A combustion system for reducing an amount of air polluting substances in a combustion exhaust gas produced in a combustion furnace comprises a combustion furnace configured to produce a combustion exhaust gas upon combustion of a combustible material, wherein the combustion exhaust gas contains an amount of air polluting substances; an analyzer suitable for analyzing the combustion exhaust gas and producing an analytical signal; a conduit suitable for conducting the combustion exhaust gas from the outlet opening to the analyzer, wherein the conduit is located adjacent the outlet opening of the combustion furnace; a controller suitable for processing the analytical signal produced by the analyzer and outputting a first control signal and a second control signal, based on the analytical signal; a neutralizer supplier suitable for supplying the combustion furnace with an amount of neutralizers to reduce the amount of air polluting substances in the combustion exhaust gas, wherein the amount of neutralizers supplied to the combustion furnace is based on the first control signal outputted by the controller; and an operating condition readjuster suitable for readjusting at least one operating condition of the combustion furnace selected from the group consisting of (1) a temperature of the combustion furnace, (2) a time for combusting the combustible material, and (3) an air flow in the combustible furnace, to reduce the amount of air polluting substances in the combustion exhaust gas, wherein the at least one operating condition is readjusted based on the second control signal outputted by the controller.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a combustion system used in sooty smoke generating facilities such as a boiler equipment or a combustion furnace and more particularly to such combustion system provided with control means adapted to control the combustion system so that air polluting substances otherwise contained in exhaust gas generated from the boiler equipment or otherwise contained in exhaust gas generated from the combustion furnace usually used for incineration of general garbage or industrial waste may be effectively collected before emission into the atmosphere, and monitoring means adapted to detect an efficiency deterioration possibly occurring in a dust collector which functions, in turn, to catch and collect sooty dust contained in the exhaust gas from the combustion furnace.
2. Description of the Related Art
Exhaust gas generated from the facilities such as the boiler equipment and the combustion furnace contains sooty dust and the other various air polluting substances. Particularly the exhaust gas generated from urban garbage incinerators contains, in addition to carbon dioxide, water vapor and oxygen, various specified substances under the regulations such as soot and dust, hydrogen chloride (HCl), sulfur oxides (SO.sub.x) and nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x). These substances are legally regulated, for example, by the Japanese Air Pollution Control Act with respect to its factors such as concentrations and total quantity of emission. The exhaust gas and/or sooty dust additionally contain various heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium and mercury, although they are present in extremely small quantities. Recently, a serious problem for the protection of environment has been posed by hydrogen fluoride (HF) and dioxins which are present in the exhaust gas although they are present also in extremely small quantities.
As for dioxins, the Japanese Ministry of Public Welfare laid down "Preventive guideline against generation of dioxins due to refuse disposal" from the viewpoint that it is desirable to minimize generation as well as emission of dioxins from these facilities into the environment. To prevent or at least minimize dioxins from being generated and emitted from garbage incinerating facilities in accordance with this guideline, addition of suitable neutralizer and/or adsorbent may be utilized or so-called dioxins decreasing condition including a combustion temperature (Temperature), a combustion time (Time) and a turbulence during combustion (Turbulence) in the incinerator may be adjusted depending on various factors such as a total quantity of generated dioxins.
To minimize generation of dioxins, the previously mentioned factors, particularly, the concentration and/or total quantity of dioxins which are being generated must be measured and thereby the current situation must be seized as accurately as possible. However, such measurement is difficult and requires a very expensive analyzer or the like, since the quantity of dioxins contained in the exhaust gas emitted into the atmosphere is extremely small. To solve this problem, it is well known, e.g., as described in Japanese Patent Application Disclosure Gazette No. 1992-161849, to utilize precursors of dioxins such as chlorobenzene and chlorophenol as substitute indices for the measurement.
According to this Patent Application Disclosure Gazette No. 1992-161849, after a quantity of the exhaust gas has been collected from the flue of garbage incinerating facilities, chlorobenzene sampling tube is taken out from the collector and the measurement is carried out using gas chromatography. Such a procedure of measurement necessarily takes a lot of time before the results of measurement can be reflected on the condition under which the operation of the incinerator should be operated.
In order to reflect the results of measurement on the operation of the incinerator, components contained in the exhaust gas must be continuously measured and, in view of this fact, Japanese Patent Application Disclosure Gazette No. 1993-312796 proposed a system for semi-continuous measurement/monitoring of chlorobenzene. However, this system is not adapted for direct measurement of dioxins but adapted for measurement of the substitute substances such as chlorobenzene on the basis of sample gas obtained by pretreating the exhaust gas so as to remove therefrom concomitant moisture and dust. Accordingly, there remains an apprehension that the results of measurement might be prevented from being rapidly and accurately reflected on the condition under which the incinerator should be operated.
On the other hand, the exhaust gas from the incinerator or the like has conventionally been guided to pass through various dust collectors before the exhaust gas is emitted into the atmosphere in order that the regulated substances and the other air polluting substances can be effectively collected from the exhaust gas before they are emitted into the atmosphere.
However, it becomes difficult to trap an adequate quantity of the air polluting substances as the dust collecting efficiency of the dust collector is deteriorated. To restore the desired dust collecting efficiency, cleaning and/or part-exchanging of the dust collector have usually been periodically carried out.
Conventionally, factors such as concentration of the regulated substances and the other air polluting substances contained in the exhaust gas have been detected and assessed according to the prescriptions by Japanese Industrial Standards to avoid the possibility that amounts of these undesirable substances higher than the critical values might be emitted. However, it is substantially impossible to perform detection and assessment in a continuous manner since detection and assessment also are performed on the basis of the sample gas having been subjected to the pretreatment suitable for every one of these substances as in the case of the previously mentioned measurement of chlorobenzene or the like. Consequently, the second best countermeasure has usually been adopted such that the sample gas is periodically collected from the flue and analyzed before the exhaust gas is emitted into the atmosphere.
If the result of measurement indicates that the air polluting substances contained in the sample gas exceed the respective standard values, such result may be sometimes due to an unexpected variation occurring in the condition under which the incinerator operates and/or the deteriorated efficiency of the dust collector. In this case, even if the dust collector is cleaned and/or the parts thereof are exchanged on the basis of measurement data, a certain quantity of the air polluting substances has already been emitted up to that time. In view of this fact, the cleaning of the dust collector and/or the exchange of parts thereof have usually been carried out independently of measurement of the sample gas and at the intervals of a sufficiently short period to minimize emission of the air polluting substances. As a consequence, the cleaning of the dust collector and/or the exchange of parts thereof must be frequently repeated. Frequent cleaning is time consuming and requires much labor, on one hand, and frequent exchange of parts correspondingly increases the maintenance cost.

Combustion system for sooty smoke generating facilities


A spur and stabilizer assembly for a bass drum. The assembly comprises a pair of tubular stabilizer elements with their upper ends mounted substantially adjacent each other to the inside surface of the bass drum shell. The tubular stabilizer elements extend downwardly, laterally and forwardly with respect to and within the bass drum shell. A pair of spur brackets are affixed to the outside of the shell and have portions extending through perforations in the shell. The lower end of each of the tubular stabilizer elements is operatively and adjustably connected to the adjacent one of the spur brackets. A pair of spurs is provided. Each of the spur brackets has a bore therethrough, coaxial with its respective tubular stabilizer element. Each spur is telescopically received in one of the spur bracket bores and the connected one of the tubular stabilizing elements. A set screw is mounted in each spur bracket to retain the spur therein in adjusted axial position.

In the conventional arrangement, a bass drum is supported by the base of the pedal assembly for the drum and a pair of feet, normally referred to as "spurs". The spurs are individually and separately mounted on the lower part of the drum shell. The bass drum is sometimes provided with an internal brace, generally referred to as the "stabilizer". The stabilizer comprises a single rod-like element extending downwardly from the top of the drum shell to the bottom. It is also usual practice to mount on the base drum shell means to support a pair of smaller drums above the shell. These smaller drums are generally referred to as "tom-toms". With this conventional arrangement, vigorous playing transmits forces to the bottom of the shell. These forces tend to flex the shell since the opposing force is supplied by the spurs and these spurs are not rigidly fixed to the stabilizer. As a result, the bass drum has a tendency to "walk". Furthermore, the smaller drums or tom-toms and other accessories mounted on the top of the drum shell move about enough to introduce uncertainty into the strike point locations and the timing intervals of the rhythm.
The present invention is directed to an assembly which integrates the spurs and stabilizer. These elements may be further integrated with the tom-tom holder, if present. The assembly of the present invention rigidifies the bass drum shell against flexing and side-to-side rocking thereby minimizing "walking" of the bass drum and shaking of the tom-toms and other accessories mounted to the bass drum shell.
The structure of the present invention also renders the bass drum shell more rigid. Also the stabilizer is no longer located in the center of the drum shell where a recording microphone would normally be placed. Thus tube noise from the stabilizer is reduced during recording. In the assembly of the present invention the spurs are fully adjustable in an axial direction and the stabilizing elements are also adjustable to accommodate for expansion and contraction of the drum shell.


In the case of a drafting unit for a spinning machine, it is provided that the pressure roller and the bottom roller of the pair of delivery rollers have a smaller diameter than the pressure roller and the bottom roller of the preceding pair of rollers, and in that the thickness of the covering of the pressure roller of the pair of delivery rollers amounts to at least approximately 4 mm. The bottom roller of the pair of delivery rollers has a profiling, the depth of which is no larger than 0.4 mm.

The invention relates to a drafting unit for a spinning machine having several pairs of rollers which are each formed of a pressure roller provided with a covering and a drivable bottom roller provided with a profiling, an apron guide being provided in the last drafting zone in front of a pair of delivery rollers.
It is customary in practice to construct drafting units of the initially mentioned type such that all roller pairs, from the pair of feeding rollers to the pair of delivery rollers, essentially have the same diameter. In the case of commonly assigned pending application Ser. No. 07/379,646, filed on July 14, 1989 based on German Patent Application (P 38 25 068.3), which is not a prior publication, it is provided that the diameter of the pressure roller and of the bottom roller of the pair of delivery rollers is smaller than the diameter of the rollers of the preceding pair of rollers. As a result, it is achieved that the apron guide can extend closer to the nip line of the pair of delivery rollers so that the length is reduced in which the sliver is unguided. This improves the quality of the drawn sliver.
An object of the invention is to further improve a drafting unit of the initially mentioned type with respect to the drawing quality.
This object is achieved in that the pressure roller and the bottom roller of the pair of delivery rollers have a smaller diameter than the pressure roller and the bottom roller of the preceding pair of rollers, and that the thickness of the covering of the pressure roller of the pair of delivery rollers amounts to at least approximately 4 mm.
As a result, it is achieved that the apron guide may extend relatively closely to the nip line of the pair of delivery rollers so that, particularly at very high operating speeds, the danger is reduced of disturbances of the fiber position in the sliver. In addition, it is ensured that, as a result of the minimum thickness of the covering, the effect of the covering is maintained.
In a further development of the invention, it is provided that the bottom roller of the pair of delivery rollers has a profiling, the depth of which is no larger than approximately 0.4 mm. It is also provided that the width of the ribs of the profiling at the circumferential surface of the bottom roller of the pair of delivery rollers is no larger than approximately 0.4 mm. For a further improvement, it is also provided that the width of the recesses between ribs at the circumferential surface of the bottom roller of the pair of delivery rollers is no wider than approximately 0.6 mm. Thus, the profiling of the bottom roller, particularly a ribbing, is also adapted to the reduced diameter.
In order to achieve a bearing of the pressure roller of the pair of delivery rollers which is as stable as possible despite the smaller diameter, it is provided in a first embodiment that the pressure roller of the pair of delivery rollers is constructed as an over-mounted shaft which is provided with the covering at its end. In another embodiment of the invention, it is provided for the same purpose that the pressure roller of the pair of delivery rollers has a tube-shaped basic body which, in the area of the covering, is disposed on a shaft by means of a needle bearing.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


An ergonomical chair is provided, of the type which is adjustable in height, whose seat has a front portion with a slope automatically changeable as a function of the height adjustment. The seat rear portion remains substantially horizontal, irrespective of the height adjustment and the consequent tilting of the front portion, thus avoiding the downward sliding of the body which can stay in its erect or slightly backward bent position, while a correct leaning of the seat front portion of the lower region of the thighs is ensured without exerting any tiring action by the user. Another embodiment of the invention has armrests and backrest adjustable integrally with each other.

The present invention relates to an ergonomic chair adjustable as to the height having a seat front portion tiltable as a function of said height adjustment.
It is known that chairs or armchairs for use in an office or the like are often provided with a function allowing the height of a seat portion to be freely changed in accordance with the physique of a sitting person, the height of a desk employed and so forth. It is known as well that chairs having a swingable backrest exist in which a seat front portion can be tilted downwards, thus avoiding the raising of the user's legs, either in a suitable adjustable way, or because said portion is hinged freely with respect to the rest of the seat and it can be lowered by means of a certain pressure exerted by a lower region of the thighs of the user himself. There are also chairs in which a seat front portion is permanently tilted downwards with a fixed angle, but clearly without any utility, as it results in a shorter seat, i.e. lacking said front portion.
From WO-A-8906101 of the present applicant another ergonomic chair is known, adjustable in height, in which the tilting angle of the whole seat changes as a function of the seat height by swinging along an arc of circumference about a center of rotation substantially coincident with the center of gravity of a person sitting on the chair itself. In that case the effect is very comfortable, however the problem remains unsolved in that, as the slope of the whole seat with respect to the backrest is changed as a function of the height of the seat itself, the user is necessarily caused to exert, in case of considerable tilting angles, a certain force on the rest areas in order to avoid a downward sliding along an inclined plane formed by the seat itself, in spite of the fixed position of the center of gravity. Thus the user must exert a pressure both on the floor by his feet and on the seat rear portion by his ischial region in order to stay in a balanced position, which may involve some discomfort and a non-negligible fatigue.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,053 discloses a chair whose seat is adjustable as to the height and which is formed in two portions, the front portion of which is downwardly tiltable with respect to the rear portion to which it is hinged. However, the tilting angle is to be chosen at will by the user who has to exert a pressure on the front part of the seat with his thighs until finding the preferred, most comfortable tilting angle.
It is also known that a great number of chairs, especially for use in an office and particularly suitable for typists and computer operators, or also for meeting-rooms and the like, have a backrest adjustable as to the height to keep correct, in accordance with the user's stature, the resting of the back, which takes place in the lumbar vertebrae region. By means of ergonomic research it was found that such height corresponds to a third of the height of a sitting person's trunk.
It is also known that the armrests of the chairs having same are preferably adjustable in height, either integrally to each other or independently, in order to ensure a correct leaning of the sitting person's elbows. However, it is necessary, to the aim of reaching an ergonomically valid result and to avoid uncomfortable postures, which are tiring so as to cause, in time, physical malformations, that the armrests adjustment is combined with a backrest adjustment as a function of the stature of the chair user. Naturally it is not easy to adjust armrests and backrests separately, based on both the difficulty of the operation to be executed, and the uncertainty of the obtained result, which often can involve additional adjusting operations.

Ergonomically improved chair or armchair


Faults occurring in the operation of a rapid thermal process system are detected and dynamically controlled in-situ. A data set is generated which represents the power applied to heating elements which are spatially arranged in a plurality of zones. The data is converted to a sequence of fractions respectively representing the power applied to each zone relative to the total applied power. The fractions are sequentially arranged and a least squares straight line fit for the fractions is calculated. The slope of the calculated straight line fit is used in a statistical process control system to determine whether a fault has occurred, and to make appropriate corrections in process control parameters, such as the length of time the process is carried out.

The present invention broadly relates to rapid thermal processing systems, especially of the type employed in semiconductor manufacturing operations, and deals more particularly with a method of detecting and controlling in-situ faults related to failure of the system to operate within specified temperature limits.
Rapid thermal processing (RTP) systems are used in semiconductor manufacturing operations to carry out several different processes, including rapid thermal oxidation and rapid thermal annealing. RTP systems have several advantages over conventional furnace systems. For example, one limitation of furnace systems employed to carry out oxidation processes is its inertia to temperature transition, resulting in a higher thermal budget. The thermal budget can be reduced considerably by increasing the duration of these transitions through the use of RTP. In the case of annealing processes wherein annealing removes defects introduced by ion implantation, the use of RTP systems provides a higher level of dopant activation and annealing effect, compared to conventional furnace systems.
In an RTP system, a semiconductor wafer is rapidly heated from a low temperature to a high processing temperature. It is held at this elevated temperature for a short time and then brought back rapidly to a low temperature. Typical temperature transition rates range from 10xc2x0/sec to 350xc2x0/sec, compared to about 0.1xc2x0/sec for furnace processing. RTP durations at high processing temperatures vary from one second to five minutes.
In order to control process parameters and particularly temperature, a temperature sensing device, such as an optical pyrometer is used to measure the temperature on the backside of the wafer, typically at a wave length, for example, of 0.95 xcexcm.
RTP processing is important where precise thermal control and short high temperature process times are critical. When used to grow thin oxide films, the process is referred to as rapid thermal oxidation (RTO). Oxide layers with film thicknesses from 0.004 xcexcm to 0.4 xcexcm can be grown in pure oxygen at 900xc2x0 C. to 1150xc2x0 C. for a duration of only 15 to 180 seconds. In addition, the electrical characteristics of rapid thermal oxides have been found to be equivalent to or better than furnace-grown thermal oxides. RTO grown films on polycrystalline silicon exhibit electrical breakdown fields that approach those of oxides grown on single-silicon. RTP is also used to grow other insulating films, to activate implanted ions and form shallow junctions, to alloy contacts and form conducting fields, such as titanium-silicide and titanium-nitrides, and to reflow glass.
Rapid thermal annealing allows the removal of defects introduced by ion implantation, and activation of species with little movement of the diopants. While conventional furnaces are capable of supplying high temperature, the slow insertion and removal of the wafers and the heat capacity of the system require ramp up and ramp down times in the range of minutes, thus resulting in excessive movement of dopants. In contrast, during rapid thermal annealing, the entire wafer is heated uniformly in seconds and, after annealing, the wafer is cooled in seconds.
Typical RTP systems are integrated into semiconductor processing stations, such as CVD or PVD chambers where heating is provided by a multiplicity of heating elements, typically thermal generating lamps, spatially arranged into a plurality of heating zones. The heating elements are normally arranged so as to face both the front side and backside of the wafer. One or more temperature sensing devices, such as pyrometers or emissometers, are strategically placed so as to sense the temperature at one or more locations within the chamber. The temperature sensors are typically connected by optical fibers to a temperature recording system which records the temperature at multiple locations in the chamber throughout each processing cycle in which one or more wafers are processed.
Precise temperature control in RTP systems over the entire processing cycle may be critical to achieving acceptable processing results. This means that the temperature at each monitored location in the chamber must be maintained within certain limits during both temperature ramp up and ramp down sequences. When the temperature at one or more monitored locations is not maintained within desired limits, a xe2x80x9cfaultxe2x80x9d occurs which may have a material effect on quality of process, and thus on the quality of the wafer.
In the past, it was not always possible to detect a fault during an RTP cycle. Consequently, the out-of-limit condition was not be detected, and appropriate steps could not be taken to correct the condition, until after one or more batches of wafers had been processed. Accordingly, the inability to detect and dynamically correct a temperature fault condition during an RTP cycle resulted in scrap rates, and therefore, reduced yields.
The task of accurately monitoring the temperature at multiple locations in the processing chamber is complicated by several factors. First, the emissivity of heat radiation from the wafer is significantly affected by the nature of the surface on the wafer backside. For example d-poly film grown by HTF on the wafer backside can form Newtonian ring-like concentric circles which have a constructive or destructive effect on the radiation waves impinging the wafer surface, thereby increasing or decreasing the magnitude of measured radiation. Second, inaccurate radiation measurements sometimes occur as a result of the presence of small broken fragments and residues of wafers remaining in the processing chamber from processing previous batches of wafers. The presence of these residual wafer fragments in the chamber alters emissivity measurements, thus giving rise to inaccurate readings which may prevent the detection of temperature control faults, and the initiation of dynamic controls needed to bring temperature parameters within proper limits.
Yet another factor affecting temperature control relates to degradation of certain components of the RTP system. Emissometers, optical fibers and pyrometers functionally decay in performance over their service lives, thus affecting their performance and accuracy. The decay in performance of these components is not easily detected, further complicating the task of detecting temperature faults and dynamically correcting control parameters.
Accordingly, there is a clear need in the art for a method of detecting in-situ, temperature control faults, and dynamically correcting temperature control parameters in RTP systems of the type described above.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for detecting and controlling in-situ faults occurring in a rapid thermal processing system. The method comprises the steps of: (A) generating a set of data relating to the distribution of power applied to the heating elements in the zones; (B) converting the data in the data set into a data format representing the current collective state of the power distribution for all of the zones; (C) comparing the converted data set with a set of statistical data representing a standard: and, (D) changing at least one process control parameter affecting the thermal process based on the comparison.
The data conversion is preferably performed by determining the total power applied to all the lamps in all of the zones and producing a plurality of fractions by dividing the numerical values of the power applied to the lamps in each of the zones by the total power. The fractions are then arranged in sequence from smallest to largest numerical value following which a calculation is made of the slope of the sequentialized fractional values. The slope is preferably calculated by the least squares straight-line method. The data conversion step preferably includes weighting at least certain of the fractions based on data obtained from a statistical process control system. The method further includes the step of storing the set of statistical data in a program computer and inputting of the slope to the computer, wherein the program computer compares the slope to a stored set of statistical data.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for detecting and controlling a rapid thermal process system of the type employing a multiplicity of heating elements spatially arranged in a plurality of zones, comprising the following steps: (A) determining the power applied to the heating elements in each of the zones; (B) determining the total power applied to all of the heating elements in all of the zones; (C) forming a plurality of fractions respectively associated with the plurality of zones, wherein the numerator of each of the fractions represents the power applied to the associated zone, and the denominator represents the power applied to the heating element in all of the zones; (D) arranging the fractions in a desired sequence; (E) determining the slope of a line representing the values of the sequentially arranged fractions; (F) comparing the slope with a reference slope; and; (G) changing at least one parameter for controlling the process based on the comparison.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel method for detecting and controlling in-situ temperature control faults occurring in a rapid thermal process system.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of the type described above in which power delivered to a multiplicity of heating elements spatially arranged in a plurality of zones is dynamically controlled based on information derived from a statistical process control system.
A further object of the invention is to provide a method of the type previously mentioned which is not affected by decay in component performance or variations in emissitivity related to wafer surface characteristics or material residue within the processing chamber.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a method as described above which can be implemented largely through software and the use of a statistical process control system.
These, and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be made clear or will become apparent during the course of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Method of detecting and controlling in-situ faults in rapid thermal processing systems

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


A laser level with a housing composed of two parts for storing the laser level in a protected manner, wherein the laser level is composed of an instrument body, bubble levels in the instrument body, a laser beam generator with lens system and a fixed leg and two vertically adjustable legs. One of the housing parts is provided with receptacles for the legs, wherein the receptacles are integrally formed at an inner side of the bottom of the housing part. The other housing part has receptacles for the legs, wherein the receptacles are integrally formed in an outer side of a cover of the housing part. At least one stand thread is provided at an inner side of the outer housing part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laser level with a housing composed of two parts for storing the level in a protected manner. The laser level includes an instrument body and bubble levels provided in the instrument body for adjusting the instrument body. The level further includes a laser beam generator with a lens system, a fixed leg and two vertically adjustable legs.
2. Description of the Related Art
Small, easily manipulated laser levels have been commercially available for many years. They include essentially an instrument body, a laser beam generator with lens system, bubble levels for levelling the laser beam, a fixed leg which usually is in alignment with the laser beam, and at least two vertically adjustable legs by means of which the instrument body and, thus, the laser beam can be levelled.
These laser level instruments are usually sold in cases in which they are stored so as to be protected against damage and contamination and in which they can be transported.
Since the laser levels are frequently mounted on measuring stands, at least one stand thread is provided on the instrument body. Other types of instruments have two or three stand threads which are offset relative to each other by 90xc2x0. These stand threads not only increase the size of the instruments bodies, but they also apply a mechanical load which means that the instrument body must be of very sturdy construction. As a result, the laser level instrument becomes unnecessarily heavy and expensive. This is an unsatisfactory situation.
Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a laser level and a housing suitable for storing the laser level in a protected manner which are of such a construction that the laser level can be of very small size without impairing its usefulness and functionality.
In accordance with the present invention, one of the two housing parts has receptacles for the legs, wherein the receptacles are integrally formed on the inner side of the bottom of the housing part. The other housing part has receptacles for the legs integrally formed in the outer side of the cover of the housing part. The other housing part also has at the inner side thereof at least one stand thread.
Because of the receptacles for the legs of the laser instrument integrally formed on the inner side of one housing part, the laser instrument is secured against displacement and damage during the transport thereof. However, the significant advantage of the present invention resides in the configuration of the other housing part. This other housing part has on its inner side a stand thread, so that the laser instrument itself no longer requires a stand thread. After the housing part has been screwed onto the stand, the laser instrument is placed with its legs into the appropriate receptacles in the form of recesses, so that the laser instrument is placed in a secure and stable manner and can be easily operated.
Consequently, the housing not only meets the conventional protective function, but the housing also partially carries out functions of the laser level itself. The legs and the receptacles are preferably constructed in such a way that a locked connection is produced. This means that the laser instrument is placed in an optimum secure manner on the housing part.
In accordance with an advantageous further development of the invention, the stand thread is in alignment with the receptacle for the fixed leg. This ensures that no harmful axial offset is produced during rotation of the housing part and the laser instrument.
In accordance with another further development of the invention, at least one of the housing parts has means, particularly in the form of eyes or slots, for attaching the housing part to a wall. It does not constitute a problem if the attachment to the wall is not exactly horizontal because the laser instrument placed on the housing part can be adjusted or levelled by means of its vertically adjustable legs and its bubble levels.
In accordance with an advantageous feature, one of the housing parts has receptacles, for example, for a prism, for replacement batteries and the like, integrally formed to the inner side of the housing part.
In accordance with a further development of the invention, the other housing part has supports, for example, for the prism, the replacement batteries, and the like, integrally formed to the inner side thereof.
It is understood that the two housing parts must be securely connected to each other during the transport thereof. Simultaneously, it must be possible to quickly separate the two parts. These two requirements are met in an optimum manner by providing resilient locking projections and corresponding locking grooves at the housing parts.
If a housing type is desired which is composed of a single piece, the two housing parts can be connected to each other in an articulated manner by means of hinges, particularly film-type hinges. Alternatively, it is also possible to provide an embodiment in which the two housing parts can be closed in the manner of drawers.
The two housing parts are preferably manufactured of plastics material. Of course, the material used must be as impact resistant as possible. This makes it possible to shape the housing in such a way that it provides an optimum protective function while requiring as little material as possible.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

Stabila-Messgerxc3xa4te Gustav Ullrich GmbH


An internal voltage generation circuit includes a plurality of active driving units configured to supply a plurality of active power supply voltages to a plurality of voltage terminals, respectively, in an active mode, and a common standby driving unit configured to commonly supply a standby power supply voltage to the plurality of voltage terminals in a standby mode.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a semiconductor design technology, and more particularly, to an internal voltage generation circuit which operates in a standby mode and an active mode.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor devices generally are provided with power by an external power supply voltage. The semiconductor devices generate an internal power supply voltage based on the external power supply voltage. For this reason, a semiconductor device includes an internal voltage generation circuit for generating an internal power supply voltage. The semiconductor device may include a plurality of internal voltage generation circuits. Each of the internal voltage generation circuits may supply the intern power supply voltage to the corresponding region of the semiconductor device.
Meanwhile, a semiconductor device operates in a standby mode and an active mode. Here, the standby mode means an operation mode where the semiconductor device prepares to enter the active mode in response to an active command while using a minimum amount of power. The active mode means an operation mode where the semiconductor device performs a read operation or a write operation.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional internal voltage generation circuit.
Referring to FIG. 1, the internal voltage generation circuit includes a peripheral power supply voltage generation unit 110 and a main power supply voltage generation unit 120.
The peripheral power supply voltage generation unit 110 supplies a power supply voltage VPERI1 or VPERI2 to a circuit disposed in a peripheral region and the peripheral power supply voltage generation unit 110 includes a peripheral standby driver 111 and a peripheral active driver 112 responding to mode control signals MD_STB and MD_ACT.
The main power supply voltage generation unit 120 supplies a power supply voltage VMAIN1 or VMAIN2 to a circuit disposed in a main region and the main power supply voltage generation unit 120 includes a main standby driver 121 and a main active driver 122 responding to the mode control signals MD_STB and MD_ACT. Here, the peripheral power supply voltage generation unit 110 and the main power supply voltage generation unit 120 are disposed separately, and the peripheral power supply voltage generation unit 110 drive a peripheral power supply voltage terminal V_PRI in a standby mode and an active mode, whereas the main power supply voltage generation unit 120 drives a main power source voltage terminal V_MN.
As described above, since the internal voltage generation circuit has an independent structure, that is, respective voltage generation units for the voltage supply terminals, the internal voltage generation circuit may prevent a power drop from occurring in the active mode. Even if a power supply voltage drop may occurs, the internal voltage generation circuit may be easy to make the power supply voltage rebound back to a target voltage. However, since the internal voltage generation circuit has the independent structure, the independent structure may increase the amount of standby current by excessively supplying a power supply voltage in the standby mode.

Internal voltage generator and operation method thereof


The present invention relates to a vehicle automatic light control and battery protection having a microcontroller. The novelty rests in obtaining the information on the different positions of the main light switch by sensing the change in voltage at a predetermined end of each of the sensing resistors of predetermined values, said predetermined end being connected to a predetermined contact terminal of a number of pairs of contact terminals of controlled switches which are inserted in series with the light circuits at physical locations predetermined to be convenient for tile installation of the invention on each vehicle. This novelty makes it very inexpensive to provide many beneficial operations in turning off with different delays the head lights, park lights, and dome lights, as well as to provide automatic battery protection against any routinely used lights when they are inadvertently left on, without using any confusing additional switches as in prior art. Legal daytime running lights, resetable electronic circuit breaker and compact ignition switch transducer, readily includable at low cost, further enhance tile viability of the invention.

This invention relates to a novel and improved attachment adaptable easily to the majority of vehicles to assist the users of said vehicles in turning on and off the different sets of lights of said vehicles in a logical and friendly way. It provides also, at zero additional cost, automatic battery protection and daytime running lights to the majority of vehicles presently made without these critical safety features.

Automatic light control and battery protection on a vehicle


There is provided a method for privacy protection including: intercepting at least part of network traffic from a client device; analysing network traffic data of the intercepted network traffic to identify any elements indicative of a website visitor tracking process; analysing the one or more elements indicative of the website visitor tracking process to identify any tracking fields comprising user specific data; selecting random tracking field data accepted by the website visitor tracking process and replacing the user specific data of the one or more tracking fields with the selected random tracking field data respectively.

Website visitor tracking is used to analyse visitor behaviour on a website. The use of tracking can be controversial when this relates to private individuals. The problems with over tracking are clear: excessive tracking wastes time and bandwidth: third-party trackers follow individuals around the web wherever they go and it is not clear to everyone how companies really use the data they acquire by tracking, where is it stored and who has access to it.
There are already different ways to block tracking. However, really sophisticated trackers are persistent enough to find another way to extract the data content they want. Being bombarded with these more persistent tracking URLs when the initial tracking URL was blocked and did not return to the tracking server is becoming more and more common. Eventually, after all the persistent methods have been used, the remote tracking server will still have an accurate tracking profile of the user. Blocking tracking cookies altogether may also cause other problems. For example, certain webpages may only load properly when the tracking information was properly sent and received by a tracking server. One attempt to solve problems with tracking is to send random cookie data to the tracking servers instead of blocking cookie sending. However, sophisticated tracking servers are able to detect fake data that is not being expected.
There is a need for protecting user privacy so as to make the online experience of the user still smooth while tracking is available and for example cookies can still be used while at the same time user's privacy is kept safe and any data received by tracking servers can no longer be correctly linked to the user.


For hand comfort in carrying items with handles such as tote bags, plastic bag with handles formed as openings, paper shopping bag with attached round cord handles, wire baskets, coat hangers and the like, an inexpensive add-on handle-sheath is formed in one embodiment from flexible plastic in an elongated extrudable shape of suitable length having a transverse cross-sectional shape defining an upwardly-facing V-shaped entry channel with pair of guidewalls converging downwardly to a narrowed throat leading to a wider conduit region in a bottom portion of the add-on handle for holding a pair of bag handles. The add-on handle-sheath is easily fitted to a tote bag by directing the two bag handles downwardly in the entry channel, through the throat and into the conduit region, where they become effectively but removably captivated in the add-on handle-sheath. Disclosed are a number of alternative extrudable cross-sectional configurations in which the invention can be made and practiced in different materials, and embodiments are shown for use with one or more wire handles of items such as wire baskets and coat hangers.

Inexpensive tote bags of various types are commonplace: two main categories are (1) soft plastic bags with a pair of cutout areas near the top forming two loops from the plastic bag material itself to serve as bag handles for hand carrying, and (2) paper shopping bags with an attached pair of carrying handles typically made from some form of cord having a diameter about 1/8 inch or less. Such minimal handle provisions are adequate for only light loads and short periods of time: if heavily loaded such handles quickly become unacceptably uncomfortable to the hand due to the very high p.s.i pressures concentrated on a very small area of the hand. They often leave skin impressions and marks which are painful, annoying and potentially harmful even if not permanent. Since such bags are generally regarded as throwaway items, cost constraints preclude providing the bags originally with handles of any higher quality. Thus there is an unfulfilled need for an inexpensive add-on handle-sheath that can be easily attached onto and detached from handles of tote bags, wire baskets, coat hangers, etc., and that can be re-used indefinitely.

Detachable add-on tote-bag handle-sheath


A squaring machine has an elongate housing with a rotatable spindle extending from one end thereof and attached to which is a tool for squaring the end of work piece. At the opposite end of the housing are first and second feed members, the first feed member in the form of a screw which is locked against axial movement within the housing, and the second feed member in the form a nut which is locked against rotation with respect to the housing. The feed nut is rotatably connected to an end of the spindle such that rotation of the feed screw will cause axial movement of the spindle. Also, the machine includes a first and second removable retainers, each of which has a pair of opposing jaws for clamping around a cylindrical work piece, however, the jaws of the first retainer are for grasping a work piece of a different size than the jaws of the second retainer. Within each of the pairs of jaws are a pair of replaceable shoes and each of the pairs of replaceable shoes is adapted to retain a work piece of a different size, such that the machine can be used to square a wide range of sizes of work pieces. In a second embodiment, a collet for retaining a work piece comprises a plurality of wedge segments, and each of the wedge segments has inner and outer surfaces which, when the segments are assembled, form a collet having a cylindrical bore and a frustoconical outer surface, and the segments are retained in aligned relationship within a nut attachable to the machine.

Tube squaring machines are required to precision cut a square surface at the end of a piece of pipe or a tube, such that a precision weld can be made for attachment of the pipe or tube end to a fitting or to an adjacent length of pipe or tube. Similarly, squaring machines are used to cut a square surface at the end of a fitting for the attachment of a fitting to a length of pipe or tube. In many cases, a tube or fitting must have a square end and the cut must be to an exact length.
Existing squaring machines grip the end of the tube in a collet to hold the axis of the tube aligned with the axis of a rotating cutter which will remove a portion of the metal at the end of the tube, such that the end thereof will be square. Existing squaring machines, however, do not have a means for precision indexing the feed of the tool, and the feed of such machines can not be adjusted to remove a predetermined amount of metal. An operator will frequently perform a series of machining operations, each time shearing off a small portion of the metal of the tube, removing the tube from the machine to measure its length, and then machine off more metal until the desire length of the tube has been reached. If care is not exercised, too much metal may be removed and the piece rendered useless.
In existing squaring machines, the feed is controlled by a handle which rotates a cam to move the tool against a work piece. Such cam operated feeds to not provide a linear relationship between the advancement of the feed and the angle of the handle, and as a result, the operator can not determine the distance that the feed has advanced by observing the angle through which the handle has been rotated.
Furthermore, to cut a square end to a piece of pipe or tubing, existing machines have a collet retainer at the end of the machine for receiving a collet to clamp the end of the tube in the desired orientation. Such retainers have a tapered bore into which a complementary shaped frustoconical collet is fitted, and a nut is threaded over one end of the retainer to force the collet within the tapered bore to compress it around a pipe or tube. To retain the end of a work piece in such a squaring machine, one must first slide the retaining nut over the work piece, fit the end of the work piece into a collet, fit the collet with the work piece therein into the tapered bore of the machine, and finally, tighten the nut against the collet.
Existing squaring machines also have a collet retainer of a given size, such that the maximum inner diameter of the pipe or tube which may be fitted into the machine is limited by the maximum diameter of the collet which the retainer on the machine can receive. On the other hand, the minimum diameter of a piece of tubing which can be squared by such machines is limited to the minimum diameter of a piece of tubing which can be grasped by a collet having a given outer diameter. As a result, if one wishes to square the ends of a wide range of sizes of tubes, one must use a plurality sizes of tube squaring machines.
Existing collets are generally made of a unitary piece of metal having elongate slots in the length thereof, such collets permit little expansion of the inner diameter from the compressed position in which the collet is locked against the outer surface of a work piece, and the relief position, in which the work piece can be removed from the collet.
It would be desirable to provide a squaring machine for which the feed can be accurately measured and controlled. Also, it would be desired to provide a squaring machine which can be used to square the ends of tubing, or fittings, having a wide range of sizes.
It would also be desirable to provide a collet for use in such a machine in which the expanded, relief position thereof is substantially larger than the compressed locked position, and further provide a collet which can be more easily fitted around a work piece than existing collets.

Squaring machine for various sized tubes


The apparatus for trimming a layer of back fat off a pork shoulder butt comprises a frame as well as a flat, flexible and arcuate cutting blade with two ends respectively attached to a pair of blade holders pivotally mounted onto the frame. A conveyor, a set of upper gripper belts, and a rotative roller pass the shoulder butt through the blade to trim off the layer of fat. The rotative roller has a diameter gradually decreasing along its longitudinal axis from each end of the roller toward the center thereof to define an annular, concave outer surface. This roller is mounted onto the frame adjacent the arcuate blade on the outside of the curve this blade defines but with a distance separating the annular surface and the blade to enable passage of the layer of fat between them. The annular outer surface of the roller is formed with teeth to engage the fat whereby rotation of the roller forces the shoulder butt through the blade. The two blade holders are pivoted to adjust the arcuation in the blade and the distance separating the annular concave surface and this blade to an inner profile and a thickness of the layer of fat whereby trimming of the latter layer is optimized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is concerned with an apparatus for trimming a layer of fat off a piece of meat, in particular but not exclusively a layer of back fat off a pork shoulder butt, for example of the Boston style.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
An apparatus of the above type is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,546,737 (NEEBEL ET AL.) issued on Dec. 15, 1970. This prior art apparatus comprises a conveyor for receiving an animal side, more particularly a pork side, and for conveying it through a knife in the form of a U-shaped, flat flexible cutting blade. The pork side is positioned onto the conveyor with the backbone up and the thicker end thereof is forced against a side rail; the pork side is held in this position during transport thereof onto the conveyor. A first end of the flexible blade is pivotally mounted onto a mechanical linkage itself pivotally attached to the frame of the apparatus, while the second end of this blade is fixedly secured to an mechanical assembly rotatable about a vertical shaft. As the pork side is conveyed, the first end of the blade is moved laterally and vertically through pivoting of the mechanical linkage while the second end thereof is twisted and moved backward through rotation of the mechanical assembly to thereby enable the knife to follow the inner profile of the layer of back fat on the pork side whereby trimming of this fat layer is optimized.
A drawback of the apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 3,546,737 is the complexity of its structure and operation due to the contemplated application, namely to trim the back fat off an entire pork side; one end of the blade is moved laterally and vertically while the other end thereof is twisted and displaced backward to follow the inner profile of the layer of fat. In addition, a side rail and other elements associated therewith are required to position the pork side as it is conveyed through the blade. Obviously, the conveyor of NEEBEL et al. also lacks efficiency in forcing the pork side through the knife blade.

Apparatus for trimming back fat off a pork shoulder butt


An apparatus (62) and method for supporting a web (22) of paper being transferred through a region (40) from the surface (26) of one moving component (24) of a papermachine (20) to the surface (30) of a subsequent moving component (28) of the papermachine utilizes an air-permeable sheet (70) and a blowbox (86) or Coanda air knives (38) supported adjacent the air-permeable sheet. The sheet is supportable in a stationary condition across so as to span at least a portion of the papermachine region through which the moving web of paper is transferred and adjacent one side (72) of the web, and the blowbox or Coanda air knives are used to move air away from the side (72) of the air-permeable sheet opposite the web so that as the web is moved through the papermachine region, the web is biased by atmospheric air pressure into contact with the air-permeable sheet and moves in sliding engagement therealong.

This invention relates generally to papermachines used in the making of paper and relates, more particularly, to the means and methods for supporting a web of paper as the web is moved through the papermachine. The invention addressed herein is particularly relevant in the making of tissue paper (i.e. a lightweight paper grade), but can also be used in the making of any grade of paper within a large range of paper grades.
As a web of paper is moved through a papermachine during production of the paper, the web contacts various surfaces of the papermachine components, such as dryer cylinders, transfer rolls and permeable carrier mediums (e.g. fabrics, wires, or felts), which provide support and stability to the moving web. However, there commonly exists open draws between surfaces of adjacent papermachine components through which the web is required to move without contact from any papermachine component. Such an open draw may, for example, be present between the off-running side of a dryer cylinder and a moving carrier medium or an equivalent surface to which the web is transferred from the cylinder or between the off-running end of a moving carrier medium and the surface of a subsequent transfer roll. Consequently, as the web moves through such an open draw, the web is devoid of any external support which would help stabilize the web. It would be desirable to provide an apparatus for use in a region of a papermachine where such an open draw would otherwise be present and which provides support and stability to the web as it moves through the region.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved means for supporting a web of paper as the web is moved between adjacent components of a papermachine where there would otherwise exist an open draw through which the web is moved and a method of supporting the web as it is moved between the papermachine components and method of supporting the web as it is moved between the papermachine components.
Another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved means for providing support and stability to a web as it moves through a region of a papermachine wherein no external support has heretofore been provided to the moving web as it moves through the region.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide such a means which reduces the likelihood that the web will pull itself apart (due, for example, to the weight and water content of the web) or experience undesirable movements, such as flutter, as the web is transferred between successive components of a papermachine which could result in a web break or adversely affect the quality of the paper being produced.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a means which helps to confine the movement of the web along an intended path of movement thereby reducing the likelihood of a web break as a result of the web moving out of its intended path of movement.
A further object of the present invention is to provide such a means which is particularly well-suited for supporting a web of tissue paper as the web is moved between adjacent components of a tissue machine where there would otherwise exist a open draw.
One more object of the present invention is to provide such a means which is uncomplicated in construction yet effective in operation.
This invention resides in an apparatus and method for supporting a web of paper moving through a transfer region of a papermachine through which region the moving web is transferred from the surface of one component of the papermachine to the surface of a subsequent component of the papermachine.
The apparatus includes an air-permeable sheet supportable in a stationary condition across at least a portion of the papermachine region through which the moving web of paper is transferred from one component of the papermachine to a subsequent component of a papermachine and so that as the web is moved through the papermachine region, the web moves along one side of the air-permeable sheet. Also included within the apparatus are means for creating a zone of sub-atmospheric pressure adjacent the side of the air-permeable sheet opposite the web so that as the web is moved through the papermachine region, the web is biased, by air pressure, into contact with the air-permeable sheet and moves in sliding engagement therealong.
The method of the invention includes the steps of positioning the air-permeable sheet in the stationary condition across at least a portion of the papermachine region and then creating a zone of sub-atmospheric pressure adjacent the side of the air-permeable sheet opposite the web of paper so that as the web is moved through the papermachine region, the web is biased, by air pressure, into contact with the air-permeable sheet and moves in sliding engagement therealong.

Web support and transferring a paper web between papermachine components


Fracture initiation and propagation during drilling are prevented or inhibited by including an effective amount of a specially sized solid particulate loss prevention material in the drilling fluid prior to encountering formation breakdown in a susceptible zone.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to drilling of wells, and more particularly to a method of inhibiting the initiation and propagation of fractures in susceptible zones as the drilling progresses.
In the drilling of a well into the earth by rotary drilling techniques, conventionally a drilling fluid is circulated from the surface of the earth down a drill string having a drill bit on the lower end thereof and through ports provided in the drill bit to the well bottom and thence back to the surface through the annulus formed about the drill string. Commonly, drilling fluids are employed that are either oil or water based. These fluids are treated to provide desired rheological properties which make the fluids particularly useful in the drilling of wells.
A problem often encountered in the drilling of a well is the loss of unacceptably large amounts of drilling fluid into subterranean formations penetrated by the well. This problem is often referred to generally as "lost circulation," and the formations into which the drilling fluid is lost are often referred to as "lost circulation zones" or "thief zones". Various causes may be responsible for the lost circulation encountered in the drilling of a well. For example, a formation penetrated by the well may exhibit unusually high permeability or may contain fractures or crevices therein. In addition, a formation may simply not be sufficiently competent to support the hydrostatic pressure applied by the drilling fluid and may break down under this hydrostatic pressure and allow the drilling fluid to flow thereinto.
It is this latter situation where the formation is broken down by the hydrostatic pressure of the drilling fluid to which the present invention is addressed. One of the limiting factors in drilling a particular portion of a well is the mud weight (density of the drilling fluid) that can be used. If too high a mud weight is used, fractures are created in lost-circulation zones with resulting loss of drilling fluid and other operating problems. On the other hand, if too low a mud weight is used, encroachment of formation fluids can occur, borehole collapse may occur due to insufficient hydrostatic support, and in extreme cases safety can be compromised due to the possibility of a well blowout. In many cases, wells are drilled through weak or lost-circulation-prone zones prior to reaching a potential producing zone, requiring use of a low mud weight and installation of sequential casing strings to protect weaker zones above a potential producing zone. If a higher weight mud could be used in drilling through weaker or depleted zones, then there is a potential for eliminating one or more casing strings in the well. Elimination of even one casing string from a well provides important savings in time, material and costs of drilling the well.
Thus, there is a need for a method of drilling wells using higher mud weight than could normally be used without encountering formation breakdown problems.
2. The Prior Art
Prior art techniques for dealing with formation breakdown have been remedial in nature, rather than preventive as in the case of the present invention.
Numerous techniques have been developed to control lost circulation. One common technique involves increasing the viscosity of the drilling fluid to increase its resistance to flow into the formation. Another technique involves the addition of bulk material, such as cottonseed hulls, sawdust, or ground walnut shells, to the drilling fluid. In addition, asphaltic materials including gilsonite have been added to both water base and oil base fluids to prevent the loss of drilling fluid from the well into surrounding formations. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,773,670 to Miller, there is taught a method of correcting lost circulation by adding asphaltic material to drilling fluids. These materials are added to the drilling fluid in the form of discrete particles and are suspended as such in the fluid where they are carried down the drill pipe and thence via the annulus between the pipe and the well bore to the lost circulation zone. Upon reaching the lost circulation zone, due in part at least to the elevated temperatures and pressures found in the well, the asphalt particles attach themselves to the formation and are fused or bonded to one another and to the formation structure to form an effective seal against the passage of drilling fluid into the formation.
The use of gilsonite in suitable granular form in an aqueous carrier liquid for correcting lost circulation is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 2,812,161 to Mayhew. The granules of gilsonite are simply mixed with a portion of aqueous drilling mud and pumped into the well bore so that the mud will carry the gilsonite granules to the leaking strata and force them into the crevices therein. In accordance with Mayhew, the effective concentration of the granular gilsonite in the aqueous liquid carrier ranges from as little as 10 to as much as 50 pounds per barrel (ppb) of the mixture for most common cases of lost circulation, and for severe conditions this concentration may be increased to as much as 100 pounds per barrel.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,573,690 to Cardwell et al. there is described a method of treating earth formations wherein a filler, which is a solid substance in granular form in two ranges of particle size, one being coarse and corresponding in size to the channel fissures and cracks, the other comparatively fine and corresponding in size to the particles of the formation to be consolidated, is used in conjunction with an earth consolidating resin-forming liquid mixture. Among those substances suggested as filler are walnut shells, pecan shells, coconut shells, and gilsonite.
Other granular materials used in the control of loss of fluid into formations include coal and coke. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,650,195 to Cardwell et al., there is disclosed a method of controlling the loss of fluid into formations by providing a cohesive resinous coating upon filterable inert solid particles which are added to the fluid so as to form a filter cake of self-bonding particles when a thief zone is encountered. Various filler materials which are disclosed include coke, coal, cinders, and nut shells. The "coke" which has been used in these prior art techniques has been derived from coal by subjecting coking coal to partial oxidation in coke ovens.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,788,406 to Messenger describes addition of an emulsifying agent and a large amount of ground coal or asphaltic oil-wettable granular particles to control lost circulation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,174 to Whitfill et al. describes a method of correcting lost circulation, after it has been encountered, by adding particulate petroleum coke particles in a specific size range to essentially plug off openings in a thief zone.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,053,764 to Hummel et al. describes a method of controlling lost circulation by addition to the drilling fluid of a mixture of large particles of coke and bentonite.

Method for inhibiting the initiation and propagation of formation fractures while drilling


Systems and methods for relocating executable instructions to arbitrary locations are described, in which the relocation of the instructions may be arbitrary or random, and may operate on groups of instructions or individual instructions. Such relocation may be achieved through hardware or software, and may use a virtual machine, software dynamic translators, interpreters, or emulators. Instruction relocation may use or produce a specification governing how to relocate the desired instructions. Randomizing the location of instructions provides defenses against a variety of security attacks. Such systems and methods may provide many advantages over other instruction relocation techniques, such as low runtime overhead, no required user interaction, applicability post-deployment, and the ability to operate on arbitrary executable programs.

Computer software controls many major aspects of modern life, including air travel, power distribution, banking, medical treatment, traffic control, and a myriad of other essential infrastructures. Unfortunately, weaknesses in software code (such as memory corruption, fixed-width integer computation errors, input validation oversights, and format string vulnerabilities) remain common. Via these weaknesses, attackers are able to hijack an application's intended control flow to violate security policies by exfiltrating secret data, allowing remote access, bypassing authentication, eliminating services, or other techniques.
Unfortunately, modern deployed defenses fail to thoroughly mitigate these threats, even when composed. Some techniques may randomize the addresses to a limited extent used in a program, but unfortunately only some addresses are randomized in modern implementations, and only randomize the base address of loaded functions or modules, not each address within the module. Thus, prior techniques are vulnerable to information-leakage and entropy-exhausting attacks. Other techniques delineate code from data to prevent code-injection attacks. However, arc-injection attacks and various forms of return-oriented programming (ROP) attacks bypass those defensive techniques by reusing code already embedded in the program. Additionally, methods that attempt to effectively address these weaknesses require computational overhead that makes their computational cost prohibitive.
The present invention meets these needs of the many industries that rely on the security of their software, including but not limited to essential infrastructures for government, commerce, and even personal computing.

Method of instruction location randomization (ILR) and related system

University of Virginia Patent Foundation


Hydroxyaromatic compounds such as phenol are carbonylated with oxygen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a Group VIIIB metal, preferably palladium; an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal halide, preferably sodium bromide; and a promoter compound which is at least one C.sub.2-8 aliphatic or C.sub.7-10 aromatic mono- or dinitrile, preferably acetonitrile or adiponitrile. The catalyst system also preferably contains a compound of a non-Group VIIIB metal, preferably lead.

This invention relates to the preparation of diaryl carbonates by oxidative carbonylation. More particularly, it relates to the improvement of diaryl carbonate yield in the carbonylation reaction.
Diaryl carbonates are valuable intermediates for the preparation of polycarbonates by transesterification with bisphenols in the melt. This method of polycarbonate preparation has environmental advantages over methods which employ phosgene, a toxic gas, as a reagent and environmentally detrimental chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride as solvents.
Various methods for the preparation of diaryl carbonates by an oxidative carbonylation (hereinafter sometimes simply "carbonylation" for brevity) reaction of hydroxyaromatic compounds with carbon monoxide and oxygen have been disclosed. In general, the carbonylation reaction requires a rather complex catalyst. Reference is made, for example, to U.S. Pat. No. 4,187,242, in which the catalyst is a Group VIIIB metal, i.e., a metal selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium and platinum, or a complex thereof.
A further development in the carbonylation reaction, including the use of compounds of other metals such as lead or cerium as cocatalysts, is disclosed in various patents including U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,789. Also required according to that patent is the use of quaternary ammonium or phosphonium halides, as illustrated by tetra-n-butylammonium bromide, as part of the catalyst package.
The commercial viability of the carbonylation reaction would be greatly increased if a less expensive compound could be substituted for the quaternary ammonium or phosphonium halide. It has been discovered, however, that substitution of such compounds as sodium bromide normally results in the isolation of the desired diaryl carbonate in low or insignificant yield.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,543,547 and 5,726,340, the use of carbonylation catalyst systems including palladium or an analogous metal, various cocatalytic metals which may include cerium, lead or cobalt, and an alkali metal or quaternary ammonium bromide is disclosed. Also present may be materials characterized as inert solvents. These may be aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbons such as hexane, heptane or cyclohexane; chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride or chloroform; aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene or xylene; chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons such as chlorobenzene; ethers such as diethyl ether, diphenyl ether, tetrahydrofuran or dioxane; esters such as ethyl acetate or methyl formate; nitroaromatic compounds such as nitrobenzene; or acetonitrile. There is no suggestion, however, that yields of diaryl carbonate are in any way improved by the use of any of these "solvents" in a halide-containing catalyst package.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,907 discloses the use of a nitrile in combination with palladium and a manganese or copper cocatalyst. The result is an increase in yield, but yields are still too low to permit contemplation of commercial use for the disclosed catalyst systems.
It is of interest, therefore, to develop catalyst systems which include an inexpensive halide compound and which can efficiently produce diaryl carbonates.

Catalyst composition and method for producing diaryl carbonates using nitrile as promoter


A free piston engine is configured with a pair of opposed engine cylinders located on opposite sides of a fluid pumping assembly. An inner piston assembly includes a pair of inner pistons, one each operatively located in a respective one of the engine cylinders, with a push rod connected between the inner pistons. The push rod extends through an inner pumping chamber in the fluid pumping assembly and forms a fluid plunger within this chamber. Also connected between the pistons are a position sensor and a calibration position sensor that are employed to determine the position and velocity of the inner piston assembly. An outer piston assembly includes a pair of outer pistons, one each operatively located in a respective one of the engine cylinders, with at least one pull rod connected between the outer pistons. The pull rod extends through an outer pumping chamber in the fluid pumping assembly and forms a fluid plunger within this chamber. Also engaging the outer piston assembly are a position sensor and a calibration position sensor that are employed to determine the position and velocity of the outer piston assembly. The movement of the inner and outer piston assemblies during engine operation will cause the fluid plungers to pump fluid from a low pressure container into a high pressure chamber as a means of storing the energy output from the engine.

The present invention relates to free piston engines.
Conventionally, internal combustion engines have operated with the motion of the pistons mechanically fixed. For example, a conventional internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle includes a crankshaft and connecting rod assemblies that mechanically determine the motion of each piston within its respective cylinder. This type of engine is desirable because the position of each piston is know for any given point in the engine cycle, which simplifies timing and operation of the engine. While these conventional types of engines have seen great improvements in efficiency in recent years, due to the nature of the engines, that efficiency is still limited. In particular, the power density is limited because the mechanically fixed motion of the pistons fixes the compression ratio. Moreover, all of the moving parts that direct the movement of the pistons (and camshafts and engine valves as well) create a great deal of friction, which takes energy from the engine itself to overcome. The resulting lower power density means that the engine will be larger and heavier than is desired. Also, the flexibility in the engine design and packaging is limited because of all of the mechanical connections that must be made.
Consequently, is desirable, for environmental and other reasons, to have an engine with a higher power density than these conventional engines. The advantages of lighter relative weight, smaller package size, and improved fuel efficiency can be a great advantage in both vehicle and stationary power production applications.
Another type of internal combustion engine is a free piston engine. This is an engine where the movement of the pistons in the cylinders is not mechanically fixed. The movement is controlled by the balance of forces acting on each piston at any given time. Since the motion is not fixed, the engines can have variable compression ratios, which allow for more flexibility in designing the engine's operating parameters. Also, since there are no conventional crankshafts and rods attached to the crankshaft, which reduces piston side force, there is generally less friction produced during engine operation. However, since the piston motion is not mechanically fixed, the piston positions and velocities must be monitored in order to allow the control system to start and maintain engine operation. Without accurate information on the piston position and velocity, the timing for fuel injection cannot be determined.
Moreover, an opposed piston, opposed cylinder (OPOC) configuration of a free piston engine is particularly desirable due to its inherently balanced operation—with a compact layout as well. Here, there are two sets of piston assemblies that must move appropriately relative to the cylinders and to each other. Without accurate information relating to the position and velocity of the piston assemblies, the engine will not operate. However, it is not desirable to add a great deal of complexity and cost to the engine. In addition, the sensors need to be able to operate over long periods, while retaining the accuracy needed for precise engine operation, even in the harsh engine environment where high temperatures, lubrication oil, and other conditions may hamper accurate position and velocity readings. And, this accurate sensing needs to be accomplished while measuring the piston assembly positions over the entire length of a relatively long piston stroke.
Thus, in order to obtain the efficiency benefits of a free piston engine and in particular an OPOC free piston engine, it is desirable to have a reliable, accurate and relatively simple way to determine the position and velocities of the pistons as they reciprocate in the engine through their entire piston strokes.

Position sensing for a free piston engine


A flash memory is secured by disabling write access to the device, thereby preventing unauthorized updating or tampering of the contents. A cryptoengine is included in an integrated circuit (IC) with the flash memory. An attempt to write to the flash memory is successful only if a received encrypted certificate is authenticated by the cryptoengine. If not authenticated, the write enable signal line and the power applied to the flash memory are disabled.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to secure flash memory storage, and more specifically, to a system and method for using cryptographic authentication to ensure secure read and write access to a flash memory array.
2. Description of the Related Art
The advent of the Internet and the ever-increasing inter-networking of computers has enabled users to access vast amounts of information remotely. At the same time, it has made valuable data stored in the memory of the computers accessible to attack and corruption by a remote user. For example, a hacker with moderate sophistication can effectively reprogram a flash memory, which can store a computer""s BIOS or preboot functionality. To address these attacks, many encryption systems and algorithms have been developed to ensure that only authorized users can alter the data stored in memory.
Typical encryption algorithms, such as RSA or DSA public key/private key encryptions, require the remote user to present a digital certificate that must be authenticated before the remote user is authorized to read or write from the memory of a local computer. A program running on either the remote computer, the local computer or both generally performs this authentication. To perform the authentication, the program either sends information back and forth between the remote and local computers or does all the processing at one of the computers.
When the authentication information is being transmitted between the computers, the authentication information is subject to being scoped by a xe2x80x9chackerxe2x80x9d. Even when the authentication only occurs in the local computer, the program running on the local computer generates external activity that is also subject to being scoped. As a result, a hacker can effectively reprogram the memory, and in the process nullify security controls and any software-based security policy that might have been in force previously. Accordingly, the encryption and authentication should be performed in a manner that would limit or eliminate the ability for a hacker to scope the authentication information and therefore secure the data in memory from being corrupted or attacked remotely.
In a secure memory storage for a microprocessor""s firmware, updates to a memory array can use a cryptographic authentication. Using this cryptographic authentication, software attempting to gain access to the memory array, such as to overlay the contents of the memory, e.g., a xe2x80x9cflash updatexe2x80x9d, would not be afforded access to the programming, or write enable signals of the memory array without the proper cryptographic credentials.
Briefly, consistent with the present invention, an integrated circuit, comprises a memory for receiving data information including at least an encrypted digital certificate, an enable signal that enables an operation to be performed on the memory and a power signal that powers the memory, a cryptoengine, coupled to the memory, for receiving the encrypted digital certificate included in the data information, authenticating the received digital certificate, and producing a secure signal in response to a determination of authenticity, and first control logic, coupled to the cryptoengine and the memory, for selectively coupling at least one of the enable signal and the power signal to the memory in response to the secure signal, wherein the at least one of the enable signal and the power signal are not coupled to the memory if the secure signal is not produced by the cryptoengine.
In a further aspect of the present invention, a method for securing a memory, which includes a memory and a cryptoengine and is implemented on an integrated circuit, comprises the steps of receiving, at the memory, data information including at least an encrypted digital certificate, an enable signal that enables an operation to be performed on the memory and a power signal that powers the memory, authenticating the received digital certificate with the cryptoengine, producing a secure signal in response to a determination of authenticity, and selectively coupling at least one of the enable signal and the power signal to the memory in response to the secure signal, wherein the at least one of the enable signal and the power signal are not coupled to the memory if the secure signal is not produced.


A wall panel comprises a base layer comprising fiberglass board, an intermediate layer comprising molded fiberglass board, and a facer layer comprising glass textile. The wall panel provides consumers with greater options and flexibility in terms of room aesthetics as well as provides additional advantages over current basement finishing systems having fabric facer layers.

As used herein, the terms "finish", "finishing" and "finished" refer to the process of installing, and a room that has, a new wall surface. One example of a common method of finishing a room, such as a residential basement room having a cinder block wall, involves the attachment of wood studs roughly every 16 to 24 inches to the cinder block wall and the attachment of a wall surface such as drywall or paneling to the wood studs by attachment means such as nails or screws. Generally, insulation such as glass fiber insulation batts are placed between the wall and the wall surface before attachment of the wall surface to the wood studs, or a granular or loose-fill fibrous insulation is poured or blown in to the space between the wall and the wall surface after the wall surface is attached to the wood studs.
However, the above method, which is relatively time consuming to perform, is relatively costly for a contractor and thus a homeowner. Further, when a homeowner finishes a room such as a basement, i.e., in a do-it-yourself project, the homeowner often has limited experience performing the above method, and generally desires to spend as little as possible in materials to complete the project. The above method thus has the disadvantage that it requires a certain level of sophistication and ability with respect to building techniques.
Further, the attachment means common in such methods produce a finished wall structure that is relatively non-modular, i.e., in which it is very difficult to remove and then replace a wall panel in an aesthetically acceptable manner. Such modularity can be desirable to check for moisture behind the panel (especially in a new home), or to replace the panel with another panel such as a decorative panel or a mirror.
The above method has the additional disadvantage in that it results in a relatively hard, dense material such as drywall exposed to the room. Such material often is relatively reflective of acoustic energy at a wide midrange of frequencies, and the structure can thus have less desirable acoustics.
The Owens Corning Basement Finishing System™ addresses some of the disadvantages of the above method. However, the facer of the Owens Corning Basement Finishing System™, which faces an interior of the room being finished, is fabric (i.e., vinyl fabric). Many consumers find the fabric facer aesthetically unpleasing and consumers are unable to change the look of the fabric facer once installed. Accordingly, what is needed is a basement finishing system that provides consumers with greater options and flexibility in terms of room aesthetics as well as provides additional advantages over current basement finishing systems.


Cis-platinum (II) complexes wherein platinum (II) coordinates 1,2-diamino-cyclohexane (cis-, trans-l-or trans-d-) are disclosed. The complexes exhibit anti-tumor activity.

The present invention relates to new platinum (II) complexes.
Heretofore, many reports have been made about platinum (II) complexes and the anti-tumor activity thereof, e.g. [Chem. Biol. Interaction, vol. 5, 415-424 (1972), Bioinorg. Chem. vol. 2, 187-210 (1973). Res. Commun. Chem. Pathol. Pharacol. vol. 7, 529-538, etc.]. The present inventors, while studying cis-platinum (II) complexes of 1,2-diamino-cyclohexane (hereinafter referred to as "dac"), succeeded to resolve dac, which is used as a starting compound, into three isomers, i.e., cis-, trans-l- and trans-d-; synthesized cis-platinum (II) complexes using these isomers and found that these complexes have anti-tumor activity. These complexes, their synthesis and utility are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 775,216 filed on Mar. 7, 1977, now abandoned.
It has now been found that various other cis-platinum (II) complexes may be synthesized using the three isomers of dac as a starting compound; and these complexes exhibit strong anti-tumor activity.


A photofinishing system and method of photofinishing. The system includes a film cartridge having a strip of photosensitive film contained therein. The strip of photosensitive film comprising a support web having a back side and a front side, an emulsion layer provided on the back side of the strip of photosensitive film, and a filter array on the front side of the strip of photosensitive material of film. The system further includes a developing apparatus for developing exposed images on the strip of photosensitive film provided in the film cartridge. The developing apparatus includes holding chamber for holding and retaining the thrust film cartridge; a removal mechanism for removing the strip of film out of the cartridge; an application mechanism for applying an activator solution on the strip of photosensitive film after the film has been removed out of the film cartridge. A donor web assembly is provided which includes a supply reel having a hub around which the donor web is wound and a take-up reel for winding of the donor web from the supply reel; an activator solution supply; retrieval mechanism takes the activator solution from the activator solution supply and applies a coating of the solution on the donor web prior to the transfer section. A mechanism is provided for bringing into contact the side of the donor web having the coating into direct contact with the emulsion layer on the film.

Typical photofinishing of photosensitive film comprises a conventional wet process involving a plurality of processing tanks, each containing a processing solution in which the film is successively passed. Such conventional wet processing is relatively expensive, relatively time-consuming, and must be carefully monitored and maintained in order to ensure consistent high quality.
There has been suggested in the prior art a Bi-Mat system whereby 35 mm instant color slide film is developed. An example of such system is the PolaChrome CS 35 mm Instant Color Slide Film which incorporates a black and white emulsion layer provided on a substrate and an additive color screen which is used to produce color images. Once the film has been exposed, it is placed in a device whereby a donor strip is coated with a processing solution which is then caused to come in contact with the exposed film through the use of a pair of laminating rollers. Since the emulsion is a black and white emulsion, only a single processing solution is applied. A problem with this system is that it sacrifices film speed, D-min density, and image quality in order to obtain visually acceptable slide images.
There has also been suggested in the prior art the providing of a fully automated photofinishing device wherein a customer can walk up to the device, insert a cartridge, and have processed film shortly thereafter. An example of such system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,351 wherein a conventional wet processing system is utilized. This type of wet processing system requires care and maintenance of the chemistry in order to ensure consistent high quality.
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for photofinishing photosensitive material which is relatively simple and low cost. Additionally, the system does not require typical wet processing tanks, thereby minimizing the amount of maintenance and care required of the conventional chemistry in photofinishing and is also very rapid.

Method and apparatus for photofinishing photosensitive film


The present invention relates to novel 5-(.omega.-substituted amino-alkanoyl amino)pyrimidine derivatives, processes for producing the derivatives, and pharmaceutical compositions containing said derivatives. The compounds in the present invention have potent effects of inhibiting ACAT activity and lowering serum cholesterol. The compounds of the present invention are extremely useful for the treatment and/or prevention of arteriosclerosis or hyperlipidemia.

The present invention relates to novel substituted pyrimidine derivatives which have an amide bond in the 5-position, processes for producing the derivatives, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the pyrimidine derivatives for the treatment and/or prevention of arteriosclerosis or hyperlipidemia.
In recent years, arteriosclerosis has been recognized as a rapidly increasing disease in circulatory disorder, and is also given much attention as a basal lesion for serious disease. Arteriosclerosis causes various ischemic diseases or bleeding, for example, the ischemic heart disease due to coronary atherosclerosis, such as angina pectoris and myocardial infarction the cerebrovascular disease due to cerebrovascular arteriosclerosis, such as cerebral infarction and cerebral apoplexy, the optic nerve atrophy and hydrocephalia due to compression by cerebral arteriosclerosis, nephrosclerosis due to kidney arteriosclerosis, and aneurysm and arteriosclerosis obliterans due to stenosis in the lumen of the aorta and peripheral artery. Such diseases and occasionally fatal. It is generally said that hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, obesity, diabetes and the like contribute to arteriosclerosis, especially pultaceous atherosclerosis. It is also known that cholesterinosis, calcinosis and foam cells derived from macrophages or vascular smooth muscle cells appear in sclerosis lesions. However, a clear mechanism for arteriosclerosis has not been elucidated, hence sufficient treatment and/or prevention of arteriosclerosis have yet to be established. In order to treat these diseases, drugs which can decrease serum cholesterol has been developed. Colestyramine and melinamide, which are inhibitors of cholesterol absorption from the intestine, and clofibrate, which partially facilitates cholesterol metabolism, are typical examples. As the mechanism of transport of serum cholesterol is gradually understood, drugs which regulate the balance of serum cholesterol level have also been developed. However, these drugs have not been effective in the prevention or treatment of arteriosclerosis. The development of drugs which lower the serum cholesterol level by the inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, squalene epoxidase inhibitors) has also been progressed. On the other hand, drugs that are antagonistic to platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) which inhibit the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, and drugs which prevent macrophage infiltration to the arterial wall and the formation of foam cell, are also given much attention as a remedy for arteriosclerosis. Especially, in the stud of arteriosclerosis lesions, macrophage which transform into foam cell after scavenging degenerated lipids has been recognized as an essential factor which links hyperlipidemia to arteriosclerosis. It has also been said that the acyl-CoA cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) plays an important role on the onset of arteriosclerosis. That is to say, ACAT facilitates dietary cholesterol absorption from the intestine by esterification of free cholesterol at the intestinal mucosa. Furthermore, it is indicated that ACAT contributes to the formation of deposit of cholesterol esters derived from the above macrophage in the arterial wall. Therefore, ACAT inhibitors have been expected to lowering the level of serum lipids, and have been used for the treatment and/or prevention of arteriosclerosis.
Until now, various kinds of drugs for the treatment of arteriosclerosis have been developed, and some compounds directed to ACAT inhibition are described in JP-A-60 41655 and JP-A-2 117651. However, the development of these compounds has been discontinued since some of the compounds did not exhibit significant efficacy in clinical studies, and others had adverse effects on the liver, despite the good effects in lowering serum cholesterol in the animal models.
Although JP-A-62 258366 and JP-A-3 120243 exhibit pyrimidineamide compounds as anti-arteriosclerotic agents with an inhibitory effect on ACAT, the structures of these compounds are distinguishable from those of the present invention, and only a portion of inhibitory activities on ACAT in a variety of animal cells in vitro is shown. Further, there is no disclosure about any toxicological study in connection with the compounds described in JP-A-62 25866 and JP-A-3 120243.
Under these circumstances, anti-arteriosclerotic agents which possess beneficial effects directly on the arterial wall with good clinical efficacy and high safety in Homo sapiens are desired.