Diamond-like carbon field emission surfaces, including associated devices and methods for using such devices are disclosed. In one aspect, for example, a field emission surface is provided, including a smooth layer of diamond-like carbon disposed on a smooth substrate, the diamond-like carbon layer having a uniformly distributed ablation pattern configured to emit electrons. The diamond-like carbon layer should be smooth in order to allow the uniform distribution of the ablation pattern.

Thermionic and field emission devices are well known and used in a variety of applications. Field emission devices such as cathode ray tubes and field emission displays are common examples of such devices. Generally, thermionic electron emission devices operate by ejecting hot electrons over a potential barrier, while field emission devices operate by causing electrons to tunnel through a barrier. Examples of specific devices include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,229,083; 6,204,595; 6,103,298; 6,064,137; 6,055,815; 6,039,471; 5,994,638; 5,984,752; 5,981,071; 5,874,039; 5,777,427; 5,722,242; 5,713,775; 5,712,488; 5,675,972; and 5,562,781, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Although basically successful in many applications, thermionic devices have been less successful than field emission devices, as field emission devices generally achieve a higher current output. Despite this key advantage, most field emission devices suffer from a variety of other shortcomings that limit their potential uses, including materials limitations, versatility limitations, cost effectiveness, lifespan limitations, etc. For example, field emission device tend to have poor uniformity of emission. This emission limitation has greatly limited the use of field emission in most LCD device.
A variety of different materials have been used in field emitters in an effort to remedy the above-recited shortcomings, and to achieve higher current outputs using lower energy inputs. One material that has recently become of significant interest for its physical properties is diamond. Specifically, pure diamond has a low positive electron affinity which is close to vacuum. Similarly, diamond doped with a low ionization potential element, such as cesium, has a negative electron affinity (NEA) that allows electrons held in its orbitals to be shaken therefrom with minimal energy input. However, diamond also has a high band gap that makes it an insulator and prevents electrons from moving through, or out of it. A number of attempts have been made to modify or lower the band gap, such as doping the diamond with a variety of dopants, and forming it into certain geometric configurations. While such attempts have achieved moderate success, a number of limitations on performance, efficiency, and cost, still exist. Therefore, the possible applications for field emitters remain limited to small scale, low current output applications.
As such, materials capable of achieving high current outputs by absorbing relatively low amounts of energy from an energy source, and which can be used to produce a uniform emission that are suitable for use in practical applications continue to be sought through ongoing research and development efforts.

DLC emitter devices and associated methods


A medical data processing system that enables individual implanted medical device (IMD) programming units to securely access information networks that are susceptible to carrying data contaminants. In an example embodiment, a computer-implemented method for exchanging data with a plurality of implanted medical device (IMD) programming units, via a server arrangement that is coupled to a network, includes the step of establishing communication connections between the server arrangement and the plurality of IMD programming units. In response to receiving data at the server arrangement and destined for the IMD programming units, further including the step of identifying data contaminants in the received data and intercepting data containing data contaminants before the data reach the IMD programming units.

Implanted medical devices typically communicate via telemetry with an external implant programming unit using radio frequency signals. The programming unit downloads data to and receives data from the implanted medical device using a programmer head that extends from the programming unit. The programmer head includes an antenna that can be positioned over the patient's implanted device site for programming or telemetry interrogation of the implanted device.
Implant programming units are typically located in various locations in a medical facility and may be coupled to a local network or a public network. Access to printers or other peripherals is via direct (parallel or serial) connection. Most implant programming units include high-level processing capabilities and various software applications that facilitate many programming operations and local processing of data. Implant programming units require regular software upgrades that must be performed at each programming unit location. With technology evolving so quickly, medical facilities will also need to incur high capital investment costs in upgrading expensive programming units every few years.
In consulting with a patient having an implanted device, the physician may need to refer to literature, data, or an expert available on a medical information network or on the Internet, which may be necessary for diagnosis or instructing the patient. If the required information is not available during the exam, the physician may need to either call the patient later with the desired information or reschedule the exam. Providing implant programming units direct access to local networks or public networks, such as the Internet, can lead to inadvertent disclosure of confidential patient data that may be stored in the implant programming unit. A firewall (i.e., a combination of hardware and software that limits the exposure of a data processing unit from unauthorized access) is usually installed on the medical facility network or on individual desktop computers, but is not always effective at preventing infection from viruses or penetration by hackers.
There is a need for a system and an arrangement for enabling implant programming units to retrieve information that enhances the physician/patient visit without making the implant programming units accessible via local or public networks.
A system and an arrangement that addresses the aforementioned problems, as well as other related problems, are therefore desirable.

Network communications arrangement for IMD programming units


A method and apparatus for a portable electronic imaging device, comprising a display screen for displaying objects including any combination of digital still images, video clips, menu items, and icons; and a navigation controller comprising navigation keys for allowing a user to navigate between the displayed objects, wherein the user may select a currently displayed object without moving a finger from a navigation key last pressed, thereby implementing navigation and select functions on a single controller.

Portable electronic imaging devices capable of displaying digital images and video are commonplace today. Examples of such devices include digital cameras, camera-enabled cell phones, MP3 players, and personal digital assistants (PDAs), for instance. FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating example portions of the hardware interface included on conventional imaging devices.
Referring to FIG. 1A, a conventional imaging device 10 is equipped with a liquid-crystal display (LCD) or other type of display screen 12 for displaying objects 14. Objects that may be displayed on the display screen may include digital still images, video clips, menu items, and icons. In play mode, the display screen 12 is used as a playback screen for allowing the user to view objects individually or multiple objects at a time. Besides the display screen 12, the hardware user interface also includes a number of keys, buttons or switches for operating the device 10 and for navigating between displayed objects 14. Examples keys include zoom keys (not shown) for zooming a displayed image, a navigation controller 18, and a select key 20. A four-way navigation controller 18 is shown in FIG. 1A, which includes four keys; left/right keys 18a and 18b having a horizontal orientation, and up/down keys 18c and 18d having a vertical orientation. FIG. 1B is a diagram similar to FIG. 1A, where like components have like reference numerals, but shows the conventional imaging device 10 with a two-way navigation controller that only includes two keys 18a and 18b rather than four.
In both embodiments shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a user navigates to a desired object 14 by pressing the navigation controller 18. In the case where a single object 14 is displayed on the screen 12, the displayed object 14 is considered the current selection. In the case where multiple objects 14 are displayed, a highlight or other indication is moved from object 14 to object 14 as the user navigates to indicate the currently selected object 14. Once the user navigates to a desired object 14, the user may initiate the default action associated with the current selection by pressing the select key 20. Examples of actions that can be performed by pressing the select key 20 include edit, open/execute, and delete. The select key 20 is shown in the center of the navigation controller 18 in FIG. 1A, but the select key 20 may also be located outside of the navigation controller, as shown in FIG. 1B. In yet other embodiments, the 2-way/4-way navigation controller 18 may be implemented as an integrated 2-way/4-way key.
Although the current solution for allowing a user to navigate among objects and to initiate an action associated with the object 14 using a combination of the navigation controller 18 and the select key 20 works for its intended purposes, this implementation has several disadvantages. First, space for keys is limited on portable imaging devices. Having separate navigation and selection keys 18 and 20 occupies valuable space on the device 10. The user must find and press the right key in the correct sequence, which given the small keys on many portable devices due to miniaturization, is not always an easy task.
In addition, the user must find the right portion of the navigation controller 18 for the direction of navigation desired. Users of devices with navigation controller keys often get unexpected results from pressing an undesired portion of the navigation controller key 18. The most typical error is when the user presses a navigation key when intending to press the selection key 20 to initiate the selection function.
Accordingly, what is needed is an improved method and apparatus for implementing the navigation and select functions on the portable electronic imaging device. The present invention addresses such a need.

Multipurpose navigation keys for an electronic imaging device


A module includes a circuit board, a first terminal on a lower surface of the circuit board, a first electronic component on an upper surface of the circuit board, a first cover made of metal covering the first electronic component, a second electronic component on the lower surface of the circuit board, a terminal board provided under the lower surface of the circuit board, a second terminal on an upper surface of the terminal board, a third terminal provided on the lower surface of the terminal board, and a second cover made of metal covering the second electronic component. The second terminal faces the first terminal and is connected to the first terminal. The third terminal is connected to the second terminal. The terminal board has an opening therein surrounding the second electronic component. The second cover includes a top plate portion located under the second electronic component, and a side plate portion extending from the top plate portion toward the lower surface of the circuit board. The side plate portion is positioned between the second electronic component and an inner periphery of the opening. This module occupies a small area.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of conventional module 1. Module 1 includes circuit board 3 and electronic components 9 mounted onto upper surface 5 of circuit board 3 with cream solder 7. Metal cover 11 is placed to cover electronic components 9. Legs 15 provided at sides of cover 11 are connected to notches 17 provided in the rim of circuit board 3 with cream solder. Connection terminals 21 are formed on lower surface 19 of circuit board 3 for connection to a mother board.
Conventional module 1 includes electronic components 9 mounted only on a single surface of the board, hence causing the circuit board to have a large area. Module 1 accordingly occupies a large area of the mother board upon being mounted onto the mother board.

Module, method of manufacturing module, and electronic apparatus using module

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A heat exchanger for cooling an electronic device combines material, geometry and fin effectiveness to maximize heat transfer rate for a its heat exchanging surface area. The heat exchanger comprises a thermally conductive spacer adapted to be mounted onto a surface of the electronic device. A thermally conductive disk-shaped fin is centered on the spacer and has opposed surface-to-air heat exchanging surfaces extending radially from the spacer generally parallel to the surface of the device. The spacer can be disk-shaped and has a diameter which is less than the diameter of the thermally conductive disk. As such, the heat exchanger is omnidirectional in that it effectively removes heat from the electronic device for an incoming air flow originating from any direction and flowing generally parallel to the surface of the device.

Heat exchangers are commonly used to effect the transfer of heat from a warm object to a cooler external environment. In the field of electronics, heat exchangers are typically employed with electronic devices for removing heat generated within the devices. For example, a typical prior art heat exchanger has a horizontal base and a plurality of rectangular fins extending orthogonally relative to the base and can be used to remove heat from an electronic device. The heat exchanger is mounted onto an electronic device such that heat is conducted through the base and fins and dissipated into the surrounding environment by convection.

Surface-to-air heat exchanger for electronic devices


The invention relates to a method for the production of an adhesive bond between (a) the surface of dental subframes based on high-performance polymers, and (b) dental composites, by

Prosthetic work, such as crowns or bridges, for example, requires a supportive substructure in many cases to ensure mechanical stability. Typically, these subframes consist of metal alloys or of metal-free materials such as, by way of example, ZrO2, Al2O3, or high-performance polymers such as PEEK. In order to impart an aesthetic appearance to the tooth restoration on such a subframe structure, the same is given a veneer of a dental composite in the color of the tooth; or in the case of metal subframes, a tooth-colored ceramic. An adhesive agent is typically used to ensure a durable bond.
First, the surface is mechanically treated, typically by means of sand jets. An adhesive layer is then applied first to the sand-blasted subframe, and said adhesive layer produces a bond between the subframe surface and the subsequent (meth-) acrylate-based layers. Next, a layer of a relatively transparent, fluid material is applied on the adhesive agent, wherein said material can flow into the dead spaces in the undercuts, and can fill these in. It must be ensured in the process that the material cures sufficiently in this space. Next, one or more layers of opaque material can be applied on this fluid layer, to conceal the subframe with color. The actual veneer composite then forms the completion of the layered construction.
WO 2008113541A2 relates to conditioning agents which are suitable for polymers selected from the group containing polyarylates, polyarylene sulfides, polysulphones, liquid crystal polymers, polyimides, polyether imides, polyamide imides, and polyaryl ether ketones. The conditioning agents contain an adhesive and a higher boiling point solvent with dipole character, the latter selected from the group containing dimethyl sulfoxide, phenol, diphenyl sulfone, cyclohexanone, acetyl acetone, and ethylene glycol. The use thereof comprises the application of the conditioning agent onto at least a part of the surface of the mold body, allowing the conditioning agent to work in, and optionally applying a curable mixture onto the surface of the mold body conditioned by means of the conditioning agent. The examples relate to DMSO-containing conditioning agents. DMSO is not without problems according to the safety data sheet thereof, and is not suitable for use in the mouth1: 1 product name: dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)

Dental adhesive agent for high-performance polymers

Abstract: A at least creating retentive anchoring by means of mechanical pre-treatment of the surface of each subframe;

Abstract: B application of a low viscous, or free-flowing adhesive agent containing a monomer mixture of polymethyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, at least one bifunctional methacrylate-based cross-linking monomer, initiator(s), and optionally stabilizers and other additives, including                (i) wetting of the surface,        (ii) penetration into the depressions which are present, and        (iii) formation of a dispersion layer or a film;C at least partially curing the dispersion layer or the film in step B; andD applying a dental composite or an opaque onto the product in step C.


A method for reducing the amount of mercury affixed to a sorbent and/or fly ash is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing an amount of sorbent and/or fly ash wherein at least a portion of the amount of sorbent and/or fly ash has particulates having mercury compounds affixed to the particulates; and exposing the amount of sorbent and/or fly ash to heated flowing air until mercury compounds are liberated from at least some of the particulates. Preferably, the amount of sorbent and/or fly ash is maintained in the heated flowing air until the sorbent reaches a temperature of at least 700° F. (372° C.). When the sorbent is activated carbon, it is preferred that the amount of sorbent and/or fly ash is maintained in the heated flowing air until the activated carbon reaches a temperature in the range of 700° F. (372° C.) to 1000° F. (538° C.).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the treatment of a sorbent, such as activated carbon, and/or fly ash to remove mercury that contaminates the sorbent and fly ash as part of post-combustion treatments of exhaust gases from a coal-fired power plant.
2. Description of the Related Art
In 1990, the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") put into place the Clean Air Act Amendments which were designed to reduce the emissions of "greenhouse gases". Among the emissions covered are the nitrogen compounds NO and NO2, referred to generically as NOx. NOx is generated through the combustion of coal and its generation is directly affected by combustion temperature, residency time, and available oxygen. Several technologies have been developed to meet the mandated NOx reduction limits. One category includes technologies that are employed after combustion has taken place. These technologies include selective non-catalytic reduction, selective catalytic reduction, and amine enhanced fuel lean gas reburn. These technologies involve adding ammonia to the exhaust gases, and a significant amount of the ammonia finds its way onto the fly ash, typically by combining with available sulfur and other compounds that attach to the ash particles.
Fly ash is a marketable product if it is not contaminated. The ash may be used, for example, in concrete products as a replacement for a portion of the cement. However, fly ash that has been treated to reduce NOx and which is contaminated either by unburned carbon or ammonia compounds is not marketable. Systems have been developed which may be used to reduce the amount of ammonia compounds affixed to fly ash. For example, PCT International Patent Publication No. WO 01/12268 describes a process for the reduction of ammonia residues from the recovered fly ash of a coal fired power plant.
In addition, the emission of mercury compounds from all sources, including coal-fired power plants, has drawn national and international attention due to the fact that certain forms of mercury have deleterious effects on wildlife and are toxic to humans. Mercury is a naturally occurring element in the environment; however, human activities over the centuries have released large quantities of this element from its sequestered forms (mercury-containing ores, soils, rocks, including all forms of coal). Currently, scientists believe that most of the mercury entering the environment results from air emissions. Large scale releases from certain mining activities (e.g. gold mining), coal burning, medical and municipal waste incineration appear to be the largest anthropogenic sources. However, natural degassing from the oceans, soils, and rocks is thought to be the largest overall source of mercury to the atmosphere.
Mercury emitted from the above sources is transported and transformed by atmospheric processes that are only partially understood. However, it is known that when the oxidized form of mercury (currently believed to constitute a very small percentage of all mercury in the atmosphere) deposits to certain aquatic systems, such as wetlands, salt marshes, and certain lakes, this form of mercury undergoes chemical transformation by certain microbes. These microbes convert the inorganic form to methylmercury, a very potent neurotoxin. While this form is typically present in very low concentrations in the environment, it can be bioaccumulated via the food chain. The mercury levels in the top members of the food chain are often present at concentrations thousands of even millions of times greater than what can be found in natural waters. These higher concentrations are found in fish or mammals that occupy the top of ecosystem food chains. Persons who eat large quantities of these fish are thought to be at risk from developing mild to severe forms of mercury poisoning. Women who eat large quantities of mercury-contaminated fish or seafood and are pregnant, run the risk of giving birth to a child who may experience learning disabilities.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is focusing on mercury, because mercury has been identified as a toxic of great concern among all the air toxics emitted from power plants. To reduce the risk mercury poses to people's health, the EPA is announcing that it will regulate emissions of mercury and other air toxics from coal- and oil-fired electric utility steam generating units (power plants). The data indicates that coal-fired power plants are the largest source of human-caused mercury emissions in the United States. It has been reported that the EPA is likely to propose mercury regulations by Dec. 15, 2003 and issue final regulations by Dec. 15, 2004.
Physical forms of mercury in ambient air can be divided into two categories: vapor phase, which is dominant in the atmosphere, and particulate phase (associated with aerosols), which only comprises a few percent of total airborne mercury emissions. Chemical forms determine the transport of mercury between different environmental media (air, water and soil). The mercuric compounds can be classified into elemental and divalent forms. The elemental form of mercury (Hg0) is the dominant form (>98%) of vapor-phase mercury in the atmosphere, and following dissolution in cloud water or rainwater, is readily converted to more soluble mercury species. Elemental mercury possesses relatively high vapor pressure and low solubility. The former property leads to considerable mercury evaporation into the ambient air, while the latter makes it difficult for the existing air pollution control devices to remove mercury from the emission sources. Divalent mercury forms include inorganic (Hg2+, HgO, HgCl2) and organic oxidized forms (CH3Hg, CH3HgCl, CH3HgCH3). Divalent forms possess higher solubility and readily combine with a variety of reactants, such as sulfite, chloride and hydroxide ions, in the aqueous phase. The boiling points of elemental mercury and some mercury compounds are as follows: Hg, 356.58° C.; HgCl2, 303° C.; and HgS, 580° C.
Many existing air pollution control technologies and several innovative methods have been evaluated for the control of vapor-phase mercury emissions from combustion processes. Sodium sulfide (Na2S) has been used for vapor-phase mercury control in municipal solid waste combustors in Canada, Sweden, Germany and British Columbia. Sodium sulfide injection is usually combined with dry sorbent injection and fabric filters for acid gas and particulate matter control. It has been reported that mercuric sulfide (HgS) is generated as a fine particulate in the process, which may prove difficult to capture in less efficient electrostatic precipitators. Other potential problems for this process include corrosion, hydrogen sulfide formation and chemical storage and handling. These problems, compounded by the lack of test data on full-scale coal-fired power plants, cloud the utility of sodium sulfide injection for the control of mercury emissions. (See Sengupta, "Environmental Separation of Heavy Metals: Engineered Processes", CRC Press, 2001.)
Wet scrubbers have been routinely used to remove hydrochloric acid and sulfur dioxide from the flue gases of industrial factories, coal-fired power plants and municipal waste combustors. Considerable interest in the use of wet scrubbers systems to simultaneously remove sulfur dioxide and mercury has recently been expressed. The removal of vapor-phase mercury in the wet scrubber system would also occur by absorption in the scrubbing slurry, whereby the mechanism of mercury removal depends on the solubility of mercury in the scrubbing slurry, contact time and solution chemistry. Elemental mercury is essentially insoluble in the wet scrubbing slurry, while some of the oxidized species, such as mercuric chloride, are highly soluble. Therefore, oxidized mercury can be easily absorbed with sufficient gas-liquid contact, while the removal of elemental mercury would remain limited. Chang and Owens reported that the treatment of a coal-fired power plant flue gas using only a wet scrubber allowed 70–75% of elemental mercury to be discharged into the atmosphere (see Chang and Owens, EPRI J., 16, 2, 183–189,1994), while other studies reported 30–70% removal of elemental mercury by wet scrubbers. (see, Sengupta, above).
Presently, the most effective and widely used technology for capturing mercury from flue gas emissions is to inject activated carbon into the gas stream. Injected activated carbon binds the vapor-phase mercury through physical adsorption and chemisorption and is collected in downstream particulate collection devices, such as fabric filters (baghouses) or electrostatic precipitators. Results from several tests indicated that effectiveness of activated carbon injection in removing mercury vapor depends on the type and composition of burned materials, flue gas composition and temperature, mercury speciation, activated carbon properties and injection rate and operating conditions. Because activated carbon can be collected effectively in the existing particulate control devices, direct activated carbon injection has several potential advantages over wet scrubbing processes.
One method of doing this is to inject powdered activated carbon into the exhaust gas upstream of a primary particulate collector (e.g., an electrostatic precipitator or baghouse). However, when using this method, the carbon/mercury mixture is collected along with fly ash. The collected fly ash has a higher carbon content (from the activated carbon) and has increased mercury levels due to the mercury adsorbed on the activated carbon. As a result, the collected fly ash becomes unusable in concrete without beneficiation to remove the additional carbon content. Thus, the value of the resulting fly ash declines because of more limited uses and the need for expensive beneficiation techniques such as froth flotation, electrostatic separation, or reburning the fly ash. Because the primary use of fly ash includes cementitious material for concrete and concrete products, feed stock for Portland cement manufacture, liquid waste stabilization, and lightweight aggregate production, it is essential to maintain the high quality of fly ash for use in concrete. Also, mercury adsorbed by the activated carbon may increase the potential for release of mercury into the environment during reuse or landfilling of the fly ash.
Another method for capturing and removing mercury from exhaust gases involves injecting powdered activated carbon into the exhaust gas downstream of the primary particulate collector and ahead of a secondary particulate collector (e.g., an electrostatic precipitator or baghouse). The resulting carbon/mercury mixture is then collected in the secondary particulate collector for disposal. Therefore, the quality of fly ash collected in the primary particulate collector is warranted for reuse in concrete. However, the issue still remains as to what to do with the carbon/mercury mixture collected in the secondary particulate collector. As stated above, the mercury adsorbed by the activated carbon may increase the potential for release of mercury into the environment during landfilling or other disposal of the mixture. Furthermore, the expense associated with current activated carbon injection technology can be quite high due to the disposal costs associated with mercury contaminated carbon.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved method and apparatus that can remove adsorbed mercury from a sorbent, such as activated carbon, that is collected separately or collected with fly ash in an exhaust gas treatment process for a coal-fired power plant.

Mercury removal from activated carbon and/or fly ash


A vehicle control apparatus for controlling a vehicle through a control program using at least one parameter. The at least one parameter is corrected by respective at least one correction value that is obtained after start of execution of a learning operation. The vehicle control apparatus includes: a learning-data storage portion configured to store, as learning data, the at least one correction value obtained after the start of the execution of the learning operation; and a learning-data rewrite portion configured, when the control program is updated, to execute a rewriting operation for rewriting the at least one correction value as the learning data from a pre-update correction value to a post-update correction value, such that the post-update correction value has the same sign as the pre-update correction value, and an absolute value of the post-update correction value is smaller than an absolute value of the pre-update correction value.

There is known a vehicle control apparatus for controlling a vehicle through a control program. In a case in which the control program is updated (rewritten), if a pre-update learning value that has been obtained before update of the control program can be used, the control apparatus maintains the pre-update learning value, and if the pre-update learning value cannot be used, the control apparatus initializes the pre-update learning value or executes a data conversion operation for making the pre-update learning value usable. JP-2000-259420A discloses an example of such a control apparatus. This Japanese Patent Application publication does not teach specific contents of the data conversion operation as such, although teaching that predetermined mathematical expressions and correspondence tables are used in the data conversion operation.


This invention relates to a process for reducing the Bromine Index of a hydrocarbon feedstock having less than 5 wppm oxygenates-oxygen, comprising the step of contacting the feedstock with a catalyst at conversion conditions to form a first effluent, wherein the catalyst includes a molecular sieve having a zeolite structure type of MWW.

Hydrocarbon feedstocks such as aromatic hydrocarbon feedstocks are derived from processes such as naphtha reforming and thermal cracking (pyrolysis). Such feedstocks can be used in a variety of petrochemical processes, such as para-xylene production from an aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock containing benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX), toluene disproportionation, xylene isomerization, alkylation and transalkylation. However, aromatic hydrocarbon feedstocks often contain contaminants comprising bromine-reactive compounds including unsaturated hydrocarbons, such as mono-olefins, multi-olefins and styrenes. These can cause undesirable side reactions in downstream processes. Therefore, these contaminants should be removed from the aromatic hydrocarbon feedstocks before they can be used in other processes.
Improved processes for aromatics production, such as that described in the Handbook of Petroleum Processing, McGraw-Hill, New York 1996, pp. 4.3-4.26, provide increased aromatics yield but also increase the amount of contaminants. For example, the shift from high-pressure semi-regenerative reformers to low-pressure moving bed reformers results in a substantial increase in BI in the reformate streams. These streams are aromatic hydrocarbon feedstocks for downstream processes. This results in a greater need for more efficient and less expensive methods for removal of hydrocarbon contaminants from aromatic hydrocarbon feedstocks, e.g., reformate streams.
Olefins (mono-olefins and multi-olefins) in aromatic hydrocarbon feedstocks are commercially removed by hydrotreating processes. Commercial hydrotreating catalysts have proved active and stable to substantially convert multi-olefins contained therein to oligomers and to partially convert the olefins to alkylaromatics.
The term "mono-olefins" as used herein means olefinic compounds containing one carbon-carbon double bond per molecule. Examples of mono-olefins are ethylene, propylene, butenes, hexenes, styrene, and octenes. The term "multi-olefins" used herein means olefinic compounds containing at least two carbon-carbon double bonds per molecule. Examples of multi-olefins are butadienes, cyclopentadienes, and isoprenes.
The clay treatment of hydrocarbons is widely practiced in the petroleum and petrochemical industries. Clay catalysts are used to remove impurities from hydrocarbon feedstocks in a wide variety of processes. One of the most common reasons for treating these hydrocarbon feedstocks with a clay catalyst system is to remove undesirable olefins, including both multi-olefins and mono-olefins, in order to meet various quality specifications. As used herein the term "olefinic compound" or "olefinic material" is intended to refer to both mono-olefins and multi-olefins. Olefinic compounds may be objectionable in aromatic hydrocarbons at even very low concentrations of less than a few weight parts per million (wppm) for some processes such as nitration of benzene.
More recently, molecular sieves, and particularly zeolites, have been proposed as replacements for clays in the removal of olefinic compounds from aromatic hydrocarbon feedstocks. U.S. Pat. No. 6,368,496 (Brown et al.) discloses a method for removing bromine reactive hydrocarbon contaminants from aromatic streams by first providing an aromatic feedstream having a negligible diene level. The feedstream is contacted with an acid active catalyst composition under conditions sufficient to remove mono-olefins. An aromatic stream may be pretreated to remove dienes by contacting the stream with clay, hydrogenation or hydrotreating catalyst under conditions sufficient to substantially remove dienes but not mono-olefins.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,500,996 (Brown et al.) discloses a method for the removal of hydrocarbon contaminants, such as dienes and olefins, from an aromatics reformate by contacting an aromatics reformate stream with a hydrotreating catalyst and/or a molecular sieve. The hydrotreating catalyst substantially converts all dienes to oligomers and partially converts olefins to alkylaromatics. The molecular sieve converts the olefins to alkylaromatics. The process provides an olefin depleted product which can be passed through a clay treater to substantially convert the remaining olefins to alkylaromatics. The hydrotreating catalyst has a metal component of nickel, cobalt, chromium, vanadium, molybdenum, tungsten, nickel-molybdenum, cobalt-nickel-molybdenum, nickel-tungsten, cobalt-molybdenum or nickel-tungsten-titanium, with a nickel molybdenum/alumina catalyst being preferred. The molecular sieve is an intermediate pore size zeolite, preferably MCM-22. The clay treatment can be carried out with any clay suitable for treating hydrocarbons.
Extracted aromatic feedstocks may contain high level of oxygenates and nitrogen components. The oxygenates and/or nitrogen components may deactivate both clay and molecular sieve catalysts, which decreases the catalyst cycle-length.
Clay treaters used for the treatment of aromatic hydrocarbon feedstocks are generally operated as swing-bed units. When the clay is spent, the aromatic hydrocarbon feedstocks are directed to a second reactor containing fresh clay, while the first reactor is emptied and reloaded. A molecular sieve system has the advantage of long cycle-length, relative to the use of clay. The major disadvantage of a molecular sieve system is the high price of the molecular sieve materials.
The cost of clays and/or molecular sieves has created a need for an efficient and cost-effective method for removing contaminants from hydrocarbon feedstocks such as aromatic hydrocarbon feedstocks. The present invention solves this problem by extending cycle-length by advantageously using a hydrocarbon feedstock having less than 5 wppm oxygenates-oxygen.

Process for reducing Bromine Index of hydrocarbon feedstocks


The invention relates to a motor vehicle seat with a back rest and a seat which is supported by an adjustable underframe, which itself is supported via seat carriers of a longitudinal adjustment device. The back rest is supported by a back rest support, which is connected with the back rest via a back rest mounting. The back rest support is joined in a hinge with the seat carriers via front and back brackets of the back rest support and the seat is joined in a hinge with the seat carriers via front and back brackets of the seat support in an adjustable way.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a motor vehicle seat with a back rest and a seat, which is supported by an adjustable underframe, which itself is supported via seat carriers of a longitudinal adjustment device.
With motor vehicle seats, an adjustment of the usable seat depth of the seat is desired, adjusting devices herefore are known from the state of the art. On the one hand motor vehicle seats can be counted to the latter, with which the actual length of the seat can be altered and also those, with which the back rest can be moved with regard to the seat in a relative movement in such a way that the seat depth used effectively is altered. The motor vehicle seat according to the invention belongs to the latter group.
It is desired to achieve a most possible comfortable, ergonomic seating position with motor vehicle seats by using simple mechanical means. Hereby, the normal dimensional relations of human beings are taken as a basis and by taking this relation into account, the possibilities for a seat adjustment can thereby be limited. With regard to this aspect, it is the aim of the invention to further develop the motor vehicle seat. It is therefore the task of the present invention to determine and further develop a motor vehicle seat in such a way that a most possible optimal adjustment of the back rest and the seat is achieved with regard to the desired seating position by using simple mechanical means.
Based on the motor vehicle seat of the above mentioned kind this task is solved in such a way that the back rest is supported by a back rest support which is connected to the back rest via a back rest mounting, that the back rest support is joined in a hinge with the seat carriers via front and back brackets of the back rest support and that the seat is joined in a hinge with the seat carriers via front and back brackets of the seat support in an adjustable way.
According to the invention the back rest and the seat are each arranged on individual four-bar linkages, especially joint parallelogram brackets, and they can also be interactively adjusted. These four-bar linkages are each regulated as well as set by an adjustment device, which is allocated to one of the four hinge points. Herefore different adjustment devices exist, which are known from the state of the art, for example adjustment devices with a sector gear and a pinion, eccentric adjustment devices and devices of a similar kind. As the back rest as well as the seat form a four-bar linkage together with each of the corresponding brackets and the seat carrier, a relative adjustment is possible between the back rest and the seat. Thereby the seat depth to be used can be adjusted by adjusting the seat in relation to the back rest or the back rest in relation to the seat.
In a preferred embodiment the four-bar linkages, with which the seat and the back rest support are connected with the seat carriers, are coupled in a compulsive action. As separate adjustment devices for the back rest on one hand and for the seat on the other hand are necessary with uncoupled four-bar linkages, this is not the case with coupled four-bar linkages, hereby only an adjustment device is necessary. Thereby the expenditure is saved and the operation is simplified. Therefore, in an especially preferred embodiment, the back support bracket of the back rest is comprised each in one piece with the left back support bracket of the seat support each, the same applies to the right back support bracket of the back rest and of the seat support respectively. The kinematics is thereby chosen in such a way that when adjusting the back rest and the seat to the front, the back rest is moved more strongly to the front than the seat, namely the usable seat surface is being shortened. Because of that in the course of the normal adjustment of a seat based on the position for larger people to the position for smaller people, the normal adjustment path of the seat is kept, but at the same time the back rest is moved to the front coupled in a compulsive action in such a way that the usable seat depth is shortened.
The coupling of both four-bar linkages can occur in various ways. The decisive factor in the concept of the coupling is to make sure that always a shifting of the scat by a path x corresponds to a bigger shifting distance y of the back rest. This may occur for example by the fact that the seat is moved on a smaller arc of a circle than the back rest, the effective length of at least one bracket of the seat support is distinctly shorter than that of the corresponding bracket of the back rest support. It may also occur by the fact that the brackets are arranged in such a way that when the seat is adjusted at least one bracket of the seat support moves essentially crosswise to the seat carriers, but not in their longitudinal direction, while the corresponding bracket of the back rest support moves essentially parallel to the seat carriers. These kinematics can also be achieved for example by an offset angle of the respective brackets against each other.
In a preferred embodiment at least one pair of brackets of the seat support, preferably both front brackets of the seat support are embodied as an adjustable pair of articulated levers synchronized with each other. That way the height of the front edge of the seat can be altered and set independently from the other adjustments. But nevertheless in the use of the language of the existing text, a four-bar linkage exists, because the two levers of the pair of articulated levers, which together realize the respective bracket, are only adjusted against each other for the adjustment of the front edge of the seat, after the adjustment has been completed however, they form one single bracket again.

Motor vehicle seat with a back rest and a seat


A radiofrequency identification (RFID) device includes an active RFID tag that includes a power source and a passive RFID tag reader, the passive RFID tag reader electrically coupled to the power source of the active RFID tag.

The field of the disclosure relates generally to radiofrequency identification (RFID) systems. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to passive RFID assisted active RFID tags and methods therefor.
RFID is a technology that allows a wide range of objects to be identified, tracked and managed. RFID technology is based on the use of small radio tags or transponders and readers/encoders for connection to an information system. These RFID tags, which contain a unique code together with other additional information, can be read by the reader/encoder from a distance without contact or line-of-sight. Typical RFID are categorized as either active or passive.
Active RFID tags are typically powered by an internal battery and may include read/write functionality (i.e., tag data can be rewritten and/or modified). An active RFID tag's memory size may vary according to application requirements. In a typical active RFID system, the RFID tag might periodically transmit its data, including a part number and location to a central tracking database. The battery-supplied power of an active tag generally gives it a longer read range than a passive RFID tag. However, active RFID tags result in greater size, greater cost, and an operational life limited to about 10 years depending on operating temperatures and battery type, as compared to passive RFID tags. Additionally, active RFID tags are typically not suitable for indoor use, due to limitations and inherent unreliability of using traditional received signal strength indicators (RSSI) and time distance of arrival (TDOA) calculations.
Passive RFID tags operate without an internal power source. The passive RFID tags obtain operating power from the electromagnetic transmissions generated by the reader. Consequently, passive tags may be much lighter than active tags, less expensive, and offer a virtually unlimited operational lifetime. Passive tags are typically read-only and are programmed with a unique set of data that cannot be modified. However, passive tags may also be read/write tags that are initially programmed with a unique set of data and such data may be modified and updated at desired intervals. In order to operate, the passive tag reader must initiate the communication to the tag, and the tag then responds with its identifier. Typically, to obtain the location of the passive tag, the reader may use a combination of previous known location of the tag, RSSI and TDOA between the tag and reader, triangulation antenna gain measurement. Thus, passive RFID tags generally result in more accurate location of the tags as compared to active tags. Although cheaper and smaller than active tags, passive tags have shorter read ranges than active tags and require a higher-powered reader.
The advantage of RFID systems is the non-contact, non-line-of-sight nature of the technology. Tags can be read through a variety of substances, including metal, where barcodes or other, traditional optically read technologies would be impractical.


A method of multi-sensor data fusion includes determining a plurality of first data sets using a plurality of sensors, each of the first data sets being associated with a respective one of a plurality of sensor coordinate systems, and each of the sensor coordinate systems being defined in dependence of a respective one of a plurality of mounting positions for the sensors; transforming the first data sets into a plurality of second data sets using a transformation rule, each of the second data sets being associated with a unified coordinate system, the unified coordinate system being defined in dependence of at least one predetermined reference point; and determining at least one fused data set by fusing the second data sets.

The disclosure relates to a method of multi-sensor data fusion. A method for multi-sensor data fusion comprises that data is gathered from various sensors and then merged together. For example, different types of sensors can be used for acquiring sensor-specific views on an environment, wherein the sensor-specific views are fused into one single unified view. As the case may be, the sensor-specific views can be partially redundant and the aim of fusing can be to extract one unified view, which is more powerful than the individual views. For example, the unified view can be more reliable or can carry more information than each of the single views. The sensor-specific views may be represented in a sensor-specific format, which can deviate from the desired target format for the unified view.
In one specific example, modern automotive perception systems require multiple sensors which vary with respect to their type, e.g., there can be an image sensor for taking images or videos (e.g., a camera), another sensor formed by a radar system for taking "three-dimensional images" (sometimes denoted as point clouds comprising, e.g., depth and/or velocity information) by means of radar waves, and yet another sensor formed by a LiDAR-(light detection and ranging) system for providing further images by using laser rays. These sensors or other sensors are mounted on a vehicle at different mounting positions (e.g., front, rear or side). The images are thus captured from different viewpoints, i.e. from different perspectives. By using multi-sensor data fusion all the information captured by the different sensors should be merged in order to infer a precise and robust perception result. Various fusing algorithms are known from the art.
In recent years, models derived by machine learning, e.g. neural networks or the like, have found widespread use for processing image data. In particular, deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have achieved a great success for various perception tasks, e.g., object detection and semantic segmentation. In an automotive perception system, the input to a neural network can be for example a multi-dimensional tensor, e.g., a 2-D image with multiple channels or 3-D voxels, which is defined in a spatial coordinate system. A neural network does not change the spatial representation; the output is thus defined in the same coordinate system as the input.
If multiple sensors are used, each sensor output is usually processed separately by means of neural networks. This is because the sensor outputs may have different definitions and processing them together by means of one single neural network can reduce the accuracy. Therefore, fusing of the sensor outputs may involve a step of finding correspondences between objects or other information pieces between the processed sensor outputs (e.g., identifying the same object in two different feature maps). Despite some success it has been found that the robustness has still not reached a satisfactory level.
Accordingly there is a need to improve the accuracy of multi-sensor data fusion.


A cover fitted about the periphery of an opening in a chamber wall is provided with a channel having therein both high frequency sealing elements which prevent escape of electromagnetic radiation, and a vacuum sealing element. The HF sealing elements are spaced apart by less than 1/4 of the minimum wavelength .lambda. to be shielded against, and are preferably held in the channel by a profiled element which also holds the vacuum sealing element. Alternatively, the channel may be provided in the chamber wall, or the sealing elements may he held in place without any channel.

The invention pertains to an apparatus for preventing high-frequency radiation in a cavity from escaping through the covered openings of the cavity.
Measures and apparatuses for providing effective shielding against, and for suppressing the escape of, electromagnetic, high-frequency alternating fields from the cavities surrounding them are known. For example, care must be taken especially in the design of pass-through openings in cavities such as door openings which must be opened and closed at regular intervals to ensure that the shielding elements covering the openings are in good electrical contact with the chamber walls forming the boundaries of the cavity and that no HF leaks are formed between the chamber walls and the shielding devices closing the openings as a result of remaining gaps, for example. Gaps of this type, especially when the size of the gap is equal to .lambda./4 of the wavelength .lambda. of the electromagnetic radiation present, act as slot antennas, through which the electromagnetic radiation to be shielded against can escape very effectively.
High-frequency electrical and/or magnetic alternating fields to be shielded against arise, for example, during the operation of magnetrons, which are used for cathode sputtering and the cathodic coating of surfaces. In these magnetrons, a high-frequency alternating electric field is used to maintain an electrical discharge between the cathode to be sputtered and the anode assigned to it. The typical operating frequencies of these types of cathode sputtering systems can be as high as 40 MHz. Because the cathode sputtering processes occur under vacuum conditions, the process chambers provided for them are frequently made vacuum-tight by means of rubber seals, but they are not always HF-tight in their original condition.
Especially the closable openings in the process chambers which must be provided for upkeep and maintenance, e.g., to replace the sputter cathodes, have turned out to be weak points with respect to HF leakage, especially after they have been opened and closed several times. As a result, the electromagnetic radiation which escapes from such process chambers acts as an interference signal, and because of the high radiation intensities required for the sputtering process, these signals can interfere severely with radio reception.

Apparatus for shielding against high-frequency electromagnetic radiation


The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for receiving a modulating signal, splitting up its various frequency components into separate channels using a plurality of filters, and applying the outputs of the filters to gas discharge lamp modulating circuits to analogously vary the light output of each lamp. The present invention processes the modulation signal through a control circuit, a peak voltage detector, a current source, an ionization voltage supply, a filter circuit, a voltage multiplier and a modulating circuit to the gas discharge lamps. Optocoupling elements are implement in the present invention to control the circuitry. The gas discharge lamps have a rectifying element connected between each gas discharge lamp to prevent the gas discharge lamps from being connected to neutral by the filament of an adjacent gas discharge lamp.

Various techniques are used to modulate light output from incandescent, gas discharge, and other types of lamps by attempting to analogously match light output to the voltage or energy level of a modulating signal. Much success has been attained with incandescent lamps in particular, due to the ease of powering a positive-resistance device. However, due to the filament heat persistence of the incandescent lamp, it is difficult to track light output quickly and directly with modulation signal input. Plasma type lamps are more suited for this task, as there is no filament heat persistence in the plasma. The difficulties to be overcome in using hot cathode gas discharge lamps are numerous when compared to their incandescent counterparts. In the prior art, several methods of modulating light output from various types of light emitting elements have been proposed, all of which suffer from a number of limitations and disadvantages.
Methods wherein gas discharge lamps are modulated have usually included the use of inductive or inductive/electronic/dimming type ballasts as a part of their modulation output circuitry. This significantly increases the cost, weight, and size of such devices. Such devices with ballasts also rely on the classic continuous grounded fixtures to initially ionize the lamp gasses, restricting the total viewing angle to 180 degrees or less. In other prior art wherein ballasts have been eliminated, there is no provision for heating lamp cathode filament(s) by a method other than lamp ionization current. For systems that heat lamp cathode filament(s) solely by lamp ionization current, the power necessary for heating lamp cathode filaments and causing electron emission from the lamp cathode filaments must be provided by a minimum value of lamp ionization current multiplied by the "cathode fall" voltage. That minimum ionization current value, as specified by -as discharge lamp manufacturers, is near 1/2 of the maximum rated lamp current.
This leaves little range for continuous, reliable modulation of the light output below that minimum level. When the ionization current decreases to below the minimum necessary to keep the electrodes hot enough to continue to emit electrons, lamp ionization current is extinguished. Consequently, systems which provide heating of lamp cathode filaments solely by lamp ionization current have a modulation range that is limited to the upper half of the lamps light output range. Due to the logarithmic response of the eye to light, the changes in light output that could be made in such a system would be only moderately perceptible.
Many Prior Art apparatus include the use of a diode in the final filter stage or modulation stage. Not only does this arrangement restrict the modulation circuit's use to just one excursion of the modulation signal, it also limits the dynamic range of any modulation signal processed. Thus, if the voltage output of the last filter stage is 6.0 VAC, the dynamic modulation range is restricted to 6.0 VAC divided by 0.6 VAC (the forward diode drop), or 10 times, or 20 dB (voltage). This is due to the fact that the output of the final filter stage or output buffer must first exceed the diode drop before modulation begins to occur.
Many such apparatus require a high input modulation signal voltage for proper light modulation, and some provide no automatic level control. Also in the prior art, no provision is made to utilize the modulation signal for anything other than automatic gain control, and input to the modulation circuitry. No provision for a power-save feature is present in prior art references using ballasts.
Some apparatus provide no means to increase the ionization potential beyond line voltage, restricting the length of lamp that can be ionized. Many do not provide a means for minimally sustaining lamp ionization current, or provide no internal operating current source for the lamp's main ionization current requirements.
Much prior art provides means for modulation wherein one leg of the AC mains is connected to low voltage ground. This creates a "hot ground" and a potential for problems should breakdown occur.
In the Prior Art which lacks the use of a ballast of any kind, and in which infinite analog modulation occurs, such apparatus suffer from the disadvantage of undesirable power dissipation in the power switching component which sources ionization current to the gas discharge lamp. This is due to the lack of the apparatus' ability to decrease ionization voltage to the lamp as the ionization current through the lamp increases. This would be the normal function of the ballast.

Direct current ballastless modulation of gas discharge lamps


Process for reducing nitrogen oxides to nitrogen in an exhaust gas comprising passing the exhaust gas in the presence of a reducing agent through a catalyst system comprising at least two catalyst beds, in which a first catalyst bed is an iron-beta-zeolite and a second catalyst bed downstream is silver supported on alumina.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a process and catalyst system for reduction of nitrogen oxides from exhaust gases using a reducing agent such as ammonia and urea. In particular, the invention relates to a dual bed catalyst system for reduction of nitrogen oxides using a reducing agent in which the first catalyst bed is an iron-beta-zeolite (Fe-beta-zeolite) and the second catalyst bed downstream is silver supported on alumina (Ag/Al2O3). More particularly, the present invention relates to a process and catalyst system for converting NOx in exhaust gas from lean-burn combustion engines to nitrogen by adding a mixture of hydrogen and ammonia to the exhaust gas and subsequently passing the gas over a suitable dual bed catalyst, in which the first catalyst bed is an iron-beta-zeolite (Fe-beta-zeolite) and the second catalyst bed downstream is silver supported on alumina (Ag/Al2O3).
2. Description of the Related Art
The emission of nitrogen oxides by exhaust gases in stationary and automotive applications has long been a major environmental issue. The harmful effects of nitrogen oxides (NOx) are well known, and therefore intensive research is being conducted to find processes and catalyst systems which are able to cope with stricter environmental regulations. Conventional catalysts for NOx reduction comprise vanadium; however, these catalysts are becoming less and less attractive as tightening environmental regulations are expected to forbid their use. In the automotive business, particularly in exhaust gases from lean-burn engines, the reduction of NOx to nitrogen (N2) is usually conducted by using ammonia or urea as reducing agents over a suitable catalyst in the so-called selective catalytic reduction (SCR).
Systems utilising selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx by ammonia (an aqueous solution of urea can also be used as ammonia source) to remove NOx from exhaust in lean burn combustion processes is well established both for stationary and automotive applications.
In some applications, especially automotive applications, when using commercial SCR catalysts like V/W/TiO2 and Fe-zeolites, the standard SCR reaction (4NO+4NH3+O2=4N2+6H2O) is not fast enough at low temperatures (around 200° C.) to fulfil the NOx conversion requirements given by legislation in some countries. One way to obtain higher NOx conversion at these low temperatures is to take advantage of the so-called fast SCR reaction (NO+NO2+2NH3=2N2+3H2O). At normal conditions, the major part of the NOx in lean combustion exhaust is NO. Therefore, to obtain a NO:NO2 ratio close to 1:1 required for the fast SCR reaction an oxidation catalyst for oxidation of NO to NO2 is usually applied upstream the SCR catalyst. This solution has some drawbacks: 1) The oxidation catalyst required for the NO oxidation requires a high loading of precious Pt; 2) The oxidation catalyst deactivates significantly over time resulting in a change in SCR activity which makes regulation of the NH3/urea dosage difficult; 3) It is not possible to obtain the optimum NO:NO2 1:1 ratio in the whole operational temperature interval.
High SCR activity can be achieved over Cu-zeolite materials without taking advantage of the fast SCR reaction; however, Cu-zeolites are more prone to hydrothermal deactivation than Fe-zeolites, which limits their use in many applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,689,709 discloses the use of iron-beta-zeolites for the selective reduction of nitrogen oxides with ammonia at high temperatures (425, 550° C.). By pre-steaming the catalysts at 600 to 800° C. for 0.25 to 8 h, the catalysts are shown to be hydrothermally stable.
Richter et al. (Catalysis Letters Vol. 94, Nos. 1-2, page 115, April 2004) shows that some catalysts based on Ag/Al2O3 function well as SCR catalyst when a mixture of H2 and NH3 is used as reducing agent. In a gas with a 1:10:1 molar ratio of NH3:H2:NO and surplus of oxygen (6 vol % O2), almost full NO conversion at a temperature as low as 200° C. is achieved. However, if hydrogen is removed from the gas the NO conversion becomes more limited at all temperatures in the range 150 to 450° C. In a gas with a 1:2.5:1 molar ratio of NH3:H2:NO, i.e. with reduced amount of hydrogen and surplus of oxygen (6 vol % O2), over 90% NO conversion at 300° C. are achieved. NOx conversions close to 80% are obtained at 300° C. in a gas with 1:1.5:1 molar ratio of NH3:H2:NO. In other words, reduction of 1 mole of NO requires 1.5 to 2.5 or more moles of hydrogen. Using such a catalyst alone would require a significant amount of hydrogen to be used to obtain an acceptable NOx conversion over a broader range of temperatures, i.e. 150 to 550° C.
Our own studies on the performance of Ag/Al2O3 catalyst in H2-assisted SCR removal with ammonia (or urea) show that this catalyst in the presence of reasonable amount of hydrogen (1000 ppm) provides a very promising NOx conversion in the course of NH3-DeNOx of a gas with approximately 1:3:1 molar ratio of NH3:H2:NO within the low temperature range 175 to 250° C. However, in the absence of hydrogen, which is desired in order to keep costs down, the catalyst is not active in SCR removal with ammonia or urea Our studies on this catalyst also show that the reduction of 1 mole of NO requires a considerable amount of hydrogen, namely 1.5 to 2 moles of hydrogen. Moreover, the catalyst deactivates after repetitive catalytic cycles due to the presence of SO2 in the feed gas, particularly when exposed to high SO2 content in the gas for short periods (e.g. 30 ppm for 2 h) compared to low SO2 content in the gas for longer period (e.g. 8 ppm for 8 h).
It is therefore desirable to provide a process and a catalyst for NOx reduction which overcome the above problems.

Process and catalyst system for SCR of NO


A new method and a circuit to improve the low voltage performance of a differential gain stage is achieved. The method comprises a monitoring stage and a differential stage. The monitoring stage comprises a differential transistor pair having first and second differential inputs, an upper current input, and a lower current output. In addition, a current source is connected to the upper current input, and a current load is connected to the lower current output. The differential stage comprises a differential transistor pair having first and second differential inputs, an upper current input, and first and second lower current outputs. In addition, a current source is connected to the upper current input, and first and second current loads are connected to the first and second lower current inputs. A current is forced through the monitoring stage current source. The current through the monitoring stage current source is mirrored in the differential stage current source. Current through the monitoring stage current load is mirrored through the differential transistor stage first and second current loads.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an integrated circuit device, and, more particularly, to a differential gain stage capable of low voltage operation.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Differential gain stages are used in a large variety of electronics circuits. Differential gain stages provide a means of buffering signals and of multiplying voltage and/or current differences between signals. Differential gain stages are one of the key functional features in operational amplifier and/or comparator designs. Differential gain stages typically comprise a pair of transistors. These transistors may be bipolar or MOS.
Referring now to FIG. 1, an example of a prior art differential stage circuit 10 is shown. This differential stage circuit comprises a differential stage 14 and a folded cascode structure 22. The differential stage 14 further comprises a differential pair made up of a first MOS transistor 26 and a second MOS transistor 28, a current source 16 made up of a MOS transistor 24, and a current load 20 made up of a first MOS transistor 30 and a second MOS transistor 32. The folded cascode circuit 22 comprises transistors 34, 36, 38, and 40. In the differential stage 14, a first bias voltage VBP controls the current source transistor 24, and a second bias voltage VBN controls the current load transistors 30 and 32.
During normal operation, the current flowing to the current source transistor 24 is divided between each side of the differential pair 26 and 28 based on the relationship between the first input voltage VI1 and the second input voltage VI2. If VI1 and VI2 are equal, then the current flowing through the current source 24 is divided equally between each side. As a result, the first and second current load transistors 30 and 32 conduct the same amount of current. Because the first and second current load transistors 30 and 32 are biased with the same gate voltage, the voltage outputs VC1 and VC2 of the differential stage 14 are balanced to the same value. The differential stage 14 uses the transconductance of the differential pair transistors 26 and 28 to generate a transfer gain from the input voltage differential to the output voltage differential.
The differential stage 14 relies on an adequate power supply voltage, that is, the voltage difference between VDD and VSS. If the supply voltage drops to a very low level of, for example, about 1 V and, further, if the threshold voltage of the MOS transistors is about 0.65 V, then several problems may occur. First, the current source transistor 24 may come out of saturation mode. As a result, the current flowing through the differential pair 26 and 28 will not be constant over small fluctuations in the power supply voltage. This will cause the differential stage to perform incorrectly unless the voltage bias VBN of the current load transistors 30 and 32 compensates for this problem. Second, the small voltage difference between the power supply and the threshold voltage of the MOS transistors will limit the common mode operating range of the differential pair transistors 26 and 28.
Referring now to FIG. 2, an example of a differential stage 54 used in a common mode regulation circuit 50 is shown. The differential stage 54 again comprises a differential pair 58 and 60, a current source 56, and first and second current loads 62 and 64. The current source 56 is again controlled by a first voltage bias VBP, and the first and second current loads 62 and 64 are controlled by a second current bias VBN. However, in this case, an additional operational amplifier 66 is used to provide a feedback control mechanism between the differential stage outputs VC1 and VC2 and a reference voltage VREF generated by a diode connected transistor 68 conducting a reference current IREF 70. Once again, this application 50 of the differential stage 54 will perform incorrectly at very low voltages if the current source transistor 56 comes out of saturation. Therefore, if the differential pair transistors 58 and 60 do not operate properly due to an inadequate difference between the power supply voltage and the threshold voltage. Reducing the minimum operating voltage of the differential stage is a principal object of the present invention. In addition, the supply voltage to the operational amplifier 66 is also very low. Therefore, this operation amplifier 66 shares the same problems with low supply voltage as the differential stage 54.
Several prior art inventions relate to differential gain stages and amplifiers. U.S. Pat. No. 6,433,638 to Heineke et al teaches a transimpedance amplifier using MESFET devices where a matched pair of source-coupled transistors worse have sources connected to ground to thereby enable low voltage operation. U.S. Pat. No. 6,407,637 to Phanse et al teaches a differential current mirror system with excellent common mode rejection ratio. U.S. Pat. No. 6,538,513 to Godfrey et al teaches an amplifier with common mode output control. U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,606 to Tran et al teaches a differential output CMOS amplifier. In the article, "Low Voltage Analog Circuit Design," by Rajput et al, in IEEE Circuits and Systems Magazine, Volume 2, Number 1, 1st Quarter 2002, a low voltage analog design technique is shown.

Differential gain stage for low voltage supply


A system for coupling a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle and/or for controlling charging/braking by the towed vehicle. The system may include a coupler coupling to the towing vehicle; and first and second tow bars having first and second ends and a rotational joint situated between the first and second ends, the first and second tow bars coupled to the coupler at the first ends and being non-parallel in at least one plane with the second ends located further apart from each other than the first ends. The rotational joint providing for the first and second tow bars to be positioned in an open and a folded position. The second ends of the first and second tow bars are configured to be coupled to the towed vehicle. For charging, a trip distance and charge of a towed vehicle battery is utilized to determine a charging rate for the trip.

Typically, self-motorized recreational vehicles (hereinafter RVs) such as motorhomes, campervans, truck camper (TC) and the like, may provide for transport, living, and sleeping accommodation. Accordingly, RVs may include a kitchen or galley, living and sleeping areas as well as a lavatory. Further, the RV may include electronically-powered appliances such as water heaters, washing machines, dryers, ovens, microwave ovens, refrigerators, televisions, air-conditioners, and the like. RVs may include a trailer hitch for towing a vehicle such as an automobile attached thereto. When parked, the automobile may then be detached from the RV and used for transportation while the RV may remain parked in a desired area such as at a campsite. To power electronically-powered appliances, the RV may include an internally-stored electrical power source such as batteries, and/or a generator to provide power to the RV when mains power may not be desired or available. Unfortunately, the internally-carried power source may take valuable space and increase weight of the mobile home. Further, generators consume fuel, are noisy and need to be running to provide power to the RV. Accordingly, embodiments of the present system may overcome these and other disadvantages of conventional systems and methods.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Power generation system for physically-coupled vehciles and method of operation thereof


A system for varying a camber of an airfoil may include an airfoil having an upper surface and a lower surface meeting to form a leading edge and a trailing edge, the lower surface having a first actuator including shape memory alloy sheet, a controller including a plurality of heating elements attached to the shape memory alloy sheet for selectively heating the sheet to a temperature above ambient to deform the upper and lower surfaces to morph a geometry of a camber of the airfoil thereby, a computer control connected to selectively control individual activation of the heating elements to heat the shape memory alloy sheet to a selected temperature to effect a selected deflection, and a cooling device to allow ambient air to enter the wing and exit over the actuator to resume a non-morphed state.

The wings and empennage of aircraft have airfoil shapes. These airfoil shapes, particularly of the wings and horizontal stabilizers, provide lift. Another important function of the wings and horizontal stabilizers is that they include flaps, which are actuated to create flight adjustments, such as climbing, descending, and banking Flaps are also important in effecting stabilization of the aircraft during flight.
It is therefore desirable to provide a system and method for adjusting such control surfaces in flight rapidly. Current technology, which may include the use of hydraulic actuators, has been optimized, but there is still a need for an increase in response time of movement of control surfaces, such as flaps.


A portable buffet style serving and seating table comprising a table body box with one or more hollow compartments for placing food containers.

1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The present invention relates generally to portable furniture and, more particularly, to a foldable and portable table for indoor or outdoor use.
2. Description of Related Art
Portable tables are known in the art. Portable tables are practical for social gatherings indoors or outdoors. For the most part, portable tables comprise only a flat surface for placing food, plates, eating utensils, drinks, etc. Food and drink containers can be easily knocked down, particularly when multiple people are trying to have access to these containers and are using the table top to place their food and drinks at the same time. In addition, portable tables presently used, do not block dust, or insects from contaminating open food and drink containers. Also, portable tables presently used do not prevent wind from overturning food and drink containers or blowing away light items such napkins, paper plates, etc. A need exists for portable tables that can be used efficiently to serve food and to seat at without all these inconveniences.
Embodiments of the present invention solve this problem by providing tables comprising a compartment openable through one or more lids. In one embodiment, the compartment comprises cavities capable of receiving removable food containers or other items such bags of chips, paper plates, utensils, napkins, combinations thereof, and the like. Such configuration allows one or more users to enclose the food and other items after procuring their food/drinks, utensil, etc., and use the resulting flat surface to eat.


An improved computer system bus is disclosed that transitions between addressed data transfers and handshake data transfers on the fly and that performs burst within dynamic data sizing during a data transfer sequence without prematurely terminating the sequence and that changes between synchronous and asynchronous data transfer sequences on the fly. These capabilities are accomplished by modifying the function of bus signal lines depending upon the type of transfer sequence undertaken. On the fly transition between addressed data transfer and handshake data transfer is accomplished by providing a set of DMA acknowledge signals and modifying their function according to the type of data transfer sequence underway. Burst within dynamic data sizing during a sequence is performed by taking advantage of burst transfer capabilities of the slave device, and the capability of the master device to modify data width on the fly. If the slave supports burst transfer, the bus master proceeds with a burst transfer sequence for the remaining portions of the data while shifting the data to accommodate the data width limitation of the slave device. On the fly transition between a synchronous transfer sequence and an asynchronous transfer sequence is accomplished by modifying the timing of bus acknowledge signals.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of computer systems. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved bus for communication among the various devices of a computer system.
2. Art Background
In a computer system, communication between the processor or processors and the various peripherals devices is usually accomplished by transferring information over a set of signal lines commonly referred to as a "bus". A typical bus is comprised of data lines, control lines and address lines. A common method of communication over a bus is direct memory access (DMA). During a DMA transfer, one device assumes the role of bus master while another device takes the role of slave. The bus master controls the data and control lines of the bus in order to transfer data from master to slave (write sequence) or from slave to master (read sequence). DMA has the advantage of not requiring a central processor to perform the transfer. Many devices coupled to the bus can assume the role of bus master and perform a DMA transfer.
However, a compatibility problem arises because not all devices handle data transfer in the same manner. Some devices perform "addressed data transfer" wherein the device recognizes addresses on the address lines of the bus. Other devices do not monitor the address lines of the bus, but instead require "handshake data transfer" which involves a handshake protocol. Moreover, some devices will accommodate data transfer with data 64 bits wide, while other devices may only accommodate a data width of 32 bits, or 16 bits or even 8 bits. Also, some devices require a synchronous data transfer, while others require an asynchronous data transfer.
Computer buses currently available are unable to perform both addressed data transfers and handshake data transfers. For example, a bus designed to perform addressed data transfers is not able to accommodate a peripheral device that requires handshake data transfer. To attach a peripheral device requiring handshake data transfer to such a bus requires placement of extra circuitry between the bus and the peripheral device to interface the handshake data transfer protocol of the peripheral device with the addressed data transfer protocol of the bus. Similarly, a bus designed for handshake data transfer cannot accommodate a peripheral device requiring addressed data transfer without additional circuitry to interface the peripheral device to the bus.
Buses currently available that perform data transfers between devices of varying data width have the drawback of requiring at least one extra data transfer sequence to match the proper data width. Typically, the bus master attempts to transfer data having larger width than the slave can accommodate, which causes the slave to signal an acknowledgement indicating its correct port size for data transfer. The bus master then prematurely ends the data transfer sequence and attempts another sequence later with a narrower data width. Unfortunately, the prematurely terminated data transfer followed by later retrys slows data communication over the bus.
As will be described, the present invention provides an improved computer system bus that is capable of transition between addressed data transfers and handshake data transfers "on the fly." Moreover, the computer system bus of the present invention performs burst within dynamic sizing during data transfers without prematurely terminating a data transfer sequence, and performs both synchronous and asynchronous data transfers.


A technique for providing high-contrast images of defects in solar cells and solar panels, by illuminating each cell under inspection with broadband infrared radiation, and then forming an image of radiation that is secularly reflected from the cell. Multi-junction solar cells have a metal backing layer that secularly reflects the illumination back into an appropriately positioned and aligned camera, selected to be sensitive to infrared wavelengths at which the solar cell materials are relatively transparent.

This invention relates generally to optical imaging techniques and, more particularly, to techniques for detecting defects in solar cells. Solar cells are widely used on spacecraft and in terrestrial applications for the conversion of energy in the form of sunlight to useful electrical energy. Individual solar cells are typically arrayed in large flat or curved panels to provide power output at more useful levels. Cracks in a solar cell, caused by defective materials or arising during fabrication, have the potential to severely limit the power output of the solar panel that contains such a defective cell. Once a crack has begun, it is highly probable that it will propagate over time to develop into a more significant crack, because solar panels are typically subject to cyclic extremes of temperature. Therefore, it is important to detect not only large cracks and defects but also small ones.
Recently, some advanced multi-junction solar cells, including double- and triple-junction cells, have achieved substantially higher efficiencies than conventional high-efficiency silicon cells. These multi-junction cells utilize several layers of junctions to provide a better match to the solar spectrum. Prior to the present invention, no inspection method could be used for locating defects in multi-junction cells. For example, a method based on the use of a ring illuminator to inspect high efficiency silicon cells, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,236,044 B1 and 6,420,705 B2, is unable to inspect the multi-junction cells.
There is a related need in the art of making solar panels, to detect micro-cracks that sometimes result from spot-welding of interconnects to solar cells. Spot welding can reduce contamination that might be generated by soldering. Unfortunately, however, spot welding can cause micro-cracks if an electrode exerts too high pressure on the cell. Such micro-cracks are very difficult to detect because they are very small, sometimes less than 1 mm in length. A photo-acoustic method can be used but it is slow and requires water to be sprayed on each cell under inspection. Another disadvantage of the acoustic method is that it may be used only at the cell level. Practically all applications of solar cells involve panels having many cells. It will be appreciated, therefore, that there is a need for a method for detection of micro-cracks and other defects that is quick, non-invasive and may be used at the panel level as well as the cell level. The present invention meets and exceeds these requirements.

Method and apparatus for inspection of multi-junction solar cells


A voltage transformer with a voltage divider for measuring the voltage in medium high voltage and high voltage installations have a combined arrangement of an ohmic divider resistor and elements for compensating ambient electromagnetic effects, and the divider resistor is made of one peace with a measuring resistor and with taps, wherein at least one tap is connected with at least compensation element.

The invention relates to a voltage transformer with a voltage divider for measuring the voltage in medium high voltage and high voltage installations, having a combined arrangement of an ohmic divider resistor and means for compensating ambient electromagnetic effects.
Such voltage transformers with voltage dividers are known from DE 29 30 672 C2 or DE-OS 29 30 767. The known voltage divider consists of lens-shaped resistor elements which each have a central opening. With their central openings the resistor elements have been placed on a common threaded bolt, by means of which they are maintained together and fastened. Capacitively effective electrodes are also fastened on the same threaded bolt by being clamped between the lens-shaped resistor elements. The electrodes keep interferences by capacitive influences of the surroundings away from the voltage divider. The known device is expensive to produce, since the individual resistor elements must be individually produced and assembled. This applies even more so in connection with the coating of the resistor elements by means of a thick film resistance paste suggested by the mentioned references. This coating must be applied individually to each resistor element.

Voltage transformer with voltage divider for measuring voltage in medium high and high voltage installations


An apparatus and method for automatically dispensing a radioactive dose by filling a container, such as a vial or disposable syringe, with a required radioactive dose in a sterile environment; the apparatus being stand alone and radioactive-shielded. The apparatus further includes a control device for accurately dispensing and diluting the required radioactive dose using an online radioactivity measurement, which does not require knowledge of the volumetric radioactivity of the stock solution.

Radioactive solutions called radiotracers or radiopharmaceuticals, have found applications in various medical fields, in particular in medical diagnostic and therapeutic fields. In recent years the advance of Positron Emission Tomography (PET), which use radionuclides (radioisotopes) of significant higher radiation energy than more conventional nuclear medicine isotopes, has raised some concerns about hand and body radiation exposure received by the persons preparing the dose.
The dangers of ionising radiation are well known and apply to all persons being exposed to radiation, including the staff involved in the preparation of radioactive solutions. Dose fractionation of the radioactive solutions is usually a manual process, performed behind a lead shielded screen to minimal exposure to radiation. However, the performance of this task is time consuming, as the operator needs to withdraw by successive iterations, small volumes of the radiotracer, until he reaches the targeted dose.
After each withdrawal the needle needs to be re-capped and the syringe placed in a dose calibrator to determine if more or less of the radioactive solution should be processed in or out of the syringe. When the targeted dose has been achieved (within ±10%), the syringe may be topped up with saline to obtain a reasonable volume.
Before being released or dispatched for clinical use, the syringe is placed again in the dose calibrator to print out the accurate dose record. To date, very little attempt has been made by manufacturers to design automated equipment capable of withdrawing a dedicated radioactive dose into a disposable sterile syringe or vial.
The very few systems currently on the market are expensive and bulky and are not widely available. Other more affordable systems are either not technically practical or do not achieve efficient radiation protection and need to be operated in a shielded environment. In addition, most of these apparatus rely on the pre-requisite knowledge of the volumetric radioactivity (Ci/mL or Bq/mL) of the stock solution to determine the corresponding volume and hence the radioactive dose to be dispensed.

Process and device for the dose dispensing of a radioactive solution


A chemical reaction device is provided for a chemical reaction between molecules immobilized on a solid phase and molecules in a solution, and a chemical analysis device is also provided to capture molecules in the solution by molecules immobilized on the solid phase through a chemical reaction and subsequent measurement of the captured molecules. Reaction efficiency as well as sample throughput are thereby improved. The chemical reaction device and the chemical analysis device use a channel of a microfluidic device for a reaction vessel, and at least a particular molecule is immobilized on an interior surface and a fixed structure or a non-fixed obstacle against a flow is provided in the channel. In a typical reaction vessel having an enzyme immobilized on an interior surface of a capillary and glass beads functioning as an obstacle for the flow filled in the channel of the capillary, a reaction solution can move either in one direction or back and forth in two directions to thereby undergo a reaction with the enzyme immobilized on the interior surface. The flow of the reaction solution is not a laminar flow so that a reaction between the particular molecule immobilized and the reaction solution proceeds at high efficiency.

Recent years have seen significant advances in the technology of constituting a minute space for conducting a chemical reaction in such a space. One method of constituting such a minute space is use of photolithography which is a technology most frequently used in the production of a semiconductor. A microfluidic device can be constituted by forming a groove in a silicon substrate by means of photolithographic process, and adhering another substrate over the groove to thereby form a minute channel for receiving a fluid which is actuated by the device. Various proposals have been made for use of such microfluidic device in chemical production (for example, Analytical Chemistry, 74, 3112-3117 (2002)) and chemical analysis (for example, Analytical Chemistry, 73, 2112-2116 (2001)).
Chemical reactions utilizing an enzyme immobilized on microparticles have been investigated for various enzymatic reactions, and typical processes include the process wherein microparticles having an enzyme immobilized thereon are suspended in the solution for chemical reaction, and the process wherein such microparticles are used by filling in a column having a diameter much larger than the microparticles. Also known in the art as a process utilizing a chemical reaction that takes place at the interface between the microparticle and the liquid is the purification of a particular molecule by using microparticles wherein microparticles having immobilized protein A or the like are filled in a column for use as an antibody purification column.
In the meanwhile, biological molecules are typically measured by immobilizing a probe molecule in each well of a micro-well plate, and dispensing the sample in each well to measure the biological molecule captured by the probe molecule. In the case of ELISA, for example, an antibody is used for the probe molecule to quantitatively measure the biological molecule in the sample. In this case, an antibody molecule which has affinity for the biological molecule is immobilized on the plate, and after capturing the biological molecule by the antibody molecule, a high sensitivity measurement by enzymatic chemiluminescence is conducted using an enzyme-labeled secondary antibody having affinity for the biological molecule.
Another method for measuring a biological molecule that is in development is a method wherein a plurality of probe molecules are immobilized in different areas of the solid phase to measure the biological molecule captured by each probe molecule. An example is the DNA chip wherein a plurality of probe DNAs are immobilized on a planar substrate of glass or the like for detection of nucleic acid molecules. In the case of this chip, a solution containing a fluorescence-labeled nucleic acid molecule is placed on the chip for hybridization and the amount of analyte nucleic acid molecule in the solution is determined by detecting fluorescence on the chip. The methods often used for producing such a DNA chip include spotting of the DNA probe on a slide glass (for example, Science, 270, 467-470 (1995)), and use of a photolithographic process and the sequential synthesis of the DNA by a photochemical reaction (for example, Science, 251, 767-773 (1991)). Also proposed is a protein chip wherein a plurality of proteins are simultaneously measured (for example, Analytical Biochemistry, 278, 123-131 (2000)). Devices using not the planar surface but a channel formed in the device have also been proposed, and exemplary such devices include the one wherein a DNA probe has been immobilized in the capillary (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-75812), and a probe array wherein probe-conjugated microparticles have been arranged in the interior of the capillary (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-243997).
Processing a large amount of sample in a short time is generally difficult in the chemical reaction system where molecules immobilized on the solid phase are reacted with the molecules in the solution, or in the chemical analysis system where molecules immobilized on the solid phase capture the molecules in the solution by chemically reacting with such molecules and the captured molecules are measured.
To be more specific, the methods mentioned in the Prior Art section including the method wherein microparticles are filled in a column, the method using a micro-well plate, and the method using a DNA chip have been associated with the difficulty of establishing the sample flow while promoting reaction in the minute space, and as a consequence, improvement in the chemical reaction efficiency and reduction of the process time have been difficult.

Chemical reaction device, chemical reaction system and chemical reaction method


A spindle motor is disclosed, the spindle motor including a turntable coupled to the rotation shaft to rotate along with the rotation shaft and accommodating a disk, and a turntable fixing member coupled at an upper surface of the turntable to the rotation shaft to fix the turntable.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
The present disclosure relates to a spindle motor.
Generally, a spindle motor is widely used as rotating means of a recording medium that requires a high speed rotation such as a hard disk drive or an ODD (Optical Disk Drive).
The spindle motor used in ODD may include a rotation shaft, a turntable rotating with the rotation shaft, and a center cone inserted into the rotation shaft to center a disk.
The spindle motor thus configured is reduced in thickness by the center cone to create a problem in which coupling force between the rotation shaft and the turntable is weakened, the turntable is slanted, or the rotation imbalance (run-out) is generated.
It is, therefore, desirable to overcome the above problems and others by providing an improved spindle motor.

Spindle motor with turntable fixing member