A system for detecting the position of a seat within an automobile in which a selected number of discrete sensors S is used to detect (2xS) seat positions. This is accomplished by using an actuator which, when positioned over three sensors, activates three sensors and when positioned over two sensors, activates both sensors and when positioned over a single sensor, activates only the single sensor. A simple algorithm or logic determines position by the rule that, if a single sensor is activated the seat is positioned over the single sensor, but if two sensors are activated, the seat is positioned between those two sensors, and if none of the sensors is activated, the seat is not positioned over any of those sensors.

The present invention relates to airbags and the sensors used in determining the conditions under which an airbag is deployed.
The deployment of airbags within an automobile to protect the driver or passenger during a crash has continuously become more sophisticated. Multiple airbags or airbags with adjustable inflation parameters have been used in combination with the sensors that determine the presence, the weight, and the position of the occupant opposite an airbag. By knowing the occupant""s weight and position, algorithms can be used to tailor the deployment of an airbag either in time or intensity to the particular circumstances of a particular automobile crash and a particular occupant and that occupant""s position. Generally, such sensors are designed to increase the overall benefit derived from the presence of an airbag within an automobile. There is thus considerable incentive to add more sensors combined with more complicated deployment algorithms. On the other hand, each additional sensor adds cost and can theoretically increase the cost of maintenance by increasing the number of wires and sensors, which may need to be replaced or maintained.
The manufacturers of automobiles have always been sensitive to the fact that each part, though having only a small cost in itself, when multiplied by sometimes over a million cars of a particular type sold, can constitute a significant total cost. Hence, substantial cost savings can be realized if parts can be eliminated without decreasing functionality.
One area which it has been found desirable to monitor is the position of a seat within an automobile. The seat position gives an indication of the size of the occupant and determines, at least in part, the occupant""s position relative to one or more airbags which could be deployed. Thus the position of the seat, whether fully retracted, fully extended, or positioned somewhere in between, is supplied to a controller which uses the information in deciding how and when to deploy one or more airbags. A number of different types of sensors can be used, including those, which supply a continuous varying output depending on seat position, and those which provide discrete output indicating one or more discrete seat locations. The discrete sensors provide the possibility of greater reliability, both because such sensors tend to be inherently reliable, and because the information, which must be transmitted to the airbag deployment logic controller consists of a single logic state. Furthermore, such sensors may often be cheaper than a more sophisticated sensor capable of providing a continuously varying output with seat position.
However, the use of discrete sensors presents the problem that more sensors are needed for more precise determination of seat position. What is needed is a seat positioning system, which reduces cost and increases reliability by reducing the number of discrete sensors without decreasing the precision of seat position determination.
The seat positioning system of this invention employs a ferromagnetic vane mounted to an automobile seat on the portion of the seat track which moves, and a plurality of sensors spaced along the nonmoving seat track. The ferromagnetic vane is chosen so that it can activate one sensor if positioned over that sensor, or two sensors if it is positioned over two sensors, or three sensors if positioned over three sensors. The physical arrangement of the ferromagnetic vane and the sensors is combined with a logic within the deployment controller which determines the seat position as being either over a particular sensor when one sensor is activated, or between two sensors when both sensors are activated. In this way the number of sensors required for a particular degree of seat position resolution may be reduced. Two sensors can be used to detect four seat positions, three sensors can be used to detect six seat positions, four sensors can be used to detect eight seat positions, etc. In general, the number of seat positions that can be detected is equal to two times the number of sensors. This substantial reduction in the number of sensors required is accomplished by the addition of programming logic to the controller which adds zero incremental cost to an automobile, thus providing a cost savings without a decrease in performance. In an alternative arrangement the sensors are mounted on a moving seat and a ferromagnetic vane is mounted beneath the seat so that the vane operates one or two of the seat mounted sensors at a time.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide automobile vehicle seat positioning information at lower cost.
It is another feature of the present invention to provide an automobile car seat positioning detecting system with reduced cost without reduced performance.
It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an automobile car seat positioning detecting system which substitutes controller logic for sensing hardware.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Airbag deployment system with seat position sensors


An imaging system and detector for obtaining x-ray images of a region of interest (ROI) within an object is provided that does not require movement of the detector and/or object/patient for alignment with the x-ray source. The detector is formed with an array of detector elements disposed on a substrate that has an area larger than the area of the objects/patients to be imaged. In use, the object/patient is positioned between the x-ray source and the detector and the x-ray source is targeted at the ROI. The control mechanism determines the area of the detector aligned with the x-ray source and ROI and operates the selected detector elements in the area struck by the x-rays from the source passing through the ROI of the object/patient. The control mechanism receives image data from the area of the detector formed by the detector elements in order to form images of the ROI.

In order to obtain X-ray images of interior structures of a body, such as a piece of luggage or the body of a patient, various types of imaging systems are employed. In one prior art imaging system illustrated in FIG. 1, an exemplary radiologic imaging system 200 may include a C-arm radiography system 102 configured to acquire projection data from one or more view angles around a subject, such as a patient 104 positioned on an examination table 105 for further analysis and/or display. To that end, the C-arm radiography system 102 may include a gantry 106 having a mobile support such as a movable C-arm 107 including at least one radiation source 108 such as an x-ray tube and a detector 110 positioned at opposite ends of the C-arm 107. In exemplary embodiments, the radiography system 102 can be an x-ray system, a positron emission tomography (PET) system, a computerized tomosynthesis (CT) system, an angiographic or fluoroscopic system, and the like or combination thereof, operable to generate static images acquired by static imaging detectors (e.g., CT systems, MRI systems, etc.) prior to a medical procedure, or real-time images acquired with real-time imaging detectors (e.g., angioplastic systems, laparoscopic systems, endoscopic systems, etc.) during the medical procedure, or combinations thereof. Thus, the types of acquired images can be diagnostic or interventional.
The radiation source 108 includes an emission device configured to emit the x-ray beams 112 towards the detector 110 that includes a plurality of detector elements that may be similar or different in size and/or energy sensitivity for imaging a region of interest (ROI) of the patient 104 at a desired resolution.
The C-arm 107 may be configured to move along a desired scanning path for orienting the x-ray source 108 and the detector 110 at different positions and angles around the patient 104 for acquiring information for 3D imaging of dynamic processes. To control this motion, the C-arm system 102 includes control circuitry 114 configured to control the movement of the C-arm 107 and/or the table 105 along the different axes based on user inputs and/or protocol-based instructions. Control circuitry 114 for the system 200 may include a control mechanism 204 and associated computing device 214 configured to control position, orientation and/or rotation of the table 105, the gantry 106, the C-arm 107 and/or the components mounted thereon in certain specific acquisition trajectories.
The detector 110 may be positioned on the C-arm 107 opposite the x-ray source 108 or can be disposed on or within the table 105 below the area or region of interest of the patient 104 to be imaged. The detector 110 includes a plurality of detector elements 202, for example, arranged as a 2D detector array, for sensing the projected x-ray beams 112 that pass through the patient 104. The detector elements 202 produce an electrical signal representative of the intensity of the impinging x-ray beams 112, which in turn, can be used by the computing device 214 to estimate the attenuation of the x-ray beams 112 as they pass through the patient 104 to provide an image on a display 218, as is known. In another embodiment, the detector elements 202 determine a count of incident photons in the x-ray beams 112 and/or determine corresponding energy. Particularly, in one embodiment, the detector elements 202 may acquire electrical signals corresponding to the generated x-ray beams 112 at a variety of angular positions around the patient 104 for collecting a plurality of radiographic projection views for construction of X-ray images, such as to form fluoro image(s).
In prior art imaging systems 200, the detector 110 is stationary, either relative to the x-ray source 108, as in the illustrated system 200 of FIG. 1, or to a support for the patient 104, i.e., the table 105. By making the detector 110 stationary, it is possible to locate the patient 104, and in particular the region of interest (ROI) to be imaged, in position relative to the detector 110 and then to move the x-ray source 108 in the proper orientation relative to the detector 110 to obtain an image of the ROI.
In these prior imaging systems 200, it is often difficult to properly orient the x-ray source 108 relative to the object or patient 104 to be imaged, particularly when the ROI is covers a relatively large are of the object or patient. This results from the small size of the detectors 110 that are currently utilized, e.g., detectors 110 that are 10″×12″ or 40″×41″. Further, even when the size of the detector 110 is sufficient to encompass the entire ROI, in order to obtain sufficient images of the ROI for review, it is often necessary to move the object/patient 104 and/or the x-ray source 108 relative to the detector 110, and often to reposition the detector 110 as well, in order to position the x-ray source 108 at the desired angles relative to the ROI to obtain the proper images. The sequential nature of this process to obtain these images results in a very slow and laborious process for obtaining the images. Further, in certain situations, the object/patient 104 cannot be moved, such as where the patient 104 is in critical condition and/or has injuries that prevent the patient 104 from being able to move, which renders the imaging system 202 unable to obtain the desired images of the object/patient 104.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an imaging system and associated detector with the capability to accommodate multiple positions of the x-ray source for obtaining images of an ROI without associated movement or positioning of the detector and/or the object/patient to be imaged.

Selectable ROI and flexible detector for X-ray imaging


An image forming apparatus includes: an image former that forms on a recording material a toner image based on input image information; a fixer that fixes a toner image formed on the recording material; and a hardware processor that controls the image former and the fixer in which the hardware processor controls the image former to supply, to a region where no toner is provided between toner images based on the input image information, complementing toner having a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of toner for forming the toner image based on input image information.

Technological Field
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing an image forming program.
Description of the Related Art
In recent years, various sheets are used in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses (which include copiers, printers, facsimile machines, and multifunctional devices of these machines) that form a toner image on a sheet. To be more specific, in an image forming apparatus, not only typical sheets having a smooth surface (hereinafter referred to as smooth sheet), but also embossed sheets having irregularities on the surface are used as sheets on which to form images. Embossed sheets are used for the cover of printed materials, business cards, posters and the like, for example by utilizing the texture of various irregularities.
When printing is performed on an embossed sheet with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, however, toner is buried in a recess in the sheet-cross sectional direction in a toner transferring step, and the adhesion between the toner buried in the recess and the fixing member is disadvantageously reduced in the subsequent fixation step.
To be more specific, in the case where printing is performed on the embossed sheet, an air layer is generated between the toner buried in the recess and the fixing member, and the heat transfer from of the fixing member is inhibited by the air layer. Consequently, the fixation performance is degraded, resulting in removal of toner, transfer (smear) of toner to another member, or the like.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-78883 (hereinafter, "Patent Literature (PTL)" 1) discloses a technique of reducing the surface roughness of the recording material by use of white and/or transparent toner before forming a color toner image based on input image information for the purpose of preventing density uneveness that is caused in printing on a recording material having a large surface roughness and having no gloss or the like such as an embossed sheet.
In the technique disclosed in PTL 1, however, the color toner is applied after preliminarily reducing the roughness (irregularities) of the recording material by filling the irregularities with transparent and/or white toner, and therefore it is impossible to improve the fixation performance of the color toner while maintaining the texture of the irregularities of the sheet.
To be more specific, with the technique disclosed in PTL 1, it is necessary to apply the color toner after the recess of the recording material is sufficiently reduced by use of transparent and/or white toner to improve the fixation performance of the color toner by reducing the air layer between the recess of the sheet and the fixing member. In this case, the color toner is applied to the surface of the sheet whose irregularities are reduced as much as possible with the transparent and/or white toner, and consequently the texture of the irregularities of the sheet is inevitably impaired, and it is necessary to use a large amount of the transparent and/or white toner.

Image forming apparatus which supplies complementing toner to a region between formed toner images in which no toner is provided, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing image forming program


The invention pertains to a process for preparing a synthetic clay mineral which comprises silicon, aluminum, and at least one octahedron ion, which clay mineral has a total content of sodium and potassium of less than 0.5 wt. %, comprising the steps of

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for preparing synthetic clay minerals.
2. Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,803,026 describes a process for preparing a clay-type material in which an amorphous gel comprising silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, and, e.g., magnesium oxide is subjected to a high-temperature ageing step in an autoclave.
C.R. Acad. Sc. Paris 7 292 describes a process for preparing, int. al., clays comprising aluminum, silicon, and, e.g., magnesium by way of a co-precipitation process.
EP 0 605 044 describes a process in which a glass type material, e.g., boron glass is reacted with a source of layered ions, e.g., aluminum or magnesium.
The use of synthetic clay minerals as cracking component in catalytic applications is described, e.g., in WO 96/07477. There, catalysts are disclosed which at least comprise a hydrogenation metal component and a swelling synthetic clay composed of clay platelets having an average diameter not exceeding 1 xcexcm and an average degree of stacking not exceeding 20 sheets per stack. This reference refers to the synthetic clays of WO 96/07613 as being particularly attractive for use in catalytic applications, particularly in hydroprocessing, in view of their small particle size and low degree of stacking, which is accompanied by a large surface area and high accessibility.
In WO 96/07613 mentioned above, the synthetic clay minerals are prepared by bringing the pH of an aqueous liquid containing precursors for the clay to be prepared to a value of 3-9 and the temperature of the liquid to a value of from 60xc2x0 to 350xc2x0 C. The resulting clays have a crystalline structure with distinct peaks in the X-ray diffraction pattern at about 2"THgr"=20xc2x0, 2"THgr"=35xc2x0, and 2"THgr"=60xc2x0. They are made up of elementary three-layer platelets with dimensions from 0.01 xcexcm to 1 xcexcm, which are optionally stacked to up to 20 platelets. One particular example of such a clay material is a saponite, which, as indicated above, is a clay in which the tetravalent silicon ions of the tetrahedron layers are at least partly replaced by trivalent aluminum ions and in which the octahedral layer contains divalent ions almost exclusively.
The clay minerals prepared in accordance with WO 96/07613 typically have a sodium content of more than 0.5 wt. %. This is too high to be acceptable in hydroprocessing, and therefore the clay minerals need to be subjected to the ion exchange described above. A disadvantage of the clay minerals prepared in accordance with this reference is their poor filterability, which typically is above 2000 seconds (s), expressed as normalised filtration time. Because of this low filterability, the ion exchange takes a long time and so is difficult to perform on a commercial scale. Therefore there is need for a process to prepare synthetic clay minerals with a small platelet size and a low degree of stacking in which the problem of low filterability in effecting the ion exchange is circumvented.
The present invention fulfils the above need by providing a process which comprises the steps of
a) providing a silica-alumina with a total content of sodium and potassium of less than 2.0 wt. %
b) combining the silica-alumina with an octahedron ion source in such a manner that less than 0.1 mole of the total of sodium or potassium is added per mole of octahedron ion,
c) if necessary, adjusting the pH to a value of at least 7, with less than 0.1 mole of the total of sodium and potassium being added per mole of octahedron ion during the pH adjustment,
d) ageing the precipitate formed in c) at a temperature of 0-350xc2x0 C. in an aqueous environment
e) optionally isolating the resulting material, optionally followed by washing.
Other embodiments of the present invention encompass further details relating to the synthetic clay mineral preparation process, including further ingredients in the composition and further details concerning the process for preparation, all of which are hereinafter disclosed in the following discussion of each of those facets of the invention.
Clays minerals are layered silicates, also known as phyllosilicates. The individual clay platelets are composed of a central layer of octahedrally coordinated metal ions interlinked by oxygen ions. On either side of this so-called octahedral layer there are so-called tetrahedral layers composed of tetrahedrally coordinated metal ions linked to one another and to the octahedral layer by oxygen atoms. The metal ions in the tetrahedral layers are tetravalent. The metal ions in the octahedral layer can be trivalent or divalent. Two types of octahedral layers exist, namely the trioctahedral layer, in which all octahedral sites are filled with divalent cations, and the dioctahedral layer, in which two thirds of the octahedral sites are filled with trivalent cations and one third of the octahedral sites remain unfilled.
The above-described structure is electroneutral. However, if the structure comprises lower valency cations at the location of the tetravalent tetrahedral ions or the tri- or divalent octahedral ions, the clay platelet is negatively charged. This phenomenon is known as isomorphous substitution. For instance, in a dioctahedral layer divalent metal ions such as magnesium, zinc, or nickel may be present instead of trivalent metal ions such as aluminum. Materials with such a structure are called montmorillonites. Alternatively, in a trioctahedral layer monovalent metal ions such as lithium may be present instead of divalent metal ions such as magnesium or zinc. Materials with such a structure are called hectorites. In the tetrahedral layer trivalent metal ions, e.g., aluminum atoms, may be present instead of the tetravalent ions, generally silicon. In the case of a clay with a trioctahedral layer this material is called saponite, for a clay with a dioctahedral layer this material is called beidellite.
The negative charge resulting from isomorphous substitution is counterbalanced by the presence of cations, also known as counter-ions, in the space between the clay platelets. These counter-ions often are sodium or potassium. It is because of the negative charge caused by isomorphous substitution that clays can be advantageous for use in catalysis, since it gives them the potential to function as solid acids. However, to be able to function as solid acids, it is essential that the clay minerals comprise Brxc3x8nsted acid groups, since these are at least partially responsible for the cracking ability of these compounds. Brxc3x8nsted acid sites can be achieved by replacing the non-hydrolyzable counter-ions such as sodium or potassium with ammonium ions and then heating the whole. This process will result in ammonia desorption, leaving a proton to form a Brxc3x8nsted site. Brxc3x8nsted sites can also be introduced by replacing the counter-ions with hydrolyzable metal ions. Hydrolysis will then give hydrogen ions.
By the process of the present invention a clay material can be obtained which has a total content of sodium and potassium of below 0.5 wt. %. Therefore, it is not necessary to subject it to an ion exchange step. This is advantageous, because, as indicated above, carrying out an ion exchange on the final clay material is not attractive in view of its high normalised filtration time.
In the process of the present invention, if an ion exchange is carried out, it is carried out on the silica-alumina, before addition of the octahedron ion. Silica-aluminas can be selected to have a much better filterability than the final clay materials produced by the process of this invention, and therefore carrying out the ion exchange on the silica-alumina instead of on the final clay results in a more efficient process. The process according to the invention thus makes it possible to use relatively cheap alumina and silica sources which contain substantial amounts of the total of sodium and potassium without a cation exchange of the final clay being necessary.
Incidentally, it is noted that non-pre-published international patent application PCT/EP99/05818 filed on Jun. 24, 1999, describes a process for preparing a co-gel comprising a trivalent element which may be alumina, a tetravalent element which may be silicon, and a divalent element which may, e.g., be magnesium. The co-gel may be prepared by various processes including one described in very general terms in which in a first step sources of the trivalent and tetravalent elements are mixed, optionally precipitation takes place, the precipitate is optionally isolated and washed, a source of the divalent element is added, precipitation takes place, and the resulting precipitate is isolated. It is indicated that the optionally obtained precipitate of trivalent and divalent elements may be subjected to a cation exchange. However, this reference, which is not directed to the production of clay minerals. Further, it does not mention any requirements as to the total content of sodium and potassium of the precipitate, or any requirements as to the ageing step.
The above mentioned, U.S. Pat. No. 3,803,026 does not disclose to first prepare a silica-alumina with a specified content of sodium and potassium and then add an octaedron ion source, as is required in the present invention.
The above mentioned C.R. Acad. Sc. Paris 7 292 does not disclose to first prepare a silica-alumina with a specified content of sodium and potassium and then add an octaedron ion source, as is required in the present invention.
The above mentioned EP 0 605 044 says nothing about the sodium or potassium content of the intermediate.
The starting material for the process of the present invention is a silica-alumina with a total content of sodium and potassium of less than 2.0 wt. %. Preferably, the total of sodium and potassium of the silica-alumina is less than 0.5 wt. %, more preferably less than 0.2 wt. %, most preferably less than 0.1 wt. %. Generally, 50% or more, preferably 70% or more, more preferably 90% or more, of the aluminum in the silica-alumina is tetrahedrally coordinated, as can be determined using 27Al-MAS-NMR.
A starting silica-alumina with the required total content of sodium and potassium can be obtained by preparing a silica-alumina from starting materials which are low in these compounds. It is also possible to use a silica-alumina with a total content of sodium and potassium of more than 2.0 wt. % and to subject this material to an ion exchange which is performed in such a way as to reduce the total of sodium and potassium present in the silica-alumina to the required value. This latter process is generally preferred because it enables the use of relatively cheap alumina and silica sources. This latter silica-alumina starting material generally has a normalised filtration time of 500 s or lower, preferably of 200 s or lower, more preferably of 100 s or lower, and most preferably of 50 s or lower.
Suitable silica-aluminas, also referred to as amorphous aluminosilicates, can be obtained commercially, but they are also easily prepared in any of the various ways known to the skilled person. A silica-alumina can, e.g., be prepared by combining an aluminum source, such as sodium aluminate or aluminum sulfate, with a silica source such as sodium silicate, potassium silicate, a silica gel, or a silica sol, and, if necessary, adjusting the pH of the mixture to a value at which precipitation occurs. Other routes include providing a heel of a silica source and subsequently dosing an alumina source at a pH at which precipitation occurs or, alternatively, adding a silica source to a heel of an alumina source. Furthermore, several combinations can be used like dosing an alumina source and a silica source simultaneously to a heel of an alumina source or a heel of a silica source. A silica source and/or an alumina source can also be added at the end of the routes described above.
The term xe2x80x9cion exchangexe2x80x9d is meant to indicate any treatment by which the sodium and/or potassium ions present in the silica-alumina are replaced by ions which are the source of hydrogen ions. A cation exchange treatment can be, e.g., a cation exchange with ammonium ions or a cation exchange with hydrolyzable metal ions.
If the total content of sodium and potassium is below the required limit without an ion exchange treatment, of course an ion exchange treatment is not necessary. However, if the counter-ions of the sodium- and potassium-free silica-alumina are, e.g., metal ions with a low hydrolyzability, it may be desired to replace these metal ions partially or as a whole by hydrogen ions via, e.g., ion exchange with ammonium ions or metal ions with a higher hydrolyzability.
The silica-alumina starting material described above is combined with an octahedron ion source. In the context of the present specification the term xe2x80x9coctahedron ionxe2x80x9d refers to the ion intended to be incorporated into the octahedral layer of the final clay mineral. Suitable octahedron ions include divalent ions, for example divalent ions of magnesium, zinc, manganese, copper, or beryllium, or mixtures thereof, and/or divalent ions selected from the non-noble metals of Group VIII of the Periodic Table. In principle, monovalent or trivalent metal ions which the skilled person considers suitable for incorporation into a clay mineral octahedron layer may also be used, optionally in combination with divalent metal ions. Preferably, the octahedron ion comprises at least one ion selected from magnesium, cobalt, and nickel. Combinations of magnesium with cobalt and/or nickel and the use of magnesium alone are preferred. In general, it is preferred to use an octahedron ion which is not exclusively selected from the Group VIII non-noble metals.
The octahedron ion source is, for example, an aqueous solution obtained by dissolving a salt of the desired octahedron metal in water. Suitable salts include, for example, sulfates and nitrates.
To avoid an undesirable build-up from sodium and/or potassium in the clay mineral being synthesized, the addition of the octahedron ion source is accompanied by the addition of less than 0.1 mole, preferably less than 0.05 mole, more preferably less than 0.02 mole, of the total of sodium and potassium per mole of octahedron ion.
It may be preferred to ensure that during the addition of the octahedron ion source (step b) the pH does not increase to a value above 7, preferably not above 6.5, this to ensure that the octahedron ion does not precipitate in oxide form. This can easily be ensured by previously acidifying the silica-alumina.
Then, if necessary, the pH of the reaction mixture is adjusted to a value of at least 7, preferably 7-10, more preferably 8-9.5. Optimum pH values can be determined by the skilled person by simple routine experimentation. To avoid an undesirable build-up from sodium and/or potassium in the clay mineral being synthesized during the pH adjustment, less than 0.1 mole, preferably less than 0.05 mole, more preferably less than 0.02 mole, of the total of sodium and potassium is added per mole octahedron ion.
The precipitate formed above is subsequently aged in an aqueous environment to convert it at least partially into a clay mineral. Ageing can be done, e.g., for 0.5 to 120 hours at a temperature in the range of 0xc2x0 C. to 350xc2x0 C., preferably 0xc2x0 C. to 250xc2x0 C., the pH being kept at the desired value. When the desired reaction temperature is above the boiling point of the medium, the ageing is to be carried out under hydrothermal conditions, which, as will be evident to the skilled person, implies that the reaction is carried out in the liquid phase, with a suitable pressure being applied to maintain the liquid phase at the selected temperature. Generally, it is preferred to carry out the ageing at a temperature below 200xc2x0 C., more preferably below 150xc2x0 C., most preferably below 100xc2x0 C., since it is believed that the use of higher temperatures and corresponding pressures results in the formation of material with a lower surface area. Preferred ageing conditions include a period of 2-120 hours at a temperature of 0-100xc2x0 C., preferably 2-24 hours at a temperature of 60-100xc2x0 C., preferably 70-100xc2x0 C. It is within the scope of the skilled person to determine the optimum ageing conditions for producing synthetic clay minerals. Assuming that stoichiometric amounts of reaction components are present, one will generally produce a material with a crystallinity CA of 60% or more and a crystallinity CB of 30% or more, wherein CA and CB are determined as described in PCT/EP99/05818.
Depending on the intended further processing, the aged clay mineral can be isolated from the aqueous environment, e.g., by filtration. If so desired, the material can be washed. In this context it is noted that isolating and washing are much less intensive procedures than ammonium-exchange.
At least part of the acidity of the final clay is determined by the silica/alumina molar ratio (SAR) of the tetrahedral layer, which is in turn determined by the SAR of the silica-alumina starting material, since the silicon atoms and aluminum atoms of the silica-alumina by and large end up in the tetrahedral layer of the formed clay.
The SAR of the silica-alumina, and thus the SAR of the clay mineral, generally is at least 6, preferably at least 8. It generally is not more than 30, preferably not more than 20.
Generally, the octahedron ion is added in such an amount that the atomic ratio between the octahedron ions and the total of tri- and tetravalent metallic elements contained in the product material lies between 0.50 and 1.00, preferably between 0.60 and 0.80. As the skilled person will recognise, in a trioctahedral clay mineral the theoretical atomic ratio between octahedron ion and tetraeder ion (silica and alumina) is xc2xe. This means that the amount of octahedron ion added will regulate the amount of clay to be formed. If less than a stoichiometric amount of octahedron ion is added, not all silica-alumina will be converted, into clay, and a clay dispersed in a silica-alumina is formed. If more than a stoichiometric amount of octahedron ion is added, apart from clay, the corresponding octahedron ion oxide will also be formed.
For environmental reasons it may be preferred that the reaction mixture and the product obtained therefrom are substantially free from chlorine, fluorine, and heavy metals. That is, these materials are preferably present in an amount of less than 2 wt. %, more preferably less than 0.75 wt. %, most preferably less than 0.2 wt. %, calculated on the total solid product formed.
Optionally, the final clay material is subjected to a calcination step, optionally a flash-calcination step. This can be suitably done at a temperature of 350xc2x0-900xc2x0 C., preferably of 400xc2x0-800xc2x0 C., for a time period of generally 0.5-8 h.
The Synthetic Clay Mineral Prepared by the Process of the Present Invention
To have sufficient catalytic activity, it is essential that the clay material has a surface area of at least 300 m2/g, preferably at least 350 m2/g, and more preferably at least 400 m2/g, as determined via the BET method (ASTM-D 3663-84).
Preferably, the clay mineral has a pore size distribution as determined by nitrogen adsorption (model Broekhof, de Boer) which meets the following requirements: PV( less than 60 nm) is preferably above 0.35 ml/g, more preferably above 0.5 ml/g, even more preferably above 0.7 ml/g. PV(10-60 nm) is preferably above 0.1 ml/g, more preferably above 0.2 ml/g, and even more preferably above 0.3 ml/g.
Generally, at least 55%, preferably 70% or more, of the aluminum in the final clay is tetrahedrally coordinated, as can be determined using 27Al-MAS-NMR.
High cation exchange capacities are desirable in cracking applications. The cation exchange capacity of the clay prepared by the process of the present invention generally is at least 0.5 wt. %, preferably above 1.0 wt. %, more preferably above 2.0 wt. %. Typically, the cation exchange capacity of the final clay is less than 10 wt. %, more typically less than 5 wt %.
The total content of sodium and potassium of the clay mineral produced by the process according to the invention is less than 0.5 wt. %, preferably less than 0.2 wt. %, more preferably less than 0.1 wt. %, most preferably less than 0.75 wt. %, depending on the final use of the clay mineral produced by the process according to the invention.
The average diameter of the clay platelets is not more than 1 xcexcm, and is preferably between 1 nm and 0.5 xcexcm, more preferably in the range of 1 nm to 0.1 xcexcm, still more preferably in the range of 1 to 50 nm, and most preferably in the range of 1 to 20 nm. The average degree of stacking of the clay platelets is not more than 20 platelets per stack, preferably not more than 10 platelets per stack, more preferably not more than 5 platelets per stack, and most preferably not more than 3 platelets per stack. The lower limit, needless to say, is constituted by unstacked clay platelets, which have a xe2x80x9cdegree of stackingxe2x80x9d of 1. These parameters can be determined using electron microscopy.
The size of the clay platelets is dependent on the ageing temperature and the ageing period. The higher the ageing temperature is and the longer the ageing period, the larger the clay platelets will be. The size is also dependent on the nature of the metal ions to be incorporated into the octahedral layer. If, say, zinc ions are used, the platelets obtained will be much larger than when magnesium ions are used. The degree of stacking is dependent on the ionic strength of the solution. A high ionic strength will give much-stacked structures, while a low ionic strength will generally lead to structures exhibiting little stacking.
If so desired, the clays may be pillared. This involves providing oligomers or polymers of, say, aluminum, chromium, zirconium or titanium hydrated by cation exchange between the clay platelets. Suitable pillaring processes are described, e.g., in WO 96/07613.
The materials obtained by the process according to the invention are particularly suitable for use in catalytic applications. More specifically, they are suitable for the performance of chemical reactions catalysed by a Lewis acid or a Brxc3x8nsted acid. Examples of such reactions include (fluidised) hydrocarbon cracking, isomerisation, polymerisation, hydration of olefins, alkylation of aromatics, e.g., by Friedel Crafts, and dehydration of alcohols.
The materials prepared by the process according to the invention are particularly suitable for use in hydroprocessing of hydrocarbonaceous feedstocks. They can be incorporated into a hydroprocessing catalyst, which is then used in hydroprocessing as described in WO 96/07477. For a description of the catalyst composition reference is made to page 3, line 7, through page 13, line 10, particularly page 3, lines 8-17, through page 13, line 10 of this document. The preparation of the catalyst is described on page 13, line 11 through page 15, line 5. The use of the catalyst is described on page 15, line 7, through page 18, line 7. The materials prepared by the process according to the invention can also be applied in hydroprocessing in accordance with what is described for the co-gel in non-prepublished international patent application PCT/EP99/05818 mentioned above. For a description of the catalyst, reference is made to page 25, line 5, through page 27, line 29. For the preparation of the catalyst, reference is made to page 28, line 1, through page 29, line 25. For the use of the catalyst, reference is made to page 30, line 1, through page 33, line 15.
Additionally, the material produced by the process according to the invention can be used in the catalyst carrier described in non-prepublished international patent application PCT/EP99/05049, filed on Jul. 15, 1999. For the carrier composition, reference is made to page 3, line 5, through page 9, line 29, specifically page 3, lines 5-15, page 3, lines 25-30, page 8, line 14, through page 9, line 29. For the catalyst composition resulting from said carrier, reference is made to page 9, line 31, through page 10, line 31. For the use of this catalyst, reference is made to page 11, line 1, through page 12, line 7.
The cited items of the above-mentioned references are incorporated by reference into the present specification.
Determination of the Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)
The sample is exchanged three times with a 0.2 molar NaCl solution for one hour at a temperature of 20xc2x0 C. For each gram (dry base) of the sample, 100 cm3 of NaCl solution is used. The pH of the solutions is not adjusted during the exchange. Subsequently, the exchanged sample is washed with water until no chloride can be detected in the wash water using a silver nitrate solution. The amount of sodium incorporated into the sample after these exchange and wash steps is determined. The cation-exchange capacity is expressed as wt % sodium in exchanged sample (dry base).
Determination of the Normalised Filtration Time NFT
The silica-alumina slurry which is to be subjected to the cation exchange step is filtered at a temperature of 60xc2x0 C. at 20 cm Hg underpressure using a filter of approximately 100 cm2 with a black ribbonxe2x80x94589 filter (commercially available at Schleicher and Schnel) to obtain a filter cake with a thickness of between 10 and 15 mm. An amount of 1.5 displacements of demineralized water with a temperature of 60xc2x0 C. is gently poured onto the filter cake and filtered until the surface is just dry. This washing step is repeated twice. Then the filter cake thickness d1 in mm is measured. An amount of 1.5 displacements of demineralized water with a temperature of 60xc2x0 C. is filtered until the surface is just dry. The required time t in seconds for the water to be filtered through the filter cake in this last filtration step is determined.
The normalised filtration time NFT is calculated according to the following equation   NFT  =      t          1.5                    D        2
with D being the normalised thickness of the filter cake calculated as   D  =                    d        1                          xe2x80x83                          (        mm        )                    10                    xe2x80x83                          (        mm        )
Thus, in seconds the NFT corresponds to the filtration time in which 1 (volume) displacement passes through a filter cake with a normalised thickness of 10 mm.

Process for preparing synthetic clay minerals

Abstract: d) ageing the precipitate formed in c) at a temperature of 0-350xc2x0 C. in an aqueous environment;

Abstract: The invention makes it possible to prepare a saponite with a low content of sodium and potassium without an ion-exchange on the final material being necessary.


A method for using a build plate including a reusable supporting platform for additive manufacturing of a component is disclosed. The method may include additive manufacturing the reusable supporting platform on a top surface of a base of the build plate, and additive manufacturing a first component on the second surface of the reusable supporting platform. The method may also include separating the first component from the build plate at the second surface of the reusable supporting platform, thereby exposing a new surface of the body of the reusable supporting platform. Additionally, the method may include additive manufacturing at least a second component on the new surface of the reusable supporting platform. The reusable supporting platform may include a body including a first surface coupled to the top surface of the base of the build plate, and a second surface configured to support a component to be formed by additive manufacturing and for separation of the component from the build plate.

The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize supports in the process of building a component, as well as reusable supporting platforms utilized within AM processes.
Components or parts for various machines and mechanical systems may be built using AM systems. AM systems may build such components by continuously layering powder material in predetermined areas and performing a material transformation process, such as sintering or melting, on the powder material. The material transformation process may alter the physical state of the powder material from a granular composition to a solid material to build the component. The components built using the additive manufacturing systems have nearly identical physical attributes as conventional components typically made by performing machining processes on stock material.
Conventional additive manufacturing systems build these components on large, solid build plates. These conventional build plates are often made of one to two inches of solid metal, for example stainless steel. It is also conventional to AM disposable supports on the build plate upon which the component may be formed. The disposable supports provide separation of the component from the build plate and are entirely sacrificed and/or removed during removal of the component from the build plate, simplifying removal. Once removed, the disposable supports may not be reused by the build plates and may be discarded or scrapped. With increasing component complexity and more demanding alloys, the supports are also known to include structures for various secondary functions. For example, the supports may include structures or a surface to prevent dislocation of the component from the supports during additive manufacturing of the component. Aside from being heavy, cumbersome and expensive to initially manufacture, additional costs are typically associated with the use of conventional build plates and supports by the additive manufacturing systems. For example, after a component is built on and removed from the conventional build plate by entirely sacrificing the disposable supports, the build plate must undergo additional processing, and the supports must be rebuilt. First, the build plate, including the remnants of the supports, must be machined (e.g., resurfaced, planed, milled and the like) before being utilized again by the additive manufacturing system to build another set of supports and another component. The required machining after every component build is expensive and typically requires the build plate to be sent away, which can affect the production time of components when only one or a few build plates are accessible to be used by the additive manufacturing system. Additionally, every time the build plate is machined, the operational life of the build plate is decreased, and the build plate will eventually need to be replaced. Second, the supports must be rebuilt, which further affects the production time of components and increases the cost of producing the components, especially where the supports include complex structures or geometries with secondary functions.

Reutilization of additive manufacturing supporting platforms


An occupant protection system including: a first airbag; and a second airbag, wherein the second airbag has a pair of lateral inflating portions which cover the entire head of the occupant from both sides in the vehicle width direction and an upper deploying portion which covers the head of the occupant from the upper side in the vehicle vertical direction, the pair of lateral inflating portions and the upper deploying portion are each supported in back in the vehicle forward and rearward direction by the vehicle seat, and in the inflated and deployed state of the second airbag, vehicle vertical direction upper edge portions of the pair of lateral inflating portions and vehicle width direction side edge portions of the upper deploying portion are connected to each other from their rear end side to their front end side in the vehicle forward and rearward direction.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an occupant protection system.
Related Art
A head rest attached to a seat in a vehicle and equipped with a built-in airbag of an airbag device is known (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open (JP-A) No. H8-175309). In its inflated state the airbag with which the head rest is equipped expands in a substantially forward direction from the sides of a head portion.
Furthermore, a head rest airbag that is housed in a head rest and configured to receive a supply of gas at the time of a side impact to become inflated and deployed, before a curtain airbag, on both vehicle width direction sides of the head of an occupant is also known (see JP-A No. 2015-13553).
This airbag has a duct portion, which inflates in back of the head, and an inside bag portion and an outside bag portion, which inflate on both sides of the head. The duct portion is coupled by tethers to the inside bag portion and the outside bag portion.
In the configuration of JP-A No. H8-175309, it is difficult to stabilize the deployment behavior of the airbag because the airbag becomes inflated and deployed alone from the sides of the head rest. In the configuration of JP-A No. 2015-13553, the head rest airbag is effective for a relatively small capacity head rest airbag used in combination with a curtain airbag, but it is difficult to stabilize the deployment behavior of the head rest airbag if the capacity of the head rest airbag is increased.


An image processing apparatus has a main processing section that outputs an image processing command signal; an anomaly detection section that detects an anomaly in the main processing section, outputting an anomaly information output signal; an image processing section that outputs a first image signal when the main processing section is in normal operation and that outputs a second image signal when an anomaly has occurred in the main processing section; and an image selection section that selects either the first image signal or the second image signal on the basis of the anomaly information output section.

The invention relates to an image processing apparatus that, when an anomaly has arisen, sends a notice to this effect.
A recent vehicle displays details of electronic control on a display unit after subjecting the details to image processing. Since a driver performs driving while believing in the details displayed on the display unit, malfunction of image processing is not desirable at all in view of enhancement of vehicle safety.
An anti-disaster monitoring apparatus described in connection with Patent Document 1 switches terminal equipment connected to a main control section to a sub-control section by changeover means when an anomaly monitoring means has detected an anomaly in the main control section, transmitting anti-disaster information to a receiver by use of a sub-transmission line. It is thus possible to provide a highly-reliable distributed anti-disaster monitoring apparatus capable of adequately addressing a situation without deteriorating information transmission capability, which would otherwise be caused by a fault.

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


A disc player (1) has two record storage magazines (3) with a multiplicity of stacked disc holders (6), each holding a disc (5), in storage compartments (10). A transporting device (4) moves a selected disc (5) with its holder (6) to and fro between a storage compartment (10) and a playback unit (7). The transporting device (4) has two independently controllable extraction devices (12) for the disc holders (6), and these extraction devices (12) may travel horizontally on the transporting device (4). Either the two extraction devices (12) are ready to extract a holder (6) for a disc (5) from the appropriate record storage magazine (3), or one extraction device (12) has been taken to a central position in which it secures a disc (5) with its holder (6) taken from the appropriate record storage magazine (3) in alignment with the turntable (8) of the playback unit (7) while the other extraction device (12) remains in readiness for the other record storage magazine (3).

The invention relates to a disc player including two disc storage magazines which are disposed opposite one another and which are provided with a plurality of superposed disc holders that are stored in compartments. Each disc holder accommodates one disc. The player further comprises a transporting device that includes an extraction device equipped with a gripping arm and is movable in the stack direction of the disc storage magazines so as to transport a desired disc and the associated disc holder back and forth between the compartment and a playback unit.
DE 3,521,913.C2 discloses a disc player having two oppositely disposed disc storage magazines between which a chute extends in the vertical direction. Within the chute, a playback unit is displaceable with the aid of a lifting device. A disc extraction device is disposed at the rear of the disc storage magazines and is equipped with extraction arms which can be moved toward and away from one another. Moreover, the extraction arms are also vertically or laterally displaceable by means of the disc extraction device. Thus, in order to play a disc, it is necessary, on the one hand, to displace the playback unit by means of the lifting device to a height which coincides with the height of the disc holder carrying the selected disc in the disc storage magazine and, on the other hand, to bring the extraction arms of the disc extraction device to this height by moving the disc extraction device in the vertical direction so as to transport the turntable carrying the desired disc to the playback unit. Therefore, in order to play a disc, the playback unit and the disc extraction device must each be moved as a separate component.
Additionally, DE 3,328,328.A1 discloses a disc changer including a playback device, a turntable rotatably mounted in a frame, and a loading device for transporting a disc away from and to the turntable. The loading device includes a platform which is able to move up and down relative to the turntable, a magazine including a number of disc holders which are displaceable horizontally into and out of the platform, a transporting mechanism which cooperates with the respective disc holders along the platform in order to move the disc holders out of the magazine to the platform, and a lifting mechanism including a lifting compartment for the magazine in order to move the magazine into a desired height position. In order to press a disc against the turntable, the loading device cooperates by means of a pivotally mounted, spring tensioned press-on lever with a disc hold-down member. Thus, playing a disc here requires moving the magazine with the aid of the lifting mechanism of the lifting compartment, starting the transporting mechanism for the disc holder, moving the platform in the direction toward the playback device and pivoting the press-on lever together with the disc hold-down member. Therefore, in this disc changer as well, two separate components must be moved relative to one another, namely the magazine and the platform.
Furthermore, EP 0,138,005.B1 discloses a disc changer in which a vertically displaceable disc removal device is disposed between two vertical disc sleeves which accommodate disc magazines in which discs are stored. The disc removal device supports a disc sleeve gripper which is horizontally displaceable thereon. This disc sleeve gripper is provided with two gripping devices, one of which is selectively disposed in its ready position in the left or right disc magazine while the other gripping device holds a removed disc sleeve in the center position in which the disc is disposed above the turntable of the playback device. Thus only one gripping device of the disc sleeve gripper is able at any one time to take on a ready position for removing a disc sleeve from the associated disc magazine. That is, if a disc sleeve is to be removed from the other disc magazine, the disc sleeve gripper must first be moved in the direction of this disc magazine to bring the other gripping device into a ready position for the removal of a disc sleeve from its associated disc magazine, which constitutes an additional displacement path for the disc sleeve gripper, increasing the time for transporting the disc sleeve containing the desired disc from the disc magazine to the turntable of the playback unit.
Finally, EP 0,280.263.A2 discloses a disc player in which the discs are deposited in two stacks and can be played at two playing stations. The individual discs can be played from two sides. After playing, the discs are no longer returned to the same stack. In this device, an endless conveyor belt is configured as an extraction device. Thus, it is possible to remove a disc from one of the two magazines without waiting time. The position of the extraction device of this unit cannot be utilized to monitor the disc position. The slightest irregularity during transport of the discs, for example, upon transfer of the discs from the playback device or due to shocks to the system, may lead to serious disturbances in operation which are unacceptable.

Disc player with two disc storage magazines


A system and sequential method for integrated, in-situ modification of a substrate and subsequent atomic layer deposition of a thin film onto the substrate in an evacuated chamber includes introducing at least one feed gas into the chamber; generating a plasma from the feed gas; exposing said substrate to ions and/or radicals formed by the plasma; modulating any ions; reacting the substrate with said modulated ions and/or radicals to remove any contaminants from the substrate and producing a modified substrate. These steps are followed, in-situ, by performing an atomic layer deposition of a thin film onto the modified substrate in the chamber including introducing a first reactant gas into said chamber; adsorbing at least one monolayer of the first reactant gas onto the modified substrate; evacuating any excess first reactant gas from the chamber; introducing at least one additional feed gas into the chamber, generating a second plasma from the additional feed gas; exposing the modified substrate to additional ions and/or radicals formed by the plasma; modulating any additional ions; and reacting the adsorbed monolayer of the first reactant gas with any modulated additional ions and/or radicals to deposit the thin film.

The present invention relates generally to the field of advanced thin film deposition methods commonly used in the semiconductor, data storage, flat panel display, as well as allied or other industries. More particularly, the present invention relates to an in-situ preclean apparatus and technique suitable for cleaning and treatment of high aspect ratio features prior to the deposition of conductive, semi-conductive, and non-conductive thin films via modulated ion-induced atomic layer deposition (MII-ALD).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for integrated in-situ cleaning and subsequent atomic layer deposition within a single processing chamber


An organic light emitting diode display includes: a pixel region; and a peripheral region surrounding the pixel region, the peripheral region including: a gate common voltage line; an interlayer insulating film that covers the gate common voltage line and has a common voltage contact hole exposing part of the gate common voltage line; a data common voltage line that is formed on the interlayer insulating film and comes in contact with the gate common voltage line via the common voltage contact hole; barrier ribs that cover the data common voltage line and have common voltage openings exposing part of the data common voltage line; and a peripheral common electrode that is formed on the barrier ribs and comes in contact with the data common voltage line via the common voltage openings, wherein the barrier ribs are formed at positions corresponding to the boundaries with the common voltage contact hole.

1. Field of the Invention
The described technology relates generally to an organic light emitting diode display.
2. Description of the Related Art
An organic light emitting diode display includes two electrodes and an organic emission layer interposed between the two electrodes. Electrons injected from a cathode, which is one of the electrodes, and holes injected from an anode, which is the other electrode, are combined in the organic light emitting layer to form excitons. The excitons release energy, thereby causing light to be emitted.
The above information disclosed in this Related Art section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


A low profile, push-pull, jumper switch that relies on movement of the switch housing to make and break the connection between two contact members mounted on the housing. The only metal used are the two contact members, which are cammed into contact by movement of the housing when placed in its closed-switch position. In a preferred embodiment, the two contact members are identical and are each constituted of a one-piece U-shaped metal member, with the U-bight depending from the housing and configured to be solderable to the PCB pads or through-holes and thus being fixed. Protrusions on the contacts latch the housing in its open-switch position or closed-switch position. The switch in one embodiment lends itself to SMT applications.

Jumpers or shunt connectors for configuring pinned electronic equipment are known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat No. 5,337,468. Typically, they comprise small plastic housings containing spring clips on their interior designed to mount over and electrically shod circuit two pins upstanding on a PCB and connected to other components on the PCB. With surface mount technology (SMT), the pins are replaced by flat electrically-conductive pads on the PCB, and thus a jumper for SMT would have to mount across adjacent pads and form an electrically-conductive connection between them.
Tape and reel supply of electrical pads for automatic pick-and-place by a mechanical or pneumatic device onto a PCB or similar device is well known in the art. See, for example, the description in copending U.S. application, Ser. No. 08/084,579, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,174. In the conventional system, a plastic carrier tape with sprocket holes along one or both edges is embossed to form a series of pockets into each of which is placed an electrical component. The assembly is then covered with a plastic strip and reeled up on a reel. During assembly of the PCB, the strip is unreeled, the plastic cover removed, and a pick-and-place head is used to contact and pick, for example, a SMT component out of a carrier pocket and place it in a desired position, usually under control of a computer, on one or more tinned PCB pads. The latter are usually provided with solder paste that acts to temporarily hold the SMT part onto the PCB pads during a subsequent solder reflow process which permanently bonds and electrically connects the part to the PCB circuitry via the pads. This system has been successfully used for many years.
It is desirable to place jumpers, and in particular, SMT jumpers, by pick-and-place equipment in the same manner as other SMT components to reduce assembly costs. Moreover, there is a need in the art for miniature jumpers that occupy a minimum of valuable space on a PCB. Still further, there is a need in the art for a miniature jumper that can be user-controlled to interconnect or disconnect adjacent pads on a PCB.


The invention provides 4-imidazol-1-ylmethyl pyrimidine of the formula that bind to GABAA receptors. In the above formula, R1, R2 R3, R4, R5, R6 and Ar are defined herein. Such compounds may be used to modulate ligand binding to GABAA receptors in vivo or in vitro, and are particularly useful in the treatment of a variety of central nervous system (CNS) disorders in humans, domesticated companion animals, and livestock animals. Compounds provided herein may be administered alone or in combination with one or more other CNS agents to potentiate the effects of the other CNS agent(s). Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating such disorders are provided, as are methods for using such ligands for detecting GABAA receptors (e.g., receptor localization studies).

The GABAA receptor superfamily represents one of the classes of receptors through which the major inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, acts. Widely, although unequally, distributed throughout the mammalian brain, GABA mediates many of its actions through a complex of proteins called the GABAA receptor, which causes alteration in chloride conductance and membrane polarization. A number of drugs, including the anxiolytic and sedating benzodiazepines, also bind to this receptor. The GABAA receptor comprises a chloride channel that generally, but not invariably, opens in response to GABA, allowing chloride to enter the cell. This, in turn, effects a slowing of neuronal activity through hyperpolarization of the cell membrane potential.
GABAA receptors are composed of five protein subunits. A number of cDNAs for these GABAA receptor subunits have been cloned and their primary structures determined. While these subunits share a basic motif of 4 membrane-spanning helices, there is sufficient sequence diversity to classify them into several groups. To date, at least 6α, 3β, 3γ, 1ε, 1δ and 2ρ subunits have been identified. Native GABAA receptors are typically composed of 2 α subunits, 2 β subunits, and 1 γ subunit. Various lines of evidence (such as message distribution, genome localization and biochemical study results) suggest that the major naturally occurring receptor combinations are α1β2γ2, α2β3γ2, α3β3γ2, and α5β3γ2.
The GABAA receptor binding sites for GABA (2 per receptor complex) are formed by amino acids from the α and β subunits. Amino acids from the α and γ subunits together form one benzodiazepine site per receptor, at which benzodiazepines exert their pharmacological activity. In addition, the GABAA receptor contains sites of interaction for several other classes of drugs. These include a steroid binding site, a picrotoxin site, and a barbiturate site. The benzodiazepine site of the GABAA receptor is a distinct site on the receptor complex that does not overlap with the site of interaction for other classes of drugs or GABA.
In a classic allosteric mechanism, the binding of a drug to the benzodiazepine site alters the affinity of the GABA receptor for GABA. Benzodiazepines and related drugs that enhance the ability of GABA to open GABAA receptor channels are known as agonists or partial agonists, depending on the level of GABA enhancement. Other classes of drugs, such as β-carboline derivatives, that occupy the same site and negatively modulate the action of GABA are called inverse agonists. Those compounds that occupy the same site, and yet have little or no effect on GABA activity, can block the action of agonists or inverse agonists and are thus referred to as GABAA receptor antagonists.
The important allosteric modulatory effects of drugs acting at the benzodiazepine site were recognized early, and the distribution of activities at different receptor subtypes has been an area of intense pharmacological discovery. Agonists that act at the benzodiazepine site are known to exhibit anxiolytic, sedative, anticonvulsant and hypnotic effects, while compounds that act as inverse agonists at this site elicit anxiogenic, cognition enhancing, and proconvulsant effects.
While benzodiazepines have enjoyed long pharmaceutical use as anxiolytics, these compounds can exhibit a number of unwanted side effects such as cognitive impairment, sedation, ataxia, potentiation of ethanol effects, and a tendency for tolerance and drug dependence. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for additional therapeutic agents that modulate GABAA receptor activation and/or activity. The present invention fulfills this need, and provides further related advantages.


A control device includes first and second level ratio calculators and an adjuster. The first level ratio calculator calculates a first level ratio of an amount of a first fuel stored in a first tank to a full tank capacity of the first tank. The second level ratio calculator calculates a second level ratio of an amount of a second fuel stored in a second tank to a full tank capacity of the second tank. An octane number of the second fuel is higher than an octane number of the first fuel. The adjuster adjusts a first fuel ratio of the first fuel in a supplied fuel which is supplied to an internal combustion engine and a second fuel ratio of the second fuel in the supplied fuel such that a deviation ratio of the first level ratio and the second level ratio is within a predetermined range.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a control device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, as a control device of this type of internal combustion engine, a control device disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-155469 has been known. In this control device, in order to consume a low-octane fuel and a high-octane fuel in a well-balanced manner, the consumption of these fuels is controlled as follows. That is, the level of the low-octane fuel in a first tank is detected and the level of the high-octane fuel in a second tank is detected. Moreover, a fuel level ratio which is the ratio of the level of the high-octane fuel to the level of the low-octane fuel is calculated.
Furthermore, when the fuel level ratio is higher than a predetermined upper limit, that is, in an unbalanced state in which the level of the high-octane fuel is higher than the level of the low-octane fuel, if a request to retard ignition timing for suppressing knocking of the internal combustion engine is made, instead of retarding the ignition timing, the ratio of supply of the high-octane fuel to the internal combustion engine is increased. On the other hand, when the fuel level ratio is lower than a predetermined lower limit, that is, in an unbalanced state in which the level of the high-octane fuel is lower than the level of the low-octane fuel, if a request to advance ignition timing for obtaining satisfactory combustion efficiency of the internal combustion engine is made, instead of advancing the ignition timing, the ratio of supply of the low-octane fuel to the internal combustion engine is increased.

Control device for adjusting first and second fuel ratios


According to one embodiment, a method for queuing a transaction request. The method may include receiving, by a processor, at least one transaction request from a transaction processing system. The method may also include storing the at least one received transaction request in a queue within a 64-bit storage system. The method may further include monitoring a 31-bit storage system. The method may also include determining at least one control block within the monitored 31-bit storage system is available. The method may further include transmitting the at least one stored transaction request to the monitored 31-bit storage system.

The present invention relates generally to the field of computing, and more particularly to transaction processing.
Transaction processing may relate to the processing of information that is separated into individual, indivisible operations. Each operation, or transaction, can only be processed as a complete unit. A transaction may not be partially completed. For example, all three parts of a three part transaction must either succeed or fail together. The transaction may not have two of the three parts succeed while one part fails. Transaction processing systems may perform routine operations necessary to conduct business, such as sales order management, airline reservation systems, payroll systems, employee records systems, insurance systems, and shipping systems.

Using 64-bit storage to queue incoming transaction server requests

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed are methods and apparatus for calculating sensor timing corrections at a sensor device. The methods and apparatus determine a sampling period as a number of cycles of an internal clock counted while a configured number of samples is captured in a slave device, determine a time interval between samples using an offset from a time of an observed occurrence of a hardware event on a communication link, the offset being received in a command from a master device, and adjust the time interval between samples by iterative digital approximation to correct for differences between timing of the slave device and the master device while concurrently calculating a watermark time corresponding to a sample start time configured by the master device for one or more slave devices.

Modern-day mobile devices contain many sensors. Usually, a data processing unit, controller, host device, or master device (hereinafter referred to as simply a controller or a host controller) is provided to receive and process data collected by sensors or slave units (hereinafter referred to a "sensor"). To conserve power, the controller is regularly placed into a sleep state when no data is being transferred from the sensors to the controller.
Two methods of transferring data from sensors to a controller are commonly utilized. In the first method, which is known as the asynchronous method, a sensor with available data to transfer notifies the controller by issuing a signal (e.g., a Data Ready Interrupt (DRI) signal through a dedicated DRI pin for certain known systems), which wakes up the controller, and then the sensor transfers the data when the controller is ready. In the second method, which is known as the synchronous method, the controller wakes up from the sleep state spontaneously at predetermined time intervals, polls the sensors, and receives from the sensors whatever data is present at the sensors. The synchronous method is more energy efficient in a device that includes multiple sensors because data transfers from more than one sensor may be consolidated into a single poll and transfer session.
In systems where multiple sensors or other devices provide periodically sampled data, it is further advantageous to be able to instruct the sensors to collect the data at essentially synchronized times, and for the controller to read the data from several sensors within the same awake time window or system awake period. Ideally, assuming a sensor delivers only the most current results, polling a sensor at a frequency that coincides with the sensor's sampling frequency is sufficient to obtain all of the data collected by the sensor. However, misalignment of the timing signals may result because the controller and the sensors do not usually share timing signals. Misalignment of the timing signals can cause some sensor data samples to be lost and/or cause some sensor data samples to be read twice even when the sensors are polled at their defined sampling frequencies. Misalignment may be exacerbated because some sensors have poor clock or timer accuracy (e.g., ±15% deviation over a temperature range and from device to device). Moreover, many sensors have limited processing capabilities that can be used to calibrate clocks and timers.

Techniques for synchronizing slave devices


The present invention contemplates an apparatus for forming a combustion mixture in a gas turbine engine. In one form, the apparatus includes a diffuser having at least two flowpath structures spaced apart to define a flowpath for directing fluid flow. At least one of the flowpath structures includes a flowpath surface and a plurality of edges disposed along a trailing end portion of the flowpath surface. The edges extend perpendicularly from the flowpath surface and are arranged generally parallel to the fluid flow to define a plurality of corners. A fluid vortex is generated as the fluid flow rolls over each of the corners. A spray ring is disposed along a trailing edge of one of the flowpath structures and is integrally attached to the diffuser. The spray ring includes a plurality of fuel delivery apertures adapted to spray fuel into respective ones of the fluid vortices to form the combustion mixture.

The present invention relates generally to gas turbine engines. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for forming a combustion mixture in a gas turbine engine. A gas turbine engine is typical of the type of turbo machinery in which the present invention may be advantageously employed; however, certain applications of the invention may fall outside of this field.
It is well known that a conventional gas turbine engine includes a compressor for compressing a fluid, such as, for example, air, to an increased pressure. The increased pressure fluid is passed through a diffuser to condition the increased pressure fluid for subsequent combustion. The conditioned fluid is fed into a combustion chamber, typically defined by a combustor dome panel and inner and outer combustor liners. A series of fuel nozzles are usually provided, extending through the outer combustor case and positioned within corresponding openings arranged circumferentially about the combustor dome panel. The fuel nozzles are configured to deliver fuel into the combustion chamber, and in some designs function to pre-swirl the conditioned fluid entering the combustion chamber to create a helical flowpath which enhances the intermixing of the fuel with the conditioned fluid to create a combustion mixture.
The combustion mixture is ignited and burned in the combustion chamber to generate a high temperature gaseous flow stream. The gaseous flow stream is discharged from the combustion chamber into a turbine section where the gaseous flow stream is directed by a series of turbine vanes through a series of turbine blades. The turbine blades convert the thermal energy from the gaseous flow stream into rotational kinetic energy, which in turn is utilized to develop shaft power to drive mechanical components, such as the compressor, fan, propeller or other such devices. Alternatively, the high temperature gaseous flow stream may be used directly as a thrust for providing motive force, such as in a turbine jet engine.
Heretofore, there has been a need for an improved apparatus for forming a combustion mixture in a gas turbine engine. The present invention satisfies this need in a novel and unobvious way.
One form of the present invention contemplates an apparatus for forming a combustion mixture in a gas turbine engine, comprising: a diffuser including first and second flowpath surfaces spaced apart to define a flowpath for directing fluid flow, at least one of the first and second flowpath surfaces includes a surface irregularity adapted to generate a vortex upon the fluid flow passing thereover; and a fuel delivery member adapted to introduce fuel into the fluid flow adjacent the vortex to form the combustion mixture.
Another form of the present invention contemplates an apparatus for forming a combustion mixture in a gas turbine engine, comprising: a diffuser including first and second flowpath structures spaced apart to define a first flowpath for directing fluid flow; and a first fuel spraybar disposed along a trailing edge of one of the first and second flowpath structures and adapted to spray fuel into the fluid flow exiting the first flowpath to form the combustion mixture.
Yet another form of the present invention contemplates an apparatus for forming a combustion mixture in a gas turbine engine, comprising: a diffuser including first and second structures spaced apart to define a flowpath for directing fluid flow, at least one of the first and second structures including a flowpath surface having an edge extending from the flowpath surface and arranged generally parallel to the fluid flow, wherein a vortex is generated as the fluid flow rolls over the edge; and a spraybar disposed along a trailing edge of the at least one of the first and second structures, the spraybar adapted to spray fuel into the vortex to form the combustion mixture.
In another form of the present invention there is contemplates an apparatus for forming a combustion mixture in a gas turbine engine, comprising: a diffuser including first and second flowpath surfaces spaced apart to define a flowpath for directing fluid flow, at least one of the first and second flowpath surfaces including surface means for generating a vortex in the fluid flow; and means for introducing fuel into the fluid flow adjacent the vortex to form the combustion mixture.
In another form of the present invention there is contemplated a method of controlling combustion in a gas turbine engine, comprising: providing first and second flowpaths within a diffuser for directing fluid flow; introducing a first quantity of fuel into the fluid flow of the first flowpath to form a first portion of a combustion mixture; introducing a second quantity of fuel into the fluid flow of the second flowpath to form a second portion of the combustion mixture; igniting the first portion of the combustion mixture to form a first combustion zone; igniting the second portion of the combustion mixture to form a second combustion zone; and independently controlling the introduction of the first and second quantities of fuel to provide independent control over the first and second combustion zones.
One object of the present invention is to provide a unique apparatus for forming a combustion mixture in a gas turbine engine.
Further forms, embodiments, objects, features, advantages, benefits, and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the drawings and descriptions provided herein.

Apparatus for forming a combustion mixture in a gas turbine engine


A method of monitoring event queue operations includes the step of responding to a set of run-time messages resulting from an operation performed with a graphical user interface. The set of messages is routed to a customized event queue module for processing. The customized event queue module reports operations associated with the set of messages. This information can be used for debugging, tracing, and event recording. The customized event queue module operates without altering the operation of the event queue. Thus, the invention can be used without altering proprietary software defining the operation of the event queue.

FIG. 1 illustrates a software event queue environment 20 in accordance with the prior art. The environment 20 includes a graphical user interface (GUI) 22 which supports a first application window 24A and a second application window 24B. By way of example, the first application window 24A may be for a word processor application program, while the second application window 24B may be for a spread sheet application program.
When a user performs an operation on an application window 24, such as clicking on an object or resizing a window, messages are generated that describe the operation that was performed. The messages are sent to an event queue 28, as constructed with event queue code 27. FIG. 1 illustrates that the first application window 24A sends a first set of messages to a first event queue 28A, while the second application window 24N sends a second set of messages to a second event queue 28N. Each event queue operates as a buffer between its corresponding application window 24 and application program 30. Thus, the event queue 28A operates as a buffer between the application window 24A and the application program 30A, while the event queue 28N operates as a buffer between the application window 24N and the application program 30N.
FIG. 2 illustrates a computer 40 used to implement the system of FIG. 1. The computer 40 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 42 that communicates with a set of input/output devices 44 over a system bus 46. The input/output devices 44 include a keyboard, mouse, computer monitor, printer, etc. The computer monitor is used to display the GUI 22. The system bus 46 is also connected to a memory 48. The memory 48 stores a number of programs and data associated with the system of FIG. 1. In particular, the memory 48 stores operating system code 50 and GUI code 32, which is used to generate the GUI 22. Associated with the GUI code 32 is event queue code 27, which is used to generate the event queues 28A-28N. Finally, the memory 48 stores a number of application programs 30A-30N.
The set of event queues 28A-28N constitutes a fixed and proprietary event queue implementation 26. The developer of the GUI 22 defines the event queue code 34 that is used to form the event queue implementation 26. This code is typically fixed and proprietary, meaning that its implementation is not modifiable so as to allow programmers to add code to extend the functionality of the event queue implementation 26 at runtime. Since it is impossible to change the operation of prior art event queue implementations, developers cannot create specialized event queues for debugging, tracing, and event recording operations.
In view of the foregoing, it would be highly desirable to provide a technique for extending the functionality of event queues. In particular, it would be highly desirable to allow developers to extend and customize event queue implementations without modification of GUI source code.

Apparatus and method for monitoring event queue operations with pluggable event queues


The invention, in some aspects relates to compositions comprising synthetic minimal cells (SMCs) and use of SMCs, pluralities of SMCs in relation to engineering genetic circuit interactions.

Chemical systems capable of performing biochemical reactions in the absence of live cells have been used in research and industry to study and model biological processes. Organisms from all three domains of life have been used to obtain transcription/translation (also referred to as "TX/TL") extracts for cell-free production of biochemical products from genetic codes. Encapsulating cell-free TX/TL extracts into liposomes have been used to make functional proteins using encapsulated systems reconstituted from recombinant cell-free translation factors, as well as cell-free extracts from bacterial and eukaryotic cells. Work on liposomal encapsulation methods has been focused on expressing single genes, with the goal of synthesizing a single gene product, and within a homogenous population of liposomes.

Engineering genetic circuit interactions within and between synthetic minimal cells and use thereof


A lamp 10 is described which may be used in an automotive headlight 12. The lamp 10 comprises at least one filament 20 within a transparent lamp vessel 16. A color filter portion 30 is provided through which light is emitted with a color change. The lamp vessel 16 further comprises a color transparent portion, through which light is emitted without a color change. The color transparent portion is arranged such that an illumination beam of light 40 is emitted through the color transparent portion to achieve a non-colored illumination. The color filter portion 30 is arranged such that only peripheral and/or scattered portions of light are emitted through the color filter portion to achieve a color appearance of the headlight 12 in operation of the lamp 10.

Different types of lamps are known for use in an automotive headlight. The present invention relates to incandescent lamps, i. e. lamps where light is generated from one or more filaments arranged within a transparent lamp vessel.
Known lamp types comprise lamps where a shield is arranged adjacent to a filament such that light emitted from the filament is partly blocked, and such that an angular shielded region is obtained into which no direct light from the filament is emitted. The obtained illumination beam of light includes a bright/dark cutoff caused by the shield, which may be used to form in a reflector an illumination beam pattern with a bright/dark cutoff, which may be used e. g. for low beam illumination. An example of a double filament lamp where a shield is provided adjacent to one of the filaments is a H4 lamp. Other lamps, in particular single filament lamps such as e. g. a H7 lamp do not provide a shield.
Automotive regulations cover geometrical parameters of an automotive lamp, such as the position and size of filaments as well as functional parameters, such as the color of the light emitted. Such regulations provide that the illumination beam of light emitted from the lamp to serve the purpose of illuminating the road in front of the motor vehicle is required to have a white color, i. e. the color of the emitted light must be within a specified white field of color coordinates.
DE 10 2010 002 084 A1 describes a halogen incandescent lamp for a vehicle front reflector comprising, in one embodiment, a lamp vessel with two filaments, of which one serving for low beam lighting is arranged adjacent to a shield. The lamp vessel comprises an optical filter to obtain violet coloring of the light emitted. In different embodiments, a color filter may be applied to a single filament lamp without a shield, and the lamp vessel may be fully or partially covered by the color filter. The light emitted from the lamp is within the white field of the ECE regulations, but has a violet coloring, such that the vehicle may be recognized by the light color. In a specific embodiment, it is disclosed that part of the lamp vessel is not covered by a color filter, resulting in an uncolored central part of the light beam and a colored edge region of the light beam. Part of the light beam is therefore colored. The coloring of this part of the beam should also remain with the boundaries set by the regulations and therefore only a limited color change is possible.

Lamp and headlighting arrangement for obtaining a color appearance in an automotive headlight


A switch includes a pushbutton comprising an actuating portion, a first fixed contact element and a first movable contact element facing the first fixed contact element for establishing a first switching way. The first movable contact element may include a movable portion of a first elastically deformable conductive blade. The actuating portion may include a first cam which cooperates with a cam follower portion of the first blade to deform or relax the first blade for longitudinally moving the first movable contact element to come into contact, or out of contact, with the portion of the first fixed contact element, depending on the vertical position of the actuation member. A second fixed contact element and second movable contact may be similarly constructed to provide a second switching way.

This document relates to an electrical switch, also known as a switch. The document describes a switch which might be used as a detect switch in the car vehicles field, for example in association with a door latch.
Electrical switches have been designed for selectively establishing at least a first conductive way between two conductive fixed contacts, the switch comprising a housing, and a pushbutton arranged so that, when an external force is applied to the pushbutton, the pushbutton is moved relative to the housing between a pushbutton position in which the conductive way is established; and a pushbutton position in which the conductive way is interrupted. This conductive way, and thus the switch, can be of the normally open (NO) type or of the normally closed (NC) type.
According to a known design, such a switch might be of the "snap switch" type such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,743,331 or 3,098,905.
In such a design, the switch has a high current carrying capacity or ability, and long life duration. However, the "snapping" or "clicking" noise might be detrimental in some applications, as well as the presence of a hysteresis. A snap switch also has a limited over travel capacity.
According to another known design, the switch might be of the "slide switch" type such as illustrated in US Patent Application Publication Number 2011/0147186 in which a sliding contact arrangement is disclosed in combination with a snapping arrangement.
In such a design, there is no detrimental noise, neither any hysteresis. However, it cannot adequately carry medium or high currents and may have quite short life duration.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,753,489 discloses an electrical switch comprising a housing having a receiving portion, an actuation member comprising an actuating portion extending into the housing and arranged to be moved vertically between a pushbutton upper position and a pushbutton lower position; a pair of associated contact elements comprising a fixed contact element provided in the receiving portion; a movable contact element arranged facing the fixed contact element and that may come into contact with the fixed contact element for establishing a conductive switching way between the movable contact element and the fixed contact element; and an elastically deformable conductive blade in the form of a hairpin supported by the receiving portion. The blade comprises a movable active branch.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,753,489, the active branch of the hairpin shaped blade is pivotally mounted with respect to the housing—around a horizontal pivotal axis—between a first active position in which a first switching way is established and a second switching way is interrupted, and a second active position in which the first switching way is interrupted and the second switching way is established.
To provoke the pivotal movement of the active branch, the actuating portion is in the form of a cam acting on the other branch of the hairpin shaped blade.
According to such a design, the pivotal movement of the active branch is providing a noisy snapping effect and in which the two switching ways cannot be controlled independently. Also, in case of medium or high currents, the "floating" design of the blade which globally moves as a whole, does not permit electrical connection of the blade to the outside of the switch.
This document describes an electrical switch that improves on the prior art by having a design that results in little or no hysteresis, that is relatively silent, and that can be designed for "make before break" or "break before make." Also, optionally, the design may permit the carrying of medium or high currents.


An epitaxial layer(s) of compound semiconductor alloy doped with nitrogen and represented by the formula (Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x).sub.y In.sub.1-y P (0<x.ltoreq.1, 0<y.ltoreq.1) is formed on a compound semiconductor single crystal substrate composed of an element(s) from Group III and an element(s) from Group V in the periodic table by means of the metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy method (MOVPE method), while controlling the amount of the organic aluminum compound introduced. The organic aluminum compound is, for example, trimethyl aluminum (TMAl). The nitrogen-doped epitaxial layer is, for example, an active layer composed of said compound semiconductor alloy which has a band gap of 2.30 eV or larger and also has an alloy composition of an indirect transition area or similar to it.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor light emitting device and methods of manufacturing it, and more precisely to a semiconductor light emitting device which gives a pure green light emission at a high brightness and methods of manufacturing it.
2. The Prior Art
Semiconductor light emitting devices, such as light emitting diodes, are obtained by growing a plurality of semiconductor layers on the front surface of a semiconductor substrate to fabricate a multi-layer semiconductor structure with a p-n junction(s) and then cutting it into an element(s). Among them, green light emitting semiconductor devices are obtained by forming one or more layers of both n-type and p-type GaP one after another on an n-type GaP single crystal substrate and cutting it into elements for practical use.
However, since GaP has an indirect transition-type band structure, the light emission efficiency is not sufficient even if the p-n junction(s) is formed, resulting in a light emitting device with a very low brightness. Because of this, the incorporation of isoelectronic traps which function as light emitting centers is performed as an effective means to improve the light emitting efficiency. For example, nitrogen (N) is doped to the GaP layer(s) near the p-n junction to substitute P sites in order to improve the light emitting efficiency. A GaP-type light emitting device thus doped with nitrogen emits a yellowish-green light with a peak wavelength of approximately 567
Research of GaP semiconductor light emitting devices has a nm. long history, and the light emitting efficiency of the GaP semiconductor light emitting devices has been improved to the limit of the material property. However, it has been a problem that a sufficient light emitting efficiency could not be achieved because, as mentioned above, GaP essentially had an indirect transition-type band structure. Although the nitrogen doped GaP-type light emitting devices improved the light emitting efficiency, since the energy level of nitrogen was formed within the GaP band gap, it has been a problem that the light emitting wavelength became longer and the color changed to yellowish-Green, and thus a pure green light could not be obtained.

Semiconductor light emitting device and methods of manufacturing it