A computing device includes a processing resource, a memory resource, and computer-executable instructions stored thereon and embodied in a biller exchange bill pay application. The instructions, when executed by the processing resource, cause the computing device to receive, from a remote computing system, a data set comprising a plurality of billers. Each of the plurality of billers is subscribed to a biller exchange structured to allow each of the plurality of billers to deliver and receive payment on customer bills via a biller exchange computing system. A user-interactive page comprising at least one user-interactive control is generated and displayed on the computing device. The user-interactive control includes at least one property dynamically populated based on the data set comprising the plurality of billers (such as, for example, a property binding the user-interactive control to the data set). Responsive to detecting a user interaction with the user-interactive control, computing operations can be performed. The computing operations can be specified at least in part using the at least one property of the user-interactive control (such as, for example, performing a particular operation for a particular biller from the data set).

A bill payment infrastructure generally includes financial institutions, billers and customers. When ACH (Automated Clearing House) is used to make the bill payments, financial institutions can be classified as originating deposit financial institutions (ODFI) and receiving deposit financial institutions (RDFI). ODFIs hold customer accounts from which funds are withdrawn to make a bill payment. Correspondingly, RDFIs hold customer accounts where funds are deposited when a bill payment is made to a biller. While ACH is sometimes used herein as an example, the terms "originating financial institution" and "receiving financial institution" are also used herein in the context of other situations where payments may be made via other (non-ACH) payment rails (networks or platforms).
A bill payment infrastructure allows a customer of a financial institution to use online/mobile banking to make payments to the financial institution or to third-party billers. From the perspective of a particular financial institution, billers (payees) can be classified as "on-us" billers," "off-us banking" billers, and "off-us non-banking" billers. When the particular financial institution itself is the biller, the biller is an "on-us" biller. For example, a bank offering both a checking account and a credit card account to a customer is an "on-us" biller when the bank sends a credit card bill for the credit card account to the customer.
An "off-us" billing relationship exists when the biller and the financial institution are different. Depending on whether the biller is a customer of the financial institution, the "off-us" billing relationship subdivides into "banking" billers and "non-banking" billers. In an "off-us banking biller" relationship, both the biller and the payer have a banking relationship with the same financial institution. (Thus, both the biller and the billed customer are referred to as "customers" of the financial institution.) For example, a utility company may have an account in a particular bank to receive utility bill payments from a billed customer. The billed customer may also have an account with the same bank which the customer uses for making the payments to the utility company. Thus, the utility company is an "off-us banking biller."
In an "off-us non-banking biller" relationship, the biller is a customer of a different bank than the bank having the billed customer's account. For example, the biller may be a utility company that uses a different bank than the payer, and only the payer (i.e., the billed customer) that is paying the utility bill is a customer of the financial institution. As a result, two different financial institutions are involved when an "off-us non-banking biller" bills a customer. Conventionally, each financial institution has a set of its own "on-us" biller products as well as relationships with multiple "off-us" billers.
In a conventional bill payment infrastructure, many payment processes are performed off-line or in an uncoordinated fashion or both. These example processes include off-line clearing of electronic payments, third party check processing and printing, third party e-payment processor activities (such as biller directory maintenance, payee validation, and e-payment provisioning), and fraud prevention activities. In conventional arrangements, different financial institutions often do not connect, verify information, and process payments among the different financial institutions themselves. Even with third-party processors, each financial institution typically still has to set up communication infrastructures to accommodate the requirements of multiple, different third-party processors.

User interface for a biller directory and payments engine


A barbecue pit is arranged to include a rotary shaft mounted in adjacency to the pit having an extension shaft, wherein a mesh basket is arranged for selective positioning over the barbecue pit for ease of access to the basket and for food components positioned thereon. A rotisserie housing is mounted to the basket structure in an intercommunication to permit selective rotation of the basket over the pit structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to barbecue grill apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved barbecue grill apparatus wherein the same is arranged for selective rotation and positioning over an associated barbecue grill pit structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Barbecue grills of various types are utilized throughout the prior art and exemplified by the U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,699,876; 4,702,224; and 4,162,650.
The instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the prior art by providing for a barbecue grill apparatus wherein the same is arranged for selective positioning over an associated barbecue grill pit and rotation of the associated support basket structure and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


In a receiver, two low-pass equivalent signal detection criterions when the timing, phase and amplitude of the received signal are known and unknown, respectively, are provided for the detection of the presence of a Barker sequence in a received signal by Neyman-Pearson hypothesis testing rule. In addition, signal quality and link quality to measure the current quality of environments for signal reception are provided by the employment of a differential decoder and a Viterbi decoder in the baseband receiver.

Wireless communications between separated electronic apparatus are widely used. For example, a wireless local area network (WLAN) is a flexible subsystem that may be an extension to, or an alternative for, a wired LAN within a building. In a wireless communication system, the propagation characteristics of the channel or medium through which signals traverse are important factors in the communication system. The medium affects or distorts the transmitted signal in different ways, for example by altering the amplitude and/or the phase of the frequency components. RF technique is well developed for wireless communications. For example, the IEEE 802.11 defines a standard to be followed by RF systems. However, a disadvantage in such system is that the transmitted signal may be significantly distorted by the RF medium as a result of the frequency-dependence of the medium in multipath propagation due to the reception of signal paths other than the line-of-sight (LOS) path. In mobile communication systems, multipath propagations may be the primary cause of distortion in received RF signals, especially in circumstances where there are obstructions in the signal path between the transmitter and receiver. Multipath is caused by the simultaneous reception of signals which result from the RF propagation from the transmitter through a medium with different paths. Particularly, in indoor environments a large number of multiple signal reflections occur when using wireless communication systems. These signal reflections result in a smearing of the signal in time, e.g., time dispersion, and self-jamming. This can adversely impact the performance of a straightforward waveform coding system. The varying path lengths cause differences in the respective received signals in relative delays, amplitude, and/or phase, which combine approximately linearly at the receiver. In general, multipath is a frequency dependent phenomenon, that is, its deleterious effects vary with frequency.
A modulation method used to combat multipath propagation is called spread spectrum. In a spread spectrum communication system, the bandwidth occupied by a digital data is expanded or spread in the transmitter by multiplying the data signal by a spreading signal or sequence. The spreading effect is collapsed in the receiver by the process of correlation. Since multipath is frequency dependent, only part of the spread signal is significantly perturbed. RF communication systems employing spread spectrum techniques are well known and widely used. For example, wireless LAN products frequently employ some type of spread spectrum techniques, such as direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) or frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS), to communicate between mobile stations and network access points (AP). A distinguishing feature of spread spectrum technique is that the modulated output signals occupy a much greater transmission bandwidth than the baseband information bandwidth requires. Prior art receivers employ matched filters to improve the detection of spread spectrum signals. Matched filtering technique uses an optimum receiver filter which has a frequency transfer function, H*(f), matched to the frequency transfer function, H(f), of the channel, where H*(f) is the complex conjugate of H(f). Spread spectrum communications have been used for various applications, such as cellular telephone communications, to provide robustness to jamming, good interference and multipath rejection, and inherently secure communications from eavesdroppers, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,396 to Dalekotzin. U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,411 to van Driest further frees the time interval in a spread spectrum encoder for a WLAN to increase the data rate in the communication system.
The spreading sequence is one type of reference signal in RF communications. It is known advantages to simultaneously transmit a reference signal along with the information-bearing signal in a transmitter system. There are various uses for the reference signal in the receiver system, for example, to accomplish baud and carrier synchronization with the transmitter system. The reference signal may also be used in determining the RF propagation impulse response. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,748,677 to Kumar provides a method and system for the simultaneous transmission and reception of a varying reference signal together with the composite data-modulated signal which represents the source message bit information to lower the power for the transmission of the reference signal and improvement of the determination of the transmitted reference signal.
On the other hand, WLANs are usually based on a medium access control (MAC) using a listen-before-talk scheme such as the carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) as described by the IEEE 802.11 standard. The IEEE 802.11 standard for WLANs is a standard for systems that operate in the 2400–2483.5 MHz industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band. The ISM band is available worldwide and allows unlicensed operation for spread spectrum systems. The IEEE 802.11 focuses on the MAC and physical layer (PHY) protocols for access points based networks and ad-hoc networks. It supports direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) with differential encoded BPSK (DBPSK) and QPSK, frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) with Gaussian FSK (GFSK), and infrared with pulse position modulation (PPM). In particular, under IEEE 802.11b a receiver shall implement a channel clear assessment (CCA) procedure in order to indicate the status of the medium as busy or clear. This CCA mechanism can be achieved by measuring the received energy in the medium and/or by measuring a specific signal pattern in the medium. For the scheme of measuring the received energy in the medium, a technique is used to detect the starting edge of the incoming packet and accumulate received signal energy over some window of length L. An example using the received energy monitoring is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,033 to Boer et al. by a WLAN with enhanced capture provision. For the other scheme of measuring a specific signal pattern in the medium, there are several different varieties of spread spectrum codes could be used, and the most prominent among them are called m-sequence spreading signals or pseudo noise or PN codes. A variant of those is the Gold codes used in global positioning systems (GPS). There are also Kasami codes and Walsh codes used in IS95 systems, which are not strictly spreading codes but are also listed herewith for reference. In IEEE 802.11b, Barker sequence is the specific signal pattern for the CCA mechanism. The Barker codes were originally developed for radar systems, and they are actually a subset of PN codes and are short codes with a length up to 13. The property that makes them popular for radar system is what is called one-shot correlation, not the end of round correlation. This function has side lobes, e.g., correlation coefficients, of 0 and −1, and this is not the case of PN codes in general. FIGS. 1A and 1B show a basic 7-bit Barker sequence or codeword (+++−−+−) and the auto-correlation on a one shot basis, respectively, by which is shown the main peak at the center and a 0 and −1 cross correlations. As shown, in FIG. 1B, the exemplary timing diagram is for an ideal correlator output, and the Barker sequences causes a waveform spike and fixed-level sidelobes. However, the small sidelobes shown in FIG. 1B are for reference only. The size, shape and spacing of sidelobes are not intended to be to scale. The sidelobes are shown to demonstrate that a correlator generally has some small output value close to zero during symbol processing.
In the related arts, U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,135 to Paradise, U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,496 to Russell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,898 to Endo et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,497 to Zehavi, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,760 to Allen describe the transmissions using PN sequences. U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,620 to Cafarella et al. utilizes a series of chips in a spread spectrum signal. U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,807 to Snell discloses a high data rate spread spectrum transceiver with enhanced overall system performance by use of modified Walsh codes. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,462 to Kamerman et al. provides a system and method for improved RF receivers that can be trained rapidly to the preamble portion of a data packet in order to use a minimum duration preamble and can be rapidly and accurately trained to a transmitted signal under poor channel conditions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,239 to Padovani et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,797 to Gilhousen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,474 to Gilhousen et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,459 to Gilhousen et al. disclose CDMA spread spectrum cellular telephone communication systems using Walsh spreading codes. U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,356 to Beukema describes a method for multipath resistant waveform coding, which adds a chip extension to an optimally designed waveform set to compensate for an expected time shift in the radio channel during the transmission and demodulation of the transmitted waveform. The chip extension method can be used in BPSK, QPSK, QBPSK, and a modified Quadrature-BPSK encoding scheme.
There is a need to detect the Barker sequence in the channel or medium in a simple way. Further, it is convenient to report the quality of signal and link such that users can accommodate the physical environment timely to enhance the quality of transmission and receiving. However, prior arts never provide such quality services.

Carrier sensing, signal quality and link quality in a receiver


A wind turbine blade for a wind turbine is a shell structure of a fiber-reinforced composite and comprises a root region and an airfoil region. The root region has a ring-shaped cross section and comprises a plurality of elongated bushings 7 with an inner thread 22 and embedded interspaced in the fiber-reinforced polymer so as to substantially follow the circumference of the root region and allow access from the outside to the inner threads. Each fastening member 7 is provided with a notch 60′ in the periphery 11 thereof. A rod-shaped locking element 61 passes through the notch 60′ in engagement therewith. The locking element 61 is fixedly and tightly fitting arranged in a through-going circular bore 65 extending through the wall of the root region.

Wind turbine blades and thereby also the root region thereof are often made by assembling two blade halves essentially corresponding to the suction side and the pressure side, respectively, along the chord plane. However, the blades may also be moulded in their entirety by so-called hollow moulding.
The root region comprises layers of fibres forming an outer layer and an inner layer between which fastening members in the form of bushings are placed. A separately formed retaining means in form of an insert is placed between each pair of adjacent bushings, whereby the bushings are mutually separated by the inserts. The known inserts are made of glass fibres embedded in a suitable resin.
A potential problem in connection with wind turbine blades is load transfer from the fibre composite structure of the root region to the hub of the wind turbine. The connection and transfer of loads from the blade to the hub is inter alia provided by mounting the blade to the hub by screwing bolts into the bushings placed in the root or by means of nuts screwed onto stud bolts screwed into the bushings. In case the number of bolts and thereby the number of bushings has to be increased to handle a given load, remaining area of the fibre composite material between the bushings is reduced. This may result in the root connection being insufficiently supported to withstand the loads, whereby the connection between the blade root and the hub may fail since the bushings are insufficiently retained in the composite material and thus pulled out of the composite material of the root region. This is especially a problem when long and thereby heavy blades are to be used.
WO 2010/018225 provides a method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade comprising a steel wire or steel fibre-reinforced polymer matrix. However, the document does not address the problem of how the root region is to be designed to withstand extreme loads in the connection between the blade root and the hub.

Wind turbine blade with elongated fastening members in the root region thereof


A morphological analyzer for analyzing the morphology of an input word, the analyzer including a recognition engine which includes means for finding a stem within the input word; and means for identifying suffixes attached to the stem, wherein the finding means and suffix identifying means cooperate to conduct morphological analysis of the input word from the root to the affix and wherein the recognition engine performs inflectional and derivational analysis, the derivational analysis using more than two derivational suffixes.

The invention relates generally to morphological analyzers and to text management systems.
Each year organizations spend countless hours searching through documents and images, organizing filing systems and databases. Even with large information retrieval systems, considerable resources are needed to index documents, guess which key words will locate needed information, search through pages one query at a time, and sort through all the irrelevant data that the search actually yields.
A number of studies evaluating large information retrieval systems show that these systems are retrieving less than 20 percent of the documents relevant to a particular search, and at that the same time only 30 percent of the retrieved information is actually relevant to the intended meaning of the search request. One of the key reasons for poor retrieval results is that the people who perform retrieval only know the general topics of their interest and do not know the exact words used in the texts or in the keyword descriptors used to index the documents.
Another study analyzed how long it would take to index 5000 reports. It was assumed that each user was allowed 10 minutes to review each report, make indexing decisions by selecting the keywords, and record the information. At this rate, it would take 833 hours or 21 weeks for one full-time person (at 40 hours per week) to process the documents. The users would also need extra time to verify and correct the data. Under such an approach, the user must index incoming documents on a daily basis to keep the system from falling hopelessly behind. In addition, since the user chooses the relevant search terms, all unspecified terms are eliminated for search purposes. This creates a significant risk that documents containing pertinent information may not show up during a search because of the user's subjective judgement in selecting keywords.
Many text retrieval systems utilize index files which contain words in the documents with the location within the documents for each word. The indexes provide significant advantages in the speed of retrieval. One major disadvantage of this approach is that for most of the systems the overhead of the index is 50 to 100 percent of the document database. This means that a 100 Mbyte document database will require an index ranging from 50 to 100 Mbytes. This adds mass storage costs and overhead to the system.


A cabinet projection screen with an automatic push-pull structural function is provided, which includes a cabinet body (1). A screen push-pull base (13) is disposed on the cabinet body (1) through sliding rails (2, 4, 10, and 11). A scrolling mechanism (6) is disposed inside the cabinet body (1), and includes a scrolling shaft (61), a scrolling motor (8), a tape (62), and a telescopic device (7). One end of the tape (62) is fixed on the scrolling shaft (61), and the other end thereof is fixed on the screen push-pull base (13). When the scrolling motor (8) drives the scrolling shaft (61) to rotate, the scrolling shaft (61) winds the tape (62) on the scrolling shaft (61), so as to drive the screen push-pull base (13) to move towards one side of the scrolling shaft (61) through the tape (62), and at the same time the screen push-pull base (13) compresses the telescopic device (7). An elevator screen (12) is disposed on the screen push-pull base (13). The cabinet projection screen has advantages of versatility and occupying no space.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a projection screen, and more particularly to a cabinet projection screen with an automatic push-pull structural function which can be integrated with a desk or a cabinet.
2. Related Art
For a long time, a projector is generally used for product, plan, picture, or video presentation during activities such as business conference, teaching demonstration, and mobile office, so as to achieve a large-screen display function. Currently, the screen of the projector is usually suspended in an office or some special sites for use due to its large area. However, with the increasingly growing house price in urban areas, the work area or living area of people becomes more and more limited, and as the conventional projection screen needs to occupy a specific position, inconveniences are resulted in the already limited work or living space of people. Therefore, versatile office furniture is urgently needed in houses or offices, so as to realize as many functions as possible, especially the projection function, in a small space.

Cabinet projection screen with automatic push-pull structural function


A spectrally sensitized photographic silver halide emulsion, characterized in that after precipitation at least one compound of formula

This invention relates to a spectrally sensitised silver halide emulsion, and to a photographic material comprising a support and at least one layer which comprises at least one spectrally sensitised silver halide emulsion.
It is known that spectrally sensitised emulsions can be supersensitised by depositing compounds apart from sensitisers, particularly additional dyes, on the surface of the silver halide crystals, which compounds are capable of increasing the spectrally sensitised sensitivity. Ascorbic acid is a typical example of such compounds. Other suitable compounds are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,945,762, 3,695,888, 3,809,561 and 4,011,083. The supersensitisation of silver halide emulsions with catechol sulphonic acids is also known. The aforementioned compounds do have a supersensitising effect, but result in an unwanted increase in fogging.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,022 describes supersensitisation by metallocenes. These are aromatic transition metal complexes of cyclopentadiene and derivatives thereof which have a characteristic xe2x80x9csandwich structurexe2x80x9d without a direct metal-carbon "sgr" bond. The best known of these compounds are bis-(cyclopentadienyl)iron (ferrocene) and derivatives thereof. One disadvantage is that supersensitisation with ferrocenes results either in an unsatisfactory increase in sensitivity or is associated with an increase in fogging, during storage at the latest, due to which any increase in sensitivity is lost again.
Moreover, the use of pyrazoline compounds as a measure for increasing the granularity of colour photographic recording materials is known from DE 19,642,532. These are described there as protective additives, but are not necessarily used in layers which contain emulsions. A sensitivity-enhancing effect is not determined.
With these known measures, however, no success has been achieved in obtaining emulsions, such as those which are required nowadays for high-speed photographic materials, which comprise a very high spectral sensitivity together with reduced fogging and a good shelf life, particularly when they are stored under humid climatic conditions.
The underlying object of the present invention is thus to identify spectrally sensitised photographic silver halide emulsions of increased spectral sensitivity which furthermore are distinguished by a high sensitivity/fogging ratio and by a good shelf life, particularly when stored under humid climatic conditions.
It has surprisingly been found that this object can be achieved by the addition of certain pyrazoline compounds, if the latter are added to the light-sensitive emulsion in the interval between the completion of precipitation and the completion of spectral sensitisation.
The present invention therefor relates to a spectrally sensitised photographic silver halide emulsion, characterised in that after precipitation at least one compound of formula
is added to the emulsion, wherein
R1 denotes alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkenyl or heterocyclyl;
R2 denotes H, alkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, amino or alkoxy;
R3 denotes H, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or heterocyclyl;
D denotes xe2x80x94OH or xe2x80x94NR4R5;
X denotes O or Nxe2x80x94R6;
R4 denotes H, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkenyl or heterocyclyl;
R5: denotes H, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkenyl or heterocyclyl;
R6: denotes H, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkenyl, Acyl, alkoxycarbonyl, carbamoyl or heterocyclyl,
and any two of the radicals R1 to R6 can together form a heterocyclic ring, such as a pyrrolidine, piperidine, perhydroazepine, piperazine, morpholine or thiomorpholine ring.
Of the possible rings formed by the radicals R1 to R6, 5- to 7-membered rings are preferred.
The alkyl, aralkyl and alkenyl radicals in the sense of the present invention can be straight chain, branched or cyclic radicals. The alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkenyl, hetero-cyclyl, amino, alkoxy, acyl, alkoxycarbonyl and carbamoyl groups can be substituted, for example, by alkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, hydroxy, carboxy, halogen, alkoxy, aryloxy, heterocyclyloxy, alkylthio, arylthio, heterocyclylthio, acyl, acyloxy, acylamino, cyano, nitro, or mercapto groups, wherein the term xe2x80x9cheterocyclylxe2x80x9d represents a saturated, unsaturated or aromatic heterocycle and the term xe2x80x9cacylxe2x80x9d represents the radical of an aliphatic, olefinic or aromatic carboxylic, carbamic, carbonic, sulphonic, amidosulphonic, phosphoric, phosphonic, phosphorous phosphinic or sulphinic acid.
Examples of preferred compounds of formula I are given below:
Compounds I-1 and I-18 are particularly preferred.
The production of compounds of formula (I) has been described many times, for example by Hukki, Pharmazeutica Acta Helvetiae, pages 704-712 (1986), by Hukki, Acta Chem. Scand. 13, pages 174-177 (1959) and by Bockmxc3xchl M., Med. u. Chem. Abhandl. med. chem. Forschungsstxc3xa4tten IG Farbenind. 3, page 294 (1936).
Depending on their substituents, the heterocyclic compounds of formula I according to the invention are hydrophobic to a greater or lesser extent, at least in the form in which they are present in the silver halide. However, they can also be hydrophilic, in the presence of anionisable groups for example. Moreover, in one preferred embodiment they can contain specific groups which improve their adsorption on silver halides, e.g. thioether, selenoether, thione, thiol or amine radicals.
The preferred compounds of formula (I) are characterised in that their redox potential in aqueous solution within the pH range between 5 and 7 differs by no more than +/xe2x88x92100 mV from the standard potential of the hydrogen electrode. In photographic materials, compounds with a potential more negative than xe2x88x92100 mV can easily result in an increase in minimum density. Compounds with a potential which is more positive than +100 mV, in combination with special spectral sensitisers, exhibit a loss of efficacy. The redox potential of a compound I can generally readily be determined by cyclic voltammetry, provided that the redox reaction proceeds at least approximately reversibly.
Compounds of formula (I) are preferably used in an amount of 10xe2x88x926 to 10xe2x88x922 mol per mol silver halide and can be added to the emulsion to be sensitised before, during or after the addition of dyes, either as a solution or as a dispersion of solids. Compounds of the of formula (I) are preferably added after desalination of the emulsion. It is particularly advantageous if at least one compound of formula I is added to the emulsion directly before the addition of at least one spectral sensitiser or together with at least one spectral sensitiser.
In a further, particularly preferred embodiment, a compound of formula (I) is added to the emulsion directly before or during chemical sensitisation.
Spectrally sensitising dyes which can be used in the presence of compounds according to the invention are to be found in the series comprising the polymethine dyes. Examples of these dyes are described by T. H. James in The Theory of the Photographic Process, 4th Edition 1977, Macmillan Publishing Co., pages 194 to 234.
These dyes are capable of sensitising silver halide over the entire range of the visible spectrum and furthermore over the infrared-and/or ultraviolet range. Particularly preferred dyes include mono-, tri- and pentamethine cyanines, the chromophore of which comprises two heterocycles which, independently of each other, can be benzoxazole, benzimidazole, benzthiazole, naphthoxazole, naphthiazole or benzo-selenazole, and the phenyl ring of each of these heterocycles can contain further substituents or further conjoined rings or ring systems. The preferred pentamethine cyanines in turn are those in which the methine part is a constituent of a partially unsaturated ring. The dyes can be cationic, can be uncharged in the form of betaines or sulphobetaines, or can be anionic. Compared with the dye concentration which was found to be the optimum for the respective emulsion without compounds of formula (I) according to the invention, the amount of dye can be increased about 1.5- to 2-fold in the presence of compounds according to the invention. The spectrally sensitising dye or spectrally sensitising dyes are preferably used in a total amount of 10xe2x88x926 to 10xe2x88x922 mol per mol silver halide, most preferably in an amount of 10xe2x88x924 to 10xe2x88x922 mol per mol silver halide.
Silver halide emulsions in the sense of the invention can be prepared by known methods such as conventional precipitation, single- to multiple double inlet methods, conversion, re-dissolution of a fine grained emulsion (micrate re-dissolution), and by any combination of these methods.
The emulsions according to the invention are preferably silver bromide, silver bromide-iodide or silver bromide-chloride-iodide emulsions with an iodide content of 0 to 15 mol % and a chloride content of 0 to 20 mol %, or are silver chloride, silver chloride-bromide, silver chloride-iodide or silver chloride-bromide-iodide emulsions with a chloride content of at least 50 mol %.
The crystals can be intrinsically homogenous or can be inhomogeneous in the form of zones; they can be single crystals or singly- or multiply-twinned crystals. The emulsions can consist of predominantly compact, predominantly rod-like or predominantly lamellar crystals.
Emulsions are preferred in which at least 50% of the projected area consists of tabular crystals with an average aspect ratio of at least 3. In a most preferred embodiment, the average aspect ratio of the crystals ranges between 4 and 12, and in a further most preferred embodiment the crystals are hexagonal crystals with an average side to length ratio between 1.0 and 2.0. It is even more advantageous if the proportion of tabular crystals amounts to at least 70% of the projected area of the emulsion. The term xe2x80x9caspect ratioxe2x80x9d is to be understood to mean the ratio of the diameter of the circle of equivalent area to the projected surface of the crystal to the thickness of the crystal. The side to length ratio is defined as the highest ratio of the lengths of two adjacent crystal faces which occurs in a crystal, wherein it is only the edges of tabular crystals which are taken into consideration; geometrically perfect hexagonal platelets have a side to length ratio of 1.0.
The emulsions can be monodisperse or polydisperse. Emulsions are preferred in which the crystals have a narrow grain size distribution V.
The distribution width V of an emulsion is defined as       V              xe2x80x83        [    %    ]    =                    standard deviation of the grain size distribution            xc3x97      100              average grain size
Crystals with a distribution width Vxe2x89xa625% are preferred, particularly those with a distribution width Vxe2x89xa620%.
The emulsion crystals can also be doped with certain extraneous ions, particularly with polyvalent transition metal cations or complexes thereof. In one preferred embodiment, for example, hexacyanoferrate(II) ions or trivalent noble metal cations which comprise an octahedral ligand environment are used for this purpose, such as ruthenium(III), rhodium(III), osmium(III) or iridium(III).
The emulsions can be chemically sensitised in a conventional manner, e.g. by preparing them in the presence of ammonia or amines, by sulphur ripening, selenium ripening, tellurium ripening or ripening with gold compounds, and also be ripening with reducing ripening agents. Reduction ripening can also be carried out in the course of precipitating emulsion crystals in the interior of the crystals, wherein the reduction ripening nuclei are covered during the further growth of the crystals. Divalent tin compounds, N-arylhydrazides, salts of formamidinesulphinic acid and borohydrides or borane complexes can advantageously be used as reduction ripening agents. Thioureas and selenoureas can also act as reduction ripening agents. Organic and water-soluble reduction ripening agents which are rapidly and completely adsorbed on the silver halide are preferred. Different methods of ripening can also be combined.
The supersensitisation of spectrally sensitised emulsions with compounds corresponding to formula (I) in combination with the stabilisation of the photographic material by palladium(II) compounds is particularly advantageous.
Examples of colour photographic materials include colour negative films, colour reversal films, colour positive films, colour photographic paper, colour reversal photographic paper, and colour-sensitive materials for the colour diffusion transfer process or the silver halide bleaching process.
Photographic materials consist of a support on which at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer is deposited. Thin films and foils are particularly suitable as supports. A review of support materials and of the auxiliary layers which are deposited on the front and back thereof is given in Research Disclosure 37254, Part 1 (1995), page 285 and in Research Disclosure 38957, Part XV (1996), page 627.
Colour photographic materials usually contain at least one red-sensitive, at least one green-sensitive and at least one blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, and optionally contain intermediate layers and protective layers also.
Depending on the type of photographic material, these layers may be arranged differently. This will be illustrated for the most important products:
Colour photographic films such as colour negative films and colour reversal films comprise, in the following sequence on their support: 2 or 3 red-sensitive, cyan-coupling silver halide emulsion layers, 2 or 3 green-sensitive, magenta coupling silver halide emulsion layers, and 2 or 3 blue-sensitive, yellow-coupling silver halide emulsion layers. The layers of identical spectral sensitivity differ as regards their photographic speed, wherein the less sensitive partial layers are generally disposed nearer the support than are the more highly sensitive partial layers.
A yellow filter layer is usually provided between the green-sensitive and blue-sensitive layers, to prevent blue light from reaching the layers underneath.
The options for different layer arrangements and their effects on photographic properties are described in J. Inf. Rec. Mats., 1994, Vol. 22, pages 183-193, and in Research Disclosure 38957, Part XI (1996), page 624.
Colour photographic paper, which as a rule is less sensitive to light than is colour photographic film, usually comprises the following layers on the support, in the following sequence: a blue-sensitive, yellow-coupling silver halide emulsion layer, a green-sensitive, magenta coupling silver halide emulsion layer, and a red-sensitive, cyan-coupling silver halide emulsion layer. The yellow filter layer can be omitted.
Departures from the number and arrangement of the light-sensitive layers may be effected in order to achieve defined results. For example, all the high-sensitivity layers may be combined to form a layer stack and all the low-sensitivity layers may be combined to form another layer stack in a photographic film, in order to increase the sensitivity (DE 25 30 645).
The essential constituents of the photographic emulsion layer are binders, silver halide grains and colour couplers.
Information on suitable binders is given in Research Disclosure 37254, Part 2 (1995), page 286, and in Research Disclosure 38957, Part IIA (1996), page 598.
Information on suitable silver halide emulsions, their production, ripening, stabilisation and spectral sensitisation, including suitable spectral sensitisers, is given in Research Disclosure 37254, Part 3 (1995), page 286, in Research Disclosure 37038, Part XV (1995), page 89, and in Research Disclosure 38957, Part VA (1996), page 603.
Photographic materials which exhibit camera-sensitivity usually contain silver bromide-iodide emulsions, which may also optionally contain small proportions of silver chloride. Photographic copier materials contain either silver chloride-bromide emulsions comprising up to 80 mol % AgBr, or silver chloride-bromide emulsions comprising more than 95 mol % AgCl.
Information on colour couplers is to be found in Research Disclosure 37254, Part 4 (1995), page 288, in Research Disclosure 37038, Part II (1995), page 80, and in Research Disclosure 38957, Part XB (1996), page 616. The maximum absorption of the dyes formed from the couplers and from the colour developer oxidation product preferably falls within the following ranges: yellow couplers 430 to 460 nm, magenta couplers 540 to 560 nm, cyan couplers 630 to 700 nm.
In order to improve sensitivity, granularity, sharpness and colour separation, compounds are frequently used in colour photographic films which on reaction with the developer oxidation product release compounds which are photographically active, e.g. DIR couplers, which release a development inhibitor.
Information on compounds such as these, particularly couplers, is to be found in Research Disclosure 37254, Part 5 (1995), page 290, in Research Disclosure 37038, Part XIV (1995), page 86, and in Research Disclosure 38957, Part XC (1996), page 618.
The colour couplers, which are mostly hydrophobic, and other hydrophobic constituents of the layers also, are usually dissolved or dispersed in high-boiling organic solvents. These solutions or dispersions are then emulsified in an aqueous binder solution (usually a gelatine solution), and after the layers have been dried are present as fine droplets (0.05 to 0.8 xcexcm diameter) in the layers.
Suitable high-boiling organic solvents, methods of introduction into the layers of a photographic material, and other methods of introducing chemical compounds into photographic layers, are described in Research Disclosure 37254, Part 6 (1995), page 292.
The light-insensitive intermediate layers which are generally disposed between layers of different spectral sensitivity may contain media which prevent the unwanted diffusion of developer oxidation products from one light-sensitive layer into another light-sensitive layer which has a different spectral sensitivity.
Suitable compounds (white couplers, scavengers or DOP scavengers) are described in Research Disclosure 37254, Part 7 (1995), page 292, in Research Disclosure 37038, Part III (1995), page 84, and in Research Disclosure 38957, Part XD (1996), page 621.
The photographic material may additionally contain compounds which absorb UV light, brighteners, spacers, filter dyes, formalin scavengers, light stabilisers, anti-oxidants, DMin dyes, additives for improving the dye-, coupler- and white stability and to reduce colour fogging, plasticisers (latices), biocides and other substances.
Suitable compounds are given in Research Disclosure 37254, Part 8 (1995), page 292, in Research Disclosure 37038, Parts IV, V, VI, VII, X, XI and XIII (1995), pages 84 et seq., and in Research Disclosure 38957, Parts VI, VIII, IX, X (1996), pages 607, 610 et seq.
The layers of colour photographic materials are usually hardened, i.e. the binder used, preferably gelatine, is crosslinked by suitable chemical methods.
Suitable hardener substances are described in Research Disclosure 37254, Part 9 (1995), page 294, in Research Disclosure 37038, Part XII (1995), page 86, and in Research Disclosure 38957, Part IIB (1996), page 599.
After image-by-image exposure, colour photographic materials are processed by different methods corresponding to their character. Details on the procedures used and the chemicals required therefor are published in Research Disclosure 37254, Part 10 (1995), page 294, in Research Disclosure 37038, Parts XVI to XXIII (1995), page 95 et seq., and in Research Disclosure 38957, Parts XVIII, XIX, XX (1996), page 630 et seq., together with examples of materials.

Abstract: is added to the emulsion, wherein

Abstract: X denotes O or Nxe2x80x94R6;

Abstract: R6: denotes H, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkenyl, acyl, alkoxycarbonyl, carbamoyl or heterocyclyl,

Abstract: the aforementioned alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkenyl, heterocyclyl, amino, alkoxy, acyl, alkoxycarbonyl and carbamoyl groups can be substituted, and any two of the radicals R1 to R6 can together form a heterocyclic ring, such as a pyrrolidine, piperidine, perhydroazepine, piperazine, morpholine or thiomorpholine ring, for example; as well as a photographic material comprising a support and at least one silver halide emulsion layer which contains said emulsion, are distinguished by increased sensitivity, a high sensitivity/fogging ratio and a good shelf life, particularly when stored under humid climatic conditions.


A collapsible, portable canopy is adapted for use with a co-sleeper, crib or play yard. The canopy includes a frame and has at least three canopy support arms pivotally attached to an arm attachment portion. The canopy cover has a central opening at the top that fits over the frame and includes tubular enclosures located on an inner surface of the canopy cover that are open at their upper ends adjacent the opening and fit slidably over the canopy support arms. The central opening has a removable cover. The support arms of the frame are inserted into the tubular members through the central opening. The canopy cover includes an elastic member integral with the surrounding lower edge that urges it and the support arms toward the outer perimeter of a co-sleeper, crib or play yard. The canopy cover is made of mesh material and includes a reclosable opening for interior access.

Enclosure for infants and young children are often used in outdoor environments or in rooms with open doors and windows, particularly in warm weather. Under such circumstances children in such enclosures are often a target for insects and even projectiles thrown by other children. In addition, direct exposure to sunlight can be particularly harmful to infants and young children who are often unable to escape the sun's rays in such enclosures. Various types of canopies and covers for play yards and other enclosures have been developed to deal with these problems.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,516,823, issued to Glover et al. teaches a collapsible play yard canopy for covering the top of a play yard. When not in use, the canopy can easily be collapsed and stored. The canopy includes an umbrella-like structure and a canopy cover that is configured to be opened to gain access into the play yard. A zipper connector is provided to join adjacent flaps in the front of a ceiling panel of canopy cover
U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,083, issued to LaMantia discloses a crib and playpen protective covering. The enclosure includes a dome-shaped top with opposed end panels and side panels. The structure of the enclosure may be comprised of a mesh cloth, however, portions may be covered with reinforcing fabric or other materials as necessary. The top of the structure is supported by two semi-rigid ribs to define the dome structure and when removed from the crib may be rolled or compressed for storage. A flap is included in the dome-shaped top in order to provide access to the interior.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0092554 by Ham et al. is directed to a canopy tent with automatic umbrella-type collapsible frame.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,986, issued to Fox discloses a tent frame device that includes an umbrella-like structure that may be used as a tent or cover. Fabric sheet material is suspended from the frame and has a zipper defining a door for access to the interior portion of the device.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/00152706 by McClenahan et al. teaches an adjustable table cover system similar to a play yard canopy. The cover may be made from any material such as plastic, cotton, or linen and includes a channel region within which may be placed an elastic ribbon to tightly secure the cover around the perimeter of the table.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a canopy for use with a wide variety of co-sleepers, cribs and play yards. It is a further objective of the invention to provide a canopy that is easily installed on the desired enclosure without need for special fittings or fixtures. It is still a further objective of the present invention that the unit be simple to erect and collapsible for transport and storage. It is yet a further objective that the canopy provide protection for infants and young children from sunburn and insects. Finally, it is an objective of the invention that the canopy design consider and address all possible safety considerations related to its use. Other features and advantages of the invention will be seen from the following description and drawings. The present invention addresses many of the deficiencies of prior art canopy and enclosure inventions and satisfies all of the objectives described above.

Canopy for co-sleeper, crib or play yard


The application relates to a compound of Formula (I):

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin of 30 or 31 amino acids, secreted from L cells in the small intestine. GLP-1 exerts a wide range of effects through the GLP-1 receptor, such as promotion of glucose dependent insulin secretion, inhibition of glucagon secretion, delay of gastric emptying, and suppression of feeding. Accordingly, GLP-1 analogs display potent effects in HbA1c reduction and weight loss, and have been developed as effective therapeutic agents for treatment of diabetes and obesity. GLP-1 analogs also demonstrate efficacy on improving cardiovascular outcomes and retaining renal functions in diabetic patients, thus providing therapeutic opportunities for a variety of metabolic disorders and related comorbidities. Recently, Liraglutide and Semaglutide treatment is shown to decrease liver fat and boost NASH resolution in clinical trials, suggesting potential utility for NASH. However, most of these GLP-1 analogs require an invasive subcutaneous administration. Semaglutide in specific formulation can be administrated via oral route, but still suffers from inconvenient dosing regimen and poor bioavailability. Improving metabolic stability and bioavailability of GLP-1 analogs is challenging, likely due to their peptidic nature.
Currently, there is no approved small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist for the treatment of diabetes or other metabolic disorders where GLP-1 receptor plays a role. Thus, there is a need for small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonists as therapeutic options for the treatment of these disorders. The present application addresses the need.

Substituted imidazoles as GLP-1 receptor agonists

Abstract: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, prodrug, stereoisomer, or tautomer thereof, which modulates the activity of GLP-1 receptor, a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of Formula (I), and a method of treating or preventing a disease in which GLP-1 receptor plays a role.


A modular receptacle jack assembly with a visual indication function provides a visual indication when the receptacle jack is connected with a mating plug jack. The modular receptacle jack assembly comprises a modular receptacle jack and an indicator mounted to the jack. The jack includes a housing having a bottom wall for connection to a printed circuit board, a top wall opposite the bottom wall, a front face defining a cavity for receiving the mating plug jack and a rear face opposite the front face, and a number of contacts securely fixed to the bottom wall of the housing and having contact portions extending into the cavity. The indicator includes a base having a first wall attached to the top wall of the housing and a second wall attached to the rear face of the housing and defining holes extending lengthwise therethrough. Diodes are mounted on the base and have leads extending through the holes. A cover has a third wall connected to two side walls extending upward from two ends of the first wall and a fourth wall connected to the second wall. A transparent block is mounted between the first and side walls of the base and the third wall of the cover cooperating therewith to enclose the diodes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector device having a visual indicator, and particularly to a modular receptacle jack having a visual indicator to provide a visual indication of a connection formed by the modular receptacle jack with a mating modular plug jack.
2. The Prior Art
A modular receptacle jack with a visual indicator to indicate a connection of the modular receptacle jack with a mating modular plug jack is known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,317 discloses a modular receptacle jack having LEDs integrally secured to a housing of the jack. However, such a prior art requires a new mold to form the modular receptacle jack. In accordance with the disclosures of the '317 patent, existing jacks and molds for forming them can not be used to produce the modular receptacle jack having a visual indication function. Such a disadvantage causes an inconvenience and increases costs for modular jack manufacturers since they must alter their original equipment to produce the modular receptacle jacks. Prior to '317 patent, an indicator attached to the existing modular jack has been disclosed to achieve the visual indication function, however, the structure of the indicator and the attaching procedure thereof are relatively complicated. Furthermore, such a modular receptacle jack combined with the indicator is relatively bulky which is undesirable in view of the trend of the electronics industry toward increased compactness.
Hence, a modular receptacle jack with a visual indication function is required which can overcome the problems as mentioned above.


A liquid dispensing container for conveniently storing and dispensing various types of fluids. The liquid dispensing container includes a container capable of storing a volume of fluid, a strap attached to an upper surface of the container, a fill cap removably attached to a threaded nipple, a transparent or semi-transparent viewing portion within at least one side of the container, a dispensing hose fluidly connected to a lower portion of the container, a dispensing nozzle attached to the end of the dispensing hose, and a clasp attached to the container for catchably receiving the dispensing hose. A plurality of marker lines and relevant indicia are preferably positioned adjacent the viewing portion which has an elongate vertical structure thereto for allowing an individual to determine the amount of fluid within or dispensed from the container. The dispensing hose and the nozzle are preferably comprised of a relatively smaller structure for allowing the individual to fit the nozzle into compact areas.

Not applicable to this application.
Not applicable to this application.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fluid containers and more specifically it relates to a liquid dispensing container for conveniently storing and dispensing various types of fluids.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Liquid storage containers have been in use for years. Typically, a conventional liquid storage container is comprised of a reservoir structure having various shapes, a filling aperture, and a dispensing aperture. Sometimes a rigid spout will be attachable to the dispensing aperture to aid in dispensing fluid from the container.
The main problem with conventional fluid containers is that they are difficult to utilize in dispensing fluid into a relatively small reservoir such as but not limited to a gas tank on a lawnmower. A further problem with conventional fluid containers is that they do not provide an accurate means for measuring the level of fluid contained within thereof. Another problem with conventional fluid containers is that they do not have a convenient system for physically transporting.
Examples of patented devices which are related to the present invention include U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,097 to Morris; U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,124 to Martushev; U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,972 to Goguen; U.S. Pat. No. 5,667,113 to Clarke et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,691 to Tolbert; U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,878 to Humphries; U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,314 to Schoonover et al; U.S. Pat. No. D370,379 to Klein et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,993 to Hauf et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,574 to Durinzi, Jr; U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,664 to Gillispie et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,870 to Bianco; U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,163 to Kihm.
While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for conveniently storing and dispensing various types of fluids. Conventional fluid storage containers are not designed for efficient utilization particularly in the dispensing of fluids from within.
In these respects, the liquid dispensing container according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of conveniently storing and dispensing various types of fluids.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of fluid containers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new liquid dispensing container construction wherein the same can be utilized for conveniently storing and dispensing various types of fluids.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new liquid dispensing container that has many of the advantages of the fluid containers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new liquid dispensing container which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art fluid containers, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a container capable of storing a volume of fluid, a strap attached to an upper surface of the container, a fill cap removably attached to a threaded nipple, a transparent or semi-transparent viewing portion within at least one side of the container, a dispensing hose fluidly connected to a lower portion of the container, a dispensing nozzle attached to the end of the dispensing hose, and a clasp attached to the container for catchably receiving the dispensing hose. A plurality of marker lines and relevant indicia are preferably positioned adjacent the viewing portion which has an elongate vertical structure thereto for allowing an individual to determine the amount of fluid within or dispensed from the container. The dispensing hose and the nozzle are preferably comprised of a relatively smaller structure for allowing the individual to fit the nozzle into compact areas.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dispensing container that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.
A second object is to provide a liquid dispensing container for conveniently storing and dispensing various types of fluids.
Another object is to provide a liquid dispensing container that allows the user to easily carry and transport a fluid.
An additional object is to provide a liquid dispensing container that is able to receive and dispense various types of fluids.
A further object is to provide a liquid dispensing container that utilizes a convenient measuring system for allowing for accurate calculation of fluid dispensed from or input into the container.
Another object is to provide a liquid dispensing container that utilizes an easily to grasp and manipulate nozzle structure for filling smaller containers.
A further object is to provide a liquid dispensing container that reduces the amount of spillage during the filling of a reservoir.
Another object is to provide a liquid dispensing container that dispenses fluids in a cleaner, environmentally friendly, safer and accurate manner.
A further object is to provide a liquid dispensing container that allows an individual to accurate mix two types of fluids together in a desired ratio.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.


In a conventional DRAM, data read errors are more likely to occur along with miniaturization of DRAM A small change in the potential of a first bit line is inverted by a first inverter constituted by an n-channel transistor and a p-channel transistor, and is output to a second bit line through a first selection transistor, which is a first switch. Since the potential of the second bit line is the inverse of the potential of the first bit line, the potential difference between the first bit line and the second bit line is increased. The increased potential difference is amplified by a known sense amplifier, a flip-flop circuit composed of the first inverter and a second inverter (constituted by an n-channel transistor and a p-channel transistor), or the like.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory device using a semiconductor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Terms used in this specification will be briefly explained. First, when one of a source and a drain of a transistor is called a drain, the other is called a source in this specification. That is, they are not distinguished depending on the potential level. Thus, a portion called a source in this specification can alternatively be referred to as a drain.
In this specification, "connection" means a structure in which effective direct current can be supplied at least temporarily. Therefore, a state of connection means not only a state of direct connection but also a state of indirect connection through a circuit element such as a wiring or a resistor, in which direct current can be supplied. It does not matter whether a circuit is actually designed so that direct current is supplied thereto.
For example, in the case where a switching element is provided between two nodes, direct current can be supplied in a certain condition (i.e., only when the switch is on); therefore, the structure can be expressed as "the nodes are connected to each other". On the other hand, in the case where only a capacitor is provided between two nodes, effective direct current cannot be supplied through the capacitor; therefore, the structure can be expressed as "the nodes are not connected to each other".
Similarly, in the case where only a diode is provided between nodes, direct current can be supplied when the potential of one of the nodes is higher; therefore, the structure can be expressed as "the nodes are connected to each other". In this case, even if potentials with which current does not flow are supplied to the two nodes because of the circuit design (in which case current does not actually flow between the two nodes through the diode), the structure is expressed as "the nodes are connected to each other" in this specification.
For example, in the case where a node A is connected to a source of a transistor and a node B is connected to a drain of the transistor, direct current can flow between the node A and the node B depending on the potential of a gate; thus, the structure is expressed as "the node A and the node B are connected to each other".
On the other hand, in the case where the node A is connected to the source of the transistor and a node C is connected to the gate of the transistor, effective direct current cannot flow between the node A and the node C regardless of the potentials of the source, drain, and gate of the transistor; thus, the structure is expressed as "the node A and the node C are not connected to each other".
In the above description, effective direct current refers to current excluding unintentional current such as leakage current. Note that the value of effective direct current is not defined by its amount (absolute value) and sometimes depends on circuits. That is, in some cases, a low current of 1 pA can be effective current in one circuit, whereas a higher current of 1 μA is not considered as effective current in another circuit.
Needless to say, in one circuit having an input and an output (e.g., an inverter), the input and the output are not necessarily connected to each other. Using the inverter as an example, the input and the output are not connected to each other in the inverter.
When the term "connect" is used in this specification, there is a case in which a physical connection is not clear in an actual circuit and a wiring is only extended. For example, in a circuit composed of insulated-gate field-effect transistors (hereinafter simply referred to as transistors), one wiring serves as gates of a plurality of transistors in some cases. In this case, one wiring that branches into gates may be illustrated in a circuit diagram. In this specification, the expression "a wiring is connected to a gate" may be used even in such a case.
Further, in this specification, in referring to a specific row, column, or position in a matrix, a reference sign is accompanied by a sign denoting coordinates as follows, for example: "memory cell MC_1_1" and "bit line BL_2". When one element has a function shared with a plurality of rows or columns, the element may be represented by, for example, "sense amplifier SA_1/2".
On the other hand, when a row, column, or position of an element is not specified, when elements are collectively treated, or when the position of an element is obvious, the following expressions may be used, for example: "memory cell(s) MC" and "bit line(s) BL", or simply "memory cell(s)" and "bit line(s)".
A DRAM whose memory cell includes one transistor and one capacitor can be highly integrated, has no limit on the number of write cycles in principle, and can perform write and read operations at relatively high speed; thus, such a DRAM is used in many kinds of electronic devices. A DRAM stores data by accumulating electric charge in a capacitor of each memory cell, and reads the data by releasing the electric charge.
Several tens of refresh operations per second are conventionally required because silicon is used for a transistor, whereas a transistor including an oxide semiconductor, which has a wider bandgap, can store data substantially permanently (see Patent Document 1). In addition, the use of an extremely thin silicon film can reduce the off-state current of a transistor by three or more orders of magnitudes compared to a conventional one (see Patent Document 2).
FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a circuit and a method for reading data from a conventional DRAM. The DRAM illustrated in FIG. 2A is a folded bit line DRAM circuit and includes a pair of bit lines BL_1 and BL_2, word lines WL_1, WL_2, WL_3, WL_4, and the like, and memory cells MC_1_1, MC_2_2, MC_3_1, MC_4_2, and the like that are placed at the intersections of the bit lines and the word lines.
A sense amplifier SA_1/2 is provided at one end of the bit lines BL_1 and BL_2. The sense amplifier is usually a flip-flop circuit.
FIG. 2B is a timing chart for driving the memory cells and the sense amplifier. Here, a capacitor in the memory cell MC is charged with +1 V as one-bit data representing "1" and charged with 0 V as one-bit data representing "0".
Data in the memory cell MC_1_1 is read in the following manner. First, the bit lines BL_1 and BL_2 are precharged with +0.5 V by a precharge circuit (not illustrated). Then, the bit lines BL_1 and BL_2 are brought into a floating state. Here, in the flip-flop sense amplifier SA_1/2, a wiring VPS for supplying its potential to sources of p-channel transistors TPU and TPD and a wiring VNS for supplying its potential to sources of n-channel transistors TNU and TND have a potential of +0.5 V.
After that, the potential of the word line WL_1 is set at an appropriate value to turn on the cell transistor in the memory cell MC_1_1 (time T1 in FIG. 2B). Note that the operation "changing a potential of a wiring to turn on a transistor connected to the wiring" is referred to as setting the potential of the wiring at the ON potential. By this operation, electric charge stored in the capacitor in the memory cell MC_1_1 is discharged to the bit line BL_1.
The potential of the bit line BL_1 is determined by the capacitance of the capacitor in the memory cell MC_1_1 and the capacitance of the bit line BL_1. Here, since the potential of the capacitor in the memory cell is originally 0 V, the potential of the bit line BL_1 falls from the precharge potential to +0.4 V, for example.
On the other hand, the potential of the bit line BL_2 does not change and remains at +0.5 V even when the potential of the word line WL_1 is set at the ON potential, because there is no memory cell connected to the bit line BL_2. That is, the potential of the bit line BL_1 is lower than that of the bit line BL_2 by 0.1 V.
Then, the potential of the wiring VPS of the sense amplifier SA_1/2 starts to be raised to +1 V at a given speed, and the potential of the wiring VNS starts to be lowered to 0 V at a similar speed (time T2 in FIG. 2B). Accordingly, the p-channel transistor TPD and the n-channel transistor TNU are turned on at a given moment.
Consequently, the potential of the bit line BL_1, which is relatively low, is further lowered and the potential of the bit line BL_2, which is relatively high, is further raised, and in the end, the potential of the bit line BL_1 becomes 0 V and the potential of the bit line BL_2 becomes +1 V.
It is preferable that the speed of change in the potential of the wiring VPS and the potential of the wiring VNS be sufficiently low at an early stage of the amplification process. This is because, when the potential difference at an early stage of the amplification is as small as 0.1 V as described above, amplification fails if the potential of the wiring VPS and the potential of the wiring VNS are rapidly changed. For that reason, the amplification requires time.
In contrast, if it takes long time to complete the amplification, the possibility of reading failure due to external noise increases particularly at an early stage of the amplification.
The threshold voltage variation of the transistors included in the sense amplifier SA_1/2 is required to be small because the sense amplifier SA_1/2 amplifies a potential difference as small as 0.1 V. Given that, for example, the threshold voltages of the n-channel transistor TNU, the p-channel transistor TPU, the n-channel transistor TND, and the p-channel transistor TPD are +0.35 V, −0.45 V, +0.45 V, and −0.35V, respectively, both the p-channel transistor TPU and the p-channel transistor TPD are turned on in the amplification process and data reading fails in some cases.
In general, the threshold voltage variation of the transistors included in a sense amplifier needs to be less than half, preferably less than 30% of the potential difference between bit lines at an early stage of amplification. In the above case, an error is likely to occur at the time of amplification since the threshold voltage variation of the transistors is 50 mV and the potential difference between the bit lines at an early stage of the amplification is 0.1 V.
In general, the threshold voltage variation of transistors is broadly classified into three types: lot-to-lot variation (substrate-to-substrate variation), chip-to-chip variation (variation within one substrate), and variation between adjacent transistors.
Lot-to-lot variation depends on difference in process condition, film thickness, and line width between lots. Chip-to-chip variation is due to variation in dose, film thickness, and line width within one substrate. Either variation is macroscopic variation, and threshold voltage variation caused by these factors can be corrected by substrate bias, for example.
On the other hand, variation between adjacent transistors is mainly due to statistical fluctuations in dopant concentration (see Non-Patent Document 1) and increases as the transistors are reduced in size. In other words, the reduction in size of transistors for high integration of DRAM makes the operation of a sense amplifier unstable.
In the case of using a semiconductor whose mobility is lower than that of silicon by one or more orders of magnitude, such as an oxide semiconductor, the capacitance of a capacitor needs to be lower than that of an ordinal capacitor by one or more orders of magnitude in order to access data at high speed. If the number of memory cells connected to one bit line is equivalent to that in a conventional DRAM, the change in the potential of the bit line at the time of data reading becomes smaller and thus an error is likely to occur.
According to Non-Patent Document 2, when the number of memory cells connected to a bit line is 256, the capacitance of the bit line is 35 fF with a circuit line width of 40 nm. If 256 memory cells are connected to one bit line while the capacitance of a capacitor is 3 fF, the change in the potential of the bit line is approximately 40 mV; thus, a technique of amplifying such a small potential change in a short time without errors is required.

Semiconductor memory device and method for driving the same

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


An electrical generator (10) powered by fluid pressure in a flow line includes a turbine housing (23) and control valve (11). The turbine housing houses a rotor (29) and a plurality of turbine blades (33) which are rotated by fluid passing from the flow line through the turbine housing. A bearing (22) within the turbine housing guides rotation of the rotor, and supports a plurality of magnets (28). Cap member (23) is sealed to the turbine housing, and a stator (40) external of the cap member generates electricity in response to a plurality of rotating magnets.

The natural gas production and transmission industry routinely wastes significant amounts of energy that could be put to economical and environmentally friendly use for the production of electrical energy. The need for electric power at the well site, compressor stations, downstream city gate and neighborhood distribution stations is well known. Flow measurement, equipment status, valve actuation, emission control and communication systems all require different but typically small amounts of electrical energy to operate. Even when grid electric power is available, commercial electrical power may not be desirable to use due to setup and permitting costs. In these and remote situations where grid power is not available, solar panels or thermoelectric generators are typically used.
When gas comes to the surface from a well, it is often at a pressure significantly higher than pressure which may be safely placed in a transmission line. Accordingly, the gas pressure typically is regulated or choked down to the transmission line pressure limit. This pressure reduction releases large amounts of energy, typically as a cooling effect, which is wasted and in many cases has to be reversed by burning gas to reheat the cooled gas before it can continue down the pipeline. When high pressure transmission gas arrives at what is referred to as a "city gate," the pressure must again be reduced significantly before it can enter pipelines that go into the neighborhoods. Again, the "pressure" energy in the gas is typically wasted even though electric power is needed for instrumentation and communication systems at the site. At remote locations, solar power or thermoelectric systems are often used to keep batteries charged to operate the equipment.
Solar energy is essentially free power, but its production is unreliable in many parts of the world due to uncontrollable weather conditions. This unpredictability results in the solar systems being greatly oversized in both panels and battery banks to provide the required safety factor. Also, solar systems by their nature allow batteries to be deep drawn which reduce the battery life.
Thermoelectric systems operate 24/7 off the natural gas in the line so over sizing and deep drawing batteries are not a problem, although the cleanliness and quality of the gas greatly affects the operation of the systems and often requires high maintenance "gas cleaning" before it may be used to run the thermoelectric generator. This is particularly a problem at well sites where the gas has not yet been cleaned up.
A generating device which would not be weather, sunlight or gas quality dependant and which would use the previously wasted pressure differential seen at well sites and city gate stations would be useful in the industry for supplying electric power to keep battery banks at full charge regardless of weather or gas quality.
Also, industry standards applicable to equipment placed in a potentially hazardous environment require that faults in the equipment would be unlikely to cause an explosion or fire in the area even if explosive gasses were present at the time of the equipment failure. For such a requirement, isolating the electrical circuits from the potentially explosive media with fixed barriers and static seals is highly desirable.
The prior art includes a variety of turbines having integrated generators. U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,777 discloses a turbine with a hollow rotor in which are disposed the elements of an electric generator. U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,650 discloses a fluid driven rotor with spaced apart ferromagnetic discs which cooperate with cavities of a ferromagnetic stator to generate electrical power. U.S. Pat. No. 2,984,751 discloses a rotor carrying an armature element which cooperates with exteriorly mounted stationary field elements. U.S. Pat. No. 3,039,007 discloses a turbine wheel having a shaft which mounts a permanent magnet for being rotatably driven inside a stator steel core. U.S. Pat. No. 2,743,375 discloses a turbo-generator having rotating bladed discs alternating with stationary discs: each of the discs carry cooperating flat radial pole-pieces and windings. U.S. Pat. No. 3,157,793 includes stator discs circumferentially disposed about rotor discs which have magnetic poles placed about their peripheries. U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,961 discloses a hollow rotor driven on it's periphery about a stator steel core.
Prior art integrated turbines include electrical generator elements that are in the turbine media or are separated from that media by dynamic seals. Isolation of a pressurized turbine drive mechanism from a generator using a magnetic drive is possible, but magnetic drives are both expensive and subject to magnetic decoupling and runaway under load, which may destroy a bearing in short order.
The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention, and an improved differential pressure electrical generator powered by fluid pressure in the flow line is hereinafter disclosed.


Elemental sulfur is combined with either liquid anhydrous ammonia, liquid sulfur dioxide, or both to form a solution or slurry which is transportable through pipelines or other transport vessels without a risk of clogging due to the environmental temperature drops that these vessels typically encounter. This unusual behavior and the advantages it offers arise from the discovery of unexpected solubility vs. temperature relationships of elemental sulfur in each of these two carriers. Among the advantages are significant improvements in the economics of many industrial chemical processes that involve the presence of sulfur either in elemental or chemically combined form, including natural gas or tar sands production and processing, hydrogen sulfide abatement, hydrogen production without carbon dioxide emissions, and sulfur extraction from ores, subterranean deposits, depositories, or fouled impaired industrial facilities. Large-scale ramifications for energy and fertilizer mineral resource utilization, greenhouse gas abatement, hydrogen economy, and nitrogen fertilizer production are taught.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention resides in the technologies associated with solutions and suspensions of sulfur and sulfur-containing compounds, with particular interest to methods of transport of sulfur by pipeline and other vessels where the deposition of solids is sought to be avoided, eliminated, or removed, or where solids are purposely deposited. Among the many areas of application of this invention are chemical processes that produce elemental sulfur as a product, chemical processes and products in which sulfur is used in combination with ammonia or other nitrogen compounds, and in the recovery of both useful hydrogen values and sulfur values from chemical processes for the abatement of hydrogen sulfide, including those in which sulfur dioxide is or may be made as a by-product, co-product, intermediate product, or waste product of hydrogen production.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Western Canada and the United States each produce approximately 1×107 metric tons of elemental sulfur each year, primarily as a by-product of natural gas production and petroleum refining, and with the advent of NAFTA, Mexico stands to contribute comparable amounts through its natural gas production and native sulfur mining industries. Sulfur is also produced as a by-product in petroleum refinery operations, coal-fired power plant operations, and tar sands development, and in any industrial process that reduces the sulfur level in fuels or effluents for purposes of complying with air quality standards.
While industrial chemicals and commodities can be transported long distances by pipeline, in many cases more economically than by rail or other forms of shipment, pipeline transfer has not been used for sulfur or for only short distances at most. This is due to the high melting point of sulfur, the corrosiveness of sulfur when dissolved in typical solvents or when in contact with air or moisture, and the tendency of sulfur to precipitate from solution. When shipped as a solution or slurry, sulfur tends to deposit on the pipeline walls, resulting in plating, plugging, and line blocking, all of which lead to unreliability, high maintenance, and excessive power consumption.
Pipeline systems, like energetic systems in general, lose heat to the environment by radiation. Thus, in temperate zones under normal ambient conditions, the frictional heat and impulse power flow generated over time from the pipeline system combined with the heat loss that occurs at the exterior surface due to radiation cause the mass at the interior of the pipeline to be warmer than the pipeline itself. This causes the pipeline wall to be cooler, or permits it to be held at a cooler temperature, than the interior mass of moving product. As those skilled in the art are aware, the relation between solute and solvent in a solution is not static but instead one of dynamic equilibrium due to continual precipitation and re-dissolving under stable conditions. The solubility of a solute in most hydrocarbon solvents or in water or aqueous media declines markedly with decreasing temperature. As a result, the solute forms deposits over time, with more deposition occurring in cooler regions of the fluidic mass. This is indeed true in the case of sulfur, which has been found to precipitate faster than it dissolves in regions that are proximate to normally cooler heat transfer surfaces such as pipeline walls, flanges, fittings, and joints. The resulting deposits will plug the flow passages unless energy is supplied that will keep the fluidic mass moving fast enough to prevent plugs from forming. Methods for heating pipelines are complex and expensive.
Until recently, much of the sulfur produced in the United States was obtained by the mining of native sulfur reserves, particularly those of the Gulf Coast, using the high energy-consuming Frasch process. High energy prices have since caused curtailment or abandonment of many Frasch operations and many large mineral reserves of native elemental sulfur remain undeveloped.
The storage and disposal of sulfur pose challenges as well, particularly those arising from environmental concerns. Disposal in an environmentally sound yet economical manner is difficult to achieve. Disposal currently consists of converting molten sulfur to solid blocks for above-ground storage, injecting sulfur as H2S into geologic formations, or oxidizing hydrogen sulfide to sulfur oxides and injecting the sulfur oxides underground for storage.
Sulfur is primarily used in the production of sulfuric acid which is then used for producing phosphoric acid and phosphate derivatives at locations near large mineral deposits of phosphate rock. These locations are found primarily in Australia, Brazil, Florida, Idaho, the Middle East, and North Africa. Phosphate operations are typically very distant from sulfur production facilities, and many phosphate operations have been curtailed or shut down due to high energy prices or to supply disruptions caused by a lack of new power generating capacity despite increasing demand. This is particularly true in the western United States.
In the Middle East where the cost of power is extremely low, sulfur is conveyed through a long pipeline that is electrically traced to keep the sulfur at an elevated temperature and to facilitate re-starting of the flow when the pipeline becomes clogged due to sulfur solidification during upset conditions. Rail transport is used in Alberta, Canada, for shipping dry sulfur by unit trains to ports on the Pacific coast, and for shipping molten sulfur, which is susceptible to premature solidification, to points east and south. Shipping by unit train requires multiple locomotives, high-performance rail cars, and heavy-duty trackage, and is inherently inefficient due to the need to return empty rail cars to the sulfur source. When molten sulfur is shipped long distances, the tank cars must be steamed once they reach their destinations so that any solidified sulfur can be re-melted before the sulfur is off-loaded.
Of further potential relevance to this invention is the prior art relating to ammonia production. Ammonia plants are often located near natural gas reserves where sulfur is produced as a by-product. Anhydrous ammonia is conveyed by many modes of transportation including modified tank ships, barges, pipeline, rail, and truck, and large amounts of ammonia are imported from various parts of the world. A major proportion of the ammonia production capacity in North America is currently shut down due to high the cost of natural gas as a raw material and to low product prices.
The properties of mixtures of sulfur and anhydrous ammonia are reported by Ruff, O., and Hecht, L., in "Concerning Sulfammonium and Its Relation to Sulfur Nitride (writer's translation)," Zeitschrift für Anorganische Chemie, Vol. 70, p. 49–69, Leopold Voss, Leipzig, 1911, and by Ruff and Geisel, E., published under a similar title in Berichte der Deutschen Chemische Gesellschaft, Verlag Chemie, Berlin, v. 38, p. 2659, 1905. In these disclosures, Ruff et al. teach that sulfur and liquid anhydrous ammonia react to form sulfur nitride in accordance with the reaction:10S+4NH36H2S+N4S4 This reaction is a recognized synthetic route to sulfur nitride. While stable in air, the nitride (which is also referred to as "nitrogen sulfide" in Chemical Abstracts) is an explosive that converts to the elements in a violent reaction if subjected to shock or rapid heating under certain conditions. Because of this explosive nature, few if any investigations of non-polymeric sulfur nitride have been reported.
Of still further potential relevance to this invention is the state of the art of sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide is in large demand as a raw material for the manufacture of sulfuric acid, but a limiting factor is the high expense of transporting sulfur dioxide, as explained in the monograph by Rieber, M., Smelter Emissions Controls: The Impact on Mining and the Market for Acid, prepared for U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Mines, March, 1982, as quoted in U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, Copper: Technology and Competitiveness OTA-E-367 (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government printing Office, September 1988, page 165, Box 8-A): "Liquid SO2 has a very limited demand in the United States, but, owing to its relatively high price per unit weight, it can be shipped long distances. It is still extremely expensive to transport, however, because it requires special pressurized tank cars that usually return empty. The market is too small to justify cost saving measures such as unit trains or special ocean tankers."
Of still further potential relevance to this invention is the state of the art of natural gas production from natural gas reserves having high hydrogen sulfide content. Fouling and impairment of wells and pipelines by premature sulfur deposits is common and results in expensive maintenance problems and capacity losses due to shut-downs and extended off-line periods required for inspection, cleaning or replacement.
Of still further potential relevance to this invention is the state of the art of hydrogen sulfide and the recovery from hydrogen sulfide of both sulfur values and hydrogen values. Hydrogen sulfide is produced as a by-product of natural gas production, and also as a by-product of refinery operations and many processes that are intended to remove sulfur from fuels. Canada and the United States each produce about 1×107 metric tons of hydrogen sulfide per year. Because of its extreme acute toxicity, flammability, noxious odor, insidious odor sensory depression, and corrosiveness, almost all hydrogen sulfide is converted to elemental sulfur and water at or near the site where the hydrogen sulfide is produced. Conversion is achieved by the Claus process, in which one mole of hydrogen sulfide is oxidized to water and one mole of sulfur dioxide which is then reacted with two additional moles of hydrogen sulfide to produce elemental sulfur and more wastewater or steam. All the hydrogen value of hydrogen sulfide is thus lost to wastewater and low quality steam. In North America, for example, about 1.2×106 metric tons of hydrogen are lost in this way each year. The economics of hydrogen sulfide are summarized by Zaman and Chakma in "Production of hydrogen and sulfur from hydrogen sulfide," Fuel Processing Technology 41 (1995), 159–198, Elsevier Science B.V., as follows:                "The diverse attack on hydrogen sulfide to obtain two salable products is very striking. Every year a large amount of potential resource is being wasted and there is no doubt it should be stopped. The success in the development of a suitable technology for the production of hydrogen and sulfur will signify the attainment of the triple objectives of waste minimization, resource utilization, and environmental pollution reduction."
Hydrogen is commonly produced by steam reformation and water shift reactions using natural gas (methane) or other carbon-based reductants including petroleum derivatives and coal. Natural gas is in short supply, however, and shortages and high prices are likely to persist for the foreseeable future. Also, for every mole of methane consumed, the process generates a mole of carbon dioxide. Thus, for example, in the production of ammonia from hydrogen and nitrogen, about a million tons of carbon dioxide are produced (on a stoichiometric basis) for every million tons of ammonia made, in addition to the carbon dioxide produced by combustion to provide energy for other process needs. Some of the carbon dioxide can be consumed as a raw material to make urea, but the economic value that is gained from the use of carbon dioxide in this manner is insufficient to compensate economically for the loss of methane, since CO2 is readily available from other sources in ways that do not involve methane consumption. Also, as those who are familiar with the proposals for a hydrogen economy are aware, the use of hydrogen will continue to grow and thereby exacerbate the serious problem of excess CO2 emissions, a recognized contributor to global warming. This is because large-scale hydrogen production uses carbon-based reductants and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future despite significant advances in renewable energy technologies. Thus, in the production of hydrogen by methane reformation under the best circumstances, at least five and one half tons of carbon dioxide will be produced for each ton of hydrogen. This could be alleviated by producing hydrogen from non-carbon sources in a process whose by-product is a solid mineral such as gypsum rather than greenhouse gases.
Known schemes for producing hydrogen from hydrogen sulfide are as follows:H2S+COCOS+H2  Reaction 1H2S+NONOS+H2  Reaction 2H2S½S2+H2  Reaction 3
Reaction 1 is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,723 (Herrington et al., Oct. 21, 1986)), while both Reactions 1 and 2 are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,856,925 (Kodera et al., Dec. 24, 1974). The most striking recent development pertaining to Reaction 1 is work supported in part by the National Science Foundation and assigned to Lehigh University, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,855 (Wachs, Dec. 24, 2002). The Wachs patent teaches that an internal stream of COS can be catalytically oxidized with O2 to yield SO2 per the reactionCOS+O2→CO+SO2  Reaction 4while regenerating and recycling an internal stream of CO that is used to generate more hydrogen from fresh hydrogen sulfide feed according to Reaction 1 above. The overall reaction is as follows:H2S+O2→H2+SO2  Reaction 5
The practicalities of this scheme are constrained by the burden of SO2 disposition. The Wachs disclosure offers two alternatives for SO2 disposal: 1) use in the production of sulfuric acid, and 2) recycle of SO2 for reduction by two additional moles of hydrogen sulfide to produce elemental sulfur and water as for example by the Claus process. The former is thought to be an attractive choice at sites near large-scale consumers of sulfuric acid such as petroleum refineries. Unfortunately, however, the inefficiencies and high transportation costs of sulfuric acid make this impractical at remote hydrogen sulfide sources such as the Wyoming or Alberta sour gas fields. Large-scale remote sulfuric acid production would also have to compete with sulfuric acid produced as a smelter by-product. The disposition of surplus acid at remote locations raises environmental concerns, since acidulation of carbonaceous ore bodies such as limestone presents a variety of problems including excess CO2 emissions.
Disposition of the SO2 as recycle through the Claus process limits the yield of hydrogen from hydrogen sulfide to about one-third at best, based on the overall stoichiometry (combining Claus with Reaction 5) as follows:3H2S+O2→H2+2H2O+ 3/8S8  Reaction 6
The scheme of Reaction 6 also raises economic and environmental concerns due to its production of surplus elemental sulfur at remote locations. This reduces the amount of economic value that can be extracted from the hydrogen sulfide.

Free-flowing sulfur transport, storage and use to produce energy, fertilizer or hydrogen without carbon dioxide


A shut-off valve for preventing drool from an injection molding apparatus is provided in a melt channel of a sprue bushing. The shut-off valve includes a fixed member located in the melt channel and a reciprocating member coupled to the fixed member. The reciprocating member is biased toward an extended position in which an inlet of the sprue bushing is blocked thereby. The reciprocating member is movable from the extended position towards a retracted position in which the inlet of the sprue bushing is clear by the force of a melt stream entering the melt channel of the sprue bushing.

Many injection molding systems use a sprue bushing to provide a transfer melt channel between the machine nozzle and a distribution manifold in a mold. In the event that the machine nozzle has to be disengaged from making contact with the sprue bushing, molten plastic will drool backwards from the sprue bushing, and this will adversely affect the next shot of melt. This situation can happen in many applications, such as for example with shuttle molds, rotary molds, and stack molds.
Due to residual pressures in the system, molten material tends to leak, or "drool", from the sprue bushing at the end of the injection cycle, i.e., when the machine nozzle is retracted from the sprue bushing inlet. This drool represents waste material and increased production costs. Further, the drooled material may collect on the mold and prevent complete closing thereof or cause permanent damage thereto.
Many techniques and devices exist in the art that are designed to prevent or reduce drool in an injection molding system. Examples include various shut-off mechanisms located at the machine nozzle tip or spindle elements for use in a "suck-back" procedure. In many cases, the machine nozzle incorporates an anti-drool mechanism into its structure, as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,934,626 to Hall, incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.
However, there exists a need to have an anti-drool mechanism that can be added as a modular component to existing injection molding systems, including stack molding systems.

Anti-drool mechanism for a sprue bushing