acting as the substrate. The lithographic substrate can also be a seamless sleeve printing plate, obtained by e.g. soldering a plate into a cylindrical form by means of a laser. The sleeve then can be slid around the plate cylinder instead of mounting a conventional printing plate. More details on sleeves are given in xe2x80x9cGrafisch Nieuwsxe2x80x9d, 15, 1995, page 4 to 6.
The exposure of the imaging material obtained by coating the above coating solution on the lithographic substrate can be carried out by means of direct thermal recording using e.g. a thermal head, or by irradiation with high intensity light. In the latter embodiment, the heat-sensitive material preferably comprises a compound capable of converting light into heat, preferably a compound having sufficient absorption in the wavelength range of the light source used for image-wise exposure. Particularly useful compounds are for example dyes and in particular infrared dyes as disclosed in EP-A 908 307 and pigments and in particular infrared pigments such as carbon black, metal carbides, borides, nitrides, carbonitrides, bronze-structured oxides and oxides structurally related to the bronze family but lacking the A component e.g. WO2.9. It is also possible to use conductive polymer dispersions such as polypyrrole or polyaniline-based conductive polymer dispersions. The lithographic performance and in particular the print endurance obtained depends i.a. on the heat-sensitivity of the imaging material. In this respect it has been found that carbon black yields very good and favourable results.
Image-wise exposure in the method of the present invention is preferably an image-wise scanning exposure involving the use of a laser or L.E.D. Preferably used are lasers that operate in the infrared or near-infrared, i.e. wavelength range of 700-1500 nm. Most preferred are laser diodes emitting in the near-infrared.
The printing cycle of the present invention will be further described hereinafter according to a preferred embodiment. First, a grained and anodised aluminium plate is mounted on the plate cylinder of a rotary printing press. Then, the coating solution described above is sprayed on the hydrophilic lithographic surface of the plate, so as to form a continuous imaging layer. Preferred values of the spraying parameters have been defined in EP-A no. 99203064 and EP-A no. 99203065, both filed on Sep. 15th, 1999. The imaging layer is then image-wise exposed whereby the exposed areas are converted to hydrophobic ink-accepting areas while the unexposed areas remain hydrophilic. The hydrophobic areas define the printing areas of the master. Subsequently, printing is started by applying ink and a fountain solution to the printing master. In order to dissolve and remove the non-exposed areas of the coated layer effectively, only fountain solution is preferably supplied during a few revolutions of the press (about 10), and then also ink is fed to the plate. After the press-run, the lithographic substrate is recycled by treatment with a cleaning liquid as described above. Finally, the substrate can be rinsed and dried and then, a new printing cycle can be started by spraying the coating solution to the recycled substrate.
The cleaning step can be executed in a cleaning unit similar to the known blanket cleaning system. According to that embodiment, a cloth is moistened with the cleaning liquid, contacted with the printed plate during 1 to 50, more preferably during 2 to 10 revolutions with a contacting pressure between 0.1 and 5 Pa at a rotation speed in the range of 2 to 50 m/min. Afterwards the contact between the printing surface and the cleaning cloth is disrupted and the cloth is transported until a dry and clean part of the cloth is available.
The cleaner can also be applied by spraying, coating or jetting the cleaning liquid on the lithographic substrate or on the cloth. The removal of the ink-accepting areas can also be effected with another absorbing medium than a cloth. Cleaning can also be effected by combining the treatment with the cleaning liquid of the present invention with other means of mechanical rubbing such as a rotating brush or by jetting water or a volatile medium such as air, a solvent or dry ice pellets. Also vacuum extraction can be used during the cleaning treatment.
The cleaning step is preferably followed by a rinsing step, wherein water is sprayed onto the substrate. The plate can then be dried with a cloth, e.g. using the same blanket cleaning system described above. Preferably the rinsing step involves only a slight moistening of the lithographic surface, i.e. not more than 50 ml/m2 of water is supplied to the plate. The rinsing step may be repeated several times, preferably between 2 to 5 times.
All the steps of the method of the present invention are preferably performed on-press. Alternatively, the lithographic substrate can also be mounted on a drum in a dedicated coating apparatus (off-press coating) and subsequently be mounted on a plate setter for image-wise exposure (off-press exposure). Then, the printing master thus obtained can be mounted on a press cylinder and printing is started by supplying ink and a fountain solution. After the press-run, the plate can be cleaned as described above, either on-press or in a dedicated cleaning apparatus, and the recycled substrate can then be used again in a next printing cycle.

Method of offset printing with a reusable substrate

Abstract: (a) making a negative-working imaging material by coating on a hydrophilic substrate a coating solution comprising hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and a hydrophilic binder;

Abstract: (b) making a printing master having ink-accepting areas by image-wise exposing the imaging material;

Abstract: (c) applying ink and fountain solution to the printing master;

Abstract: (d) removing the ink-accepting areas from the printing master by supplying a aliphatic or aromatic compound having a structure comprising at least 6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The above steps are preferably carried out on-press.


The disclosure relates to a self-adaptive oil spraying control system and method for a biodiesel engine. The control system includes an exhaust pipe, a gas sensor, a control module and an oil sprayer, wherein the exhaust pipe is connected to the oil sprayer, the gas sensor is mounted in the exhaust pipe, and the gas sensor and the oil sprayer are connected to the control module respectively. According to the control method, a main spray advance angle of the engine is subjected to closed-loop control directly through comparison between an idling steady state NOx emission signal and an idling steady state NOx emission value of pure diesel when the engine uses the biodiesel, so that emission of NOx in the exhaust is reduced. Compared with the prior art, the disclosure has the advantages of no need of detecting a biodiesel ratio, high efficiency, good effect and the like.

Compared with the traditional diesel engine, the biodiesel engine has the characteristic of high NOx emission. Therefore, how to reduce NOx emission is the research focus of the biodiesel engine. The existing patent CN201610826273.0 improves the preparation process of the biodiesel to obtain modified biodiesel, thereby reducing NOx emission. The existing patent CN201810091332.3 improves the proportion and preparation method of the biodiesel so as to greatly reduce harmful components in engine tail gas. It may be seen that the above patents reduce the NOx emission of the biodiesel engine by directly improving fuel. However, at present, there are few technologies to solve the problem of high NOx emission of the biodiesel engine by directly using the internal purification technology of the biodiesel engine. The existing patent CN201010191235.5 determines the proportion of the biodiesel by measuring the relative dielectric constant value of the biodiesel mixed fuel with different mixing ratios, and then studies how to improve the usability of the biodiesel engine.
It can be seen that in the prior art, reducing the high NOx emission of the biodiesel engine is all studied on the basis of the biodiesel itself, and there is no control system and method for the engine to reduce the NOx emission of the biodiesel engine.

Self-adaptive oil spraying control system and method for biodiesel engine


A flexible LED screen includes a flexible printed circuit board having a front surface and a rear surface, a plurality of SMT-LEDs mounted on the front surface of the flexible printed circuit board, and a plurality of integrated circuits mounted on the rear surface of the flexible printed circuit board.

A conventional LED display screen is usually formed of a rigid printed circuit board (PCB) and a plurality of conventional light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with elongated pins that are insertable through holes formed on the PCB.
A conventional LED is a solid-state semiconductor light-emitting device. It utilizes a solid-state semiconductor chip as the light-emitting material. When charge-carriers react, energy is released in the form of a photon to emit red, yellow, blue, green, cyan, orange, purple and white lights. The characteristics of LED include low drive voltage, low power consumption, uniform light intensity, fast start-up, firm and durable structure, resistance to shock and vibration, reliable performance, lightweight, small size, and low in costs. By means of the LEDs, a LED display can be employed to display messages and decorate the environment.
FIG. 1a is a conventional LED display screen 1. The LED display screen 1 is an assembly of a plurality of LED display modules 2. Each display module 2 includes a rigid printed circuit board and integrated circuits. FIG. 1b is a cross sectional view of a conventional LED. It has components 5, 6 with pins 7 inserted through holes formed on the printed circuit board 3.
According to fixed pitch and number, LEDs are arranged into a LED matrix. The anodes and cathodes are connected together accordingly, and are then connected to external lead pins so as to facilitate the assembly of the LED display screen.
FIG. 2a is a front view of a commercially available 8×8 LED display module 8 (2088AEG). FIG. 2b shows a circuit diagram of the 8×8 LED display module 8 of FIG. 2a.
One of the disadvantages of conventional LED display screens is that they are large, thick and heavy. For example, a 1 m2 8×8 LED display module 8 (2088AEG) weighs about 24.6 Kg. Strong and heavy frames or supports are needed to support these LED display screens to ensure safety in the assembling process. The thickness of a conventional LED display screen is in the range of 5 cm and 50 cm. This kind of LED display screen is not suitable for installation in small space environments. Also, the conventional LED display screens are rigid and not flexible. These conventional LED display screens are made of rigid PCB and can only be mounted on flat surfaces.
Conventional LED display module is normally square in shape, and is limited in the choice of LED color and LED matrix. Longer delivery time and higher tooling expenses are incurred in order to produce customized LED display screen with special LED color, matrix and shape.
Furthermore, conventional LED 4 as shown in FIG. 3 has a generally cylindrical housing 9 which obstructs the emission of LED light from the LED 4. LED light emits from a conventional LED at a narrow angle of about 110 degrees.
Therefore, there is a need to provide an improved LED display system.