A novel continuous process and system are provided for the production of chlorine dioxide at favorable economics and high efficiency. The process involves effecting electrolysis of an aqueous solution of alkali metal chloride, in an electrolysis zone, to form an aqueous solution of alkali metal chlorate having a chlorate ion concentration of about 400 to about 1,200 g/L, and a chloride ion concentration of about 90 to about 120 g/L, gaseous hydrogen and water vapor. Hydrogen is conducted to a hydrogen chloride synthesis system where it reacts with chlorine gas, (recycled, as well as make-up,) to yield hydrogen chloride gas which is quenched with water to provide hydrochloric acid. A solution of alkali metal chlorate is conducted from the electrolysis zone to the chlorine dioxide generating zone. The chemical reaction is between an all scale metal chlorate concentration of about 400 to about 1,200 g/L and an alkali metal chloride concentration of about 90 to about 120 g/L and over about 90 g/L chloride ion concentration. The reaction is driven by the high chlorate and chloride ion concentrations, high reacting temperature and with the hydrochloric acid injected through multi-capillary tubes at high velocity. The reaction provides chlorine dioxide gas with some by-product chlorine, which is at least in part separated by an auxiliary chlorine dioxide absorbing in-loop system. The unreacted chlorate/chloride solution from the chlorine dioxide generator is recycled to the electrolysis zone. The alkali metal is sodium or lithium at the very high chlorate ion concentrations. The method includes methods for recovering chlorine as gas or an equivalent chloride for recycling within the process system.

(i) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the production of chlorine dioxide, and more particularly to an improved integrated process for producing chlorine dioxide continuously, efficiently and rapidly with high yields and with a minimum requirement for many initial reactions.
(ii) Description of the Prior Art
Chlorine dioxide has been industrially employed as a bleaching agent by the cellulose pulp industry for over half a century. The industrial production of chlorine dioxide has grown substantially over the years. The present world production capacity approaches one-million tons annually.
The demand for chlorine dioxide is projected for significant growth in the next decade because most pulp mills are committed towards substitution of chlorine through the use of chlorine dioxide. This substitution is a result of new regulations worldwide limiting the pulp mills effluent of Total Organic Chlorides. In addition, the delignification and bleaching of pulp should be carried out without the production of chloroform, furans and dioxins.
This substitution of chlorine by chlorine dioxide represents an increased cost to pulp mills due to the higher cost of an equivalent amount of chlorine dioxide. Furthermore, the conventional chlorine dioxide plants yield, as by-products, spent acid, salt cake and sodium chlorate. This acid solution, and/or slurry (if the salt cake is crystallized) is undesirable to pulp mills because, when fed to the chemical recovery system, it can be the cause of production down time and maintenance costs associated with the boiler tubes.
One of the more traditional procedures for the production of chlorine dioxide is the reaction of hydrochloric acid and chloric acid to produce gaseous mixtures of chlorine dioxide and chlorine. In practice, these reactions were carried out by treating aqueous mixtures of water-soluble chlorates and chlorides, such as may be obtained, for example, by chlorinating lime or by the electrolysis of salt, with an excess of a strong acid, for example, hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid. The reactions above referred to may be represented by the following equations: EQU 2NaClO.sub.3 +4HCl.fwdarw.2ClO.sub.2 +Cl.sub.2 +2NaCl+2H.sub.2 O (1) EQU 2NaClO.sub.3 +12HCl.fwdarw.6Cl.sub.2 +2NaCl+6H.sub.2 O (2)
Ordinarily, reaction (2) is predominant over reaction (1), and consequently, the yield in chlorine dioxide is correspondingly low.
To minimize reaction (2) it has been suggested to react properly proportioned mixtures of chlorates, chlorides and a strong inorganic acid in dilute solutions (containing at least 50% and preferably up to 75% of water) at temperatures below 60.degree. C. Based on reaction (1), equivalent ratios of Cl/ClO.sub.3 =2 and of H.sup.+ /ClO.sub.3 =2 should give high yields of ClO.sub.2 per mole of chlorate decomposed. In practice, however, it has been proposed in particular to use a ratio of H.sup.+ /ClO.sub.3 - in excess of 2 because reaction (2) uses some of the chlorate in producing chlorine instead of ClO.sub.2. This proposal results in the use of excessive quantities of reactants.
Since chlorine dioxide is explosive at high temperatures, the reactions described hereinabove have generally been carried out at relatively low temperatures. Furthermore, in order to reduce still further the danger of explosion, a non-reactive (inert) gas was conducted into the reaction vessel. The purpose of the gas was to reduce the concentration of chlorine dioxide in the vessel to a nonexplosive proportion.
In processes where gaseous hydrogen chloride was used or where large amounts of inert gases were used, there was a need for a rather large compressor. The need for such compressor involved increased capital and operating costs.
Of the many patents directed to the preparation of chlorine dioxide by introducing an aqueous solution of sodium chlorate and sodium chloride and an acidic agent into a reaction vessel in a continuous manner, mention be made of the following:
Canadian Patent 461,586 patented Dec. 6, 1949 by G.A. Day provided a process for the manufacture of chlorine dioxide, by supplying an aqueous solution of an inorganic chlorate to the reaction chamber, and gaseous hydrogen chloride, the hydrogen chloride being supplied to the chamber in amount insufficient to react with all the chlorate present therein. The resulting acid was reacted with the chlorate. Gaseous chlorine dioxide and chlorine were removed from the reaction chamber. Partially reacted chlorate solution from the reaction chamber was passed to an electrolytic chlorate cell to increase the chlorate content thereof. The fortified chlorate solution was returned to the reaction chamber for further reaction with hydrogen chloride. The patentee provided for the use of electrolytic chlorate liquor containing about 500 g/L sodium chlorate and about 75 g/L sodium chloride. The low amount of chloride in the electrolytic chlorate liquor did not always serve to prevent the precipitation of chloride during the reaction to form the chlorine dioxide. Such precipitation of chloride reduced the efficiency of the chlorine dioxide generator.
Canadian Patent 560,447 patented Jul. 15, 1958 by A. Germano provided a process for manufacturing of chlorine dioxide from sodium chlorate and hydrochloric acid by reacting more than two molecules of hydrochloric acid per molecule of sodium chlorate, at a temperature sufficiently low, preferably below about +10.degree. C., in such a manner as to precipitate the sodium chloride which was separated, as to desorb the chlorine dioxide and the chlorine from the solution thus obtained by the action of an inert gas and/or heat, and to re-use the residual solution for preparing the solution of chlorate for further reaction. The patentee further taught that, as a first step, a solution of sodium chlorate, preferably saturated in chlorate, and obtained by the addition of chlorate to a residue solution coming from a previous manufacture, was introduced into a reactor. The low amount of chloride in the electrolytic chlorate liquor did not always serve to prevent the precipitation of chloride during the reaction to form the chlorine dioxide. Such precipitation of chloride reduced the efficiency of the chlorine dioxide generator.
Canadian Patent 728,075 patented Feb. 5, 1966 by H.C. Scribner provided a process for the production of chlorine dioxide by reacting an aqueous solution of an alkali metal chlorate with hydrochloric acid in a reaction zone to produce chlorine dioxide and an alkali metal chloride. There was at least a portion of the solution in the reaction zone passed to an enriching zone, to provide, in the enriching zone, alkali metal chlorate in an amount in excess of the amount of chlorate required to saturate the solution with respect to the alkali metal chloride. This provided conditions favourable to the precipitation of alkali metal chloride in the enriching zone. The chlorate content of the solution was increased and the alkali metal chloride was then precipitated in the enriching zone by passing the solution through the enriching zone. The enriched solution was conducted from the enriching zone to the reaction zone for reaction with hydrochloric acid to generate chlorine dioxide. Typically, the concentration of sodium chlorate was from about 447 to about 514 g/L, the concentration of sodium chloride was from about 151 to about 202 g/L, and the concentration of hydrochloric acid was from about 17 to about 21.5 g/L.
Canadian Patent 1,076,321 patented Apr. 29, 1980 by Isao Isa et al provided a process for manufacturing chlorine dioxide by reducing a chlorate (e.g. sodium chlorate, potassium chlorate, calcium chlorate or magnesium chlorate, ) in hydrochloric acid in a concentration of from about 0.01 to about 4 moles per liter of reaction medium, in the presence of a specified complex catalyst. The concentration of the chlorate taught was from about 0.01 molar (about 10.7 g/L sodium chlorate) to about 5 molar (about 533 g/L sodium chlorate) of the reaction medium.
Canadian Patent 951,085 patented Jul. 16, 1974 by W.H. Rapson provided a process for the production of chlorine dioxide which comprised forming chlorine dioxide by reducing an alkali metal chlorate in a first acid aqueous reaction medium in a first reaction zone at a first elevated temperature below the temperature above which substantial decomposition of chlorine dioxide would occur, and simultaneously evaporating water from the first medium, thereby to form a gaseous mixture comprising steam and chlorine dioxide. The gaseous mixture was removed from the first reaction zone. Chlorine dioxide was produced by reducing an alkali metal chlorate in a second acid aqueous reaction medium in a second reaction zone physically separate from the first reaction zone at a second elevated temperature lower than the first elevated temperature. The removed gaseous mixture was passed into heat exchange relationship with the second reaction medium to provide at least part of the heat required to maintain the second elevated temperature. The chlorine dioxide formed in the first and second reaction zones was then recovered. The concentration of chlorate and chloride in the reaction medium may vary over a wide range. For example, the concentration of chlorate in the reacting solution could be in the range of about 0.005 molar (about 0.5 g/L) to about 3 molar, (about 320 g/L) and the concentration of the chloride may be in the range of about 0.001 molar (about 0.06 g/L) to about 2 molar (about 117 g/L). Consistent with such ranges, moreover, it was taught that it was preferred to utilize an approximately equimolar ratio in order to maximize the production of chlorine dioxide with equation 1 above. Ratios of chloride: chlorate generally varied between about 1:1 and about 3:1, preferably about 1.1:1 to about 1.3:1. The low amount of chloride in the electrolytic chlorate liquor did not always serve to prevent the precipitation of chloride during the reaction to form the chlorine dioxide. Such precipitation of chloride reduced the efficiency of the chlorine dioxide generator.
Canadian Patent 1,088,274 patented Oct. 28, 1980 by Alain Caillol provided an improvement in the conventional processes generating chlorine dioxide in sulfuric acid employing sulfur dioxide or methanol as reducing agent. The chlorine dioxide produced from the gaseous effluent issuing from the production reactor was separated by absorption by means of cooled water in a packed column. The gaseous effluent (tail gas) issuing from the absorption column was recycled to the production reactor, in order to dilute the chlorine dioxide produced. The improvement involved the method of reacting sulfur dioxide with chlorine in the presence of water to yield hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid, thus, reducing chlorine to nothing, with no accumulation of chlorine in the recycled tail gases. The economy in respect of chlorate would be better still if a certain amount of chloride (not exceeding about 16% of the chlorate, preferably about 6% of the chlorate) was introduced with the chlorate solution into tile main reactor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,296 patented Jan. 30, 1979 by D.N. Glew et al provided a process of producing chlorine dioxide from an alkali metal chlorate by reacting the chlorate with hydrogen chloride by maintaining, in a reaction vessel, an aqueous reaction medium containing at least about 5.5 molar (about 586 g/L) of sodium chlorate, sufficient hydrogen chloride to provide an acid normality of at least about 0.002 and sufficient sodium chloride to saturate the reaction medium. The reaction medium was boiled at a temperature of up to about 100.degree. C. A mixture including chlorine dioxide gas, chlorine gas and water vapor was withdrawn from the reaction vessel. The patentee taught the feeding of a sufficient amount of an aqueous solution containing sodium chlorate into the reaction zone to provide the desired reaction medium. A sufficient amount of hydrogen chloride into the reaction zone to provide a reaction medium acidity of from about 0.002 to about 6 normal. The reaction medium was maintained at boiling by maintaining the temperature within the range of from about 40.degree. to about 100 .degree. C. and the pressure within tile vessel within the range of from about 40 to about 500 millimetres of mercury absolute. A slurry containing a portion of the reaction medium and solid sodium chlorate particles was withdrawn from the reaction zone. Solid sodium chloride was removed from the withdrawn slurry to provide a slurry effluent. The effluent was returned to the reaction zone. Hydrogen chloride was added to the withdrawn slurry. An inert diluent gas was fed into a gas zone superimposing the reaction zone. The gaseous chlorine was withdrawn from the chlorine dioxide reaction product. The low amount of chloride in the electrolytic chlorate liquor did not always serve to prevent the precipitation of chloride during the reaction for form the chlorine dioxide. Such precipitation of chloride reduced the efficiency of the chlorine dioxide generator.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,542 patented Aug. 30, 1977 by W.A. Fuller provided an improvement in a process for continuously generating a mixture containing chlorine dioxide, chlorine and an alkali metal salt, wherein an alkali metal chlorate and hydrochloric acid were continuously reacted in suitable proportions to generate chlorine dioxide and chlorine with the temperature being maintained at from about 50.degree. to about 100.degree. C. The acidity of the reaction solution was maintained within the range of about 0.05 to about 2.5 normal. Chlorine dioxide and chlorine produced by the reaction was withdrawn from the reactor, and water was removed and alkali metal salt of the hydrochloric acid was crystallized in the form of an aqueous slurry containing minor amounts of chlorate, and acid values. The improvement involved continuously passing the slurry containing alkali metal salt crystals into the top of a separatory column, in a downward flow. A stream of water was countercurrently and continuously passed upwardly through the column at a rate sufficient to effect washing of the downwardly flowing crystals whereby chlorate, chloride and acid values recovered therefrom were continuously and substantially completely returned to the reaction. An aqueous slurry of substantially pure alkali metal chloride salt crystals was continuously removed from the bottom of the separatory column. The patentee further taught that the concentration of alkali metal chlorate was preferably maintained on the high side of the applicable concentration range of about 0.2 molar (about 21 g/L) to about 5 molar (about 533 g/L). This was especially true during operation in the region from approximately 75.degree. C. to 90.degree. C. and at pressures in the region of 400 millimetres mercury absolute. The low amount of chloride in the electrolytic chlorate liquor did not always serve to prevent the precipitation of chloride during the reaction for form the chlorine dioxide. Such precipitation of chloride reduced the efficiency of the chlorine dioxide generator.
Improvements were also provided in the inventions described in the above identified patents by providing a continuous process for the production of chlorine dioxide involving the recycling and reuse of by-products and incompletely-reacted reagents. Among such patents are:
Canadian Patent 782,574 patented Apr. 9, 1968 by G.O. Westerlund, which provided an improved continuous recyclic process and apparatus for the production of chlorine dioxide. That patented process involved the first steps of effecting electrolysis of an aqueous solution of a metal chloride to form an aqueous solution of a metal chlorate and gaseous hydrogen. The gaseous hydrogen was reacted with gaseous chlorine to form gaseous hydrogen chloride. The aqueous solution of metal chlorate was reacted with the gaseous hydrogen chloride to form an aqueous solution of metal chloride, which was recycled to the first step and an aqueous solution of chloric acid. The aqueous solution of chloric acid was reacted with the gaseous hydrogen chloride to form chlorine dioxide, which was recovered, water and gaseous chlorine, which was recycled to the second step.
That patented process for the manufacture of chlorine dioxide which was based on the following main reactions: (M=metal ion) ##STR1##
The action of hydrogen chloride on the metal chlorate solution produced chlorine dioxide and chlorine according to reactions (3) and (4). By controlling the acidity and by utilizing an excess of the metal chlorate, reactions (3) and (4) can be caused to yield ClO.sub.2 :Cl.sub.2 in a ratio of 2:1. Chlorine was consumed in reaction (2) for production of hydrogen chloride. Thus the system theoretically yielded chlorine dioxide only, free of chlorine to the extent of the efficiency of chlorine dioxide gas separator. Since the system was closed, after the initial charge of metallic chloride, no addition of salt was required. Furthermore, the electrolysis in reaction (1) produced three times the required amount of hydrogen. The process of that invention was thus based on a system which required water, chlorine and electric current for the production of chlorine dioxide.
The system of that invention was a useful improvement over the previous systems, being a closed system with essentially no major effluent liquor other than the output of chlorine dioxide solution. Therefore, losses of reagents were minimized and the manufacturing cost of chlorine dioxide was determined by the cost of power and chlorine. The system in that invention was self-regenerating in regard to chemicals except for chlorine and water. At 100% yield, one mole of chlorine was required for the production of two moles of chlorine dioxide. The only other raw material was electrical energy, the two moles of water per mole of ClO.sub.2 being insignificant.
Other improvements were provided by the following patents:
Canadian Patent 808,556 patented March 18, 1969 by G.O. Westerlund provided an improvement in the chlorine dioxide preparation process of Canadian patent 782,574 by the steps of reacting the inorganic chlorate with an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution whereby chlorine dioxide gas and chlorine gas were formed. Chlorine gas was separated from chlorine dioxide. A portion of the chlorine gas was reacted with hydrogen gas to form hydrogen chloride. Hydrogen chloride was dissolved in water to form an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid. The aqueous hydrochloric acid produced was then used as one of the reactants.
Canadian Patent 809,556 patented Mar. 25, 1969 by G.O. Westerlund provided another improvement in the chlorine dioxide preparation process of Canadian Patent 782,574 by the step of reacting the inorganic chlorate with an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid. The gaseous products of reaction comprising chlorine and chlorine dioxide were swept from a gas zone atop the liquor zone with a diluent gas admitted to the reaction zone near the interface between the gas zone and the liquor zone.
Canadian Patent 828,061 patented Nov. 25, 1969 by G.O. Westerlund provided still another improvement in the chlorine dioxide production process of Canadian Patent 782,574 by the step of diluting hydrogen chloride gas with chlorine or a mixture of chlorine, carbon dioxide and water vapor. The aqueous solution of chlorate was reacted with the diluted hydrogen chloride gas. A final reaction product comprising about 10% or less chlorine dioxide gas diluted with about 90% or more chlorine gas, or about 10% or less chlorine dioxide gas diluted with about 90% or more of a mixture of chlorine gas, carbon dioxide gas and water vapour was then recovered.
Canadian Patent No. 922,661 patented Mar. 13, 1973 by G.O. Westerlund provided an integrated process for the continuous, high yield production of chlorine dioxide. The process included the step of effecting an electrolysis reaction in an electrolysis zone to form a gaseous product comprising predominantly hydrogen, as well as water, oxygen and chlorine, and a liquid product comprising an aqueous solution of a chlorate, a chloride and a dichromate. Both liquid product and gaseous effluent were withdrawn from the electrolysis zone. The withdrawn electrolysis products was passed to a reaction zone where the liquid produced, comprising an aqueous solution of a chlorate and a chloride, was converted to a product comprising an optimum proportion of chlorate therein. Gaseous product comprising hydrogen and well as steam, oxygen, and chlorine substantially-free of the liquid product was withdrawn from the reaction zone. The withdrawn liquid product was then passed to a two-stage chlorine dioxide generation zone, each stage being maintained within different temperature ranges where the chlorate liquor was reacted with aqueous hydrochloric acid reducing agent in the presence of a sweeping current of air and a portion of the gaseous product. Liquid product was withdrawn from the second stage of the chlorine dioxide generation zone and such withdrawn product was passed to an evaporation zone where a controlled portion of the water therein was evaporated to provide hot water for heat use, and from where weak chlorate liquor was withdrawn for recycling to the electrolysis zone. Gaseous effluent containing liquid product was withdrawn from the second stage of the chlorine dioxide generation zone, and the contained liquid was separated therefrom. Such liquid was conducted to the evaporation zone. The gaseous effluent was passed countercurrently in contact with an aqueous solvent in a chlorine dioxide adsorption zone. Liquid effluent comprising an aqueous acidic solution of chlorine dioxide was withdrawn from the chlorine absorption zone and such effluent was stored in a chlorine dioxide solution storage zone. Gaseous effluent was withdrawn from the chlorine dioxide absorption zone.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,607,027 patented Sep. 21, 1971 by G.O. Westerlund provided an improved process for preparing chlorine dioxide wherein the bulk of the reactants were internally produced. The reactants included an aqueous solution of an inorganic chlorate and an aqueous hydrochloric acid. The aqueous solution of the inorganic chlorate was produced by electrolyzing an aqueous solution of an inorganic chloride. The aqueous hydrochloric acid was produced from hydrogen gas, which was a by-product of the electrolysis reaction by which the inorganic chloride was converted to the inorganic chlorate, and chlorine gas. In reacting the aqueous inorganic chlorate with the aqueous hydrochloric acid, both gaseous chlorine dioxide and gaseous chlorine were formed. The gaseous chlorine was separated from the gaseous chlorine dioxide. A portion of the so-separated gaseous chlorine was reacted with the hydrogen to form gaseous hydrogen chloride. The gaseous hydrogen chloride was used as a reactant, either by dissolving it in a stoichiometrically insufficient quantity of water, thereby to provide an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid and free hydrogen chloride gas, or by dissolving it in water containing absorbed chlorine gas.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,974 patented Dec. 30, 1975 by J.D. Winfield provided a process for the production of chlorine dioxide by continuously feeding an aqueous solution of an alkali metal chlorate and hydrochloric acid to a reaction zone to maintain an aqueous reaction medium in the reaction zone containing an alkali metal chlorate and hydrochloric acid and having an acidity of about 0.05 to about 1N. Chlorine dioxide and chlorine were continuously formed by reaction between the alkali metal chlorate and the hydrochloric acid in the reaction medium. The reaction zone was continuously maintained under a reduced pressure. The reaction medium was continuously maintained at its boiling point to evaporate water from the reaction medium continuously to form a gaseous phase in the reaction zone consisting of a mixture of chlorine dioxide, chlorine and water vapor, and to deposit alkali metal chloride in the reaction zone. The gaseous phase mixture was continuously conducted out of the reaction zone. Chlorine dioxide was continuously recovered from the mixture. Deposited alkali metal chloride was removed from the reaction zone. An aqueous solution was formed from the removed alkali metal chloride. That aqueous solution was continuously electrolyzed to convert the alkali metal chloride at least partially to alkali metal chlorate and to generate hydrogen gas. There was at least the alkali metal chlorate content of the alkali metal chlorate-containing solution continuously fed to the reaction zone. There was at least part of the hydrogen gas continuously reacted with chlorine gas to generate hydrogen chloride. Hydrochloric acid was continuously formed from the hydrogen chloride. There was at least part of that continuously fed hydrochloric acid to the reaction zone. The patentee further taught that the concentration of sodium chlorate could be about 250 g/L and that the concentration of sodium chloride was about 150 g/L. The low amount of chlorate in the electrolytic chlorate liquor did not allow for the optimum concentration to optimize the production of chlorine dioxide. High concentrations of chlorate tended to increase the efficiency of the production of chlorine dioxide.

Integrated procedure for high yield production of chlorine dioxide and apparatus used therefor


A vision-protecting filter lens, including a multilayer optical film and a neutral-density optical filter.

Many activities may benefit from vision protection due to the potential presence of undesirable levels of visible, ultraviolet, and/or infrared radiation. One example of such an activity is welding. Safety standards for industrial eye and face protection for welding and other activities are published by the American National Standards Institute, Inc. (ANSI) in ANSI Z87.1-2010, incorporated herein by reference. The ANSI standards define a set of shade numbers (ratings) based on the weighted transmittance of luminous, far ultraviolet, near ultraviolet, infrared, and blue light.

Vision-protecting filter lens having organic polymer multilayer and neutral-density optical filter


A therapeutic topical composition comprising achillea millefolium (yarrow) extract, aloe vera, arnica montana flowers, annatto seed extract, boswellia serrate extract, marigold flower extract, cetearyl olivate, cetyl myristoleate, sunflower seed oil, sorbitan olivate, turmeric root extract, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), emu oil, devil's claw root extract, yerba mate leaf extract, magnesium sulfate, peppermint oil, menthol, skullcap root extract, vitamin E, and yucca root extract useful for treatment of localized pain, inflammation, and/or swelling, and methods for making and using the composition.

Physical activity such as strenuous exercise can subject the human body to intense strains, which may cause pain to result in the muscles and/or joints. In the case of a baseball pitcher, pain can be experienced in the arm or the shoulder. The shoulder pain often occurs in the same area. Although there are a number of available topical compositions for treatment of such pain, the efficacy of such compositions is less than optimal. There is a need for more effective topical compositions for treatment of muscle pain, particularly pain in the arms of baseball pitchers.
Exercise causes the muscles to use more oxygen. If the circulation to the muscle is partially or totally blocked, activities of the muscle such as raising or swinging the arm may cause muscle fatigue, pain, or aching. Recurring muscle pain (for example, in the arm) may be at least partially a result of the muscles not receiving enough oxygen and nutrients or poor removal of metabolic products of exercise (such as lactic acid) due to poor or inefficient circulation.
Furthermore, localized inflammation and swelling may result from an injury to the human body or arthritic pain in a joint may result from breaking down of the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones comprising the joint. Again, it is thought that increased circulation of the blood around the muscle and joint may have a beneficial effect on such inflammation and swelling and may facilitate the restoration of damaged tissue in such instances.


A light bulb assembly includes a light bulb, a base receiving the light bulb, and a socket receiving the base. The base is formed with a displaceable arm terminating in a locking element. The socket is formed with an opening through a wall having an edge adapted to receive the locking element to lock the base to the socket. The base is releasable from the socket by passing a pointed implement through the opening to displace the finger and thereby to release the locking element.

The present invention relates to a light bulb assembly, and particularly to such an assembly useful as a miniature lamp.
One common form of light bulb assembly used, for example, in miniature lamps for Christmas tree decorations, includes a light bulb, a base receiving the light bulb, and a socket receiving the base. The light bulb includes an envelope and a pair of electrically-conductive wires projecting from one end Of the envelope, which wires are passed through the base and folded back over the outside of the base to fix the light bulb to the base. The base, with the light bulb fixed to it, is inserted into the socket and is retained therein by a friction fit between the base and socket.
However, a friction fit between the base and socket is not always sufficient to positively retain the light bulb and its base within the socket. As a result, it frequently happens, particularly under rough handling conditions, that the light bulb and its base separate from the socket.
One solution to this problem was to provide a wire-type clamp passing through the socket and the base to positively fix the base to the socket. However, this solution requires the addition of an extra element, which thereby increases the overall cost of the assembly; moreover, it requires an extra manipulation in passing the wire clamp through the socket and the base, thereby increasing the cost of assembling the base to the socket.

Light bulb assembly particularly useful for miniature lamps


A data processing apparatus for processing data described in a welding operation program of an arc welding robot system. The data processing apparatus includes a data obtaining section for obtaining a plurality of position and orientation data at a plurality of different teaching points previously taught and included in the welding operation program; a reference plane setting section for setting a virtual reference plane as a reference defining a geometric placement of an arc welding torch relative to a workpiece during a welding operation, based on the position and orientation data obtained in the data obtaining section; an angle calculating section for calculating a plurality of angle data representing the geometric placement of the arc welding torch at every teaching points, by using the position and orientation data obtained in the data obtaining section and the virtual reference plane set in the reference plane setting section; and an angle processing section for performing at least one of a displaying process and a correcting process of the angle data calculated in the angle calculating section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus for arc welding.
2. Description of the Related Art
A robot system in which an arc welding torch is mounted on an arm end portion of a robot to perform arc welding is known. In this type of arc welding robot system, one typical technique for teaching the robot a welding operation is a so-called playback teaching technique. In the playback teaching technique, generally, the actual robot is operated by jog-feeding in a manual mode, to move the welding torch along a welding line on a workpiece, and to make the robot store the position and orientation of the arm at several predetermined teaching points. The orientation of the arm is set in such a manner that the welding torch appropriately exhibits a target angle (or a work angle (JIS)) and a lead angle (or a travel angle (JIS)) relative to the welding line at each teaching point. The robot executes a welding operation program describing the position and orientation data at the teaching points, so as to perform the welding work. It should be noted that both the "work angle" and the "travel angle" are angle data representing the geometric placement of the arc welding torch with respect to the workpiece (or the welding line) during the welding operation, which will be described, later, in more detail.
Another typical teaching technique uses an off-line programming system. In the off-line programming system, information about the robot, welding torch, workpiece, surrounding objects and so on, is given by an off-line location (i.e., at a location away from the actual operating environment) to a processing apparatus, so that a work-cell is defined in the processing apparatus on the basis of the information. The work-cell is composed of the reconstruction of an actual job site in a virtual space. The position and orientation data of the robot at the teaching points, which must be described in the welding operation program, are determined based on the position and orientation taken by the virtual robot operating in the work-cell. The orientation of the robot is also determined in such a manner that the virtual welding torch defined in the work-cell exhibits appropriate work and travel angles with respect to the virtual workpiece. Then, the welding operation program describing the position and orientation data at the teaching points is transferred to a robot controller, to control the actual robot, so as to perform the welding work.
In the playback teaching technique described above, the position and orientation of the arm are adjusted visually while the actual robot is operated by jog-feeding, so that it is generally difficult to perform the appropriate teaching in a short time and a skilled operator is required. In particular, in order to accurately set the work angle and the travel angle, which are important conditions influencing the welding quality, there is a problem in that the operation, including jog-feeding, teaching and program executing, should be done by repeated trial and error, and the number of processing steps are thus increased significantly.
On the other hand, in the off-line programming teaching technique described above, an error typically exists between an equipment layout defined in the work-cell in the processing apparatus and an actual equipment layout, so that, when the welding operation program provided in an off-line mode is actually executed at the job site, the welding operation program often cannot be used in its original form. Therefore, in this case, the position and orientation data at the teaching points have to be corrected as required. However, because the work angle and travel angle are changed due to the data correction, it is also necessary to perform the programming work by repeated trial and error. As a result, the problem of the increased number of processing steps cannot be solved in the off-line programming teaching technique, just as in the playback teaching technique.
One of the reasons for the above-described problems in conventional teaching techniques is that, in the conventional programming work, welding conditions including the work angle and the travel angle cannot be described directly in the welding operation program. Further, the operator can grasp directly the position and orientation of the robot at the teaching points from the welding operation program, but cannot grasp the work angle and travel angle of the welding torch, corresponding to the position and orientation at the teaching points, unless the operator calculates, as another step, the work angle and the travel angle from the position and orientation data. Therefore, for example, even if optimal welding conditions including the work angle and the travel angle are previously recognized, it is necessary for the operator to calculate the position and orientation data of the robot on the basis of the optimal welding conditions, and to provide or correct the welding operation program by using the calculated position and orientation data. Thus, in the conventional arc welding robot system, there is a problem in that a significant time is consumed for the provision and the correction of the welding operation program.

Data processing apparatus for arc welding


A method of reconstructing the content of an ink color decomposition table is available as a method calibrating second- and higher-order colors. However, it is difficult to reconstruct the ink color decomposition table while maintaining a limitation upon the overall amount of ink allowed by the printing paper. Accordingly, a printer is made to form a color patch that corresponds to the signal value of a color to be calibrated, the signal value is calibrated based upon the measured color value of the color patch formed and a target value that corresponds to the signal value of the color to be calibrated, and multidimensional table data for calibration is created based upon the measured color value of the color patch formed.

FIG. 1 is a diagram useful in describing a technique for calibrating a color printer.
As shown in FIG. 1, an ink color decomposing processor 901 decomposes multivalued RGB image data, which is input thereto, into data of the color components C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow) and K (black) corresponding to the colors of the colorants (referred to as "ink colors" below) of the color printer by interpolation processing such as tetrahedral interpolation based upon table information in an ink color decomposition table 907.
A one-dimensional LUT 902 for calibration purposes corrects the grayscale characteristic of the image data in accordance with the color reproduction characteristic of the printer. Specifically, the LUT 902 corrects the multivalued CMYK data that is output from the ink color decomposing processor 901 to multivalued C′M′Y′K′ data. A calibration conforming to the characteristic of the color printer is achieved by this processing.
A halftoning processor 903 converts the multivalued C′M′Y′K′ data to a number of tones capable of being printed by the color printer. If the color printer is, e.g., a binary printer, then the C′M′Y′K′ data is binarized by the halftoning processing, whereby the processor 903 outputs binary C″M″Y″K″ data.
A color printer engine 904 performs printing based upon the C″M″Y″K″ data input thereto.
A sensor 906 investigates the color reproduction characteristic of the color printer engine 904. On the basis of the color reproduction characteristic of each of the colors CMYK output from the sensor 906, a one-dimensional LUT creating unit 905 creates a one-dimensional LUT of each of the colors CMYK in such a manner that a target color reproduction characteristic will be obtained. The result of this operation is written to the one-dimensional LUT 902.
The technique using the one-dimensional LUT 902 shown in FIG. 1 calibrates each of the colors CMYK independently and therefore implements a highly accurate calibration with regard to first-order colors (ink colors). However, a highly accurate calibration cannot be achieved with regard to colors other than first-order colors, such as the second-order colors R (red), G (green) and B (blue), and the third- and fourth-order colors, which form a gray line.
A method of calibrating second- and higher-order colors by reconstructing the content of the ink color decomposition table 907 is available as a method calibrating second-, third- and fourth-order colors, etc. However, it is difficult to reconstruct the ink color decomposition table 907 while maintaining a limitation upon the overall amount of ink allowed by the printing paper.
Furthermore, since the latest ink-jet printers employ a six-color ink system that uses light cyan and light magenta in addition to cyan, magenta, yellow and black (the conventional first-order colors) as the ink colors, it is even more difficult to maintain the above-mentioned limitation. The same holds true for other printers such as electrophotographic printers as well.

Data processing apparatus and method, and image processing apparatus


A method for scheduling print jobs for a plurality of printers (40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50) includes, for each of a plurality of print jobs, determining a number of pages of a first print modality (such as black only printing) and of a second print modality (such as color printing) for the print job. A file header is determined, based on the number of pages of the first and second print modalities in the print job. The file header is associated with the print job and the print job transmitted, along with the file header, to a print job scheduler (10). The scheduler schedules a sequence for printing the plurality of print jobs by the plurality of printers, based on minimizing, for at least one of the plurality of printers, a number of periods of time during the sequence of printing where the at least one printer is in a non-operational mode; and/or maximizing continuous run time for at least one of the printers.

The present exemplary embodiment relates to a scheduling system. It finds particular application in conjunction with scheduling print jobs for improving the reliability of a printing system and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the present exemplary embodiment is also amenable to other like applications.
Electronic printing systems typically employ a scanner for scanning image-bearing documents and conversion electronics for converting the image to image signals or pixels. The signals are stored and are read out successively to a printer for formation of the images on photoconductive output media such as a photoreceptor. When multiple jobs are to be sequentially printed, a process known as "job streaming" is commonly implemented. Job streaming is the ability of a printer system to complete successive printing jobs with a minimum of delay time between jobs. A control system associated with the image output terminal (IOT) of the machine identifies that multiple jobs have been scheduled, determines their characteristics and determines the necessary delay between jobs. In some cases, the control system will enable a second job to begin printing prior to completion of the first job.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,618,167 to Shah, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, provides a scheduling scheme to improve the productivity of printers, particularly color printers. The scheduling scheme accounts for difference in the rasterization execution time of some print jobs.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,369 to Ortiz, et al., incorporated herein by reference, discloses a method for enhancing productivity in an electronic printer incorporating finishing activities and operating in a job streaming mode. Printing and collating of sets of original scanned documents are controlled so that collated sets are successively presented by the printer to the finisher nearly coincident with conclusion of the finishing activity being accomplished for a current job. The system uses a predictive algorithm which is used to increase reliability of printer components by cycling down the printer between jobs in situations where the finishing activity for a current job requires an extraordinarily long time to complete compared with the cycle down/cycle up time of the printer.
Printing systems now being developed may employ multiple print engines for black, process (or full) color, and custom color (single color or monochrome) printing of selected pages within a print job. The following references, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties, variously relating to what have been variously called "tandem engine" printers, "parallel" printers, or "cluster printing" (in which an electronic print job may be split up for distributed higher productivity printing by different printers, such as separate printing of the color and monochrome pages), and "output merger" or "interposer" systems: U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,246 to Keller, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,532 to Asano, U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,172 to Acquaviva, U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,416 to Barry, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,995,721 to Rourke et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,446 to Fujino; U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,969 to to Soler, et al.; a 1991 "Xerox Disclosure Journal" publication of November-December 1991, Vol. 16, No. 6, pp. 381-383 by Paul F. Morgan; and a Xerox Aug. 3, 2001 "TAX" publication product announcement entitled "Cluster Printing Solution Announced."
Intermittent use of xerographic printers, characterized by relatively frequent on-off cycles has been shown, statistically, to lead to lower reliability. As with the operation of a car, startup and stopping are much more stressful than constant operation. Using a printer casually for relatively short jobs is much more stressful, as measured by maintenance costs per page, than running the same printer more continuously.

Print sequence scheduling for reliability


A system includes a rejection module in a phone configured to receive calls over a network and a remote rejection announcement server (RAS) configured to receive calls over the network. The rejection module is configured to generate at least a portion of an incoming call user interface (UI) on the phone. The UI indicates incoming call signalling, associated with an incoming call from a caller, over a call signalling path in the network. One or more rejection options is provided for selection by a caller. Rejection reason data is generated based on selecting one of the rejection options. The rejection reason data is sent using a rejection reason path separate from the call signalling path. The remote RAS is configured to receive the incoming call from the caller, receive the rejection reason data over the rejection reason path, and generate an audio/video message based on the rejection reason data.

Telecommunications systems enable two parties at a distance (a caller calling a phone, and a callee using the phone) to establish a voice call for the purposes of exchanging information, reaching agreements and taking direction, etc., through an audio-based session or a video-based session. For such sessions or calls to be established, both the caller and the callee need to be in an appropriate state of readiness to conduct the call, with the caller proposing the call through dialing the callee, and the callee accepting the call, e.g., by lifting the receiver of a fixed phone (e.g., a phone on the public switched telephone network) or pressing the answer button on a mobile phone.
However, although a mobile phone network allows a person to receive a call almost anywhere, it also means that the phone can ring when the callee is not in a position to answer the call, such as when they are in a meeting, travelling, or otherwise indisposed, leaving the caller to, at best, record a voicemail message (which is also referred to as a voicemail) on the callee's voicemail system with the hope that at some point in the future the callee will listen to it.
If an incoming call is rejected by a callee, e.g., by pressing a hang-up button or by not answering the call in time, there is generally no context given to the caller on the callee's availability or when the voicemail might be listened to. The callee may be busy for hours in meetings, but the caller doesn't know. Consequently, there can be uncertainty for the caller about when the callee will be in a position to return the call. For an urgent matter, a caller may then attempt to contact the callee using additional methods, e.g., using text messages (also referred to Short Message Service—or SMS—messages), emails, instant messaging programs or further voice calls, and these can place additional burdens on the caller and/or the callee. For example, the callee might compose and send a text message back to the caller after rejecting their incoming call; however, this requires the callee to be able to compose the text message, which may be difficult in an active meeting or while travelling. Even if the callee automatically generates a text message reply (e.g., based on a pre-prepared message text), the caller will need to have a phone capable of receiving the text message, and the text message is likely to be read by the caller only after the call is finished, in which case the caller would fail to take the information in the text message into account immediately, e.g., when recording a voicemail message, or sending their own text message.
Existing applications (e.g., Office Communicator) can provide presence information to users, to help users understand whether a person is busy before making a call. However, these systems may be limited to seeing presence information only of people within the organisation, and require both users (caller and intended callee) to use the presence system. Furthermore, such systems fail to provide callee call-by-call control over how the presence information is shared with callers.
It is desired to address or ameliorate one or more disadvantages or limitations associated with the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative.

Callee rejection information for rejected voice calls


A method for electronically servo-assisting a bicycle gearshift, including the steps of: a) driving an actuator of a bicycle gearshift to displace a chain of the gearshift in an axial direction with respect to a gearshift group comprising at least two sprockets; b) receiving information on the desired alignment between the chain and a predetermined sprocket of the gearshift group; and c) setting a biunique correspondence between the physical position of the actuator at step b) and a logic value associated with the gear ratio relative to the predetermined sprocket.

Electronically servo-assisted bicycle gearshifts are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,480,356; 5,470,277; and 5,865,454; 6,047,230; European patent application EP 1 103 456; and in German patent application DE 39 38 454 A1.
EP 1 103 456 describes a type of gearshift wherein the position transducers are of the absolute type, capable of providing an electrical signal indicating the absolute position of the derailleurs, this type of transducer takes into account the actual position of the derailleurs, therefore operation of the device is not detrimentally affected by displacements of the gearshift mechanism which occur when the device is switched off.
For correct operation of the gearshift in normal ride operating mode (i.e. wherein the gearshift is commanded manually by the rider or automatically or semi-automatically by the electronic control unit), the rear and front actuators must preliminarily be aligned in a start position, used as a reference (together with information on the position of the various sprockets and/or on the distance or pitch between adjacent sprockets) to displace the chain between adjacent sprockets to carry out the gear-shiftings. The start or reference position is usually the one in which the chain is at the sprocket with the smallest diameter.
In the prior art mechanically commanded gearshifts, the alignment in the start position is carried out with manual adjustment devices which provide for correcting the position of a steel cable which is used to actuate the displacements during a gear-shifting.
In electronically servo-assisted gearshifts, the electronic control unit, to carry out the displacement of the chain between two adjacent sprockets, drives the actuator referring to logic positions (logic values) representative of the physical positions of the various sprockets.
In these types of gearshifts, the setting of the start or reference position is usually carried out in the factory, causing the derailleur, in absence of a control signal of the actuator, to be at the sprocket with the smallest diameter. The invention described herein seeks to overcome various shortcomings in the prior art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electronically servo-assisted bicycle gearshift and related method


Disclosed is a tolerance compensator for joining materials that are spaced apart from one another. The tolerance compensator includes a base, a compensation member, a first flange portion, a first tree fastener, a second flange portion, and a second tree fastener. The compensation member is slidably engaged with the base and disposed at least partially within a cavity defined by the base. The first flange portion and the second flange portion are coupled to the base and extend radially outwardly from the base. The first tree fastener extends away from the first flange portion. The second tree fastener extends away from the second flange portion. Each of the first tree fastener and the second tree fastener include a body and a plurality of ribs extending outwardly therefrom.

The present application relates generally to tolerance compensators. More specifically, this application relates to a tolerance compensator for coupling a self-threading fastener to a component.
Generally speaking, tolerance compensators can be used to compensate for distances between two axially-connected components. In automotive applications, tolerance compensators can be used in the assembly of components that have dimensional or spatial variations between each other, such as instrument panels, firewalls, door frames, structural beams, and roof ledges. Conventional tolerance compensators, however, can include fastening arrangements (e.g., tangs, J-clips, etc.) that are limited to being attached to components that are made from sheet metal, which typically have a more consistent material thickness, surface geometry, and hole size/position for receiving the tolerance compensator, as compared to components that are made from, for example, a casting process.


A connector includes a pair of terminals. Each of the terminals includes a housing and a connecting portion. The connecting portion is arranged in the housing. The connecting portion has a first end provided with a connecting member for connection of an electrical cable and a second end provided with a first blade and second blade arranged side by side. The first blade has a fitting arrangement and the second blade having a spring arrangement. The fitting arrangements of the first blades of the terminals are engaged to mate the terminals.

As is generally known, the prior art connectors are made up of a male terminal fitted into a female terminal. One of the drawbacks of the prior art connectors is that they require multiple different components, since the male terminal components are all structurally different from the female terminal components. This entails higher costs, due to the variety of components, a higher need for manufacturing tools, a longer manufacturing and assembly time and doubled quantities in stock due to the use of male and female connectors.
Another drawback is that, after some time of usage, gaps arise between the components of both terminals, which causes a poor contact in the connector and, as a consequence, a momentary interruption in the electric power supply. Depending on the equipment being powered, such as a computer, for example, the interruption in the electric current may have very negative consequences.

Terminal for a connector and a connector


A system and method that compares an input voltage value through the input terminal of the LDC with a setting voltage in an ignition on-state and an on-state of a main relay for connection of a high-voltage battery Then a verification is made whether the main relay is in the on-state and whether the voltage of an input capacitor in an inverter is in a normal voltage range. As a result a diagnosis is made whether the disconnection of the input fuse has occurred in a low-voltage state when the input voltage is no more than the setting voltage and the on-state of the main relay and the state in which the voltage of the input capacitor in the inverter is in the normal voltage range.

(a) Technical Field
The present invention relates to a system and method of detecting fuse disconnection of a DC-DC converter. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method that detects disconnection of an input fuse of a low-voltage DC-DC converter (LDC) without adding a separate hardware in a green vehicle such as an electric vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle.
(b) Background Art
Green vehicles that may replace existing internal-combustion engine vehicles have been actively developed due to a high oil prices, control of carbon dioxide, etc. Both electric vehicles (EV) driven by an electric motor and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) driven by an internal-combustion engine and an electric motor as a driving source have become commercialized or on their way to commercialization according to manufacturers.
EVs and HEVs typically include a high-voltage battery (main battery) mounted therein. The high-voltage battery (main battery) is a power source that supplies electric power to an electric motor (traction motor) that acts as a driving source. In addition, EVs and HEVs also typically have a charging device that charges a battery, a motor control unit (MCU) (i.e., a type of controller) including an inverter that drives an electric motor (hereinafter, referred to as a 'driving motor'), etc.
Here, the MCU converts DC voltage into three-phase power through the inverter by controlling the driving of switching elements in the inverter, so that each phase current can be applied to the driving motor. The MCU includes an input capacitor connected to a DC link terminal in the inverter so as to be charged by the voltage supplied from the high-voltage battery.
A battery management system (BMS) monitoring the state of the high-voltage battery is mounted in the EV and HEV. The BMS collects battery state information on the temperature, voltage, charging/discharging current and state of charge (SOC) of the battery, and provides the collected battery state information to another controller in the vehicle so that the battery state information can be used to control the vehicle.
Particularly, the BMS manages the state of the battery to maintain a certain level or more by verifying the state of the battery, and prevents the lifespan of the battery from being shortened by the degradation of the durability of the battery. In addition, the BMS notifies a vehicle control unit (VCU) (e.g., a different controller) performing integration control of information on the SOC of the battery, so that the traveling of the vehicle can be performed in consideration of the state of the battery.
A power relay assembly (PRA) is provided on a high-voltage circuit connecting the high-voltage battery to the DC link terminal of the MCU (inverter). The PRA performs switching so that the power of the high-voltage battery is selectively supplied to the vehicle. The PRA includes a main relay that is a main power contact, a precharge relay mounted on the circuit bypassing the main relay, a pre-charge resistor, etc. The on/off driving of the relays is controlled according to a control signal output by the BMS.
In addition, a hybrid control unit (HCU), an auxiliary battery (low-voltage battery) supplying a low-voltage electric load, a low-voltage DC-DC converter (LDC) performing power conversion between the high-voltage battery and the auxiliary battery, etc. are mounted in the vehicle. Here, the HCU is the highest level controller that collects various kinds of information in the vehicle and performs a control of the vehicle by communicating with other controllers such as the MCU or the BMS. Basically, the controllers in the vehicle execute the control of the vehicle while transmitting/receiving information therebetween through a communication network.
Meanwhile, the LDC charges the auxiliary battery by transforming DC power supplied from the high-voltage battery in an ignition on-state and an on-state of the main relay. An input fuse is connected to a primary input terminal to which the power of the high-voltage battery is input in the LDC. In a case where the input fuse is disconnected, the operation of the LDC is impossible due to disconnection of the input terminal of a high-voltage power source. In this case, the charging of the auxiliary battery is impossible, and vehicle operation is difficult due to discharging of the auxiliary battery.
In an ordinary vehicle, a fuse is connected to various kinds of electrical components including the LDC through a wiring harness. In addition, a hardware element for detecting disconnection of the fuse is provided to each electrical component. For example, the disconnection of the fuse is detected by adding a separate analog circuit such as a sensing circuit or a comparator comparing voltages between both ends of the fuse.
However, the amount of room in a vehicle into which a component can be inserted is restricted, and thus packaging of the components is severely restricted. Particularly, when the analog circuit (comparator or sensing circuit) is added to the LDC in which the fuse is mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) in an electric field component, the analog circuit occupies a large area on the PCB, and costs are incurred due to the addition of the circuit.

System and method of detecting fuse disconnection of DC-DC converter


Apparatus for conforming laminate to a radius edge. The apparatus includes a heat bar assembly including a heat plate extending longitudinally along the radius edge. A mechanism is attached to the assembly for applying uniform pressure to the laminate longitudinally along the radius edge for uniform heating of the laminate. The mechanism may include a plurality of selectively controllable cylinders spaced longitudinally within the heat bar assembly for pre-stressing at least a portion of the heat plate relative to the heat bar assembly. Additionally, the heat bar assembly may further include a cooling plate, where the heat bar assembly is rotatable along its longitudinal axis between a cooling and a heating position.

Laminate surfaces are known for their economical cost and durable use. Common uses for laminate products include store fixtures, custom cabinets, desks or table tops, and kitchen countertops. Often, the laminated surfaces include a laminated radius edge.
Numerous methods exist for forming a laminate about a radius edge. In general, laminate is first applied to the surface of a core having a radius edge. The pre-applied laminate is secured to the core surface by any one of a number of methods as known in the art, such as by use of a contact adhesive. An adhesive layer on an under surface of the laminate secures the laminate to a similar layer on the surface of the core.
A portion of the laminate is left extending from a planar surface of the core to be secured to the radius edge. To secure the laminate to the radius edge, the laminated core is stabilized on a machine table. The laminate extending from the core may now be formed about the radius edge.
Present laminate-forming methods include the use of a longitudinally extending heat bar having a large pneumatic cylinder located at each end. In operation, the pneumatic cylinders move in a vertical direction to engage the heat bar with the laminate, heating the laminate to a temperature necessary for rendering the laminate sufficiently pliable to be bent around the radius edge. The heat bar is then removed. By pressing the laminate around the radius edge, the laminate is conformed to the edge to enable securement of the laminate to the radius edge.
The above methods of applying laminate to a radius edge fail to provide a uniform amount of heat longitudinally along the laminate to facilitate conforming the laminate to the radius edge. The heat bars, which often exceed ten feet in length, are supported by the pneumatic cylinders at the ends, and they can, as a result, bow in the middle.
In operation, when the heat bar presses the laminate against the radiused edge, heat is efficiently transferred to the laminate by conduction along the heat bar, which is located above the pneumatic cylinders. Since the heat bar tends to bow in the middle, air gaps can be created between the middle of the heat bar and the laminate, causing an inefficient transfer of radiant heat to the laminate surface. The non-uniform transfer of heat to the laminate surface along the radius edge can cause the laminate to be spaced from the core radiused edge at the center of the core due to the residual stress in the laminate.
In a similar method, relatively large pneumatic cylinders are located longitudinally beneath the heat bar. The heat bar contacts the laminate and is subsequently rotated about the radius edge to conform the laminate to the radiused edge. Holding adhesives such as Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) can be used to secure the laminate to the core. The heat bar presses the laminate against the core until the PVA adhesive cures. Due to the size of the heat bar and pneumatic cylinders, this method of laminating particularly lends itself to the use of contact adhesives, such as a neoprene rubber adhesive, which require a method of cooling to set the adhesive for securing the laminate to the core.


An ice maker includes an upper tray that includes a plurality of upper cells that each have a hemispherical shape and an ice making tube disposed at outer circumferential surfaces of the upper cells and configured to cool each of the upper cells. The ice maker also includes a lower tray that includes a plurality of lower cells that each have a hemispherical shape. The lower tray is rotatably connected to the upper tray. The ice maker further includes a rotation shaft connected to a rear end of the lower tray and a rear end of the upper tray, and configured to rotate the lower tray with respect to the upper tray.

In general, refrigerators are home appliances for storing foods at a low temperature in an inner storage space covered by a door. Since such a refrigerator cools the inner storage space by using cool air, foods stored in the storage space may be stored in a refrigerated or frozen state.
Also, an ice maker for making ice may be provided inside a typical refrigerator. The ice maker is configured so that water supplied from a water supply source or a water tank is received into an ice tray to make ice. Also, the ice maker is configured to separate the made ice from the ice tray in a heating or twisting manner.
As described above, the ice maker, in which water is automatically supplied and ice is automatically separated, may have a structure which is opened upward to draw the made ice up. Also, each of the ice pieces made in the ice maker having the above-described structure may have a shape having at least one flat surface such as a crescent moon shape or a cubic shape.
If an ice has a spherical shape, the ice may be more convenient in use and, also, provide unusual feeling to a user. Also, when the made ice pieces are stored, a contact area between the ice pieces may be reduced to reduce the likelihood of the ice pieces being stuck together.
When an ice maker makes spherical ice, the upper portion of a tray should be closed during the ice making process. However, an open structure is required to separate the spherical ice. Thus, an upper tray and a lower tray should be separately provided. A pressing type ice maker in which water is collected in a lower tray and an upper tray is pressed facilitates the supplying of water, but requires a vertical elevation movement of the lower tray to prevent water from leaking to the outside during a pressing process. Also, rotation of the lower tray is required to prevent ice pieces from staying in the lower tray without dropping down from the upper tray to an ice bank during an ice separating process. That is, in the case of the pressing type ice maker, since an operation structure in which the lower tray combines a straight line motion with a rotational motion, the ice maker may be complicated in structure.


An imager including sub-imager pixel arrays having a plurality of four-side buttable imagers distributed on a substrate and an on-chip digitizing readout circuit. Pixel groupings formed from among the plurality of four-side buttable imagers. The readout electronics including a buffer amplifier for each of the pixel groupings and connected to respective outputs of each four-side buttable imager of the pixel grouping. A plurality of shared analog front ends, each shared analog front end connected to respective multiple buffer amplifiers from among the plurality of pixel groupings. An analog-to-digital converter located at a common centroid location relative to the plurality of shared analog front ends, the analog-to-digital converter having a fully addressable input selection to individually select an output from each of the plurality of shared analog front ends. An output of the analog-to-digital converter connected to a trace on a back surface of the wafer substrate by a through-substrate-via.

CMOS image sensors can be integrated with all kinds of functional circuitry and blocks in a single chip. A digital imager typically can include a photodiode array, column readout structure, A/D conversion, and digital controllers (or processors) on single or multiple substrates. In a conventional front-side illuminated (FSI) imager, incident photons first cross metal connection layers before reaching the photodiodes, causing a portion of the incident photons to be reflected away from the photodiodes. Conventional back-side illuminated (BSI) imager can divide the photodiode and circuitry into different strata, providing photons to the photodiodes directly from the other side of the substrate.
FIG. 1 depicts conventional four-side buttable BSI imager 100 using multiple layers of chips stacked in a three-dimensional (3D) package. On a first layer, the 3D BSI imager includes imaging sensor array 110 with pixels containing photodiodes that are exposed to incident light. Traces 120 route the pixel output(s) to layers of silicon stack 130. The silicon stack can include top and bottom aluminum nitride substrates 132, 133. Between the AIN caps can be rerouting interposer 134 along with analog-digital converter (ADC) master control chip 136 and ADC slave control chip 137. System interface 140 can be connected to BSI imager 100 via spring-loaded (POGO) pins 145.

Universal four-side buttable digital CMOS imager


The present invention provides a merchant system for online shopping and merchandising. The merchant system architecture provides great flexibility for a merchant to adapt the merchant system to their existing business practices, promotions and databases. The merchant system includes a dynamic page generator, a configurable order processing module and a database module capable of retrieving data from the database without regard to its schema. The present invention enables merchants to create electronic orders which are easily adaptable for different sales situations. The order processing module includes multiple configurable stages to process a merchant's electronic orders. The merchant system is capable of generating pages dynamically using templates having embedded directives. The database module and the dynamic page generator allow merchants to modify their databases and page displays without having to reengineer the merchant system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shopping and merchandising system and, more specifically, to a shopping and merchandising system for online networks, such as the World Wide Web portion of the Internet.
2. Description of the Related Technology
The World Wide Web (Web) is part of a global computer network known as the Internet. Scientists and academicians initially developed and used the Internet to share information and collaborate. The Web functions as an object based multimedia system. It allows for the creation, storage and delivery of multimedia objects. Recently, on-line service providers, such as Microsoft Network, CompuServe, Prodigy and America Online, have linked to the Web. This enables their customers to access a variety of products and services available from independent content providers and other Web users. For example, a typical customer can access electronic mail, news services, travel services and online stores and malls on the Web.
The global penetration of the Internet provides merchants with the capability to merchandise their products to substantial shopping audiences using an online merchant system. Online merchant systems enable merchants to creatively display and describe their products to shoppers using Web pages. Merchants can layout and display Web pages having content, such as text, pictures, sound and video, using HyperText Markup Language (HTML). Web shoppers, in turn, access a merchant's Web page using a browser, such as Microsoft Explorer or Netscape Navigator, installed on a client connected to the Web through an online service provider, such as the Microsoft Network or America OnLine. The browser interprets the HTML to format and display the merchant's page for the shopper. The online merchant system likewise enables shoppers to browse through a merchant's store to identify products of interest, to obtain specific product information and to electronically purchase products after reviewing product information.
To promote their products, merchants often discount their products or have sales. Merchants can use a wide variety of discounting schemes to promote their products. For example, a merchant may offer volume discounts, such as buy two and get one free, or membership discounts where, for example frequent shoppers and AAA members get 10% off, or cross-sell incentives offering, for example, 50% off socks with a shoe purchase. Existing online merchant systems, such as Netscape Merchant System, support only date-based sale pricing, such as 20% off all shirts during the month of May. To enter the online shopping market, merchants desire an online merchant system that allows for a significantly wider variety of product discounting and sales schemes.
Similarly, existing online merchant systems, such as eShop 1.0, implement a generic purchase transaction model to capture the most common variations of a purchasing transaction. To complete a purchase transaction, a merchant sums up the prices of items, deducts applicable discounts, adds sales tax, receives payment and delivers the purchased items to the shopper. Although these basic steps are the same for many merchants, electronic commerce in a global environment imposes many variations to this basic model. For example, merchants generally have to include a shipping and handling fee for their online shoppers. Merchants may likewise have to include special taxes or fees, such as value added taxes or use fees, applicable only in certain countries or economic unions. In addition, merchants may issue their online customers private label credit or charge cards. Customer payment using these private label cards requires authorization through private networks, instead of commercial banking networks. Thus, it becomes apparent that to enter the online shopping market, merchants require an online merchant system that provides for substantial variations in the purchase transaction model.
Lastly, merchants typically store product data, such as product descriptions, prices and pictures, in relational databases. Online merchant systems, therefore, have to interface with merchant databases to access and display product information. Databases require a consistent structure, termed a schema, to organize and manage the information. In a relational database, the schema is a collection of tables. For each table, there is generally one schema to which it belongs. In an implementation of a relational database, a relation corresponds to a table having rows, where each row corresponds to a tuple, and columns, where each column corresponds to an attribute. From a practical standpoint, rows represent records of related data and columns identify individual data elements. A table defining a retailer's product line may, for example, have product names, product numbers (e.g., SKUs) and prices. Each row of this table holds data for a single product and each column holds a single attribute, such as a product name. The order in which the rows and columns appear in a table has no significance. In a relational database, one can add a new column to a table without having to modify older applications that access other columns in the table. Relational databases thus provide flexibility to accommodate changing needs. Once the schema is designed, a tool, known as a database management system (DBMS), is used to build the database and to operate on data within the database. The DBMS stores, retrieves and modifies data associated with the database and, to the extent possible, protects data from corruption and unauthorized access. Because each merchant organizes its product information differently, there is a large installed base of databases having a wide variety of database schemas for product information.
Available online merchant systems, such as eShop 1.0 and Netscape Merchant System, require merchants to organize their product information according to a predefined database schema. Hence, to use such systems, a merchant must either convert its existing databases to this predefined schema or the merchant must create a new database having the predefined schema. For many merchants, conversion of their existing databases is not feasible. For example, the merchant may have several hundred thousand product entries located in different remote databases accessed by legacy applications, such as a point of sale system or an inventory control system, specifically designed to interact with these different databases. If the merchant converted these databases to the predefined schemas, their legacy applications would no longer function properly. To protect their investment in legacy applications, merchants may have to copy their product data into a redundant database having the predefined schema. Otherwise, merchants may have to incur substantial costs to rewrite their legacy applications to support the predefined schema of the online merchant system. For these reasons, it is not cost-effective for a merchant to use applications requiring a predefined schema for existing relational databases. To enter the online shopping market, merchants require an online merchant system that will cooperatively function with existing database systems having a wide variety of schemas.

Electronic shopping and merchandising system


A laser oscillator includes a housing which seals a laser medium gas from the atmosphere, concave mirrors (or a set of concave and convex mirrors) positioned in the housing and having the laser medium gas therebetween, an apertured mirror positioned between the concave mirror and the other concave or convex mirror on a line connecting the spherical centers of the mirrors at a predetermined angle relative to the line, and a window through which a laser beam reflected by the apertured mirror is output from the housing. The apertured mirror has a curved reflective surface, thereby simplifying the optical system in the housing and increasing the system's reliability.

The present invention generally relates to a laser oscillator, and more particularly to a resonator used in a laser oscillator.
In a laser oscillator, it is known that the beam diameter must be changed relative to the type of outlet window when a laser beam is reflected from within a housing into the atmosphere. FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the structure of a conventional CO.sub.2 gas laser oscillator having a laser beam outlet window 9 made of zinc selenide (ZnSe) material, etc.
In FIG. 6, a housing (e.g., a vacuum chamber) 1 isolates from the atmosphere a laser medium gas 2 energized by discharge energy. A mirror 3 having a reflective surface with a concave shape, and a mirror 4 having a reflective surface with a convex shape, are aligned by a line 5 (e.g., an optical axis) extending through their spherical centers. A partially apertured mirror 6 has a flat reflective surface mounted at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the line 5, and a collimating convex mirror 7 has a convex reflective surface for expanding a laser beam received from the mirror 6. A bend mirror 8 has a flat reflective surface for changing the direction of the laser beam reflected by the convex mirror 7, and a window 9 isolates the laser medium gas 2 from the atmosphere, but allows the laser beam reflected by the bend mirror 8 to exit the housing therethrough.
The operation of the laser oscillator shown in FIG. 6 is described hereinafter. In a CO.sub.2 gas laser, a gaseous mixture of CO.sub.2, He and N.sub.2 is generally sealed in the housing 1 at a negative pressure of several tens of Torr to several hundred Torr. An optical resonator comprising the concave mirror 3, the convex mirror 4 and the apertured mirror 6 is provided enclosing the laser medium gas 2 energized by discharge energy, and the laser beam is reflected and amplified between the concave mirror 3 and the convex mirror 4, passing through the partially apertured mirror 6. The laser beam from the concave mirror which "overflows" the region of the aperture impinges on a mirrored surface external to the aperture of the mirror 6 and is reflected by this reflective surface to the collimating convex mirror 7.
The collimating convex mirror 7 reflects the laser beam, and thereafter the laser beam is expanded and introduced into the window 9 via the bend mirror 8. The window 9 causes at least 99% of the CO.sub.2 laser beam to permeate (e.g., exit) therethrough and isolates the laser medium gas from the atmosphere, thereby outputting only the laser beam into the atmosphere.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the structure of another conventional system, i.e., a CO.sub.2 gas laser oscillator wherein a laser beam outlet window is an aerodynamic or air dam window 90. In FIG. 7, characters identical to those in FIG. 6 designate identical or corresponding elements. Here, a collimating concave mirror 70 having a concave reflective surface condenses the laser beam output from the apertured mirror 6. A bend mirror 80 changes the direction of the laser beam reflected by the mirror 70, and the aerodynamic window 90 passes the laser beam reflected by the bend mirror 80 to the atmosphere. The window 90 has a small hole 91 formed in the center thereof for passing the laser beam. Atmospheric air is prevented from penetrating the housing 1 through the small hole 91 by means of a flow of gas 92 provided through the window in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the laser beam exits the window. Hence, an air curtain is formed by air flow 92 to prevent atmospheric air from penetrating the housing 1 through the small hole 91.
The operation of the conventional device shown in FIG. 7 is described hereinbelow. The laser beam reflected by the reflective surface of the mirror 6 impinges on the collimating concave mirror 70. The laser beam reflected by the concave mirror 70 is output in a condensed (e.g., narrowed) state to the atmosphere through the small hole 91 in the aerodynamic window 90 via the bend mirror 80. The subsequent operation is similar to that of the device described in FIG. 6 and will not be described.
The known laser oscillator configured as described above requires an optical system having a collimating convex mirror and a bend mirror, when using a window made of zinc selenide (ZnSe) material, etc. for the laser beam to exit or permeate therethrough, to keep the energy density of the laser beam low with respect to the window. Further, when an aerodynamic window is employed, the laser beam must be condensed by the optical system having a collimating concave mirror and a bend mirror so that the laser beam can pass through the small hole formed in the aerodynamic window, thereby increasing the complexity of the optical system and its alignment.

Laser oscillator having a curved mirror with a through-hole


A method for calibrating a position measuring device of an optical device, including a measurement step in which a movable unit of the optical device is moved according to a predefinable scheme in at least one degree of freedom and a position of the movable unit is determined in the at least one degree of freedom. The position of the movable unit is determined in the at least one degree of freedom in a first measurement via a first measuring device of the position measuring device, and the position of the movable unit is determined in the at least one degree of freedom in a second measurement via a second measuring device of the position measuring device sing a reference element connected to the movable unit. In a calibration step, the first measuring device is calibrated using the results of the first measurement and the second measurement. An encoder system is used as the second measuring device. The reference element includes a reference grid of the encoder system.

In particular in the area of microlithography, apart from the use of components configured with a precision that is as high as possible, it is among other things desirable to position the components of the imaging device, in other words, for example, the optical elements (lenses, mirrors, etc.), the mask with the pattern to be imaged and the substrate to be exposed, as precisely as possible in relation to one another to achieve a correspondingly high imaging quality. The desired high precision properties, which are in the microscopic range in the order of magnitude of a few nanometers or below, are not least a consequence of the constant desire to increase the resolution of the optical systems used in the production of microelectronic circuits in order to advance the miniaturisation of the microelectronic circuits to be produced.
With the increased resolution and the reduction in the wavelength of the light used generally accompanying this, not only the demands on the positioning precision of the components used increase but the desired properties with regard to minimisation of the imaging errors of the overall optical arrangement are, of course, also increased.
In order to adhere to the high desired properties of the positioning of the components involved at the low operating wavelengths in the UV range used in microlithography, for example with operating wavelengths in the region of 193 nm, but in particular also in the so-called extreme UV range (EUV) with operating wavelengths in the region of 13 nm, it is frequently proposed that the position of the individual components, such as the mask table, the optical elements and the substrate table (for example a table for the so-called wafer) be determined, in each case individually with respect to a reference—for example a reference structure (that is stabilised with respect to its position, orientation and geometry against dynamic and thermal influences)—and that these components be then actively positioned with respect to one another.
Several problems occur here. On the one hand, it is generally desirable to achieve a positioning precision and therefore also a measuring precision of the measuring system used in the sub-nanometer range in up to six degrees of freedom. Likewise, the measuring system used has to be regularly calibrated to prevent the appearance of drifts, such as can occur during operation of an optical device of this type (for example due to thermal influences or the like). Consequently, it is desirable to achieve, eventually over several minutes through to several hours, high stability of the position of the components of the measuring system or to carry out a calibration correspondingly frequently. Finally, it is desirable to eliminate systematic errors of the measuring system (which are caused, for example, by a deviation of the components of the measuring system from their desired state).
If, for example, the position of a movable unit (such as the substrate table of a microlithography device or the like) is determined via an interferometry system, which is equipped with planar mirrors, as a position measuring device, planarity deviations of the planar mirrors (generally in the region of about 10 nm) have a direct effect on the measuring precision and therefore the positioning precision of the movable unit. In order to reduce systematic errors of this type (typically by a factor of 20), a calibration of the position measuring device generally takes place, as is known, for example, from EP 1 182 509 A2 (Kwan), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. A calibration of this type generally is repeated regularly at least over the time period during which the appearance of drifts (in other words, for example, thermally caused changes in the relative position of the components involved in the measurement) can occur.
Two different approaches are generally followed during a regular calibration of this type. On the one hand, it is known to equip the position measuring device with a corresponding redundancy, in other words to provide more than one measuring device for the respective degrees of freedom, in which a position measurement has to take place in order to identify and eliminate systematic errors via the redundant position information to be obtained in this way. However, this has the drawback that the outlay for the position measuring device can increase substantially as a high number of complex and relatively expensive highly precise measuring devices is involved.
A further approach involves the use of a so-called secondary reference element, which is permanently or temporarily connected to the movable unit, the position of which is to be measured during operation, as is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 6,757,059 B2 (Ebert et al.) or U.S. Pat. No. 7,160,657 B2 (Smith et al.), the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. To calibrate the position measuring device, the position of the movable unit is, on the one hand, determined by the first measuring device used during operation and, in parallel with this, by a second measuring device using the reference element. The reference element located in a precisely predefined position and orientation with respect to the movable unit in this case generally has an adequate number of reference marks (with a precisely defined position on the reference element), which are determined via the second measuring device (for example via a CCD camera) in order to determine the position and/or orientation of the movable unit via a corresponding processing of the measurement data of the second measuring device, as is known from U.S. Pat. No. 7,160,657 B2.

Calibration of a position measuring device of an optical device


A method is provided for selectively marking a region of integrated circuit (IC). The method provides an IC die with a first region located on a backside surface of a bulk silicon (Si) layer. A semi-transparent film is formed overlying the bulk Si layer, semi-transparent to light having a first wavelength. The semi-transparent film is irradiated with light having the first wavelength in the range of 1 to 2 microns. In response to irradiating the semi-transparent film with a first power density, the IC die first region is located. Then, in response to irradiating the semi-transparent film with a second power density, greater than the first power density, a region of the semi-transparent film is marked overlying the IC die first region. In one aspect, a region of the bulk Si layer underlying the marked (or ablated away) semi-transparent film is selectively etched to expose the IC die first region.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to integrated circuits (ICs) and, more particularly, to a post-production method for selectively etching an IC, to expose regions of a fabricated IC die for investigation or repair.
2. Description of the Related Art
IC production facilities are established so that thousands of fragile parts can be safely processed in a short amount of time, with little human intervention. IC dice are parallel processed on a wafer, and each die may include thousands, or even millions of electrical components, such as transistors and resistors, distributed over multiple interconnected layers. Typically, an IC die is tested after fabrication, and many "internal" test points are exposed at this point in the process. After attachment to an IC package, for example using an epoxy adhesive, only the package external interfaces, or pins are accessible.
While it is rarely cost effective to repair an IC die after it has been assembled into a package, there are many circumstances where it desirable to reverse engineer, perform fault analysis, or access an internal test point to monitor performance under realistic load conditions. Typically, it is easier to access the backside of the IC, which is the first layer of IC die circuitry. Therefore, it is necessary to remove a region of the bulk silicon (Si) wafer upon which the IC has been fabricated. Depending on the package style, the package or part of the package may be removed to access the bulk Si wafer.
Once the region of interest is exposed, a "picoprobe", which is a probe with a field effect transistor (FET) input and very fine tip, can be used to measure electrical signals. Alternately, temperature measurements can be made, or a photon emission microscope (PEM) may be used to measure light being emitted from operating transistors. Further, a scanning electron-beam microscope (SEM) may be used to measure electron flow.
However, it is difficult to precisely locate a window through the bulk Si to the backside of the IC die. It is also difficult to efficient make such a window, without damaging the IC die, in a time effective manner. Although laser and chemical etching processes may be used to form openings in thin-film passivation layers, generally a focused ion beam (FIB) is the tool of choice for etching through the relatively thick bulk Si layer.
FIB systems have a fine resolution, better than 0.1 microns, and can forms holes with an aspect ratio of up to 18:1. A FIB is similar to a scanning electron microscope, but uses a focused beam of gallium ions instead of electrons. The ions are accelerated to an energy of up to 50 keV, and focused with an electrostatic lenses. A FIB can deliver tens of nanoamps of current to a selected region, or can image the region with a spot size on the order of a few nanometers.
The FIB ions are inherently destructive, as they sputter atoms from the surface they strike. As a result, the FIB can be used as a micro-machining tool, to etch features at a very fine scale. Further, FIB can be used to deposit material via ion beam induced deposition of FIB-assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Thus, FIB is used to modify an existing IC, remove electrical connections, or deposit a conductive metal.
To form a window through the bulk Si wafer to the backside of the IC die, the bulk Si wafer is initially thinned using a polishing process. Then, it is typically necessary to use the FIB to form three of four alignment holes to find alignment markings. Once the alignment is known, a window can be sputtered to the desired die region. Alternately, the FIB may be accessorized with a con-focal laser to perform the alignment. However, these instruments are very expensive and the etching must be performed one window at a time, which is slow and costly.
It would be advantageous if a method existed for forming windows through a Si wafer, to an IC die, that was faster and more efficient than the above-described conventional FIB process.

System and method for selectivity etching an integrated circuit