In a method for recycling a double component developer that contains a carrier and a toner used for an image forming device such as office automation equipment, an economic value of recycling is increased, thereby allowing a company to carry out an active and sustainable environmental activity. Material components of a carrier are completely utilized, so that a process of removing and disposing part of components of the carrier, which is present in the conventional technology of a carrier recycling, is omitted from a recycling system, and in consequence, a cost of recycling is minimized. Furthermore, as well as a subject of the recycling, i.e. a carrier itself, a more valuable material, i.e. a platinum group metal, is utilized for the recycling.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method of recycling a developer for office automation equipment. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of recycling a double component developer that contains a carrier and a toner.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently environmental issues are getting more significant.
There is an urgent need of recycling products, parts, and materials to utilize them efficiently in light of effective use of resources and reduction in wastes for a company.
Recycling practice can be categorized into the following approaches.
An approach 1 is captive reuse, according to which a user who uses a product reuses part of the product, such as parts, by him/herself. Captive reuse is assumed that a user can practice easily, as a result, this approach can achieve the largest reduction in environmental stress as well as the highest cost effectiveness.
An approach 2 is reuse of a product, according to which a used product is collected from the market (hereinafter, collected device) to be reused as a recycled device via a certain recycling process. This approach allows most part of the used product to be reused as it is, and can reduce an environmental stress considerably.
An approach 3 is reuse of a part, according to which a part or a unit is removed from a collected device to be reused as a part or a unit within a product newly manufactured. This approach can omit a manufacturing process of the part or the unit, which is initially manufactured with a substantial amount of energy, thereby reducing environmental stress substantially.
An approach 4 is material recycle, according to which a collected device is disassembled and sorted into each unit of materials, which is to be reused as a recycled material via a certain treatment. This approach can be categorized into two: closed-loop material recycle brings the recycled material to be reused as a material of a product in the same field as the collected device; and open-loop material recycle brings the recycled material to be reused as a material of a product in another field.
An approach 5 is regeneration of a raw material, according to which a collected device is disassembled, sorted, and ultimately brought back to a raw material to be reused. This approach can achieve zero waste.
An approach 6 is energy recovery, according to which plastics are incinerated to effectively utilize thermal energy arising from incineration.
In terms of reduction in environmental stress, the most desirable approach in the above 1 to 6 is the approach 1, then followed by 2, 3, . . . , and 6 in this order. Therefore, how to sustain recycling with a more desirable approach in the six approaches is critical for a company to promote recycling in practice. In fact, for example, a product cannot semi-permanently remain being treated only with captive reuse of the approach 1, although it is the most desirable. After a certain period of time, this approach has to be abandoned for the product. Because a function of the product is degraded after a certain period of time, and the function is no longer functional for markets (or users), recycling the product with this approach inevitably loses its economic value.
In such a case, recycling the product that has been performed with an upper approach shifts to a lower approach. For example, a product that has been recycled with the captive use is going to be recycled with the approach 2 or a lower approach. Thus, the product is recycled with the lower approach for a certain period of time, and when the product is degraded, then recycling shifts a still lower approach, and so on.
Therefore, performing only part of the approaches 1 to 6 is insufficient, but the whole approaches need to be performed in recycling. In practice, the approaches 1 to 6 have to be performed across related products in parallel. The reason for this is that the approaches 1 to 6 are different depending on a type of each product. Moreover, even if focusing on one product, a level of recycling approach for each of parts and units can vary.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-181958 titled "Recycling System" discloses the above recycling. A concept of the recycling method and system is clarified in a flow (comet circle) shown in FIG. 8 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-181958. In a practice of recycling, how to bring this basic concept (the comet circle) into operation is vital.
Particularly, in cases of office automation equipment, such as photocopy machines and facsimiles, used products includes a developer that is used as supplies as well as a machine body and its parts. Such an image forming device generally employs a dry type of electrostatic copying in recent days, in which the developer is generally powder. Therefore, one of significant aspects for office automation equipment is how to establish a recycling system of a powder (a developer) in practice.
To involve a company in a sustainable environmental activity, it is significant to form the environmental activity itself consistent with an economic interest. It is desirable if costs of the environmental activity are decreased as much as possible, and furthermore, the environmental activity and a profit making activity are carried out on the same axis, so that the environmental activity itself becomes profitable in the end. In other words, the recycling approaches 1 to 6 are desired to be operated for value rather than as an onerous contract.
One of conventional proposals, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-290311, discloses recycling of a developer for office automation equipment, titled "Method and Apparatus for Separating and Recycling a Coating Resin and a Magnetic Substance of a Carrier for Electrophotography."
The publication suggests a method of a reuse of a carrier. The carrier includes a magnetic substance and a coating resin, and forms a developer with a toner. The coating resin can be separated from the magnetic substance through a treatment under a condition of supercritical water or subcritical water. The method is very innovative due to a small environmental influence arising from the condition for recycling (reuse of the carrier). However, the method has an economical disadvantage. Setting the condition of supercritical water or subcritical water results in a relatively large cost compared with producing a new carrier. Consequently, a company cannot make a profit from a carrier recycled by the method proposed above. Therefore, the method can be used only within a substantially limited scope.
An economical disadvantage (despite of a dramatic improvement in environmental aspects) can be observed also in other conventional examples. For example, Japanese Patent No. 3133146 titled "Recycling Method for Electrophotographic Developer" also brings about the same situation. The publication also suggests a reuse of a carrier. However, to separate a waste toner attached on a waste carrier, a heating treatment and a solvent treatment (cleaning) are performed, thereby resulting in a substantial increase in a cost which cannot generate a profit compared with producing a new carrier.
A common disadvantage that some of the conventional technologies hold lies in that material components of a waste carrier (i.e. an unfunctional carrier, such as a used item or an off-specification item) cannot be comprehensively utilized. In the examples above, to reuse the carrier, a coating material over a toner (a toner attached on the carrier) or the carrier is treated as a residual, which means a non-profitable item, i.e. a non-recyclable item. If the residual portion is able to be converted into a profitable portion, the economical disadvantage can be significantly improved in a recycling practice.
The inventors have been proposing several approaches that manages environmental protection and an economic interest in consistent each other by utilizing components of materials comprehensively in recycling of a developer.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-033960, titled "Toner Recycling Method and Toner Recycling System" proposes a system of manufacturing a flux for steelmaking by mixing a off-specification toner discharged from a factory or a used toner, with aluminum dross, aluminum dust, and aluminum residue. When using the system, recycling in which no useless component is left from the waste toner, i.e. recycling that manages environmental protection and an economic interest in consistent, can be achieved. However, the publication proposes only an optimal recycling system for a toner in a developer (a carrier and a toner), which is not a proposal for a carrier. For example, a carrier does not serve for a steelmaking flux at all.
Therefore, following to an example disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-027125, in which the whole subject materials are completely used as a policy of recycling, a recycling system needs to be established by taking a carrier into account.
According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-027125, titled "Molding Material and Molding Product, Manufacturing Method thereof, and Recycling Method of Waste Toner", a waste toner is used as a molding material by melting and kneading it with modified polyphenylene ether. The waste toner preferably contains a component that contains a resin of styrene acrylonitriles. Accordingly, the waste toner that cannot be provided as a commercial product can be utilized effectively to produce a molding product that has an excellent tensile strength, an excellent elasticity in bending, and an excellent bending strength, and can be widely used for applications and in fields at low cost. However, a subject of this proposal is also a toner, not recycling of a carrier. Furthermore, the proposal seems to manage environmental protection and an economic interest in consistent at first glance, however, an inadequacy remains in an environmental aspect. Specifically, a resin of styrene acrylonitriles and modified polyphenylene ether are very special materials, which can be used only for quite limited parts as described in the proposal. Thus, a material recycle is available for at once, but when recycled parts are put into the market, and again brought into used parts afterwards, a demand for the parts is hardly continued at the initial level. Therefore, a multi-layer material recycle is not maintained, as a result, those parts are inevitably thrown into energy recovery. This results in nothing but destroying possibility of the multi-layer material recycle (in which a material recycle is repeated for avoiding exhaustion of resources) of modified polyphenylene ether itself and a toner itself.


A client-server network enables interconnection to both the Internet and switched network. In response to a received client service request, a connection is established over the Internet between a client and a server. Client information transmitted from the client to the server over the Internet connection is used to enable the server to provide the requested service by establishing a switched network connection to the client using a client's communication number determined from the client information.

The Internet's global and exponential growth is common knowledge today. The Internet is implemented using a large variety of connections between millions of computers. The recent developments on information navigation software and user interfaces, such as Mosaic of the World Wide Web, coupled with a continuously growing number of public access providers are making the Internet a fundamental component of the information age, if not the information super highway itself.
On the other hand, it is also well known that the current Internet lacks the 1) guaranteed quality of service (QOS), 2) security, and 3) an easy and flexible mechanism to charge for the information and transmission services which are all expected from a complete information network.
The existing telephone networks, on the other hand, have been offering these capabilities for a long time. In the future, Internet may also evolve to provide these functionalities. However, this requires fundamental changes in the global data communications infrastructure, e.g., Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM,) and this is not expected to happen for many years to come. What is desired is a practical way to provide guaranteed quality of service, security, and a charge mechanism for handling service requests made over the Internet.

Client-server architecture using internet and public switched networks


A control circuit that activates and deactivates a motor start winding at different motor rpm trip points provides improved accuracy in the trip points by automatically compensating for changes in motor current caused by variations in line voltage and motor winding temperature.

This application relates to the art of motor control circuits and, more particularly, to control circuits for motor start windings. The invention is particularly applicable for use with capacitor start motors and will be described with specific reference thereto. However, it will be appreciated that the invention has broader aspects and can be adapted for use with other motors such as split phase induction motors.
A motor start winding is activated to start a motor and is deactivated when the motor reaches operating speed. The motor then continues to operate on the main or run winding, and the start winding is reactivated if additional motor torque is needed for a motor load that causes a significant reduction in motor speed. The start winding may be reactivated and deactivated frequently during normal operation of the motor.
Historically, activation and deactivation of the start winding has been accomplished with centrifugal switches and mechanical relays. Replacement of such devices with electronic controls provides improved life and reliability, along with reduced size and weight. However, it is difficult to maintain reasonable accuracy of the motor rpm trip points at which the start winding is activated and deactivated because the motor current varies with variations in line voltage and motor winding temperature. It would be desirable to have an electronic control arrangement that compensates for such variations and provides improved accuracy of the motor rpm trip points.
It is sometimes desirable to adjust the motor speeds at which the start winding is deactivated and reactivated. Adjustment of centrifugal switches to change the motor rpm trip points is cumbersome and difficult to accomplish with reasonable precision because it concerns adjustment of movable parts and spring tension. It would be desirable to have an electronic circuit that provides a simplified and more accurate way of adjusting the motor rpm trip points.


A throttle device for varying the pressure of a fluid in a plurality of parallel outlets includes a fluid collector having at least an internal chamber, an inlet and a plurality of outlets for the fluid, and a control element displaceably mounted in the internal chamber of the fluid collector and comprises a plurality of orifices, the cross-section of which can be varied by a relative movement of the control element in relation to the fluid collector. The control element is a sleeve, wherein the orifices are disposed in the sleeve such that they correspond to the outlets of the fluid collector, wherein between the sleeve and the fluid collector seals are provided, such that in a region between of an outside surface of the sleeve and an inside surface surrounding the internal chamber of the fluid collector no fluid communication takes place between the orifices of the sleeve.

The invention relates to a throttle device for varying the pressure of a fluid in a plurality of parallel outlets. More particularly, the invention relates to a throttle device or a variable throttle comprising a fluid collector comprising an inlet for the fluid and a plurality of outlets for the fluid. Furthermore, the throttle device comprises a control element disposed so as to be movable, at least in part, in the internal chamber of the fluid collector. Furthermore, the control element comprises a plurality of orifices, and the orifices in the control element and the outlets on the fluid collector are configured and positioned such that the cross-section of a plurality of fluid communication routes between the internal chamber of the fluid collector and a plurality of outlets on the fluid collector can be varied by means of a relative movement of the control element in relation to the fluid collector.
Fluid collectors comprising such throttle devices are used in steam generators. They are suitable for steam generators comprising gravity circulation boilers or forced circulation boilers.
Throttle devices are known that are disposed in pipes of pipe registers in order to adjust the throughput volumes of a fluid flowing into the individual pipes under various flow conditions. However, one such throttle device must be provided for each pipe. Additional devices have been developed for controlling the throughput volumes in a plurality of pipes at one and the same time.
However, it must also be pointed out that undesirable instabilities and pressure losses can occur in such throttle devices comprising a plurality of supply lines. The device disclosed in DE 1 150 687 counteracts this problem and ensures that the inlet cross-sections of the pipe unions are unthrottled at normal loads and throttled during low-load operation.
The device disclosed in DE 1 150 687 comprises a fluid collector or a distributor container comprising an inlet for a working medium and parallel outlets disposed on the fluid collector in the form of connection unions or pipe nipples. Present in the fluid collector is a control bar or a filler element comprising inflow orifices assigned to the pipe unions. All of the inflow orifices can be opened or reduced in size as a function of the load with the aid of the control bar in the fluid collector. Since only one inflow orifice can be disposed on each side of the control bar, the device disclosed in DE 1 150 687 is able to throttle the throughput volume for each nozzle located in two parallel rows of connection unions at one and the same time individually, that is to say, without there being an unthrottled flow between the unions, and also to ensure a uniform throughput volume in the throttled state in this manner.
The device disclosed in DE 1 150 687 is therefore particularly suitable for the supply of throughput volumes to radiant heating surfaces in forced circulation boilers comprising only two parallel rows of pipes at any one time. However, if a greater number of parallel pipes is required, then a plurality of these devices must be arranged parallel to each other in order to achieve the desired depth and number of pipe rows.
The problem underlying the invention is therefore, when using known throttle devices, to control a plurality of throttle devices arranged parallel to each other in order to achieve a desired uniform throughput volume for a desired plurality of pipes.


A method and system of implementing a loan in a billing system includes memory storing information relating to the loan, the information including a principal balance of the loan, a term of the loan, and an interest rate of the loan. A prepayment amount that is a portion of the principal balance of the loan is selected. A present value of the prepayment amount is determined and a discount amount is selected. A discounted prepayment amount is determined based on the prepayment amount and the present value of the prepayment amount. The discount amount may be less than, equal to or greater than the difference between the prepayment amount and the present value of the prepayment amount. The discount amount may be greater than the difference, for example, for promotional purposes. A discounted prepayment amount that is the prepayment amount less the discount amount is determined and a discounted prepayment offer is transmitted to the customer of the loan, the discounted prepayment offer including an indication of the discounted prepayment amount. The discounted prepayment is received from the customer of the loan and the prepayment amount is deducted from the principal balance of the loan.

Long-term fixed interest rate loans are a very common type of financial instrument. The most common example of such loans are home mortgage loans. Many home loans are based upon fixed interest rates and have a repayment period of 10 years or more. Many automobile loans are also based upon fixed interest rates, though the repayment periods are generally shorter, typically 3-5 years.
A fixed interest loan represents an inherent risk for a bank or other lending institution. Market interest rates may fluctuate up or down from the interest rate locked in by the consumer at the time the loan is made. When market interest rates go down, the lending institution stands to make money if the consumer continues to hold the loan. However, consumers are likely to refinance in this situation, and thus, prepay the loan in its entirety.
When interest rates go up, the lending institution stands to lose money. In this situation, a consumer will likely not refinance a loan, so prepayment through refinancing will not often occur. Some customers will prepay the loan because they have sold the financed real estate, but most loans will not be prepaid in this way.
It would be useful for a loan holder to have a way to induce customers to prepay portions of loan balances when interest rates have risen and are higher than the interest rates on the customer's loans.

System and method for loan prepayment discounts


A tri-state detection circuit includes a first input port for receiving a tri-state input signal, a clock input port for receiving a clocking signal, a first output port, a second output port coupled to the first input port, a D-flip-flop and a buffer. The D-flip-flop has a D input, a clock input CLK, and a Q output. The D input is tied high. The clock input CLK is coupled to the first input port. The Q output is coupled to the first output port. The buffer has a buffer input and a buffer output. The buffer input is coupled to the clock input port. The buffer output is coupled to the clock input CLK of the D-flip-flop.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging system, and, more particularly, to a tri-state detection circuit that may be used, for example, in devices associated with an imaging system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A tri-state detection circuit accommodates the detection of tri-state signals having three possible signal levels, or states: a logic high (1) level, a logic low (0) level, and a floating (high-impedance) level. It is known to employ tri-state signals in conventional binary logic circuits. Tri-state input signals increase the amount of information that can be conveyed into a receiving circuit for a given number of inputs. For example, in a conventional binary receiving circuit, each input and/or output is allowed to be either a zero or a one. Assuming that the binary receiving circuit has two inputs, the binary receiving circuit provides a total of four possible input combinations. However, if the two input receiving circuit is capable of detecting the three states of a tri-state signal, then a total of nine input combinations are possible.
Several circuits have been developed to detect the state of a tri-state input signal. Typically, however, such circuits require a relatively large number of components for successful implementation, which in turn occupies a considerable amount of area on an integrated circuit substrate and increases power consumption.
What is needed in the art is a tri-state detection circuit that can be configured with a minimal number of components.

Tri-state detection circuit for use in devices associated with an imaging system


A microprocessor in a computer system processes an instruction stream comprising instructions of a plurality of instruction types including an information retrieval instruction type. The microprocessor comprises a register set, a pending fault flag set, a functional unit, an information retrieval subsystem, and a control subsystem. The register set comprises a plurality of registers, each register for storing information. The pending fault flag set comprises a plurality of pending fault flags each associated with one of said registers, each pending fault flag having selected conditions including a pending fault condition and a no pending fault condition. The functional unit performs processing operations in response to information input thereto. The information retrieval subsystem initiates an information retrieval operation to retrieve of information from said information storage subsystem for storage in a register. The control subsystem controls the other elements of the microprocessor in response to the instructions in the instruction stream. In response to an instruction in the instruction stream of the information retrieval type, the control subsystem enables the information retrieval subsystem to initiate an information retrieval operation, and conditions the pending fault flag associated with said one of said registers to the pending fault condition in response to detection of a fault condition during the information retrieval operation. In response to an instruction in the instruction stream of another type, the control subsystem identifies a selected one of said registers as a source register, and enables information to be transferred from said source register to the functional unit for processing if the pending fault flag associated with said source register is in the no pending fault condition.

Digital computers process a variety of diverse types of programs, with each program including a series of instructions that enable the processor to perform specific operations in connection with specific elements of data. Typically, particularly in microprocessors designed according to the "RISC" (reduced instruction set computer) architectural model, data to be processed is transferred from, for example, external memory and/or input/output devices, to internal registers. The data in the registers is processed and the processed data is thereafter stored in the registers. At some point, the processed data may be transferred from the registers to the external memory and/or input/output devices for storage or to control the input/output devices. Conventionally in microprocessors designed according to the RISC model, data is transferred between the registers and the external memory and input/output devices using load/store instructions, in particular "load" instructions to load data from the external memory and input/output devices into the microprocessor's registers, and "store" instructions to transfer data in the microprocessor's registers to the external memory and input/output devices for storage. Other instructions, illustratively processing instructions, are used to process the data in the microprocessor's registers.
In performing an external access (that is, a load or store operation in connection with the external memory or the input/output devices) typically a memory management unit will perform checking operations to verify, for example, that the address used to identify the storage location in the external memory or input/output device is a valid address (that is, if the address is within a range of addresses accessible by the program), and that the program attempting to perform the access operation has the right to perform the access operation. Generally, with load instructions, if the memory management unit detects an access violation, which may occur if, for example, the address is invalid or if the program does not have the right to perform the access operation in connection with the location, the memory management unit will provide an "access fault" indication to the microprocessor. The operating system typically maintains a fault handler which, if an access fault is indicated, will typically be called by the microprocessor to, for example, determine the cause of the fault and whether it can be corrected. If the fault handler determines that the fault can be corrected, it may also correct the fault and allow the microprocessor to continue processing the program which issued the faulting instruction. On the other hand, if the fault handler determines that the fault cannot be corrected, the microprocessor may terminate processing of the program which issued the faulting instruction.
Recently, microprocessors have been developed which include "no-fault" facility for use in connection with load instructions to provide some enhanced flexibility in connection with ordering of instructions in a program. Microprocessors which provide a "no-fault" load facility include, for example, those constructed in accordance with the SPARC Version 9 architecture described in SPARC International, Inc David L. Weaver and Tom Germond (eds)!, The SPARC Architecture Manual Version 9 (Prentice-Hall, 1994) (hereinafter referred to as "the SPARC Architecture Manual, Version 9"). During processing of a load instruction in connection with the "no-fault" facility, if the memory management unit detects an access violation, it may provide an access fault indication to the microprocessor. In any case, typically a predetermined value, such as "zero," will be loaded into the register to be loaded and the microprocessor will continue processing the program as if the access violation had not been detected. (A load instruction processed in connection with the "no-fault" facility will be generally referred to herein as a "no-fault load instruction." A no-fault load instruction may comprise an explicit type of instruction specified by the microprocessor's architecture. Alternatively, a no-fault load instruction may be implicitly indicated by one or more elements of a conventional load instruction, as is the case in connection with a microprocessor constructed in accordance with the SPARC Version 9 architecture, by the microprocessor's processing state at the time the load instruction is processed, or by other mechanisms.)
The benefit of a no-fault load instruction will be appreciated from the following. Consider the following Code Segment A:
__________________________________________________________________________ Code Segment A __________________________________________________________________________ (1) comp p, "invalid" ; verify that "p" is a valid address (2) jne "label" ; jump to "label" if "p" is not a valid address (3) ld p!, T ; load contents of location "p" into register T (4) comp T, "a" ; compare contents of "T" to value "a" (5) jne "label2" ; jump to "label2" if contents of "T" do not equal "a" (6) <misc code> ; (7) label <misc code> ; (8) label2 <misc code> ; __________________________________________________________________________
Code Segment A includes, in line (3), a conventional load instruction, that is, a load instruction which is not a no-fault load instruction. In processing of Code Segment A, the microprocessor will first determine whether address "p" is a valid address (line (1)), in the process determining, for example, that the address is within the range of addresses which the program can access. If the microprocessor makes a negative determination during processing of line (1), it will jump (line 2) to code represented by line (7). The code represented in line 7 may comprise additional portions of the program which may be processed if an access fault is detected. Alternatively, the code represented in line (7) may comprise an error handler which is provided by the program which includes Code Segment A to perform selected error recovery operations, such as, for example, determining why "p" was determined to be an invalid address, if possible providing a valid address and resuming processing at line (1), or alternatively terminating processing in a well-behaved manner. On the other hand, if the microprocessor determines in line (1) that "p" is a valid address, it will sequence to line (3) to initiate a load operation to load the data contained in the location identified by address "p" into one of its internal registers, namely register "T." After the load has completed, the microprocessor will compare the contents of register "T" to a value "a" (line 4). If the microprocessor determines in line 4 that the contents of register "T" do not correspond to value "a," it will jump (line 5) to code beginning at line (8). On the other hand, if the microprocessor determines in line 4 that the contents of register "T" correspond to value "a," it will process miscellaneous code represented by line (6).
One problem with the code in Code Segment A is that the load instruction in line (3) may take some time to complete, in which case the microprocessor may be delayed in sequencing to line 4. However, if a conventional load instruction is processed with an invalid address, as described above the operating system's fault handler will be called, which may abruptly terminate of the program containing Code Segment A. To avoid the calling of the operating system's fault handler, the Code Segment A contains the comparison in line (1) and the code represented at line (7).
With a no-fault load instruction, the code in Code Segment A can be rearranged to move the load in line (4) ahead of the compare instruction in line (1), as shown in Code Segment B:
__________________________________________________________________________ Code Segment B __________________________________________________________________________ (1) ld.sub.-- nf p!, T ; no-fault load contents of location "p" into register T (2) comp p, "invalid" ; (3) jne "label" ; (4) comp T, "a" ; (5) jne "label2" ; (6) <misc code> ; (7) label <misc code> ; (8) label2 <misc code> ; __________________________________________________________________________
A benefit of the no-fault load instruction in Code Segment B is that the microprocessor can initiate processing of the load instruction at the beginning of the code segment, several instructions ahead of the comparison in line (4). Since access faults will not be indicated during processing of a no-fault load instruction, if the address "p" is not a valid address the operating system's fault handler will not be called during processing of the no-fault load instruction. However, the microprocessor can verify that the address "p" is a valid address using the comparison on line (2) and if not process the code represented by line (7), which, as described above in connection with Code Segment A, be an error handler which is provided by the program which includes Code Segment B. On the other hand, if the microprocessor determines that the address "p" used in the no-fault load instruction is a valid address, the data should be present in register T earlier in Code Segment B than in Code Segment A, and so the microprocessor should be able to perform the comparison earlier in Code Segment B than in Code Segment A.
One problem that arises with a no-fault load instruction will be described in connection with Code Segment C, as follow:
__________________________________________________________________________ Code Segment C __________________________________________________________________________ (1) ld.sub.-- nf p!, T ; no-fault load contents of location "p" into register T (2) comp p, "invalid" ; (3) jne "label" ; (4) <misc code> ; (5) comp T, "a" ; (6) jne "label2" ; (7) <misc code> ; (8) label <misc code> ; (9) label2 <misc code> ; __________________________________________________________________________
Code Segment C is similar to Code Segment B, except that it includes an additional line (4) that represents "miscellaneous" code to be processed prior to the comparison of the contents of register "T" and value "a" (line 5). If, during processing of the "miscellaneous code" represented by line 4, the microprocessor were to store another value in register "T," before the value that is loaded during processing of the no-fault load instruction is used, then the register "T" will contain an appropriate value for the comparison in line (5) regardless of whether the address "p" used in the no-fault load instruction (line 1) was a valid address. In such a case, the verification (line 2) that the address "p" is a valid address would not be necessary, and the microprocessor would not need to process the error handler code represented by line (8) if address "p" was determined not to be a valid address.

System and method for processing load instruction in accordance with "no-fault" processing facility including arrangement for preserving access fault indicia


Example embodiments may provide a photodiode formed of semiconductor silicide and/or an image sensor using a photodiode formed of semiconductor silicide. The photodiode may have a p-n junction structure including a p-type semiconductor silicide and an n-type semiconductor silicide. The image sensor may include a substrate, a photodetector unit having the photodiode, which may perform photoelectric transformation, and/or a signal transmitter transmitting a signal generated by the photodetector unit to an output unit. The photodetector unit and/or the signal transmitter may be integrated in the substrate.

1. Field
Example embodiments may relate to photodiodes and/or image sensors including photodiodes, for example, to photodiodes formed of semiconductor silicide and/or image sensors including a photodiode formed of semiconductor silicide.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image sensor may be a photoelectric device that may detect light and/or convert the light into an electric signal. Related art image sensors may include a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix on a semiconductor substrate. Each of the pixels may include a photodiode and/or a transistor. A semiconductor layer and the photodiode, which may be on a semiconductor substrate, may detect external light to generate photocharge. Photocharge may accumulate in the photodiode. The transistor may output an electrical signal based on the charge magnitude of the generated photocharge.
Related art image sensors may be miniaturized to create mega pixel image sensors having a pixel size of about 1.1 microns or less. Because related art mega pixel image sensors may have a smaller pixel size, light intensity may be reduced. In the case of a related art complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor including a coplanar photodetector unit and CMOS device for transmitting signals generated by the photodetector unit, because a fill factor may not be sufficient, deterioration of light sensitivity may increase due to reduction of pixel size. An amorphous Si-based photodiode may not be useable in related art image sensors due to a limitation of the visible light absorption coefficient of Si.

Photodiodes and image sensors including the same


A pellet 4 for use in spectrometry includes a first powder 41 of a light transmitting material in a compression-molded form, and a second powder 42 which is hydrophilic and water-insoluble and is dispersedly mixed in the first powder. A sample 40 to be subjected to spectrometry is e.g. in a powdery form and dispersedly mixed in the first and the second powders 41 and 42. When the sample 40 is a hydrate, the second powder 42 exerts the effect of accelerating dehydration of the sample 40, so that stable spectrum data on the sample in the dehydrated state is obtained early. This makes it possible to perform a processing such as identification of the sample 40 early and precisely.

In the field of infrared spectroscopy, a KBr (potassium bromide) tablet method is frequently used, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2. In the KBr tablet method, initially, a desired solid sample in the form of powder or thin film is retained by a pellet prepared by compression-molding potassium bromide powder. Then, the pellet retaining the sample is irradiated with light, whereby a transmission spectrum or an absorption spectrum is obtained. Since potassium bromide easily transmits infrared light having a wave number of not less than 500 cm−1, potassium bromide is suitable for spectrometry in this band. In spectrometry in a band including wave numbers of not less than 250 cm−1, cesium iodide is often used as a material for the pellet.
In recent years, spectrometry utilizing terahertz waves, which are the waves in a lower wave number band than the above-described band including a wave number of 250 cm−1, is gaining attention and being studied. It is considered that this terahertz spectrometry can detect absorption due to intermolecular interaction, hydrogen bond and Van der Waals force and hence provide characteristic information which cannot be obtained by spectrometry in other wave number bands. However, the transmittances of potassium bromide and cesium iodide with respect to terahertz waves of such a low wave number band are low.
Conventionally, therefore, pellets prepared by compression-molding polyethylene powder are actually used in the terahertz wave spectrometry. Since polyethylene pellets have higher transmittances with respect to terahertz waves than potassium bromide pellets or cesium iodide pellets, the use of polyethylene pellets is preferable for obtaining proper spectrum data.
However, the use of such a polyethylene pellet has the following drawbacks.
Taking glucose as an example, there are two forms of glucose, which are a hydrate, i.e., combined with water molecules, and an anhydride, i.e., not combined with water molecules. When a glucose hydrate is subjected to spectrometry as a sample, a spectrum influenced by water molecules is obtained which is different from a spectrum of an anhydride. Since terahertz waves are easily influenced by water molecules, the difference between the spectrum of a hydrate and that of an anhydride is noticeable in this wave number band.
As will be understood from the above-described example of glucose, even from basically the same substance, different spectrum data is obtained depending on whether the substance is a hydrate or an anhydride. Further, even from samples both of which are hydrates, the spectrum data differs due to the difference in water content therebetween. For this reason, the process for identifying a sample based on the spectrum data is complicated and difficult. Therefore, such problems need to be solved.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-5-232018
Patent Document 2: JP-A-11-166891

Pellet for use in spectrometry, method of preparing the same, and method of spectrometry


A method providing a self-dispensing additive for buffering a projectile trapping medium and passivating spent projectiles trapped therein. The additive is a buffering compound formed as blocks of low-density foamed-concrete that self-dispenses the additive when contacted by the fired projectiles. The blocks contain dry components that may include one or more of low-solubility phosphate compounds, low-solubility aluminum compounds, iron compounds, sulfate compounds, and calcium carbonate mixed with a cementing material, water, and an aqueous-based foam in substantially stoichiometric amounts. The aqueous-based foam is added in a quantity sufficient to adjust the density of the block to neutral buoyancy in the projectile-trapping medium. The additive chemically stabilizes the medium while also passivating projectiles, in particular heavy-metal projectiles, trapped in the medium.

In order to maintain proficiency in the use of firearms, it is common to engage in target practice on a training range. Traditionally, the primary concern on a training range has been the prevention of ricochets. Thus, ranges often use a large dirt berm behind the target to decelerate and trap the bullet.
In addition to preventing ricochets, considerable concern has recently been raised about the environmental impact of heavy metals (e.g., lead, tungsten, copper) contained within the bullet. Though a bullet fired into a mound of dirt is safe insofar as it is no longer a dangerous projectile, heavy metals within the bullet remain free to leach into the soil, thereby contaminating the environment. Thus, shooting ranges have begun to stress containment and removal of expended rounds in order to minimize environmental contamination.
Thus, current trends in bullet containment systems focus on two different types of systems. The first, often called a bullet stop and containment chamber, has a pair of plates that channel bullets toward an opening in a containment chamber. Inside the containment chamber are impact plates that slow the bullet to a stop. Rounds may then be reclaimed from the containment chamber. Unfortunately, such systems are relatively expensive and difficult to manufacture and maintain.
The second type of containment system is the bullet backstop or bullet trap system. Bullet backstops typically include a back plate made of steel inclined to the line of fire. On an upper surface of the back plate, a layer of material is disposed to provide a medium for decelerating and trapping bullets. This layer is several feet thick in the direction the bullet travels. The impact material is typically a resilient granular material. As a bullet impacts the material, it will decelerate sufficiently such that, if it does impact the back plate, any ricochet will be minimal. Rounds may periodically be mined from the impact material.
A number of bullet traps utilize rubber chunks or chips as the impact material. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,870 to Sovine ("the '870 patent") teaches the use of relatively large rubber nuggets disposed along a plane inclined to the line of fire, while U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,794 to Wojcinski et al. ("the '794 patent") discloses a similar bullet trap using relatively small rubber granules disposed along an inclined plane.
Though these systems trap the bullet and reduce impact hazards, they generally do nothing to stabilize them from an environmental standpoint while they remain in the trap. While some extant systems teach the use of stabilizing or passivating additives to minimize environmental hazards, they generally teach the use of powdered or granular additives. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,811 to Forrester ("the '811 patent") teaches the use of a granular additive that is essentially a slow-release phosphate fertilizer added to the projectile impact area as suggested by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These granular and powdered additives have a tendency to settle as the trap is vibrated by incoming fire or wash out when the trap is wetted. Either event has a deleterious effect on the concentration and distribution of buffering compound within the trap. Thus, there remains a need to either periodically replenish the additives or recover expended rounds from the bullet traps to prevent heavy metal leaching and associated environmental contamination.

Method providing self-dispensing additive from buffer blocks for use with a medium in a bullet trap

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for evaluating a semiconductor device including a semiconductor, an insulator, and a conductor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for evaluating a semiconductor device that has a MOS (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) structure, and particularly, relates to a method for evaluating a semiconductor device, which separates a gate leakage current by leakage path.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a functional circuit using a semiconductor device has been actively developed. In order to realize a highly functional circuit, it is necessary to get a device to work at a high speed in order to realize a highly functional circuit, for which it is necessary that the device should be reduced in size and integrated. However, when a device becomes smaller, a decrease in threshold voltage or punch-through is caused to generate so-called short channel effect which means that a drain current cannot be controlled by a gate voltage. In order to suppress the short channel effect, it is effective to thin a gate insulating film. However, when the gate insulating film is thinned, a gate leakage current is increased to cause failure in operating a circuit.
On the other hand, according to Non-Patent Document 1 (Nicollian and Brews, MOS Physics and Technology, p. 378, FIG. 9.4), in the case of a MOS capacitor that has a small impurity concentration in a substrate, a depletion layer is extended transversely from an edge of a gate electrode. Since the width of an edge portion of the depletion layer is smaller as compared to that of the depletion layer just below the gate electrode, the edge portion of the depletion layer has a larger electric field as compared to the depletion layer just below the gate electrode. In consequence, a gate leakage current from the edge portion of the depletion layer is increased. Therefore, a gate leakage current generated in the MOS capacitor that has the small impurity concentration in the substrate includes an in-plane leakage current that flows from all over in a plane of the electrode and a leakage current from the edge portion of the depletion layer.
In addition, in the case of a field-effect semiconductor device such as a transistor, a leakage current is generated from an edge portion of a semiconductor in a source to drain direction (channel length direction). In this connection, top views of transistors, FIGS. 12A and 12C, and sectional views of the transistors, FIGS. 12B and 12D, are used to simply describe a leakage current from the aforementioned edge portion of the depletion layer and a leakage current from the edge portion of the semiconductor.
A depletion layer edge leakage current corresponds to a leakage current from an edge portion of a depletion layer, which is a current generated in a region surrounded by a dashed line in the top view of the transistor, FIG. 12A, and corresponds to a current that flows in a direction indicated by an arrow in the sectional view of the transistor, FIG. 12B. A silicon edge leakage current corresponds to a leakage current from the edge portion of the semiconductor in the source to drain direction (channel length direction), which is a current generated in a region surrounded by a dashed line in the top view of the transistor, FIG. 12C, and corresponds to a current that flows in a direction indicated by an arrow in the sectional view of the transistor, FIG. 12D. When an insulator is thinned, these regions become thinner as compared the other regions. Therefore, a high electric field is applied to generate a leakage current. The silicon edge leakage current depends on an etched shape of the semiconductor, and is a leakage current generated only in the field-effect transistor.

Method for evaluating semiconductor device

Abstract: The present invention has a first step of applying a voltage to a conductor to measure a current value, a second step of dividing the current value by an area of a region in which a semiconductor is overlapped with the conductor to calculate a current density Jg, and a third step of calculating a depletion layer edge leakage current and an in-plane leakage current by using coefficients of a formula Jg=2A/r+B (A and B are respectively constants) that has a reciprocal of the radius r and the current density Jg. Alternatively, the present invention has the first step, the second step, and another third step of using coefficients of a formula Jg=A/W+B/L+C (A, B, and C are respectively constants) that has reciprocals of a channel width W and a channel length L of the semiconductor and the current density Jg to calculate a depletion layer edge leakage current, an in-plane leakage current, and a silicon edge leakage current.

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


Methods of reducing power consumption of networked devices are described. When a main processor and associated hardware in a computing device is powered down, a processing element, with lower power consumption than the main processor, performs networking functions on behalf of the main processor. The processing element monitors events and wakes the main processor when defined criteria are satisfied. In an embodiment, these network functions may be to maintain existing network connections and/or establish new network connections and the defined criteria may relate to messages received by the device which are analyzed by the processing element running the application layer code and these criteria may be configurable by a user of the device.

Many computing devices are battery powered and for these devices it is beneficial to reduce their overall power consumption. Reduced power consumption enables increased battery life or alternatively the size, weight and cost of the battery can be reduced. It is also beneficial to reduce the power consumption of mains powered devices (i.e. non-battery powered devices) for environmental reasons and reduce operating cost.
One approach to minimizing the power of computing devices is to shut down or suspend the device, and/or to switch off associated devices, such as a display, when the device is not in use. The device may subsequently be woken up by the user through user input (e.g. by hitting the space bar or pressing the power button). Another approach is to provide a reduced power mode which is used whenever the device is not connected to mains electricity, e.g. by reducing the brightness of the display or running the CPU more slowly.

Low power operation of networked devices


A process for the thermal pyrolysis of hydrocarbons in a reactor (1) of elongate shape comprising at a first end supply means (5) for a gaseous mixture containing at least one hydrocarbon, at the opposite end discharge means (10) for the effluents produced and between these two ends supply means (9) for effluent cooling fluid, the reactor comprising in a first part (first end side) a plurality of electric heating means (3) enclosed by casings (4) disposed in substantially mutually parallel layers perpendicular to the axis of the reactor, in such a way as to define between the casings and/or the casings and the walls (22), spaces or passages for circulation of the gaseous mixtures and/or effluents. The heating means heat the passages in successive, individual, transverse sections which are substantially perpendicular to the axis of the reactor. The reactor comprises means for introducing into the casings (4) a gas G known as a casing gas which preferably contains water vapour and/or hydrogen. The permeability of the casings is sufficient to permit diffusion, at least at certain points, of at least a part of the gas G from inside the casings to the outside of the casings, the gas G then being diluted in the gaseous mixture.

The invention relates to a process for the thermal pyrolysis of hydrocarbons using an electric furnace. This process is aimed, in particular, at the production of light olefins, and, more particularly, of ethylene and propylene.
A number of patents describe processes and reactors for the implementation of these processes. In particular, the assignee's patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,196 can be cited which describes a process for thermal pyrolysis in the presence of water vapour which is known as a steam-cracking process and is used in a multi-channel reactor made of a ceramics material. This process gives good yields of ethylene and propylene. However, the reactor is of a delicate design, the ceramics materials used to make it are relatively expensive, and it is difficult to maintain a constant temperature all along the reaction zone which has adverse effects on the process.
The prior art is illustrated, in particular, by the patents EP-A-323 287, EP-A-457 643, FR-A-1 305 287 and U.S. Pat. No. 1,407,339.
One of the major problems encountered with the implementation of thermal pyrolysis, and, in particular, with the steam-cracking of hydrocarbons is connected with the formation of coke. This formation is largely due to secondary reactions such as the formation of condensed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and also to the polymerisation of the olefins formed. This latter reaction is a result of the tendency of the olefins to polymerise when the temperature is in the order of 500.degree. C. to 600.degree. C.; thus, in order to reduce the affects of this secondary reaction, rapid cooling (often called tempering) often has to be effected of the effluents of the reaction in order to bring them quickly from the temperature at which the pyrolysis operation was effected to a temperature which is less than about 500.degree. C., usually by means of an indirect heat exchanger.
In order to increase the selectivity of the reaction to produce olefins, studies made on the thermodynamics and kinetics of pyrolysis reactions for hydrocarbons therefore involve the following parameters:
rapid increase of the temperature of the charge to the optimum pyrolysis temperature for a given charge, and keeping that temperature as constant as possible in the reaction zone, PA0 reduction to stay time of the charge in the reactional part, PA0 reduction of partial pressure of hydrocarbon charge, PA0 rapid and effective tempering of the effluents from the reaction. PA0 a) preheating the charge which may be diluted by water vapour, PA0 b) heating that charge, or the mixture of charge and water vapour, at high temperature in tubular furnaces in order to restrict the stay time of the hydrocarbons during this pyrolysis stage, PA0 c) rapid tempering of the effluents from the reaction.
It is therefore particularly important to reduce to a minimum the contact time between the products of the reaction and the hot walls of the reactor.
Technologically speaking, these conditions have quickly led to a general process outline consisting in:
The development of thermal pyrolysis furnaces, and, in particular, of steam-cracking furnaces, has essentially been aimed at reducing the stay times and reducing the loss of charge. This has led the designers to reduce the length of the tubular reactors, and thus to increase the density of the thermal flux.
Increasing this latter can basically be done by increasing the wall temperature of the walls of the tubular reactors and/or by reducing the diameter of the tubes (which permits an increase in the s/v ratio, s being the exchange surface and v being the reactional volume).
The progress which has been made in metallurgy with special alloys which are resistant to increasingly high temperatures (INCOLOY 8OOH, HK 40, HP 40, for example) has made it possible for designers of pyrolysis furnaces, particularly those for steam-cracking, to increase the operating temperatures of these tubular furnaces, current limits in metallurgy being in the region of about 1300.degree. C.
Moreover, technology has also made progress with regard to the use of tubes of smaller diameter which are placed in parallel in order to maintain a satisfactory capacity and to remain within a suitable range of charge loss.
Proposals have also been made for several designs of pyrolysis furnaces, all of them aiming to increase the density of thermal flux at the start of the pyrolysis tube and to consequently reduce it either by using tubular reactors of increased diameter, or by grouping together at least two pyrolysis tubes to form one single one after a certain length of reaction zone (see, for example, the article by F. WALL et al published in Chemical Engineering Progress, December 1983, pages 50 to 55); non-cylindrical tubular furnaces have also been described which aim to increase the s/v ratio; thus the patent U.S. Pat. No. 3572999 describes the use of tubes of oval section, and the patent U.S. Pat. No. 3964873 describes the use of tubes of dumb-bell-shaped section.
Techniques employing thermal pyrolysis reactors, and, in particular, steam-cracking reactors have advanced from the use of horizontal tubes of approximately 100 meters (m) in length and with internal diameters in the order of 90 to 140 millimeters (mm) to the conventional use of vertically suspended tubes, approximately 40 m in length, and with diameters in the order of 60 mm which operate with residence times in the order of 0.3 to 0.4 seconds (s), and finally, the technique known as the millisecond technique, as proposed by PULLMAN-KELLOG (patent U.S. Pat. No. 3,671,198) which employs vertical, rectilinear tubes which are approx. 10 m in length, and with an internal diameter of 25-35 mm, which are brought to temperatures in the order of 1100.degree. C. (this temperature most frequently being closest to that of the limit of use of metal). The residence time of charges in this kind of furnace is in the order of 0.07 s; the loss of charge observed is in the order of 0.9 to 1.8 bar (1 bar is equal to 0.1 megapascal), and calculation of the ratio of the exchange surface s to the reactional volume v gives values in the order of 120 m.sup.-1.

Process for the thermal pyrolysis of hydrocarbons using an electric furnace


Disclosed herein is a coating system for pre-coating a vehicle chassis, comprising a coating station and a curing oven, the coating station being upstream from said curing oven along a travel path, the coating station to deliver a layer of coating material thereon, the chassis having a number of sites, each of which is known to be source for accumulating excess coating to cause unwanted drips thereof during curing, further comprising a plurality of nozzles, each being in a nozzle group of one or more, where each group is arranged to deliver a flow of air sufficient to remove the excess coating.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to coating systems for articles such as vehicle chassis.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an automobile manufacturing plant vehicle chassis are commonly precoated using a coating tank. The coating fluid usually includes paint solids in a fluid carrier such as water. It is common for the vehicle chassis to leave the coating tank with coating fluid accumulated in and trickling down from the chassis' vertical panels.
The coated chassis are then usually directed through an oven along a travel path, during which the coating fluid will commonly flow out and cure as heat is applied. At the same time coating fluid continues to drain and to boil out from recessed areas such as hem flanges and seams leaving an impression of the trickles and drip on the surface of the painted body. As curing and baking of the paint progresses, the impression of any trickles and the built up drips becomes permanent. These drips must be sanded off before subsequent paint layers can be applied. The additional sanding step adds to the cost of painting, and accordingly the overall manufacturing costs of the automobile body.
Moreover, there is a loss in time and efficiency brought about by the need for a closer inspection of the painted surface, and the need for process control and further handling of the automobile body in order to correct flaws in the painted surface which have resulted from such drips.
A possible method for reducing drips would be to extend the drainage time before the coated bodies are transported into the oven, in order to allow more of the drips to naturally fall away from the vehicle bodies before they reach the curing ovens. In order to increase the drainage time on an automated manufacturing line it would be necessary to add additional conveyors to store and transport the bodies between the coating stage and the curing stage. The installation of additional conveyors would result in a large capital expenditure.
It is an object of the present invention to improve the coating process by removing the drips during curing or before curing or both.

Honda of Canada Manufacturing, a division of Honda Canada Inc.


A variation of a method for estimating a quantity of a blood component in a fluid canister includes: within an image of a canister, identifying a reference marker on the canister; selecting an area of the image based on the reference marker; correlating a portion of the selected area with a fluid level within the canister; estimating a volume of fluid within the canister based on the fluid level; extracting a feature from the selected area; correlating the extracted featured with a concentration of a blood component within the canister; and estimating a quantity of the blood component within the canister based on the estimated volume and the concentration of the blood component within the canister.

Overestimation and underestimation of patient blood loss is a significant contributor to high operating and surgical costs for hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities. Specifically, overestimation of patient blood loss results in wasted transfusion-grade blood and higher operating costs for medical institutions and can lead to blood shortages. Underestimation of patient blood loss is a key contributor of delayed resuscitation and transfusion in the event of hemorrhage and has been associated with billions of dollars in avoidable patient infections, re-hospitalizations, and lawsuits annually.
Thus, there is a need in the surgical field for a new and useful method for estimating a quantity of a blood component in a fluid canister. This invention provides such a new and useful system and method.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for estimating a quantity of a blood component in a fluid canister


A lighting device for outdoor use comprising a lighting body and a socket body, where the lighting body comprises a lighting unit, a first electrical connection and a first locking member. The socket body comprises a second electrical connection and a second locking member, wherein the first and second electrical connections are arranged to connect to each other in a closed position in order supply the lighting unit with power. The first locking member and the second locking member are arranged for locking and unlocking the lighting body to the socket body in said closed position. The lighting body comprises a first fastening device and the socket body comprises a second fastening device, wherein the fastening devices are arranged to. The lighting body comprises a first guiding means and the socket body comprises a second guiding means, which are arranged to interact.

Replacement of light bulbs in street light fittings are traditionally handled by a person that is lifted to the street light fitting in a man lift or similar and by hand opens up the light fitting and next replaces the light bulb. This is problematic in several aspects.
The most obvious aspect is the risk that the person performing this operation is exposed to as the work is carried out at significant height. Another problem with having personnel lifted at height in the vicinity of lampposts is, in those cases these lampposts are found in the vicinity of overhead lines, that overhead lines generally are uninsulated and thus are highly dangerous to come into contact with. This represents an additional significant risk.
In addition to the work being carried out at height, the work with lampposts involves further problems since the lampposts are not completely fixed. The strain that lampposts are exposed to from weather and wind in addition to the facts that they are very tall and that the street light fitting often has a considerable weight makes them swaying by nature. This results in that the lamppost itself in many cases may not provide support at e.g. replacement of street light fittings.
In addition, the operation of replacing the lighting unit/bulb or the entire street light fitting requires a relatively long period of time since the person that performs the work has to be lowered down between each operation, when the man lift or similar is moved between the lampposts. In most cases, the man lift or similar has to be driven on the roadway, or the like, that the street lighting is intended to illuminate. This unit is usually very slow and requires much space on the roadway, which is problematic since the man lift or similar, and also the person that performs the work and has to move between the man lift and the driver's seat, risk to get hit. For the personnel, it is especially dangerous if the stationary man lift or similar gets hit in the raised position. Additionally, the traffic and the traffic flow may be adversely affected by the presence of the man lift, which may increase the risk of other accidents.
In order to minimize the impact on traffic, the work is advantageously performed during evening and night time, which is not always preferable from the view of the performing personnel.
All this implies that the time required for replacing a lighting unit/bulb, or the entire street light fitting, should be kept to an absolute minimum.
A first step in minimizing the time required for replacing lighting unit/bulb is to replace a larger unit than just the lighting unit/bulb. A larger unit may often be made more robust than just a lighting unit/bulb and may be specifically adapted to be easy to mount and dismount.

Easily mountable lighting luminaire with fitting arrangement


One or more contaminants selected from the group consisting of acidic gases, inert particulates, and mixtures thereof are removed from steam by contacting the contaminated steam with a nonaqueous sorbent such as crystalline molecular sieves, silica gels, soda ash, carbonaceous adsorbents, and amine liquid ion exchange resins.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reducing the concentration of contaminants or impurities entrained in steam, where the contaminants are selected from the group consisting of acid gases and inert particulates. More particularly, the invention relates to removing such contaminants from geothermal steam prior to extracting energy from the steam, e.g., prior to passing the steam through a turbine for the purpose of generating electricity.
Water washing is commonly employed to remove impurities from geothermal steam and thereby protect turbines from fouling (e.g., due to scale formation) and corrosion (e.g., due to the presence of acidic gases in the steam). However, water washing has its drawbacks. For example, water washing requires significant volumes of wash water to scrub the impurities from the steam. In addition, water washing quenches the steam and thus adversely reduces steam utilization and power generation. Furthermore, excessive water washing can send droplets to the turbine causing erosion damage to nozzles and blades. Also, aerated condensate, which is typically employed in water washing, introduces oxygen into the turbine and causes additional corrosion.

Method and apparatus for reducing the acid gas and/or inert particulate content of steam


A tilling implement for use with a farm vehicle includes a frame, a tilling element attached to the frame, a bearing assembly configured to allow the tilling element to rotate relative to the frame. The bearing assembly can include a first race, a second race spaced apart from the first race to define a gap therebetween, a bearing rotatably disposed within the gap to allow relative movement between the first race and the second race, a seal including a flexible protrusion having a distal end that presses against the first race to seal off the gap, and a stop positioned adjacent to the flexible protrusion configured to prevent the distal end of the protrusion from bending towards the bearing.

Field
The present application relates generally to an improved tilling implement for use with a farm vehicle as well as an improved bearing assembly suitable for use with such a tilling implement.
Background Art
A large variety of machines and techniques exist to prepare soil for agricultural or other use. For example, soil can be agitated to prepare it for planting or seeding by being turned over by a plow, cut by disks, pulverized by a harrow, as well as through the use of other techniques and machines. Several existing tilling machines include the use of rotating tools, such as rolling harrows, crumbler rollers, and other similar devices. Because such rotating tools are often dragged along soil and over foreign matter such as loose weeds, roots, and other residue, it is not uncommon for bearing assemblies used for tilling implements to fail due to contamination. There is a continuous need for improved tilling implements and related bearing assemblies that can better withstand such conditions.

Tilling implement and bearing assembly for use therewith


An embodiment provides a Machine Type Communication (MTC) method, which includes that: a terminal receives a polling instruction from a base station; the terminal performs registration on a first access resource indicated by the polling instruction; and the terminal sends registration information to the base station. In the embodiment, the terminal completes registration according to the polling instruction sent by the base station. Such a process is simple and consistent, which can reduce complexity and power consumption of MTC, and can further reduce the deployment cost of an MTC system and prolong the service life of battery-powered equipment.

A conventional mobile communication network is mainly for human-to-human voice communication. The introduction of MTC may cause relatively great influence on the conventional mobile communication network. Therefore, besides supporting conventional voice data communication with human service objects, a next-generation mobile communication network (which may be called as 5th-Generation (5G)) further includes MTC applications in various scenarios, such as various kinds of intelligent monitoring of industry, agriculture, intelligent transportation, smart home, intelligent meter reading, earthquake, tsunami and fire monitoring and the like.
MTC is applied on a large scale to application scenarios quite different from a conventional mobile communication system, so that a series of new requirements on a wireless communication technology are made. For example, monitoring sensor type equipment which is deployed on a large scale and mostly powered by batteries has the characteristics of low cost, low power consumption, long-period small data packet transmission, delay insensitivity and the like; while a machine applied to industrial production, the Internet of vehicles, intelligent transportation and the like requires an extremely short delay, high reliability and high availability to ensure normal running. These new characteristics require a 5G system to adopt a series of new technologies.
An existing machine communication terminal which transmits data by virtue of a wireless technology may usually use a dedicated technology or a mature 2nd/3rd/4th-Generation (2/3/4G) communication module. It is difficult for a module using a dedicated technology to gain scale benefits.
Part of technologies try to make improvements on the basis of a 4G mobile communication technology. For example, machine communication devices are grouped for resource sharing. However, these technical solutions still have shortcomings, such as complex flow, reduction in system deployment flexibility, high battery life reduction rate caused by increase of power consumption of part of terminals and relatively more occupied Internet Protocol (IP) and wireless system resources.
It can be seen that large-scale MTC cannot be realized by a 2/3/4G mobile communication technology in terms of complexity, power consumption and the like because large-scale MTC is not considered in the early stage of designing.

Machine type communication method, terminal, and base station

GUANGONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


A composite integrated circuit incorporating two LDMOSFETs of unlike designs, with the consequent creation of a parasitic transistor. A multipurpose resistor is integrally built into the composite integrated circuit in order to prevent the parasitic transistor from accidentally turning on. In an intended application of the composite integrated circuit to a startup circuit of a switching-mode power supply, the multipurpose resistor serves as startup resistor for limiting the flow of rush current during the startup period of the switching-mode power supply.

This invention relates to integrated circuits, to monolithic integrated circuits of semiconductor devices as well as passive components, and particularly to a composite integrated circuit incorporating two or more semiconductor devices of like or unlike constructions, possibly with consequent creation of a parasitic transistor. More particularly, the invention deals with such an integrated circuit featuring provisions for preventing the conduction of the parasitic transistor, limiting current flow, or other purposes.
It has been known to integrate two or more semiconductor devices into a single microchip, with the integrated devices electrically separated from each other either by pn junction isolation or a combination of pn junction and trench isolations, as disclosed for example in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-135719. The semiconductor devices are formed in and on the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material in planar configuration.
Let us consider a more specific example of a composite integrated circuit of two laterally-diffused, metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (LDMOSFETs). The integrated LDMOSFET circuit includes a semiconductor substrate having a p-type region for both devices, two n-type drain regions formed on the p-type region for the respective devices, two p-type body (channel) regions formed in the respective drain regions for the respective devices, two n-type source regions formed in the respective body regions for the respective devices, and a pn separator region or a separator trench between the drain regions of the two devices.
Electrically isolated from each other via the separator region or trench, the integrated two LDMOSFETs do not normally interfere with each other. They share the p-type substrate region, however, so that the composite LDMOSFET circuit gives rise to a parasitic npn transistor composed of that p-type substrate region and the n-type drain regions of the two devices. This parasitic transistor has so far been prone to conduction as when the drain terminal coupled to the drain region of one device gains a negative potential due for example to noise. Current has flown through the parasitic transistor when the drain terminal becomes less in potential than the p-type substrate region. Then, of course, the composite LDMOSFET circuit has not operated correctly. The same problem has manifested itself when two bipolar transistors, rather than LDMOSFETs, are integrated in a like manner, too.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-135719, supra, suggests how to disable the parasitic transistor. It teaches to make the p-type substrate region higher in impurity concentration than normal and to interpose an n−-type substrate region between the p-type substrate region and an n+-type buried layer of the collector region. This solution is objectionable for the additional manufacturing steps required for creation of the n−-type substrate region.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-65571 proposes a discrete circuit for preventing the conduction of the parasitic transistor in a composite LDMOSFET circuit. The provision of the discrete anti-parasitic-transistor circuit makes the combination of this circuit and the composite LDMOSFET circuit difficult of manufacture and handling and adds to its installation space or area requirement.
The integrated composite LDMOSFET circuit has had an additional problem in its important application to a switching-mode power supply. A typical construction of the switching-mode power supply includes: (a) a transformer having a primary winding coupled to a source of DC voltage via an active switch, and a secondary winding coupled to an output rectifying and smoothing circuit for providing a DC output voltage; (b) a switch control circuit for rapidly turning the active switch on and off so as to keep the DC output voltage constant; (c) another rectifying and smoothing circuit coupled to the tertiary winding of the transformer for providing DC power needed for control purposes; and (d) a startup circuit for powering the switch control circuit from the DC source during the startup period. The startup circuit usually comprises a startup resistor for limiting the rush current during the startup period, and an LDMOSFET connected in series with the startup resistor.
Conventionally, in the switching-mode power supply of the above known design, the LDMOSFET and the startup resistor have been fabricated separately. The discrete startup resistor in particular has been an impediment to reduction in both size and manufacturing cost of the switching-mode power supply.

Integrated circuit having a multipurpose resistor for suppression of a parasitic transistor or other purposes


A conveyor assembly is provided on a baler between a crop take-up arrangement and a baling chamber. The conveyor assembly includes a guide member assembly having an upwardly facing guide surface defining a lower limit of a crop conveying channel having an upper limit defined by an undershot rotor positioned above the guide surface. The conveyor assembly further includes a cutting arrangement mounted to a lower side of the guide member and having knives located for projecting through slots provided in the guide member. The cutting arrangement can be lowered together with the guide member, as well as shifted transverse to the forward operating direction relative to the guide member. In this way jams can be avoided or removed, and the cutting arrangement can be brought into a position accessible for purposes of maintenance, as well.

It is known practice according to DE 38 21 717 to pivot a complete cutting arrangement from a location underneath a self-loading forage box and behind a crop take-up arrangement about a vertical axis into a position located alongside the crop take-up arrangement where the knives of the cutting arrangement are easily accessible for maintenance.
Furthermore, the prospectus KRONE Big Pack—D-10/05-0510-2701 reveals a cutting arrangement with two modules that abut each other in the longitudinal center plane of a baler and that can be pushed aside for the purpose of maintenance. In addition, the entire cutting arrangement can be lowered into a non-operating positon by means of a servomotor. A similar arrangement is also known from EP 284 792 A1.
Finally, according to DE 198 41 598, it is known practice that the floor of a conveying channel of a baler can be pivoted away from the conveying channel along with all its knives in order to remove jams more easily.
The problem underlying the invention is seen in the fact that a solution does not exist that permits simple maintenance as well as an efficient reaction to jams.

Conveyor assembly and positioning arrangement for a baler


A shutter valve for regulating pressure and controlling fluid flow comprising an actuator ring having a plurality of gear teeth, the gear teeth driven by a mating gear or other means. A plurality of obturator pin bosses, each pin boss affixed within an inside circumference of the actuator ring, the pin boss further comprising a hinge pin aperture. The shutter valve further comprises three or more obturator elements, each obturator element defining a petal shape structure including a tongue and groove feature along at least a portion of an outside circumference thereof, and wherein each obturator element is hingedly coupled to a hinge pin aperture of an obturator pin boss. A hook element is located at an apex of said petal shape structure of each obturator element. The shutter value further includes a housing defining a cavity or holding the actuator ring and the three or more obturator elements.

One of the problems with conventional valves is the lack of the ability to regulate the amount of fluid flow through the valve. This is because most conventional valves typically only offer an on and off position. Completely stopping fluid flow, i.e., turning the valve to the off position, results in a steep pressure drop, which can cause a shockwave in the system and can result in cavitation. This can reduce the lifespan of the valve, as well as the system as a whole. Another problem with conventional valves is the lack of the ability to remain securely sealed in a pressurized system. This insecurity in said processes can cause leakage. Yet another common problem with conventional valves is that the obturator element remains within the lumen of the flow of gas or liquid, as with a butterfly valve, thereby interrupting fluid flow. This approach, however, creates a disruption in the fluid flow and can cause potential currents that can produce cavitation. This negative result can also directly reduce the life span of a valve, pipe, or the entire system altogether.
One possible approach to the above-described problems is the use of an iris valve, which utilizes obturator elements within the lumen of the flow area, wherein the obturator elements open and close in an annular array to regulate the flow of gases or liquids. This removes all obstructions to the flow of gases and liquids when the valve is in the open position. But conventional iris valves also possess the same problem with remaining securely sealed, especially in a pressurized system. Thus, many conventional iris valves suffer from leakage caused by the inability to seal properly. The inability of conventional iris valves to seal properly has limited the uses and useful life span of the iris valve. In many cases, various industries have not used iris valves because of this problem.
Consequently, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above, and particularly for a more efficient valve that seals properly.


Apparatus and methods for generating an empirically determined mathematical model of wavefront error in an interferometer as a function of aperture misalignment and then applying the model to correct subsequent measurements. The methods are useful in Fizeau and other types of interferometers in which carrier fringe analysis may be used for reducing errors caused by environmental and vibration effects.

The problem addressed by the invention is to compare two optical surfaces, spheres or aspheres, which have nominally the same shape. This may done with a Fizeau-interferometer system by placing the first surface—called the master calibration surface—in front of the Fizeau reference surface and making a measurement of the resulting phase-difference of the light reflected off the Fizeau-reference surface and the master calibration surface. This result is stored. Next, the master calibration surface is replaced by the second surface called the test—surface. Then another interferometric measurement is performed on the phase-difference of the light reflected off the Fizeau-reference surface and the test surface.
Subtracting the second measured phase-difference from the first measured phase-difference delivers the wanted deviation of the test surface from the master calibration surface. Typical interferometric systems, such as the Fizeau configuration, are designed for testing in the null condition, or aligned perfectly on axis. In certain data acquisition systems and in practical use (e.g., carrier-fringe analysis), misalignments are either required or common. These misalignments cause wavefront errors commonly called ray-mapping errors. Such wavefront errors are often large enough to degrade the performance of the interferometer. The correction of these ray-mapping errors extends the practical application of interferometers.
Consequently, it is a principal object of this invention to quantify ray mapping errors that are proportional to the amount of misalignment error in an interferometric system and provide a method to correct these errors.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a calibrated interferometer employing carrier fringe analysis while compensating for errors introduced by tilt.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide methods for calibrating an interferometer system in a very straight forward, deterministic, very cost effective, and elegant way.
Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, appear hereinafter when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

Method for calibration and removal of wavefront errors