The invention is directed to a multiple-clutch device, such as a double-clutch device, for arranging in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle between a drive unit and a transmission, wherein the clutch device has a first clutch arrangement associated with a first transmission input shaft of the transmission and a second clutch arrangement associated with a second transmission input shaft of the transmission for transmitting torque between the drive unit and the transmission. According to one aspect of the invention, it is suggested that a bearing arrangement is associated with at least one of the clutch arrangements, wherein the latter is supported or can be supported so as to be relatively rotatable by means of the bearing arrangement on at least one of the transmission input shafts, at least one of which is constructed as a hollow shaft and a shaft constructed as a hollow shaft encloses the other shaft, preferably at least at the radial outer transmission input shaft which is constructed as a hollow shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a multiple-clutch device, such as a double-clutch device, for arrangement thereof in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle between a drive unit and a transmission, wherein the clutch device has a first clutch arrangement associated with a first transmission input shaft of the transmission and a second clutch arrangement associated with a second transmission input shaft of the transmission for transmitting torque between the drive unit and the transmission.
2. Description of the Related Art
A clutch device of this type is known, for example, from EP 0 931 951 A1. The clutch device serves to connect the drive of a motor vehicle with a multiple-speed shift transmission via two friction clutches which are preferably automatically actuated, wherein a disengagement or release system is allocated to each of these two friction clutches, so that the two friction clutches can be engaged or released independently from one another. A clutch disk of one of the two friction clutches is arranged on a central transmission input shaft so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it, while a clutch disk of the other friction clutch engages at a second transmission input shaft so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it, this second transmission input shaft, constructed as a hollow shaft, enclosing the central transmission input shaft. The known double-clutch is arranged with a fixed thrust plate of one friction clutch at a flywheel of an internal combustion engine. To this extent, the arrangement of the double-clutch in a drivetrain substantially corresponds to the arrangement of conventional (single-)friction clutches in the drivetrain.
Double-clutch devices (called simply double-clutches) of the type mentioned above have attracted great interest recently and are generally formed of two wet or dry clutches which are switched alternately, possibly also with overlapping. Particularly in connection with a multiple-speed shift transmission, clutches of this type make it possible to carry out shifting processes between two respective transmission speeds of the transmission without interruption of tractive forces.
In principle, double-clutch devices make it possible for both clutches to be applied jointly in especially difficult starting processes, particularly those common in car racing. For this purpose, the accelerator pedal can be deflected to its stop, as the case may be, while the motor vehicle is kept essentially stationary at the same time by applying the maximum braking force until the clutch has reached its optimal transmission point. When the braking action is canceled at the moment of reaching the optimal transmission point, the vehicle is started with maximum acceleration. Starting processes of this kind are also considered for motor vehicles with a relatively weak engine under extreme starting conditions, for example, when starting on an obstruction; that is, they are not considered only for racing cars.
Obviously, starting processes of the type described above lead to high slippage with a correspondingly extensive development of heat. This presents the problem of carrying away this heat from the area of the friction clutch serving as starting clutch. Further, a correspondingly high wear of the friction clutch must be taken into account. Moreover, heating of the friction clutches is accompanied by changes in the coefficient of friction of the friction clutches, so that control of the release mechanisms of the two friction clutches, and therefore control of the two friction clutches relative to one another, can be appreciably impaired. Since inaccuracies or changes in the functional matching of the two friction clutches relative to one another caused by heat can have the result that a torque ratio not intended in the shifting process is applied to the transmission input shafts, shifting processes in the shift transmission can be subjected to load. The synchronization in the shift transmission can be overtaxed in this way, so that, in the worst case, the shift transmission can be damaged to the point of complete failure, apart from disadvantages with respect to efficiency which occur in any case. On the whole, mismatching between the two friction clutches caused by heat is incompatible with a problem-free torque transmission in shifting processes in the shift transmission without interruption of tractive force and without jerking during shifting.
Another problem area in a double-clutch device relates to starting processes carried out in opposition to an inclination, wherein the motor vehicle must be prevented from rolling backward, or those which are used when parking at the lowest possible speed, for example, for precise positioning of a motor vehicle in a parking space. The operating states mentioned above are referred to in technical circles as xe2x80x9chill-holdingxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9ccreepingxe2x80x9d. Both starting processes have in common that the friction clutch serving as starting clutch is operated, sometimes without actuation of the accelerator, over a longer period of time with slip. Although the torques to be transmitted in such starting processes lie well below those occurring under the operating conditions described above, especially in car racing, an intensive heating of the respective friction clutch or even both friction clutches can occur, resulting in the problems detailed above.
Suggestions have been made for gear-shifting strategies and shifting processes for double-clutch transmissions based on the aimed for adjustment of clutch slip (DE 196 31 983 C1) with consequent generation of friction heat. Depending on driving behavior, overheating problems of the type mentioned above cannot be ruled out.
The risk of intensive overheating exists not only in a dry friction clutch, but can also occur in so-called xe2x80x9cwetxe2x80x9d friction clutches, possibly in the form of a disk or plate clutch, which are operated by the action of a viscous operating medium such as hydraulic fluid. By way of example, a gear change box with two plate clutches is known from DE 198 00 490 A1, wherein one plate clutch is provided for forward driving and the other for driving in reverse. DE 198 00 490 A1 is concerned primarily with providing adequate cooling of the two plate clutches using the viscous operating medium. In spite of the liquid cooling, heating of the friction clutches is also a considerable problem in plate clutches because the operating medium, which usually flows through friction facing grooves or the like to carry off the heat, cannot be guided through between the plates in optional quantity. The reason for this is that, on one hand, excessive flow through the friction facing grooves or the like would build up a counterpressure between the friction surfaces of two adjacent plates and would therefore reduce the capacity of the friction clutches to transmit torque (with a corresponding increase in slip and therefore additional generation of friction heat, so that the problem of overheating is exacerbated) and, on the other hand, the operating medium could be overheated and destroyed when flowing through between the plates. Overheating in plate clutches can result in that the friction surfaces can no longer separate from one another completely during a disengaging process and, consequently, torques can still be transmitted via the clutch which should be disengaged, so that considerable drag torques can reach the associated shift transmission. When plate clutches are used in a multiple-clutch device, especially a double-clutch device, of the type mentioned above, shifting processes could again be brought under load in the shift transmission with resulting overtaxing of the synchronization in the shift transmission.
One approach to mastering overheating problems in the area of friction clutches in case of unfavorable operating conditions, for example, with problematic starting processes in a motor vehicle, is to provide another starting element in addition to the first and second clutch arrangements which is in the form of a hydraulic clutch or hydrodynamic clutch and comprises a hydrodynamic circuit with an impeller wheel, a turbine wheel and, if desired, a stator wheel. The driving member can be connected in parallel with one of the two friction clutches; that is, it can act on a common transmission input shaft irrespective of the engagement state of this friction clutch. A clutch device in which two plate clutches and a starting element of this type are integrated, was described in the German Patent Application 199 46 857.5 by the present Applicants which was applied for on Sep. 30, 1999 and whose disclosure is incorporated in the subject matter disclosed in the present application.
Within the framework of investigations undertaken by the present Applicants in connection with double-clutch devices, it was shown in general that wet-type clutches exhibit sealing problems and problems relating to output losses. Further, it was shown that boundary conditions relating to the available axial and radial installation space could be adhered to only with difficulty, if at all, based on the previously known concepts. With regard to clutches, such as, diaphragm clutches, which are actuated by pistons integrated in the clutch device, the arrangement of the piston chambers associated with the pistons proved especially problematic.
A multiple-clutch device, possibly a double-clutch device, for arranging in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle between a drive unit and a transmission, which clutch device has a first clutch arrangement associated with a first transmission input shaft of the transmission and a second clutch arrangement associated with a second transmission input shaft of the transmission for transmitting torque between the drive unit and the transmission, can be received in a clutch housing which can comprise a transmission housing cover and which is arranged or can be arranged in a stationary manner at the transmission. In this case, a housing opening is advisably closed by a lid which is arranged at the clutch housing so as to be fixed with respect to relative rotation and which has a central opening through which extends a torque transmission member, such as a clutch device hub serving as input side of the clutch device.
For an installation situation of this kind, it is suggested by way of a further development according to one aspect of the invention that a pivot bearing arrangement and/or seal arrangement is provided between an edge area of the lid defining the opening and the torque transmission member and is axially secured at the lid and/or at the torque transmission member. By means of the pivot bearing arrangement and/or sealing arrangement, the torque transmission member can be reliably guided and/or the housing interior can be reliably sealed with respect to the opening, wherein the latter is particularly important in case of a clutch device with at least one wet-type plate clutch arrangement and/or for a clutch device with an integrated hydraulic starting element. The pivot bearing arrangement and/or sealing arrangement arc/is held at the correct location even when vibrations or the like occur due to the axial securing of the pivot bearing arrangement and/or sealing arrangement at the lid part and/or at the torque transmission member.
It is suggested as a preferred further development that the lid and/or the torque transmission member has at least one retaining portion which projects radially inward or radially outward into a radial area of the pivot bearing arrangement and/or sealing arrangement and is used for axial support of the pivot bearing arrangement and/or sealing arrangement. The retaining portion on the lid side can be formed by pressed material (such as material caulking), a flange portion of the lid that is slit if desired, or a bent edge portion of the lid that is slit if desired. This applies in a corresponding manner to a retaining portion on the torque transmission member side.
The lid can be pressed into the housing opening and/or can be in a sealing engagement with the clutch housing, possibly with the intermediary of the sealing arrangement, in order to hold the lid reliably in place on the one hand and to reliably seal the housing interior on the other hand. Other steps can also be taken to secure the lid in its closed position with respect to the housing opening. Again, pressing, caulking or the like can be considered in addition to the use of a snap ring or the like.
According to another aspect of the invention, for a multiple-clutch device, such as a double-clutch device, for arranging in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle between a drive unit and a transmission, which clutch device has a first clutch arrangement associated with a first transmission input shaft of the transmission and a second clutch arrangement associated with a second transmission input shaft of the transmission for transmitting torque between the drive unit and the transmission, it is suggested that the clutch device has a clutch device hub which serves as an input side of the clutch device and which has a driver arrangement, such as external teeth, for coupling a torsional vibration damper or a driven member of the drive unit and/or a driver arrangement, such as internal teeth, for coupling an operating fluid pump, e.g., an oil pump, arranged on the transmission side via a pump drive shaft. A construction which is extremely compact in its entirety and which, moreover, can easily be fitted in a drivetrain between the transmission and the drive unit can be realized by the construction of the clutch device with the clutch device hub having at least one driver arrangement for the torsional vibration damper or for the pump drive shaft. In this respect, it is extremely advantageous when the transmission input shafts are constructed as hollow shafts which are arranged one inside the other radially and enclose the pump drive shaft.
The clutch device hub can be manufactured in a particularly simple manner with respect to the driver arrangement associated with the operating fluid pump when the driver arrangement is constructed in an inner circumferential surface of the hub defining a continuous axial bore hole of the clutch device hub. Cutting tools or the like for forming the driver arrangement can then be inserted particularly easily. If necessary or if desirable, the axial bore hole can be closed in the direction of the drive unit by a separate sealing element, such as a sealing stopper, so as to be tight against operating fluid (for example, coolant).
The clutch device can have a first ring portion at which the driver arrangement associated with the torsional vibration damper or driven member is provided. It is specifically intended in this regard that the driver arrangement associated with the torsional vibration damper is formed in an outer circumferential surface of this ring portion of the clutch device hub. Further, when the clutch device hub has a second ring portion which follows the first ring portion, e.g., in the direction of the transmission and which projects radially outward over the first ring portion, it is advisable that the two ring portions are structural component parts which are produced separately and fastened to one another. The driver arrangement associated with the torsional vibration damper can then be produced in a simple manner at the first ring portion, for instance, using appropriate cutting tools, without the second ring portion hindering the application of cutting tools. The two ring portions are put together and fixed to one another, for example, by welding, to form the clutch device hub only after the driver arrangement (possibly the two driver arrangements, both of which are preferably provided at the first ring portion) is formed.
According to another aspect of the invention, for a multiple-clutch device, such as a double-clutch device, for arranging in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle between a drive unit and a transmission, which clutch device has a first clutch arrangement associated with a first transmission input shaft of the transmission and a second clutch arrangement associated with a second transmission input shaft of the transmission for transmitting torque between the drive unit and the transmission, it is suggested that at least one of the clutch arrangements is a wet-type clutch arrangement, possibly a wet-type plate clutch arrangement, and that the clutch device is received in a clutch housing which possibly comprises a transmission housing cover and which is arranged or can be arranged at the transmission in a stationary manner, and a housing opening is closed by a lid which is arranged at the clutch housing so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it and which has a central opening through which extends a torque transmission member, possibly a clutch device hub serving as an input side of the clutch device, wherein an edge area of the lid defining the opening is in a sealing engagement with the torque transmission member and an edge of the lid on the housing side is in a sealing engagement with the clutch housing, possibly with the intermediary of an associated sealing arrangement. A clutch device of this kind is suitable for high output losses because of the wet-type construction of the clutch arrangement and is structurally advantageous because of the construction of the housing having the lid, for example, with respect to the expenditure on production and/or assembly in the drivetrain.
The lid can project out radially relative to the housing opening and can be pressed into the housing opening.
The sealing arrangement acting between the lid and the housing can comprise at least one sealing ring, for example, an O-ring or a sealing ring having one or more lips, for a secure sealing. The sealing ring can be received in an annular groove of the lid and/or in an annular groove of the housing.
For a particularly reliable sealing it is suggested that the sealing arrangement acting between the lid and the housing comprises at least one sealing ring which is clamped axially between the housing and the lid. The sealing ring can be produced in that a sealing compound, possibly a sealing foam or an elastomer material or rubber material, is foamed on or sprayed on to the lid and/or the housing. In principle, it is also possible to produce the sealing ring by foaming or spraying an annular gap between the lid and the housing with a sealing compound, such as a sealing foam or an elastomer material or rubber material, for example, in that openings are provided in the lid for this purpose which enable a flow of material into the annular gap in the assembled state of the lid and when the lid is positioned in the housing opening.
According to another very advantageous suggestion, the sealing arrangement acting between the lid and the housing comprises a sealing compound, possibly a sealing foam or elastomer material or rubber material, which covers a transitional area between the lid and the housing so as to seal and which is applied externally, such as by spraying or foaming, with respect to an interior of the housing after the lid has been positioned in the housing opening. In addition to its function of sealing the sealing location between the lid and housing, the sealing compound also serves to secure the lid with respect to the housing, especially axially.
Another possibility consists in that the lid is secured in the housing opening by a snap ring arrangement and/or by a securing element arrangement arranged on the outside of the lid and/or housing. This holds true regardless of whether or not a sealing compound is applied externally. The securing element arrangement can comprise at least one retaining pin and/or at least one retaining bolt and/or at least one retaining screw and/or at least one retaining plate which is can, e.g., be ring-shaped.
Various phenomena which, in themselves, could impair the sealing engagement between the lid and clutch housing can occur in operation. For example, the lid can sag or become wavy with corresponding radial lift of the edge of the lid because of variations in temperature or mechanical loading, so that this edge of the lid may possibly no longer contact or be supported on the housing insofar as such contact or support of the lid is provided. Nevertheless, a sufficient sealing action can be maintained by providing a sealing arrangement which compensates for a radial lift of this kind.
Another phenomenon concerns relative movements in an axial direction between the lid or edge of the lid on the one hand and the housing on the other hand, for example, due to axial vibrations of the lid which can have different causes, i.e., on the one hand, pressure fluctuations based on the supply and removal of operating fluid, possibly, operating oil (especially a cooling fluid or cooling oil) in the interior of the housing which can excite vibrations in the lid. Further, vibrations in the lid can be excited from the radial inner side via the torque transmission member, for example, based on torsional vibrations in the drivetrain. Possible bending movements between the drive unit and the transmission can also be mentioned in this regard. In order to prevent such phenomena from impairing the sealing engagement between the lid and the housing, it is suggested that the sealing arrangement acting between the lid and the housing is suited to permit relative movements between the housing and the lid with axial movement components while retaining its sealing effect, wherein it is preferably provided that the sealing arrangement serves to damp vibrations of the lid relative to the housing, which vibrations have axial movement components. The above-mentioned sealing rings and the sealing compound applied externally to the housing are particularly suitable in this respect.
As additional securing measures or when a certain leakage can be tolerated, it is advisable when the housing has a collecting channel at least in a lower area neighboring the edge of the lid on the housing side for collecting an operating liquid, such as operating oil, supplied to the wet-type clutch device. The channel can be emptied via a drain in the course of routine maintenance steps, for example. In this case, a separate collecting reservoir communicating with the channel can be omitted. Instead of a collecting reservoir, it would also be possible for the operating liquid to return to an operating liquid circuit from the collecting channel.
The collecting channel should be offset axially in the direction of an outer side of the housing on the lid side relative to at least one sealing element of the sealing arrangement and/or a sealing location between the housing and lid in order to limit the flow of operating liquid in the channel to a minimum.
The features of a multiple-clutch and a drivetrain which were indicated in connection with the different aspects of the invention can be advantageously combined. Further independent aspects of the invention will be discerned by the person skilled in the art from the preceding explanations and the description of the Figures.
The invention is further directed to a drivetrain for a motor vehicle with a clutch device, according to at least one aspect of the invention, arranged between a drive unit and a transmission.
The invention will be described more fully in the following with reference to embodiment examples shown in the Figures.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.


The present invention is related to an image scanner including a housing; an optical device installed in the housing for performing photoelectric conversion of an image of a scanned object in response to a scanning light signal; a scan-monitoring device arranged on a surface of the housing for indicating a scanning state of the image scanner in response to an indicating light signal; and a light source installed in the housing for emitting light when the image scanner is powered, with a first portion of the light provided to the optical device as the scanning light signal and a second portion of the light provided to the scan-monitoring device as the indicating light signal. The scan-monitoring device can be easily provided, and owing to the omission of the LED compared to the conventional image scanner, the present invention is more cost-effective.

Conventionally, an LED (light-emitting diode) device mounted on the housing of an image scanner is used to indicate the scanning stage of the image scanner. For example, the LED device emit no light to mean that the image scanner is in an off-line state, and on the contrary, the LED device emits light to indicate that the image scanner is in an on-line. If the light emitted by the LED device is continuous, it indicates that the image scanner is in a standby state, and if the LED device emits twinkling light, it indicates that the image scanner is in an image-reading state. In addition, the LED device may emit light of another color to warn that the image-scanning operation cannot be performed or go on.

Image scanner having scan-monitoring function


A method for locating a mobile unit without synchronizing base-stations is provided. A triangulation scheme where distances between a plurality of base-stations and a mobile unit (herein termed mobile) are calculated by measuring at least three round-trip-delay-values wherein each round-trip-delay-value corresponds to transmission of a downlink signal from each base-station to the mobile unit and transmission of an uplink signal, in response to the downlink signal, from the mobile unit to each base-station is described. It is a low-cost solution without requiring the participating base-stations to be accurately synchronized in time and with the added advantages of utilizing a known downlink signal and a known uplink signal in determining the position of the mobile.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to wireless communications and particularly to locating mobile units in a wireless time division multiple access (TDMA) communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
The proliferation of mobile units or cell phones and their technology and usage, has suggested various applications for the ability to locate mobile units. These applications include xe2x80x9c911xe2x80x9d calls, tourist and travel information, tracking unauthorized cell phone usage and illegal activities, and locating commercial and government vehicles. The basic cell phone systems can determine the nearest base-station which locates a cell phone only to within 3 to 10 miles. However, FCC Regulations, as dictated in FCC Docket 94-102, require location accuracy of about 400 feet for mobile units (cellular/PCS users) for E-911 (Emergency-911) service by October 1, 2001.
Therefore, a great deal of emphasis has been placed on developing systems that can track the position of mobile units more accurately. One known method for locating mobile units is time difference of arrival (TDOA) which has been used for many years, at least in such applications as the Global Positioning System (GPS). Applying TDOA to cell phones involves measuring the time of arrival of a signal transmitted from a cell phone at a multiplicity of base-stations and comparing the arrival times to determine how long the signal took to reach each base-station. The TDOA algorithm, however, requires that at least three base-stations must be accurately synchronized in time before a mobile unit can be located accurately. This is an expensive and difficult requirement.
A method for computing the position of a mobile unit without synchronizing base-stations is provided. The principles of the present invention use a triangulation scheme where distances between a plurality of base-stations and a mobile unit (herein termed mobile) are calculated by measuring the round-trip delay time (i.e., round-trip delay value) of known symbols in the transmitted signals.
In an illustrative embodiment, upon receiving a 911 emergency call from a mobile, a serving (i.e., primary) base-station transmits a known downlink signal comprising 162 symbols to the mobile. Out of 162 symbols, 14 symbols are sync words and 148 symbols are control and data symbols. The serving base-station also contacts the Master Switching Center (MSC) and requests a list of neighboring base-stations available for hand-off. In response to the inquiry from the serving base-station, the MSC provides a list of neighboring base-stations available for hand-off. Then, the serving base-station selects at least two neighboring base-stations from the list to perform hand-off of the mobile.
In the meantime, the mobile receives the downlink signal transmitted by the serving base-station. The mobile then identifies its unique 14 symbol sync words and then transmits an uplink signal comprising 45 symbols to the serving base-station. This uplink signal is received by the serving base-station, which measures the total round-trip delay value for the downlink and uplink transmissions.
After the total round-trip delay value has been measured, the serving base-station performs a hand-off of the mobile to a first neighboring base-station. The first neighboring base-station receives the hand-off and immediately transmits an analogous downlink signal to the mobile. The mobile receives the downlink signal and in response transmits an analogous uplink signal to the first neighboring base-station. The total round-trip delay value for this second pair of downlink and uplink transmissions is then measured. After measuring the round-trip delay value, the first neighboring base-station performs a hand-off of the mobile to a second neighboring base-station. The second neighboring base-station also transmits an analogous downlink signal to the mobile and in response receives an analogous uplink signal from the mobile. The round-trip delay value for this third pair of downlink and uplink transmissions is then measured. After computing all three round-trip delay values, a triangulation algorithm is used to compute the position of the mobile.
Thus, the principles of the present invention provide a scheme to determine the position of the mobile within the desired range of accuracy without requiring the participating base-stations to be accurately synchronized in time. Thus, the principles of the present invention provide a low-cost solution with the added advantages of utilizing a known downlink signal and a known uplink signal in determining the position of the mobile.
In one embodiment, the present invention is a method for locating a mobile unit in a wireless network having a plurality of base-stations, comprising the steps of (a) receiving at least three round-trip-delay-values, each round-trip-delay-value corresponding to transmission of a downlink signal from one of at least three base-stations to the mobile unit and transmission of an uplink signal, in response to the downlink signal, from the mobile unit to the one base-station; and (b) determining the position of the mobile unit based on the at least three round-trip-delay-values using a triangulation algorithm.
In another embodiment, the present invention is a node of wireless network having a plurality of base-stations, the node configured to locate a mobile unit in the wireless network by (a) receiving at least three round-trip-delay-values, each round-trip-delay-value corresponding to transmission of a downlink signal from one of at least three base-stations to the mobile unit and transmission of an uplink signal, in response to the downlink signal, from the mobile unit to the one base-station; and (b) determining the position of the mobile unit based on the at least three round-trip-delay-values using a triangulation algorithm.

Locating a mobile unit in a wireless time division multiple access system


Methods are described herein for converting carbocationically terminated polymers to anionically terminated polymers. These methods comprise: (a) providing a carbocationically terminated polymeric moiety; (b) reacting the carbocationically terminated polymeric moiety with a heterocyclic compound of the formula

Living polymerizations provide versatile synthetic routes for the preparation of a wide variety of well-defined polymer structures, such as end-functionalized polymers, star-shaped polymers and/or block copolymers. Because specific living polymerization methods (e.g., anionic and carbocationic living polymerizations) are each applicable only to a limited number of monomers, the combination of different living polymerization techniques should lead to new and unique combinations of blocks in block copolymers. Recent success in the synthesis of functionalized polyisobutylene (PIB) with quantitative functionality, and of block copolymers with high structural integrity, is based on the applications of non-homo-polymerizable monomers such as 1,1-diphenylethylene (DPE) in cationic polymerization. Bae, Y. C.; Faust, R. Macromolecules 1998, 31, 9379. These processes involve the intermediate capping reaction of living PIB with DPE or its derivatives. The resulting stable and fully ionized carbenium ions have been successfully employed for the quantitative end-functionalization of living PIB with soft nucleophiles such as silyl ketene acetals (see Fodor, Z.; Hadjikyriacou, S.; Li, D.; Faust, R. Polym. Prepr. (Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Polym. Chem) 1994, 35(2), 492-493) and the controlled initiation of the second monomers such as p-methyl styrene (see Fodor, Z. Faust., R. J. Macromol. Sci., Pure Appl. Chem. 1994, A31 (12), 1985-2000) and isobutyl vinyl ether (see Hadjikyriacou, S. Faust., R. Macromolecules 1995, 28, 7893-7900).
Block copolymers of isobutylene (IB) and polar monomers, such as methacrylates, acrylamides, polyethers, or polyesters should combine the high environmental stability of elastomeric, non-polar PIB with the large variety of structures and properties of polar polymers. However, because PIB can only be effectively obtained by carbocationic polymerization, many attempts have been undertaken to transform living cationic PIB chain ends to radical (see Chen, X.; Iván, B.; Kops, J.; Batsberg, W. Macromol. Rapid Commun. 1998, 19, 585) or anionic (see Kitayama, T.; Nishiura, T.; Hatada, K. Polym. Bull. 1991, 26, 513) ones.
Although many prior attempts were less successful, metalation of DPE end-capped PIB with Na/K alloy or cesium followed by anionic polymerization allowed for the synthesis of PIB-b-PtBMA diblock copolymers, PMMA-b-PIB-b-PMMA triblock copolymers, and (PMMA-b-PIB)3 starblock copolymers. See Feldthusen, J.; Iván, B.; Müller, A. H. E. Macromolecules, 1997, 30, 6989; and Feldthusen, J.; Iván, B.; Müller, A. H. E. Macromolecules 1998, 31, 578-585. Metalation with alkali metals, however, is inconvenient and lithiation with alkyllithium (e.g., butyllithium) would be preferable. Unfortunately, lithiation of DPE end-capped PIB by alkyllithium does not proceed quantitatively.
Recently, Faust et al. showed that furan (Fu) functional polyisobutylene (PIB-Fu) can be obtained by the quantitative reaction of living PIB and 2-tributylstannyl furan. See Hadjikyriacou, S.; Faust, R. Macromolecules 1999, 32, 6393-6399. Using unsubstituted Fu, however, side reactions in which two living chain ends were coupled to a single Fu were not avoided. Once formed, PIB-Fu chain ends could be lithiated with n-BuLi, however, the polymerization of methacrylates using this macroinitiator was accompanied by side reactions. See Scheunemann, S. G.; Diplomarbeit, Universität Mainz, 1999.
In place of PIB-Fu, the present inventors have discovered that it is also possible to use thiophene (T) functional PIB (PIB-T) in the metalation reaction. An advantage is that unsubstituted T may be used to prepare PIB-T while avoiding the above noted difficulties associated with Fu, since the reactivity of T is about one tenth that of Fu.
Iván et al. reported on attempts to use T as a coupling agent for living PIB, but under the conditions chosen (−80° C., methylcyclohexane/dichloromethane 60/40 v/v, [TiCl4]/[initiator]/[T]=10/2/1) only 17% of coupling product was formed after 2 h and 36% after approx. 24 h when stirred at room temperature. See Iván, B.; De Jong, F.; WO 9909074 (1999), assigned to Infineum Holdings B. V., Netherlands.

End-capped polymer chains and products thereof

Abstract: where —X— is selected from —S—, —O—, —NH— and —NR—, and where R is an alkyl group or an aryl group, thereby providing an end-capped polymeric moiety; and (c) reacting the end-capped polymeric moiety with an organolithium compound to yield an anionically terminated polymeric moiety. Also described are block copolymers in which a first polymer block comprising cationically polymerized monomers is linked to a second polymer block comprising anionically polymerized monomers by a

Abstract: group, as well as a polymer in which a polymer block comprising cationically polymerized monomers is linked to a halogenated silane residue or a carbosilane residue by a

Abstract: group.


A network including at least two server nodes, a master network information server node and a client node in communication with each other. The master network information server node contains a list of network addresses and respective load information corresponding to each of the server nodes. In one embodiment the client node is directed to use a server node on which to execute an application based on the load information stored on the master network information server node. A method is described which includes the steps of requesting an available servers from a master network information server node and connecting the client node to an available server node based on the load levels.

Computer communication networks typically include one or more computer nodes termed servers and one or more computer nodes termed clients. A server provides a service to a client upon receiving a request from the client. An example of a typical service provided by a server is that provided by a file server.
A file server is a computer node having data storage capabilities. Data files which are to be accessed by users on various client nodes are stored on the file server. When a client node needs a file, a request is transmitted to the file server node which obtains the file from its local storage and transmits the file to the requesting client node. When the client node has completed its use of the file, the client node returns the updated file to the file server for storage. By using a file server rather than keeping files on local storage on the client node, the amount of local storage is reduced, the ability to backup or copy the file periodically is improved, and access to the file by multiple users is improved.
Many other types of servers are known. For example, print servers control the printing of documents for client nodes. By using a print server, each computer need not have a printer, thereby reducing the number of printers needed to support the number of computers on the network. Application servers provide application programs for clients, thereby avoiding the need of maintaining an application on each client. Application execution servers not only provide applications for the client nodes, but also execute the applications and thereby act as "compute engines" for the client nodes.
One issue that arises is that of apportioning the client requests to each server node which is capable of answering the requests. For example, if two application execution server nodes are both capable of executing an application for a client node, but one application execution server node is presently executing the application for three other clients and the other application server is not executing the application for any client, then what is desired is a means for sending any new requests for the execution of the application to the under-utilized server. This balancing of the work load among the various network servers is referred to as load leveling.
One prior art system which is capable of performing a rudimentary form of load leveling is the VAXcluster.TM. computer system of the Digital Equipment Corporation (Maynard, Mass.). A VAXcluster.TM. is a group of VAX.TM. computers connected together by a communication link. A user on a local area network connected to the VAXcluster.TM. can access different computers of the VAXcluster.TM. according to the load level of the various nodes. However, this is form of load leveling is more akin to a user selecting a different client node than it is selecting a server node in a present day network.
What is desired then is a method for permitting a client node to select the least loaded server node without user intervention. The present invention permits such functionality.

Method and apparatus for connecting a client node to a server node based on load levels


A dispenser adapted to be coupled to a fluid container. The dispenser comprises a dispensing head, an energy source, and a fluid pathway. The dispensing head includes a fluid pump, a motor adapted to power the pump, a trigger adapted to control the motor, and a nozzle orifice in fluid communication with a discharge end of the pump. The fluid pathway has one portion in fluid communication with an intake end of the pump and another portion inside the container. In one embodiment, the fluid pump is a peristaltic pump. The present invention may further include a valve having a membrane for controlling flow through the valve, the membrane having open and closed positions; and an element urges the membrane to the closed position, and a vacuum pressure at one end of the valve may overcome the urging of the element, thereby moving the membrane to the open position.

The present invention relates to devices and methods for dispensing substances. More particularly, the present invention relates to devices and methods for dispensing fluids and to a powered dispenser for attachment to a reservoir containing a fluid to be dispensed.
Hand operated sprayers are often mounted on containers of household liquids such as window and bathroom cleaners or ARMOR ALL®. A household liquid is dispensed from the hand-operated sprayer by repeatedly squeezing a lever on the sprayer. This can be tiresome. Consequently, powered sprayers have been previously developed to replace the hand-operated sprayers.
These previous powered sprayers suffer from several drawbacks. First, they often cannot be mounted on an off-the-shelf container of household liquid, instead relying on a special reservoir that must be refilled by the user. This can be messy and/or inconvenient for a user.
Second, the previous powered sprayers have spray heads or housings that are substantially larger and heavier than the standard hand operated sprayers. As a result, the previous powered sprayers tend to be top heavy and unwieldy. They tend to be expensive in comparison to non-powered sprayers and, for at least these reasons, are not optimally marketable.
The present disclosure further relates to flow controls, valves, and devices for controlling, starting, and stopping a flow, and to methods of making and using such controls, valves, and devices. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to controls, valves, and devices that control, start, and/or stop a flow in one direction and, more particularly, to one-way valves having an actuator assist.
Valves, including one-way valves, are used in many situations and arts to influence, control, or regulate flows of substances. Examples include the refining or chemical processing industries, coating systems or mechanisms, and dispensing systems or mechanisms, such as handheld sprayers, water guns, robotic sprayers, and the like.
No matter what flow, spray system, or flow path a valve may be associated with or used in, the flowing substance to be controlled may include aggressive formulas that leak and/or leave a sticky residue in the interior of a nozzle, dispensing system or sprayer head, and on valve components or surfaces, e.g., the seat, stem, peripheral edge, etc. Valves provided inside a sprayer head, for example, may be used to regulate the flow of air and fluid in the sprayer and prevent leaks. However, such valves may become sticky due to the residues left by the fluids. Thus, the valves may tend to stick open and leak, and/or stick closed and prevent the air or fluid from passing through. The sticky residue may be caused by direct contact between the valves and fluid from a reservoir of the sprayer or by contact with vapors from the fluid in the reservoir.
There is a need in the art for a powered sprayer that has a spray head or housing that is similar in size and configuration to a standard hand operated sprayer. There is also a need in the art for a valve, and in some embodiments a one-way valve, that compensates for and/or reduces the likelihood of leakage, substandard performance, or malfunction. There is a need in the art for a valve having an actuator assist for initiating and/or facilitating the opening of the valve. There is a further need in the art for a dispensing or spray system, sprayer, power sprayer, or the like that maintains a properly pressurized fluid reservoir and a valve that maintains proper operation under use with aggressive formulas.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method of fabricating a semiconductor device comprising a method of forming an etching mask used for etching a semiconductor base material is disclosed. The method of fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming hard mask patterns on a semiconductor base material; forming material layers covering the lateral and top surfaces of the hard mask patterns to form openings between adjacent hard mask patterns, wherein the width of each opening is smaller than the distance between adjacent hard mask patterns; and etching the semiconductor base material using the hard mask patterns and material layers as an etching mask.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. In particular, embodiments of the invention relate to a method of fabricating a semiconductor device comprising forming an etching mask.
This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-0060796, filed on Jul. 6, 2005, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
2. Description of the Related Art
As semiconductor devices have become more highly integrated, the distances separating elements of a semiconductor device have become increasingly small. These elements are generally formed through the use of a micro-pattern. The micro-pattern is used to variously etch thin material layers and is formed using photolithography techniques. Thus, the precision with which photolithography techniques are applied is an important factor in the resulting quality of the micro-pattern.
In conventional photolithography techniques, a pattern for use as an etching mask, for example, is exposed on a photosensitive material layer using KrF laser projecting light at a wavelength of 248 nm or ArF laser projecting light at a wavelength of 193 nm. Following exposure to light at these respective wavelengths the photosensitive material layer is developed. Once the photosensitive material layer is developed, a subsequently applied etching process is used to form the desired micro-pattern on a lower layer (i.e., a layer formed below the resist pattern) as a result of an etch selectivity between the resist pattern and the lower layer.
However, as semiconductor devices become more highly integrated, the number and complexity of the constituent fabrication processes increases. Also, as the line width and similar separation distances between elements on contemporary semiconductor devices decreases, the usefulness of conventional photolithography equipment and techniques becomes increasingly strained. This is particularly true for the lasers conventionally used in the development of micro-patterns. The performance limitations currently being experienced with regard to conventional equipment are a result of the optical characteristics for the constituent light sources and/or the associated chemical characteristics of certain materials commonly used in conventional photolithography processes.
To overcome some of these limitations, a silicon nitride layer or a polysilicon layer has been formed on an etching target layer and used as an etching mask to form a micro-pattern. A hard material layer other than a photosensitive material used as an etching mask is commonly referred to as a hard mask (or hard mask pattern).
As the design rule for semiconductor fabrication processes falls below 100 nm, many of these processes require increasingly small critical dimensions (CDs). Examples of such processes include those related to the formation of a recess channel array transistor (RCAT), a self aligned contact plug (SAC), a storage node contact plug, a DRAM capacitor, and a contact plug in a flash device. In addition, small CDs are typically obtained using a photolithography process and an associated etching process. In typical processes related to the fabrication of semiconductor devices such as DRAMs or flash devices, a design rule of about 90 nm is used for mass production, while a design rule of 50 nm is currently being researched. One of the most important factors in developing such devices having small design rules is the patterning of small CDs using photolithography and etching processes. In particular, the photolithography process should be accomplished first so that the following etching process may be evaluated. However, the development of a scanner, which is a piece of exposure equipment, is lagging behind the reduction of the design rule in a semiconductor device.
For example, in a process for forming an RCAT of a DRAM, where the CD of a space formed in the process (i.e., the width of a trench in which a buried gate will be formed) should be less than 40 nm, a plurality of bridges are generated due to the scanner's resolution limit. In addition, in a process for forming an SAC, contact holes are not correctly formed (i.e., are not open) due to a bridge caused by scum. In a process for forming a contact plug in a flash device, when the CD of a space (i.e., the width of a contact hole where the contact plug will be formed) should be less than 60 nm, scum often causes contact holes to be formed incorrectly (i.e., causes non-open defects). Thus, alternative approaches such as a sidewall patterning technique or a double exposure technique have been introduced for patterning small CDs. However, these alternate fabrication techniques are expensive, complicated, and more time consuming.

Method of fabricating a semiconductor device


A programmable logic device includes a plurality of clusters of logic elements. Each of the clusters may include a respective programmable interconnect matrix with each of the logic blocks of each cluster being coupled to the respective programmable interconnect matrix of the cluster. Each of the clusters may be symmetrically coupled to a row and a column of a global routing matrix. The row and the column of the global routing matrix may themselves be symmetrical and each row and/or column may be coupled to an input/output cell of the programmable logic device. The global routing matrix may comprise a plurality of programmable interconnections. In a further embodiment, a symmetrical input/output scheme for a programmable logic device may include a first level routing architecture configured to provide limited intercommunication between a first cluster of logic blocks and a second cluster of logic blocks and a second level routing architecture configured to provide intercommunication between logic blocks within the first cluster. The second level routing architecture being symmetrically coupled to the first level routing architecture at two points of the first cluster. The symmetrical input/output scheme may have the second level routing architecture coupled to the first level routing architecture through a programmable interconnect matrix. The first level routing architecture may further comprise a non-segmented routing matrix which may be symmetrical and which may be laid out as a row and column routing matrix.

Various programmable logic architectures are known, including, for example, Programmable Logic Devices ("PLD"), Programmable Logic Arrays ("PLA") and Programmable Array Logic ("PAL.TM."). Although there are many differences between the various architectures, each of the PLD, PLA and PAL architectures typically include a set of input conductors directly coupled as inputs to an array of logical AND gates ("Product Term Array"), the outputs of which, in turn, act as inputs to another portion of the logic device.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional Complex Programmable Logic Device ("CPLD") 100 which includes a Programmable Interconnect Matrix ("PIM") 110 and eight logic blocks 120. Other CPLDs may include different numbers of logic blocks. As shown, CPLD 100 has a total of 262 inputs, each of which is connected to the PIM 110. The PIM 110 is capable of providing each logic block 120 with its own set of input terms by independently selecting as many as 36 of the possible 262 input signals as input terms for each logic block 120. The compliments for each of the 36 signals output by the PIM 110 are also provided to each logic block 120. Thus, each logic block receives as many as 72 input terms from the PIM 110.
The PIM 110 includes a number of programmable elements (not shown) for controlling an array of multiplexers (not shown) to reduce the total number of programmable elements required. The programmable elements may be volatile memory elements such as static random access memory ("SRAM"), non-volatile memory elements such as flash electrically easrable programmable read only memory ("Flash EEPROM"), or fuses. Alternatively, the programmable elements of the PIM 110 may be implemented to control a matrix of cross point switches; however, this increases the total number of programmable elements required to make the same number of connections. Whether the connections between input conductors and output conductors are provided by cross point switch matrix or by an array of multiplexers, each output conductor can be connected to at least one input conductor. Thus, both forms of connections perform a multiplexing function in the sense of both forms of connection provide for the selection of one of the input conductors from the set of many input conductors.
The 262 inputs to the PIM 110 include 128 feedback signals, 128 input signals and 6 dedicated input signals which include 4 clock signals. Sixteen feedback signals and as many as 16 input signals are provided by each logic block 120. Each logic block 120 is programmed to perform selected logic functions using sub-combinations of the 72 input terms provided by the PIM 110. Each logic block 120 has 16 input/output ("I/O") pins 125, which may be used as either inputs to the PIM 110 or outputs of the CPLD 100.
Conceptually, the CPLD 100 may be regarded as a PIM coupled in series with 8 PLDs coupled in parallel, where each individual logic block 120 corresponds to a single PLD. Intermediate stages in the outputs of each of the 8 PLDs are fed back as inputs to the PIM. Depending on the particular set of input signals routed to the outputs of the PIM and the programmed logic functions for each logic block 120, the 8 PLDs may, in fact, act as two or more PLDs coupled in series with each other. CPLD 100 thus provide a highly versatile logic device.
FIG. 2 shown portions of CPLD 100 in greater detail. Specifically, a logic block 120 is shown as including a product term array 210, a product term allocator 215, macrocells 220 and I/O cells 225. The product term array 210 may be a fully programmable AND array and the product term allocator 215 is configured to allocate product terms from the product term array 210 to 16 macrocells 220. The product term allocator 215 "steers" product terms to macrocells 220 as needed. For example, if one macrocell requires ten products terms while another requires only three product terms, the product term allocator 215 steers ten product terms to one macrocell and three product terms to the other macrocell. Depending on the configuration, up to 16 product terms can be steered to any one macrocell.
The output for each of the 16 macrocells 220 are fed back to the PIM 110 as input signals. The specific architecture of the macrocells 220 may be any appropriate architecture and each macrocell 220 may include registers and/or buffers. The 16 outputs of the macrocells 220 are also fed to 16 I/O cells 225. Each of the 16 I/O cells 225 can be programmed to provide output signals to an I/O pin 125 or input signals to the PIM 110.
CPLD 100, as shown FIGS. 1 and 2, provides a highly versatile programmable logic device. However, as the need for implementing more and more logic functions within digital and/or computer systems has increased, CPLDs of even higher densities have been developed. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, CPLD 300 consists of logic blocks connected by two levels of interconnect. Each group of four logic blocks 310 is given its own routing resource, called a Block Interconnect 320. Together, the four logic blocks 310 and their block interconnect 320 are called a segment 330. The second level of interconnect, segment interconnect 340, ties all of the segments 330 together. Segment interconnect 340 also provides a routing path for a number of global clock signals 350.
Each logic block 310 consists of macrocells, logic arrays, logic allocators, I/O cells and any necessary control signal generators. Thus, each logic block 310 resembles an independent PLD device. In addition to the block interconnect 320, I/O cells associated with each logic block 310 may have signal paths which feed directly back to that logic block (local feedback paths) which may be used to route signals from the I/O cell back to the logic block. When the signals from an I/O cell are used in another logic block, an interconnect feeder may assign a block interconnect line to that signal. The interconnect feeder may act as an input switch matrix.
The block interconnect 320 and segment interconnect 340 provide connections between any two signals in CPLD 300. Block interconnect lines and local feedback lines are assigned as required.
Although CPLD 300 provides a high degree of flexibility for implementing logic functions, it also suffers from certain drawbacks. For example, segment interconnect 340 and block interconnect 320 are each multiplexer-based interconnect structures. As such, segment interconnect 340 and block interconnects 320 require significant die area, thus leading to increased fabrication costs for CPLD 300. Segment interconnect 340 is required to be multiplexer-based because of the need to provide interconnection between every logic block 310 of CPLD 300. Although such a scheme may provide maximum connectability, it tends to ignore "real-world" designs which typically implement related logic functions in related logic blocks of a segment, thus avoiding the need to transmit numerous signals across an interconnect between segments.

Symmetric logic block input/output scheme


A method of forming a device includes providing a transistor having a gate structure and a source/drain structure adjacent to the gate structure. A cavity is formed along a sidewall surface of a contact opening over the source/drain structure. After forming the cavity, a sacrificial layer is deposited over a bottom surface and along the sidewall surface of the contact opening including within the cavity. A first portion of the sacrificial layer along the bottom surface of the contact opening is removed to expose a portion of the source/drain structure. A metal plug is then formed over the portion of the exposed source/drain structure. A remaining portion of the sacrificial layer is removed to form an air gap disposed between the metal plug and the gate structure. Thereafter, a seal layer is deposited over the air gap to form an air gap spacer.

The electronics industry has experienced an ever-increasing demand for smaller and faster semiconductor devices which are simultaneously able to support a greater number of increasingly complex and sophisticated functions. Accordingly, there is a continuing trend in the semiconductor industry to manufacture low-cost, high-performance, and low-power integrated circuits (ICs). Thus far these goals have been achieved in large part by scaling down semiconductor IC dimensions (e.g., minimum feature size) and thereby improving production efficiency and lowering associated costs. However, such scaling has also introduced increased complexity to the semiconductor manufacturing process. Thus, the realization of continued advances in semiconductor ICs and devices calls for similar advances in semiconductor manufacturing processes and technology.
For example, as device geometry shrinks, coupling capacitance tends to increase between interconnects such as source/drain (S/D) contact plugs and nearby gates. The increased coupling capacitance degrades device performance. To lower such coupling capacitance, insulating materials with a relatively low dielectric constant (k), such as low-k dielectrics and air gaps, have been used between S/D features and nearby gates. However, these materials have proven difficult to fabricate. In some instances, low-k dielectric materials are brittle, unstable, difficult to deposit, or sensitive to processes such as etching, annealing, and polishing, and air gap formations are difficult to control.
Thus, existing techniques have not proved entirely satisfactory in all respects.

Contact air gap formation and structures thereof

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.


The present invention is concerned with a protective coating with current applied on a metallic collector of an electrode. The protective coating comprises a mineral binder vitreous or partly vitreous and optionally an electronic conduction additive. This coating is applied in the form of a solution or dispersion on the collector of the electrode and dried, so that it coats and protects at least part of the surface of the metal of the collector to prevent the formation of passivation films generated by active species produced by other components of the generator.

The present invention is concerned with a protective coating with current applied on a metallic collector of an electrode. The protective coating comprises a mineral binder partially or completely vitreous and optionally an electronic conduction additive. This coating is applied in the form of a solution or dispersion on the collector of the electrode and dried, so that it coats and protects at least part of the surface of the metal of the collector to prevent the formation of insulating films generated by active species originating from other components of the generator.
In principle, lithium batteries offer the unique advantage of reaching unsurpassed volumic and specific energies that render them particularly interesting for a wide range of applications, whether stationary or mobile, from microelectronics, portable electronics to large installations for electrical vehicles or hybrids.
These systems generally use liquid aprotic electrolytes mainly of the lithium-ion type, and more recently polymer electrolytes, the latter being either of the dry solvating type polymer, working between 40 and 100xc2x0 C. with lithium anodes, or of the gelified type, using a solvating or non-solvating polymer, and working at room temperature because of the addition of aprotic polar liquid solvents associated with lithium-ion type electrodes having cathodes working at elevated tensions (xcx9c4V). The extreme operating conditions of temperature or tension of these systems cause the various components of the generator to age under cycling and/or in function of the time.
The components aging is evident at the current collectors level, and results in the formation of passivation films or in the degradation of the surface of the collectors because of the reactions between the components of the generator, namely the active materials of the electrodes, and the chemical components of the organic electrolyte. The formation of such films, more or less insulating, at the interfaces, significantly alters the quality of the electronic exchanges between the collectors and the electrode active materials, which are generally present in the form of composite.
In a polymer electrolyte medium, the effect of the passivation phenomenons is sometimes amplified because in the solid state, the products formed by the reactions of the organic solvent, the lithium salt, the electrode materials or from other components of the generator, tend to accumulate at the interface because of the lack of the convection of the solvent or the solubilization of the films formed, or because of the lack of corrosion/dissolution reaction of the metal and the renewal of the exchange surface. The attack of the collectors or the formation of passivation films at the surface by the oxidation-dissolution of the metallic conductor is generally caused by electrochemical reactions, namely oxidation or reduction, initiated by radicals, acid-base reactions or oxidation-reduction chemical reactions more or less catalyzed by the materials present.
FIGS. 1a) and 1b) illustrate a collector/electrode composite assembly and the localization of the passivation film at the interface collector/electrode after cycling.
Passivation phenomenons are particularly evident in the case of aluminium collectors, which are frequently used because of their low cost and their thermal and electrical conduction properties with cathode associated with end of charge voltages frequently higher than 3 and even 4 volts.
In lithium-ion type systems using liquid electrolytes or gelified polymers with liquids, the corrosion of the aluminium of the cathode collector is generally prevented through the use of a salt or a fluorinated additive of the type LiBF4 and LiPF6 that easily form a fluorinated film at the surface of the aluminium, or with an oxidative anion ClO4xe2x88x92, thus preventing deep corrosion or dissolution of the aluminium collector. With other particularly stable fluorinated salts such as TFSI of formula (CF3SO2)2NLi, the corrosion of aluminium above 4 volts can lead to the complete disintegration of the collector.
In dry polymer medium, the formation of passivation films on the aluminium collector of a vanadium oxide-based cathode (V2O5) does not lead to the dissolution of the collector, but rather to the formation of passivation films more or less insulating, that increase the electrical resistance between the collector and the composite cathode. There is then observed the formation of oxygen and fluorine-based oxidation films of aluminium, which are visible under electronic microscopy, that reach thicknesses higher than that of alumina films initially present at the surface of the aluminium. Such films are more or less electrical insulators and thus impair the passage of electrons between the collector and the electronic conduction and active materials present in the cathode.
It has been known for a long time to protect the metallic current collectors of electrochemical accumulators from passivation/dissolution phenomenon by coating the latter with an electronically conductive carbonated coating that is not very oxidizable. Generally, carbon black dispersions in organic or mineral binders are used in the form of a layer more or less impermeable to the electrolyte of the generator to prevent electrochemical corrosion phenomenons. Further, these coatings prevent a direct contact of the collector with the electrode active materials (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,254). Such solutions are used successfully in various commercial applications. However, none of them is perfectly satisfactory, particularly when the electrochemical generators are used in extreme conditions as described above, and over extended period of times, notably because of the lack of impermeability and chemical or electrochemical stability of the organic binders, or the metallic conduction additives or conjugated polymers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,686 (Fauteux et al.) describes a carbon-based protective coating (xe2x80x9cprimerxe2x80x9d) dispersed in a metallic polysilicate used in an electrolytic cell of the lithium-ion type containing a cobalt oxide cathode and a graphite anode. The polysilicates comprise several limitations because of their strong basicity. For example, they are reactive towards acidic electrode active materials such as vanadium oxide. Further, they are chemically reactive with iron phosphate-type materials. The basic character renders them incompatible with conduction additives made of conjugated polymers of the polyaniline type, doped polypyrole type etc.
In most applications, carbon is generally the preferred additive because of its high chemical inertia and its resistance to electrochemical corrosion.
The present invention is concerned with an electrochemical generator comprising a separating electrolyte between two electrodes, wherein at least one of the electrodes comprises a metallic current collector coated at least partially with a conductive coating, chemically compatible with the adjacent electrode material, the coating comprising a vitreous or partly vitreous mineral binder comprising an alkaline metal phosphate, an alkaline metal polyphosphate, an alkaline metal borate, an alkaline metal polyborate, or mixtures thereof, wherein at least one electronic conduction additive ensuring electronic exchanges between the electrode and the collector is optionally dispersed, the coating being contacted with the collector to protect the coated metallic surface from the formation of passivation films generated by reactive species originating from the generator components.
In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for coating, at least partly, the surface of a metallic collector of an electrode with a passivation protector, the process comprising:
a) preparing an aqueous dispersion solution of a mineral binder being vitreous or partly vitreous, and comprising an alkaline metal phosphate, an alkaline metal polyhphosphate, an alkaline metal borate, an alkaline metal polyborate, or mixtures thereof that is neutralized to ensure compatibility of the binder with the active material of the electrode and wherein at least one electronic conduction additive is dispersed;
b) coating the surface of the metallic collector with the dispersion prepared in step a), and drying to produce a partly or completely coated surface of the metal to prevent formation of passivation films generated by active species from other components of the generator.
In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrode comprising a metallic current collector coated in whole or in part with a protective conductive coating, chemically compatible with the adjacent electrode material, the coating comprising a vitreous or partly vitreous mineral binder wherein is optionally dispersed an electronic conduction additive ensuring electronic exchanges between the electrode and the collector, the coating being contacted impermeably with the collector to protect the metallic surface coated from the formation of passivation films generated by reactive species from generator components.


A mental modeling method and system may include providing at least one expert model, the at least one expert model including an analytical framework that summarizes subject matter expert-level knowledge. At least one mental model of at least one individual that summarizes subject matter individual-level knowledge is provided. The at least one expert model is modified based on the at least one mental model to provide at least one updated expert model.

1. Field of the Invention
Preferred and non-limiting embodiments are related to a mental modeling method and system and, in particular, to a mental modeling method and system for producing communications that effectively address mental models.
2. Description of Related Art
People are complicated and their thinking is unpredictable. Judging a balance of benefits and risks in order to take well-informed and appropriate action is a complex psychological process that cannot be "guessed at." Communication affects how people perceive benefits and risks, tradeoffs, opportunities, and challenges. By understanding in-depth, people's mental models and their key components, analysts can focus individual judgment, decision making, and behavior on selected topics using specialized communications formulated from and tailored to them. Analysts can do so with different sets of stakeholders on any topic anywhere in the world.
Mental models have been studied by cognitive scientists since the 1930's. Decades of research demonstrate that people's judgments about complex issues are guided by mental models which cannot be determined without the appropriate empirical research. Mental models have been described by scientists as tacit webs of belief that all people draw upon to interpret and make inferences about issues that come to their attention through communications of all kinds. A person's "mental model" can be thought of as a complex web of deeply held beliefs that operate below the conscious level. Mental models affect how an individual defines a problem, reacts to issues, and makes decisions about messages and options concerning topics that come to his or her attention through communications. Mental models tend to prevent people from seeing alternative perspectives and define boundaries of thought and action, thereby limiting people to familiar patterns of reasoning and action. Effective analyses of mental models can identify how different groups of people think about and respond to a variety of topics, including benefits and risks associated with activities, plans, or proposals.

Mental modeling for modifying expert model


A battery powered electronic dart game that is capable of scoring the game of Cricket uses multicolored or flashing lamps to indicate a current mark score. In one embodiment, the multi-colored lamps may be bi-color LED's that indicate four states with regard to marks scored in a particular dart bed. In another embodiment, the flashing lamps may be LED's flashed at different rates to indicate the four states with regard to marks scored in a particular dart bed. In a third embodiment, the lamps may be both colored and flashed to indicate marks scored. A score panel may be connected to a dart board, together containing processing and display driver circuitry for indicating a current score on the lamps and on numerical displays. Alternatively, the display panel may be a separate unit and may completely house the processing and display driver circuitry, thereby providing portability.

The dart game of Cricket is known and has generally accepted rules for determining a winning player. Cricket requires each player to score three dart landings or "marks" in each of the dart board beds numbered 15-20 and in the bullseye bed. When a player scores three marks in a particular bed, that player is said to have "closed" that bed. If one player successfully closes a bed before the other player closes the same bed, each successive mark scored in that bed by the first player is added to that player's numerical total score. The first player may therefore continue to land darts in that bed and increase his total score until the second player is able to close the bed. The end of the game of Cricket occurs when a player has closed all of the dart board beds 15-20 and bullseye, and achieved a higher numerical score than his opponent(s). The first player to accomplish this is the winner.
In another version of the game of Cricket, the players are required to close each of the dart board beds numbered 15-20 and the bullseye bed. No numerical score is kept. The winner of this version of Cricket is the player who first successfully closes all the beds.
Traditionally, Cricket game scores are kept by "chalking" wherein the marks and numerical scores are recorded by simply writing with chalk on a chalk board. This method suffered from the shortcoming of being messy, often producing illegible scores. Thus, chalked scores are generally difficult to read at a distance. This is particularly true in smoky, dark bar or tavern environments where a great number of dart games are played. Furthermore, "chalking" requires the players to constantly erase and revise the numerical scores, subjecting the scores to possible human arithmetical errors.
Prior art devices have attempted to overcome the shortcomings of the "chalking" method for scoring a game of Cricket. For example, one known device uses, for each player, a string of 3 LED's associated with each of the dart beds 15-20 and the bullseye bed to indicate the number of marks made in each bed. However, in order to score Cricket, such a device requires significant circuitry to accommodate 42 LED's as well as numerous LED drivers. This circuitry increases the manufacturing cost of the device, requires high current to run, and results in a larger device not suitable for portable or hand-held use. Additionally, the strings of 3 LED's tend to blur at a distance making it difficult to determine the number of marks scored.


The invention relates to a nickel electrode of the pasted type for a storage cell having an alkaline electrolyte, the electrode including a current collector and a paste. The electrode is manufactured by coating the collector with the paste which contains:. a) an active material in powder form, having a nickel hydroxide base; PA1 b) a conductor constituted by a mixture of conductive particles and conductive fibers, the conductive particles having an average dimension D1 not greater than D/20, D being the average diameter of said active material, and the conductive fibers having an average dimension D2 not greater than D, and an average length L2 not less than 25 times the value of D2; and PA1 c) at least one polymer binder.

Many types of nickel positive electrode exist which can be used in an alkaline electrolyte storage cell:
a pocket-type electrode, obtained by compressing electrochemically active material, in this case hydroxide Ni(OH).sub.2, mixed with a conductor, into a metal pocket having perforated walls so that the electrolyte can impregnate the active material, but the active material cannot escape from the pocket; and PA1 a sintered-type electrode, in which the electro-chemically active material is deposited in a sintered support by chemical or electrochemical precipitation.
In response to the growing needs of users, pasted nickel positive electrodes can now be made. Compared with other types of electrode, a pasted-type electrode contains a larger quantity of electrochemically active material; its capacity per unit volume is therefore increased and its manufacturing cost is lower.
A nickel electrode of the pasted type is made by depositing a paste either on a two-dimensional conductive support such as expanded metal, a grid, a fabric, a solid strip, or a perforated strip, or else in a three-dimensional conductive support that is porous such as a felt, a metal foam, or a carbon foam. During manufacture of the electrode, a volatile solvent is added to the paste to adjust its viscosity in order to make said paste easy to form. Once the paste has been deposited on or in the support, the assembly is compressed and dried in order to obtain an electrode of desired density and thickness.
The main constituents of the paste include the said "active" material, normally in powder form, a polymer binder, and usually a conductor. In a nickel electrode of the pasted type, the active material constituting the paste generally contains a nickel-based hydroxide. Nickel hydroxide is a compound of low conductivity which requires a conductor to be added thereto to enable good electrical percolation.
Document FR-2 567 326 proposes adding nickel powder as the conductor. According to document JP-63 004 561, short nickel fibers can also be used as the conductor for improving conductivity.
Document EP-0 581 275 describes a nickel electrode of the pasted type which contains nickel hydroxide powder as its active material, and fibrous nickel powder as its conductor, the fibrous nickel powder comprising numerous chain-structured zones pointing in all three directions, the average diameter of the chain-structured zones being no greater than 1.3 microns. The nickel powder is advantageously in the form of a mixture of fine particles (of diameter lying in the range 0.6 microns to 1.0 microns) and larger particles (of diameter less than 1.3 microns). The electrode has improved capacity and extended life time.
Document EP-0 658 948 describes an Ni--MH alkaline storage cell provided with a positive electrode of the pasted nickel electrode type constituted by nickel hydroxide, as its active material, and by graphite, as its conductor. The nickel positive electrode provides the storage cell with increased stability at high temperatures of use. Furthermore, it can be seen that the nickel positive electrode cannot be associated with a cadmium negative electrode, because, in that case, the graphite oxidizes into carbonate ions which pass into the electrolyte.
To increase the rapid discharge performance of a non-sintered nickel electrode, document JP-57 138 776 proposes a conductor constituted by a mixture of particles, preferably of graphite powder, and of fibers made of carbon or of stainless steel, for example.
The distribution of the conductive lattice is improved by using, as the conductor, a cobalt compound such as metallic cobalt Co, a cobalt hydroxide Co(OH).sub.2 (JP-6 251 157), a cobalt salt (EP-0 490 991), and/or a cobalt oxide CoO (JP-6 283 170).
During the first charge of an alkaline storage cell provided with a nickel electrode containing a cobalt compound as its conductor, said compound is oxidized into cobalt oxyhydroxide CoOOH in which the cobalt is brought to oxidation number +3. The cobalt oxyhydroxide is stable in the normal operating range of the nickel positive electrode and is insoluble in the alkaline electrolyte. It provides electrical percolation for the electrode.
When stored in the completely discharged state, an Ni--Cd or Ni--MH alkaline storage cell having a nickel positive electrode of the pasted type containing a cobalt compound sees its voltage decrease over time. With increasing duration of storage, its voltage tends towards 0 V, with the reaction kinetics of that phenomenon being a function of storage temperature. In those storage conditions, alkaline storage cells having positive electrodes of the pasted type suffer irreversible loss of capacity due to their positive electrodes.
When the voltage of a positive electrode is close to 0 Volts, the cobalt oxyhydroxide contained therein, which is stable only in the normal operating range of the electrode, slowly reduces. The cobalt is thus brought firstly to oxidation number +2.66 in Co.sub.3 O.sub.4, then to oxidation number +2 in Co(OH).sub.2, and finally to oxidation number 0 in Co. Unfortunately, cobalt hydroxide Co(OH).sub.2 is a compound which is very soluble in electrolyte. consequently, after a storage period of several months, a loss of conductivity can be observed due to the percolation lattice of the pasted electrode partially dissolving. This results in irreversible loss of capacity which can exceed 15%. This irreversible loss of capacity occurs whatever type of cobalt compound is initially introduced into the paste.
Document EP-0 634 804 describes a nickel electrode of the pasted type for an alkaline storage cell having an active material essentially constituted by nickel hydroxide, and having a conductor containing at least one compound selected from cobalt, cobalt hydroxide, and a carbon powder. The nickel electrode of EP-0 634 804 has high energy density over a range of temperatures of use that is larger than that of conventional electrodes.


A light emitting device is disclosed including a primary light source having a defined emission photon energy output, and, a light emitting material situated near to said primary light source, said light emitting material having an absorption onset equal to or less in photon energy than the emission photon energy output of the primary light source whereby non-radiative energy transfer from said primary light source to said light emitting material can occur yielding light emission from said light emitting material.

Because of the effects of quantum-confinement, the emission color of semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) can be modified dramatically by simply changing NC size. Spectral tunability, large photoluminescence (PL) quantum yields, and high photostability make NCs attractive for applications in such light-emitting technologies as displays, fluorescence tagging, solid-state lighting, and lasing. An important concern associated with light-emitting applications of NCs is the difficulty in achieving electrical pumping. Thus far, all attempts to directly contact NCs electrically have met with limited success, largely due to the presence of an insulating organic capping layer. Here the indirect exciton injection into NCs is explored via a non-contact, non-radiative energy transfer (ET) from a proximal quantum well (QW) that can be pumped either electrically or optically. Our theoretical treatment and direct experimental measurements indicate that this transfer is fast enough to compete with exciton recombination in the QW and results in greater than 50% QW-to-NC ET efficiencies in the tested devices. Furthermore, the measured ET rates are sufficiently large to provide NC pumping not only in the spontaneous but also in the stimulated emission regime, indicating the feasibility of ET-pumped, NC-based optical amplifiers and lasers.
Several programs worldwide emphasize the need for efficient solid-state emitters in applications ranging from displays and traffic signs to solid-state lighting. Semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) have been considered promising nanoscale color-selectable emitters that combine high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yields with chemical flexibility and processibility. Such quantum yields (QY) may potentially be as high as 100%. Even in the form of a single monolayer NCs can produce significant power outputs on the order of Watts per cm2 (estimated value for an NC packing density of 1012 cm−2, a radiative lifetime of 20 ns, and a moderate QY of 20%).
One approach to NC-based, electrically pumped light emitting devices utilizes hybrid organic/inorganic structures, in which the charges are delivered to NCs via the organic network and/or percolated NC subsystem. The performance of these devices is, however, limited by low carrier mobilities in both the organic and NC components and by the poor stability of organic molecules with respect to photooxidation.
Despite the gradual progress, problems have remained. After long and careful research, a new approach has now been developed for the pumping of light emitters via non-radiative energy transfer.

Non-contact pumping of light emitters via non-radiative energy transfer


A method and apparatus for shifting functional entity in WiMAX network is disclosed. A functional entity at the network side is set to be master functional entity or slave functional entity. The method includes: setting a binding relationship between a master functional entity and at least one slave functional entity; triggering the master functional entity to shift, combining a context of the slave functional entity bound with the master functional entity and a context of the master functional entity to form a context message that is required by the master functional entity for the shift, and forwarding the context message according to the course of shifting the master functional entity.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
The WiMAX network is a wireless metropolitan area network based on IEEE 802.16 standard, which, as shown in FIG. 1 consists of a user terminal, an access service network (ASN) and a connectivity service network (CSN). In WiMAX, a user terminal is a mobile station (MS)/subscriber station (SS); an ASN includes base station (BS) and access service network gateway (ASN GW); a CSN includes logic entities, such as a policy function (PF) server, an authentication, authorization, accounting (AAA) server, and an application function (AF) server.
The ASN provides a set of network function for wireless access service to the user terminal. The BS is configured to:
provide a level two (L2) connection between the BS and the user terminal;
provide functions such as management, measure and power control of wireless resource, and compression and encoding of air interface data.
The ASN-GW is configured to:
provide client functions such as authentication, authorization, accounting of the user terminal, which are performed by an Anchor Authenticator functional entity and an Anchor Accounting Client functional entity respectively;
support network discovery and selection of Network Service Provider, NSP;
provide Relay function of level three (L3) information, such as IP address allocation, to the user terminal; and
manage wireless resource.
Besides the above-mentioned functions, the ASN-GW can also provide the following optional functions: ASN internal switch; paging and location management for the user terminal, such as a Paging Controller (PC) functional entity; tunnel management between ASN-GW that equals Foreign Agent (FA) in mobile IP (MIP) technique and Anchor PMIP Client) functional entity; Visitor Location registration, Anchor SFA functional entity.
Each of the above function corresponds to a functional entity in ASN-GW, for example, an Authenticator, a PMIP Client, an FA, a Paging Controller/Location Register (PC/LR), a Service Flow Authorization (SFA), a Data Pass Function (DPF), a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Proxy/Relay (DHCP Proxy/Relay), an Accounting Client, etc.
The functional entities in the above ASN-GW might have different timing for changing their triggering due to the functional entities that server individual user terminal move with the user terminals, resulting in the individual functional entity that serves particular user terminal might exist in different ASN-GWs. Thus, in the same service, the interaction between different ASN-GW's may occur, which would cause the implementing process of the service quite complex. For example, for an Accounting Client, since the user terminal moves, the accounting information will be transferred between multiple ASN-GW's. Then, except for the ASN-GW in which the Accounting Client acting as AAA Client is located is required to interact with AAA of accounting information, there also exists an interaction with ASN-GW in which the accounting agent that collects accounting information related to user service data process is located. However, the ASN-GW acting as the accounting agent that collects accounting information does not directly interact with the AAA server, but interacts with the ASN-GW in which the accounting client acting as AAA client is located.
Currently, there is no solution for shifting the ASN's functional entity in WiMAX network.

Method and apparatus of shifting functional entity in wimax network


A pivotal cover assembly for a poultry drinker includes a sleeve that fits over the top of a drinker. Connected to the sleeve and extending upwardly from the drinker is a primary support. Pivotally connected to the primary support, in spaced relation to the drinker, is a cover member.

This invention is directed to a cover for a poultry drinking device or fount and more particularly a cover for a poultry drinking device that pivots or is tiltable.
Poultry drinkers or founts are well known. Presently, birds tend to roost on the top edge of the drinkers. As a result, because a drinking pan is positioned below and extends outwardly from the top edge, birds have a tendency to leave droppings in the drinking water. Not only is this unsanitary, but as a result cleaning the drinking device is more difficult and is required more frequently. Accordingly there exists a need to address these issues.
Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to provide a cover for a drinker that discourages birds from roosting on the drinker.
A further objective is to provide a cover for a drinking device that reduces the amount of droppings deposited in the drinking water.
These and other objectives will be apparent based upon the following written description.

Pivotal cover assembly for a poultry drinker


Imageable elements that contain silicate-coated polymer particles in the imageable layer, stacks of these elements, and methods for forming images using these elements are disclosed. The elements do not stick to each other when stacked without interleaving paper, and only one imageable element is lifted at a time when the imageable elements are handled by automatic processing equipment. Blanket piling is not observed when silicate-coated particles are present in the imageable layer.

In lithographic printing, ink receptive regions, known as image areas, are generated on a hydrophilic surface. When the surface is moistened with water and ink is applied, the hydrophilic regions retain the water and repel the ink, and the ink receptive regions accept the ink and repel the water. The ink is transferred to the surface of a material upon which the image is to be reproduced. Typically, the ink is first transferred to an intermediate blanket, which in turn transfers the ink to the surface of the material upon which the image is to be reproduced.
Imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plates, also called printing plate precursors, typically comprise an imageable layer applied over the hydrophilic surface of a substrate. The imageable layer typically comprises one or more radiation-sensitive components, which may be dispersed in a suitable binder. Alternatively, the radiation-sensitive component can also be the binder material. If, after imaging, the imaged regions of the imageable layer are removed in the developing process revealing the underlying hydrophilic surface of the substrate, the precursor is positive-working. Conversely, if the unimaged regions are removed by the developing process, the precursor is negative-working. In each instance, the regions of the imageable layer (i.e., the image areas) that remain are ink-receptive, and the regions of the hydrophilic surface revealed by the developing process accept water and aqueous solutions, typically a fountain solution, and repel ink.
Prior to use, printing plate precursors are usually stacked on top of each other during shipping and storage. Adjacent precursors have interposed there between a protective interleaving paper or some other type of interleaf that intimately contacts the surface of the imageable element and prevents the precursors from sticking together. This interleaving paper is removed from the imageable layer prior to imaging.
Imageable elements that are to be imaged by exposure through a photomask typically have a matte layer on the surface to prevent the photomask from sticking to the imageable element during imaging. This matte layer also prevents the interleaving paper from sticking too strongly to the imageable element so that the interleaving paper can be easily released by an automatic interleaving paper releasing machine.
Direct digital imaging of printing plate precursors, which obviates the need for imaging through a photomask, is becoming increasingly important in the printing industry. Because these imageable elements are imaged without a photomask, the imageable layer does not have a matte layer so the interleaving paper would have to be placed directly on the imageable layer. However, when the interleaving paper is placed directly on the imageable layer, the contact area between the imageable layer and the interleaving paper becomes larger and the sheets stick to each other. When the interleaving paper and the imageable layer stick to each other, it becomes difficult to release the interleaving paper with an automatic interleaving paper releasing machine and problems arise, such as paper jamming in the automatic interleaving paper releasing machine. However, when the interleaving paper is omitted, the precursors have a tendency to stick to each other and, thus, can not be easily handled by automatic processing equipment.
Thus, a need exists for imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plate precursors that do not require an interleaving paper yet do not stick to each other when the interleaving paper is omitted so that they can be easily handled by automatic processing equipment.

Imageable element containing silicate-coated polymer particle