A storage system 100, which has a plurality of flash packages 230, has a function for minimizing the imbalance of the number of deletions of each block inside the flash package 230 and a block-unit capacity virtualization function, and efficiently manifests lessening of the imbalance of the number of deletions and reduction in the data storage capacity for the entire storage system 100 by having functions for calculating the number of deletions and the data occupancy of each flash package 230, and for transferring data between the flash packages 230 on the basis of the values of these number of deletions and data occupancy.

When rewriting data, the memory characteristics of the flash memory make it impossible to directly overwrite data into a physical area in which the data is being stored originally. When performing a data rewrite, it is necessary to rewrite the data after a delete process has been executed in a unit called a block, which is the flash memory delete unit. There exists an upper limit in the deletion times of each block. There is high possibility that the data can not be stored into the block whose deletion times are more than this upper limit.
For this reason, when adopting a system that fixedly allocates a data-storage address to each block of a flash memory, the rewrite frequency will normally differ for each address, thereby resulting in variations in the number of deletions per block. Consequently, in a case where the number of deletions for a specific block exceeds the limit, it becomes impossible to store allocated address data in this block. In order to solve for this problem, a technology called wear leveling is known as a technique for reducing this variation (for example, Patent Literature 1). The basic thinking behind wear leveling is to reduce the imbalance of the number of deletions of a real block by providing, as an externally presented address layer, a logical address layer that is separate from the physical address and changing the logical address allocated to the physical address as needed, for example, allocating a address with a small number of deletions to a frequently accessed logical address. Even in a case where the physical address changes, the logical address remains the same, thereby enabling data to be accessed from the outside via the same address, making it possible to maintain good usability.
Next, technology for reducing the capacity of stored data will be discussed. Technology for reducing the capacity of data stored in a storage system has been attracting attention in recent years. One typical such technology is capacity virtualization technology. Capacity virtualization is technology for presenting to the host side a virtual capacity that is larger than a storage system's physical capacity. This technology makes good use of a characteristic feature whereby the amount of data, which is actually stored in the capacity of a user-defined user volume (the storage device seen by the user) in a case where the user is actually using the storage, does not readily attain the defined capacity of this volume. That is, whereas a defined physical capacity is secured when a volume is defined in a case where capacity virtualization technology is not used. On the other hand, in a case where capacity virtualization technology is applied, capacity is first secured when data is actually stored in the storage system. In accordance with this, the ability to reduce the capacity of the stored data makes it possible to enhance usability, and, in addition, the user may simply define a value with plenty of room to spare instead of having to strictly define the volume capacity. In this technology, the physical storage area secured at a data write is called a page. In general, the size of the page is extremely diverse, but in the present invention it is supposed that the size of the page is larger than the size of the block, which is the flash memory delete unit. By contrast, in a flash memory, whereas the delete unit is generally the block as mentioned above, a read/write unit inside the block is called a page. Naturally, the size of the block in the flash memory is larger than the size of the page. However, in the present invention, the term page will refer to a page in the capacity virtualization technology. Further, to reiterate, the size of the page in the present invention shall be larger than the size of the flash memory block.
However, the above-mentioned capacity virtualization technology is not necessarily a required condition for the storage system of the present invention. On the other hand, technology for transferring a page between storage devices (typically, HDD (Hard Disk Drives)) in page units to realize enhanced performance in a storage system having capacity virtualization technology is known (Patent Literature 2). Furthermore, a technology for transferring a page between storage devices having different price-performance ratios for enhancing the price-performance ratio is also known. Prior to storing user data in a HDD, a specific pattern, for example, all 0s, is normally used to format the HDD. A technology in which the storage system detects this specific pattern written by the host at this time, and frees up an already allocated page is also known (Patent Literature 3).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Storage system having a plurality of flash packages


A print control apparatus that discharges a print product produced by a print unit by using any of a plurality of discharge methods includes a first specifying unit that specifies a priority of an input print job and a second specifying unit that specifies a discharge method set for the input print job. The print control apparatus further includes a determination unit that determines an order of printing of the input print job in queued print jobs in accordance with a specifying result of the first specifying unit and a discharge method specified by the second specifying unit, and a print control unit configured to cause the print unit to execute printing based on the input print job on a continuous sheet in accordance with the order of printing of the print job determined by the determination unit.

1. Field
Aspects of the present invention generally relate to a print control apparatus, a print control method, and a non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing a program for performing printing using a continuous sheet.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the related art, it is known that when performing printing by using a printing device, a user can interrupt a current job with an urgent job, or an interrupt job, so that a sheet on which the interrupt job is printed can be output as quickly as possible. In addition, there is known a method for performing interrupt printing during duplex printing of a continuous sheet by, subsequently to the printing of the preceding job on the first side of the continuous sheet for duplex printing, printing the interrupt job on the first side, turning over the sheet, and printing the preceding job and the interrupt job on the second side of the continuous sheet for duplex printing (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-201059).
However, the method described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-201059 may fail to quickly provide a print product based on the interrupt job in terms of the output format of the continuous sheet and post-processing steps. For instance, when a continuous sheet subjected to a printing process is not cut but is discharged as is, in some cases, a previous printed portion of the continuous sheet may be wound first and a subsequent printed portion of the continuous sheet may undergo post-processing first.

Print control apparatus, print control method, and non-transitory computer readable recording medium


A device structure and method for outdoor signs utilizing organic light emitting device (OLED) technology. Exemplary embodiments of the device include an OLED that is patterned into a sign combined with an exterior layer consisting of a highly scattering, non-absorbing coating over the OLED emitting regions and a highly absorbing coating over the non-emitting regions. The result is a sign that can be viewed using organic electroluminescent (EL) light under low ambient light level conditions, and due to the exterior coating, can also be viewed under high ambient light conditions.

The present invention relates generally to electroluminescent devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to outdoor electroluminescent display devices that are visible under a wide variety of ambient light conditions.
There are numerous applications for signs that can be read under conditions of both low and high ambient light (e.g., at night and in daylight). Road signs are one common example. Typically, these signs are printed so that they provide high contrast under reflected light. In daylight, they are readable due to reflected sunlight, and at night they are visible due to reflected artificial light, such as from the headlights of an automobile or from a dedicated spotlight aimed at the sign. Signs that are visible at night by means of a dedicated spotlight are inefficient from an energy standpoint, because most of the light from the spotlight is wasted in illuminating regions that do not require illumination for sign readability. Signs that rely on lights from automobile headlights from night-time readability have the disadvantage that they are only visible when the car is aiming directly at them. In addition, these signs can be hard to read at night in rainy conditions where much of the light from the car headlights is scattered by the rain droplets.
Cathode ray tube (CRT) technology has been developed to allow customizable signs that can be read in the dark. Such displays can be quickly reconfigured electronically to display a new sign. Other technologies with similar capabilities include liquid crystal displays, thin film plasma displays, and organic electroluminescent displays. However, these displays require complicated electronics and are too expensive for many simple display sign applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,962,962 describes a basic organic light emitting device (OLED). The OLED has a structure in which an anode, an organic light emitting layer, and a cathode are consecutively laminated, with the organic light emitting layer sandwiched between the anode and the cathode. Generally, electrical current flowing between the anode and cathode passes through points of the organic light emitting layer and causes it to luminesce. The electrode positioned on the surface through which light is emitted is formed of a transparent or semi-transparent film. The other electrode is formed of a specific thin metal film, which can be a metal or an alloy.
The organic light emitting device is usually formed on a substrate. In some cases, a hole-transporting layer is provided between the anode and the organic light emitting layer, and an electron-injecting layer is provided between the cathode and the organic light emitting layer, for improved performance.
Another example of an OLED is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,688. This patent discloses displays produced by providing an insulator that is patterned in a desired shape. In general, light will be produced in an OLED wherever an anode and cathode have a direct path to a particular point of the OLED. The insulator of this patent is in the form of an incomplete layer between the organic layer and one of the electrodes, and prevents contact of at least one electrode from a pattern of particular points on the OLED, which prevents those points of the organic layer from illuminating. To achieve a particular display, the insulator layer is patterned so as to retard the flow of current through the organic layer in proportion to the areas of the desired display that are to be relatively dark. However, a sign using this display depends only on the contrast between the illuminated and dark areas of the device, and the luminance that is possible with practical OLED devices is relatively low ( less than 10,000 candelas per square meter (Cd/m2)). Because of this, while these displays may be visible during conditions of low light, they cannot be read under bright ambient conditions (e.g., in the midday sun). Further, the process of forming the insulating layer is difficult and time-consuming, which increases the cost of production of such a device.
It would be desirable to provide a cost-effective sign that is readable under low and high ambient light conditions, which does not suffer from the above disadvantages. It would further be desirable to provide a simple method for production of such a sign.
A device structure and method are disclosed that enable the production of outdoor signs utilizing organic light emitting device (OLED) technology. Exemplary embodiments of the device include an OLED that is patterned into a sign combined with an exterior layer comprising (1) a highly scattering, non-absorbing coating over the OLED emitting regions, and (2) a highly absorbing coating over the non-emitting regions. The result is a sign that can be viewed using organic electroluminescent light under low ambient light conditions, and due to the exterior coating, can also be viewed under high ambient light conditions. Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a degree of contrast, both in natural daylight and at night, which facilitates easy viewing of, for example, a street sign.

Outdoor electroluminescent display devices


The process of producing alkoxylated thiodiglycol sulfoxide derivatives and thiodiglycol sulfone derivatives corresponding to formula I ##STR1## wherein X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 may be the same or different and represent a hydroxyl-substituted aklyl radical containing 8 to 30 carbon atoms, an acyl radical of an alkyl monocarboxylic acid containing 8 to 30 carbon atoms, and X.sub.1 or X.sub.2 may be hydrogen, R represents hydrogen or methyl, z is 1 or 2, n is 0 to 25 and m is 1 to 25, by reacting an alkoxylated thiodiglycol with a C.sub.8 14 C.sub.30 .alpha.-olefin expoide or a C.sub.8 -C.sub.30 monocarboxylic acid in a molar ratio of about 1:1 to about 1:2, and oxidizing the mono- and bis- ethers or mono- and bis- esters formed to the sulfoxide or sulfone derivatives.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to new thiodiglycol alkoxylate derivatives, to their production by reaction of thiodiglycol with alkylene oxides, subsequent reaction with .alpha.-olefin epoxides or monocarboxylic acids and oxidation with hydrogen peroxide to form the corresponding mono- and/or bis-ethers or mono- and/or bis-esters of thiodiglycol alkoxylate sulfoxides or sulfones and to the use of the thiodiglycol alkoxylate sulfoxides or sulfones as fabric softeners.
Hitherto, considerable practical significance has been attributed to quaternary ammonium compounds, particularly dimethyl distearyl ammonium chloride, in the field of domestic and institutional fabric softeners (see P. Vogel and H. Kru.sym.mann, Seifen, ole, Fette, Wachse, Vol. 111, pages 567 to 574, 1985 and L. Godefroy and H. Hein, Seifen, ole, Fette, wachse, Vol. 115, pages 3 to 8, 1989).
In view of the increasing consideration being given to the storability and viscosity characteristic and also to the biodegradability of highly concentrated fabric softeners, numerous proposals for replacing these components by nitrogen-free substitute compounds or corresponding systems have been published. These proposals encompass both inorganic components, more particularly inorganically insoluble components, such as layer silicate compounds (see for example DE-PS 23 34 899), and also selected organic components, for example disalts of long-chain .alpha.-sulfofatty acids and combinations of such systems (see DE-PS 36 04 039).
2. Discussion of Related Art
Thiodiglycol derivatives, a process for their production and their use as fabric softeners are already known from the teaching of applicants' German patent application P 39 36 862.9. However, in view of their limited solubility in water and their high melting points, the compounds in question can only be formulated as expensive mixtures in stable dispersions.
Accordingly, the problem addressed by the present invention was to provide a hitherto unreported class of nitrogen-free inorganic compounds for use as rinse cycle fabric softeners which, on the one hand, would be easier to formulate through greater dispersion stability and, on the other hand, would be distinguished by better feel behavior compared with the compounds described above.

Thiodiglycol alkoxylate derivatives, a process for their production and their use as fabric softeners


Techniques are provided for routing signals to and from input/output pads on a programmable chip that reduce signal delay times. A programmable routing structure is provided that is dedicated to routing signals to and from the input/output (I/O) pads. The programmable routing structure can include long conductors that transmit signals across the chip quickly without the delay encountered in shorter routing conductors. Signals can be routed to and from the I/O pads through vertical and horizontal dedicated routing conductors that bypass global routing conductors. The dedicated I/O routing structure allows signals to be driven onto the chip and off chip more quickly can be achieved through standard programmable routing structures. The dedicated I/O routing structure can be depopulated to reduce the number of programmable connections between the individual conductors, decreasing die area requirements.

The present invention relates to programmable routing structures that provide fast paths for input/output signals, and more particularly, to a programmable routing structures that reduce delay for signals driven to and from input/outputs pads of an integrated circuit.
Programmable logic integrated circuits (ICs) can be configured to perform a variety of user functions. Programmable logic ICs include programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), etc. Programmable logic ICs typically have numerous logic blocks (also called logic elements) that can be configured to implement various combinatorial and sequential functions.
The logic blocks have access to a programmable interconnect structure. The programmable interconnect structure can be programmed to interconnect the logic blocks in almost any desired configuration. Logic blocks are often grouped into logic array blocks or macrocells. Programmable logic ICs typically include numerous input and output pads on the die.
A complex programmable logic device (CPLD) is a type of PLD that usually contains non-volatile memory. The MAX 7000 manufactured by Altera Corporation of San Jose, Calif. is an example of a CPLD that contains on-chip non-volatile memory. The MAX 7000 includes a global routing network of vertical interconnects. Each input/output (I/O) pad on the MAX 7000 is connected to the global routing network.
In the MAX 7000, every output signal that is transmitted to an output pad from a macrocell is routed through the global routing network. Every input signal that is received at an input pad is routed to the global routing network before being routed to a macrocell. The global routing network in the MAX 7000 is also used to route signals from one macrocell to another macrocell. Thus, all signals that are transmitted between macrocells and I/O pads are routed through the global routing network.
The MAX 7000 architecture provides roughly the same delay time to transmit a signal from one macrocell to another and between I/O pads and a macrocell. As applications for PLDs have become more complex, customers have continue to demand more logic blocks on each PLD die. However, signal delay times increase by a factor of 4 each time the amount of logic on a chip containing the MAX 7000 architecture is increased by a factor of 2.
CPLDs such as the MAX 7000 typically require short delay times for signals that are routed from pad-to-pad and between pads and registers. Therefore, a need has developed for a routing network on a chip that provides short signal delay times for signals transmitted to and from input and output pads.

Programmable routing structures providing shorter timing delays for input/output signals


The present invention features a method and associated kit for increasing the association rate between polynucleotides having complementary, single-stranded regions, where the method includes providing to a test sample containing the complementary polynucleotides one or more synthetic, water soluble polycationic polymers.

Nucleic acid association concerns techniques by which complementary base regions of two separate strands of nucleic acid, or distinct base regions of the same nucleic acid strand, anneal to each other through Watson-Crick base pairing, thus forming at least partially double-stranded nucleic acids. Examples of such pairing include two complementary DNA sequences, a single-stranded DNA sequence and a complementary RNA sequence, and two complementary RNA sequences, as well as modified forms of these nucleic acids, such as peptide nucleic acids or locked nucleic acids. See Nielsen et al, "Peptide Nucleic Acids," U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,571; see also Imanishi et al., "Bicyclonucleoside and Oligonucleotide Analogues," U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,490. For base pairing to take place, it is necessary to incubate the single-stranded nucleic acids under conditions which facilitate the formation of stable duplexes between nucleic acids or within a nucleic acid having complementary base regions. The formation of duplexes under stringent assay conditions can provide useful information about at least one member of each duplex, including the source from which that particular member was derived (e.g., a specific virus, microorganism, plant or animal), whether directly or by nucleic acid amplification, the presence of a disease-associated gene, the level of gene expression, the identification of genetic variability, including the detection of mutations and polymorphisms, and nucleic acid sequence information.
The rate at which nucleic acids having complementary base regions associate to form duplexes follows second-order kinetics. Thus, as the concentration of single-stranded nucleic acids is increased, the reaction rate (i.e., the rate at which duplexes are formed) is also increased. Conversely, as the concentration of single-stranded nucleic acids is decreased, the reaction rate is likewise decreased and, as a result, more time is required for the formation of double-stranded nucleic acids.
It is also well known that the temperature a reaction mixture affects the rate at which complementary nucleic acids associate. For example, as the temperature of a reaction mixture falls below the melting temperature or Tm (the temperature at which 50% of the duplexed molecules are rendered single-stranded), a maximum rate of reaction will be reached at temperatures approximately 15° to 30° C. below the Tm. Decreasing the temperature still further will lower the reaction rate below this maximum rate.
The reaction rate between nucleic acids having complementary base regions is also very dependent upon the ionic strength of a reaction mixture. Deoxynucleic acids, for instance, show a marked increase in reaction rates up to about 1.2 M NaCl, at which point the rate of association becomes essentially constant. See Wetmur et al. J. Mol. Biol. (1968) 31:349-379. And hybridizations between DNA and RNA molecules show a 5-6 fold increase in the rate of association when the ionic strength is increased from 0.2 to 1.5 M NaCl. The effect of changes in salt concentration on the rate of DNA:DNA reactions is greater than it is for RNA:DNA reactions.
A major limitation on the utility of many known nucleic acid association techniques is the basic rate of the reaction. Reaction times can be on the order of several hours to tens of hours, and even days in certain instances. Increasing the reaction rate by increasing the amount of single-stranded nucleic acid molecules in a reaction, in order to take advantage of second-order kinetics, is an undesirable solution for several reasons. First, in many applications the targeted nucleic acid in a reaction mixture has been extracted from a physiological sample, thereby imposing inherent limits on the amount of the targeted nucleic acid available in the reaction mixture, at least in the absence of an amplification procedure such as the polymerase chain reaction. See, e.g., Mullis, "Process for Amplifying Nucleic Acid Sequences," U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,202. Second, there are considerable expenses associated with the use of nucleic acid reactants, and even greater expenses associated with a nucleic acid amplification procedure (e.g., enzymes and amplification primers), thus affecting the practicality of using more of these reactants or adding amplification reactants. Third, increasing the quantity of labeled, single-stranded nucleic acid probe molecules in a reaction mixture will cause a decrease in the sensitivity of a reaction, since the additional single-stranded nucleic acid probe molecules will elevate the background noise.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a method for forming a duplex from single-stranded regions of separate polynucleotides which enhances the association rate of the polynucleotides, whether reassociation or hybridization, and which enhancement can be demonstrated using reference conditions, including those conditions set forth herein. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for enhancing association rates that would be applicable to DNA:DNA, RNA:DNA and RNA:RNA reaction systems. Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for promoting polynucleotide association rates that is applicable to reaction mixtures having a range of temperature and ionic strength conditions.

Method for enhancing the association rates of polynucleotides


A vehicle body front section structure includes a first projection member provided at an outside wall of a front side member, and projecting out further to the vehicle width direction outer side than the outside wall, a rear end portion being positioned further to a vehicle body rear side than a vehicle body front side end of a power unit installed to the vehicle width direction inner side of the front side member in plan view, a second projection member provided at a vehicle width direction end side of front bumper reinforcement and overlapping with the first projection member as viewed from the front, the second projection member being provided with a gap to the outside wall of the front side member, and a coupling bracket provided at the vehicle body rear side of the first projection member, and coupling together the front side member and the first projection member.

A vehicle body front section structure has been proposed in which a front portion of a front side member is forked in a bifurcated shape including a vehicle width direction inner side portion and a vehicle width direction outer side portion. In a face-on collision (small overlap collision) further to the vehicle width direction outer side than the front side member, collision load is transmitted to a power unit by the vehicle width direction inner side portion (see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 4122887).


A method includes obtaining first training data having multiple first linguistic samples. The method also includes generating second training data using the first training data and multiple symmetries. The symmetries identify how to modify the first linguistic samples while maintaining structural invariants within the first linguistic samples, and the second training data has multiple second linguistic samples. The method further includes training a machine learning model using at least the second training data. At least some of the second linguistic samples in the second training data are selected during the training based on a likelihood of being misclassified by the machine learning model.

Natural language processing is becoming more and more important in a large number of applications. For example, natural language processing is routinely used to allow a human and a virtual assistant, smart device, or other machine to interact through verbal communications. Often times, natural language processing is performed using machine learning systems, which operate using models trained for specific tasks. As a particular example, "semantic parsing" refers to a machine learning task that converts natural language utterances into machine-understandable representations of the meanings of those utterances. In some cases, semantic parsing is designed for use with natural language utterances related to a specific topic, which is often referred to as "restricted domain" semantic parsing.
Many natural language machine learning models cannot be trained effectively without the use of an extensive amount of annotated training data, meaning training data whose meanings or other characteristics are already known (with labels identifying those characteristics). Unfortunately, annotated training data can be expensive to collect. As a result, obtaining a high-accuracy language model is often difficult even in restricted domains, since it is routinely infeasible to collect adequate annotated data for training. With limited training data, a language model may incorrectly classify many inputs, which can be very frustrating for users of applications that operate based on the model.

Structured adversarial, training for natural language machine learning tasks


The guard is formed of moldable, flexible material and has a number of wheel-receiving wells formed in an in-line configuration in its upper wall. The forward and rear edges of each well are located high enough to prevent a wheel from rolling forward or rearward within the well. Laterally extending grooves are formed in the wells to minimize forward and backward movement of the wheels within the wells while the side walls of the wells contact the side walls of the wheels in order to minimize lateral movement.

Guards which attach to in-line roller skates are known for making it possible to walk safely while wearing such skates. Such guards generally have channel-shaped body members which are attached beneath the skates by means of straps. The wheels of the skates are accommodated in the channels and are prevented from rolling by means of blocks which are positioned in front and behind each wheel.
Known guards have a number of shortcomings. Some such guards lack means for positively preventing them from moving relative to the skates. Slight movement between the skate and guard can be tolerated but significant movement can cause a wearer of the skate to lose his balance and fall. Other guards are suitable for use in conjunction with a very limited number of different sizes and shapes of skates. If a skate has a construction other than a conventional one, i.e. one where all of its wheels are of the same diameter and all of the wheels are spaced the same distance apart, the guard is not suitable for use with such a skate. If for example the skate is "rockered" i.e. where its wheels are of different diameters, such guards generally cannot be used.
Still other known guards for in-line roller skates have a number of adjustable components which must be re-set and tightened each time the guard is attached to a skate. After use, the components must loosened to allow the guard to be removed from the skate. Unless such measures are adhered to, the guard will not properly support the wearer of the skate when he is walking. Such guards require time and care to attach and remove and are inconvenient for that reason.


A cartridge comprises a housing that can be easily attached and detached from an electrolyzer so that the hydrogen generated can be stored within the cartridge. The housing is further configured to easily attach and detach from a fuel cell so that the stored hydrogen can be released to the fuel cell for power generation. In preferred embodiments, the cartridge comprises a cathode that serves to generate hydrogen when joined to the electrolyzer, as well as to store hydrogen. With this arrangement, a single device (the fuel cell cartridge) can function to generate hydrogen when connected to form part of the electrolyzer, to store hydrogen (whether attached to either the fuel cell or electrolyzer or neither—in stand alone form), and/or to supply hydrogen to the fuel cell, when connected thereto.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to the generation and storage of hydrogen fuel.
2. Related Art
Hydrogen is a renewable fuel that produces zero emissions when used in a fuel cell. In 2005, the Department of Energy (DoE) developed a new hydrogen cost goal and methodology, namely to achieve $2.00-3.00/gasoline U.S. gallon equivalent (gge, delivered, untaxed, by 2015), independent of the pathway used to produce and deliver hydrogen. The principal method to produce hydrogen is by stream reformation. Nearly 95% of the hydrogen currently being produced is made by steam reformation, where natural gas is reacted on metallic catalyst at high temperature and pressure. While this process has the lowest cost, four pounds of the greenhouse gasses carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are produced for every one pound of hydrogen. Without further costly purification to remove CO and CO2, the hydrogen fuel cell cannot operate efficiently.
Devices that are configured to electrochemically convert water into hydrogen and oxygen when energy is applied are generally known as water electrolyzers. Presently, about five percent of hydrogen production comes from water electrolysis. This reaction comprises the direct splitting of water molecules to produce hydrogen and oxygen. Importantly, greenhouse gasses are not produced in these reactions. In this process, electrodes comprising catalyst particles are submersed in water, and energy is applied to the electrodes. Using this energy, the electrodes split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen is produced at the cathode electrode, which accepts electrons, and oxygen is produced at the anode electrode, which liberates electrons. The amount of hydrogen and oxygen produced by an electrode is dictated by the current supplied to the electrodes. The efficiency depends upon the voltage between the two electrodes, and is proportional to the reciprocal of that voltage. In other words, the efficiency of the system increases as the voltage decreases. A more catalytic system will have a lower voltage for any one current, and therefore be more efficient in producing hydrogen and oxygen. If the catalyst is highly efficient, there will be minimal energy input to achieve a maximum hydrogen output. While this process is currently too expensive to compete with steam reformation due low efficiency and the use of expensive catalysts in the electrodes, emerging technologies show promise in balancing the economies.
For an electrolyzer to operate with high efficiency, the amount of product produced during reaction should be maximized relative to the amount of energy input. In many conventional devices, significant efficiency loss stems from low catalyst utilization in the electrodes, cell resistance, inefficient movement of electrolyte, and inefficient collection of reaction products from the electrolyte. In many cases, low efficiency is compensated for by operating the cell at a low rate (current). While this strategy increases efficiency, it also lowers the amount of products that can be produced at a given time.
The high-purity hydrogen produced in any of the above methods can be compressed and stored in either compressed gas cylinders, liquefied to liquid hydrogen, or adsorbed in solid state storage systems, such as metal hydride storage systems. The fuel is then accessible later for power generation. Solid state storage of hydrogen is widely viewed as a practical strategy for compact hydrogen storage. The principle is directly used in rechargeable batteries such as nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, in which hydrogen is reversibly absorbed into the anode electrode during battery cycling. Metal hydrides are also used as a source of hydrogen for supply of the said hydrogen to hydrogen fuel cells. These metal hydrides are inherently safe, and have good specific energy (˜280 Wh/l) and energy density (˜80 Wh/kg).
Hydrogen has been shown to be a tremendous fuel source for, amongst other energy (power) generators, fuel cells. A fuel cell is a device that converts chemical energy directly into electrical energy, via consumption of a fuel, such as hydrogen, an alcohol, or other hydrocarbons. The fuel cell comprises a negative terminal (anode), where the hydrogen fuel is consumed, and a positive terminal (cathode), where oxygen fuel is consumed. This energy generating device is highly advantageous in that fuel can be resupplied; the device will operate as long as anode and cathode are supplied with fuel. The anode fuel is oxidized on a catalyst surface to produce electrons and ions. Ions flow through an ion exchange membrane, and the electrons flow through an external circuit, generating electricity. Electrons and ions then recombine at the cathode catalyst surface with the cathode fuel. At the core of the fuel cell is the membrane-electrode assembly (MEA). The MEA comprises a membrane capable of exchanging ions such as H+ or OH−, a catalyst layer applied to each side of the membrane, and an electrically conductive backing on each catalyst layer. Reliable adhesion and interaction between these layers are some important factors for a fuel cell to operate at the highest power. To promote excellent catalyst utilization as well as electronic and ionic flow within the fuel cell, the composition and interfaces of the catalyst layer are some important factors to achieving low ohmic resistance and increased power output.
Electrodes for use in fuel cells and/or electrolyzers can comprise nano-metal particles, or a combination of nano- and micro-metal particles, that can be either be sintered as a monolithic structure, or applied as a layer (or embedded into) a supporting substrate structure, such as is described in Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/109,453, filed on Oct. 29, 2008, Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/046,790, filed on Apr. 21, 2008, U.S. application Ser. No. 11/868,152, filed on Oct. 5, 2007, U.S. application Ser. No. 12/114,719 filed on May 2, 2008, which has priority to Provisional Application No. 60/915,619, filed on May 2, 2007, U.S. application Ser. No. 12/053,484, filed on Mar. 21, 2008, which has priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/896,722, filed on Mar. 23, 2007, U.S. application Ser. No. 11/781,909, filed on Jul. 27, 2007, which is a continuation-in-part of and has priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 11/394,456, filed on Mar. 31, 2005, U.S. Ser. No. 11/482,290, filed on Jul. 7, 2006, and U.S. Ser. No. 11/525,469, filed on Sep. 22, 2006, the entire contents of all of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
The composition of the metal nanoparticles can be a pure metal, an oxide of a metal, or an alloy of two or more metals. Preferably, the metal composition is selected from groups IIA, IB, and IIIB-VIIIB of the periodic table, most preferably nickel, manganese, aluminum, cobalt, copper, tin, palladium, silver, gold, lanthanum, and alloys thereof. Other metals have been shown to prove useful as a catalyst in an electrochemical context. The nano-metal particles can be made from one of a number of manufacturing process, such as the ones described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,282,167 to Carpenter issued on Oct. 16, 2007, and U.S. Ser. No. 11/591,787, filed on Nov. 2, 2006, the entire contents of both of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference. In the '167 patent and '787 application, processes for making nano-metal particles more uniformly are described.
Portable power generation has increased significantly in demand as portable consumer electronics become personal assistants for most forms of entertainment and information. Powering these portable consumer electronics for long term use presents challenges, most of which are being addressed as part of battery technology. Batteries can comprise single use configurations or rechargeable configurations. While battery technology has proven to be quite successful, alternative sources of energy are also being considered. Indeed, technology has emerged that permits electrochemical systems to be scaled down to address desires of greater portability that eliminate the need for a traditional battery.
Others have suggested powering portable consumer electronics with a fuel cell supplied with a continual source of chemical energy to power the fuel cell. The fuel cell works in place of a battery by providing an efficient supply of electric power to the consumer electronic device. Like a battery, however, a supply of chemical energy is necessary. Therefore, a solution is desired to effectively provide a portable source of chemical energy to more easily and readily generate electric power for portable consumer electronics.

Metal hydride fuel cell cartridge and electrolyzer electrode


Remote usable surveillance apparatuses are provided with at least a single camera head and preferably with the ability to provide adjustment about one or more axis. The present invention also solves several other problems faced by designs with fixed (non-moveable) axis imaging systems. Those include but are not limited to supplying power to a camera head that tilts and rotates, particularly at a remote location. The ability of the user to interface with camera functions and setting using a tilting head, multiple power supplies and options built into a single housing without the addition of power cables or external jacks. The present invention provides a standalone concept without the aid of one or even more mounting apparatuses or devices which in turn sets it apart and creates a totally different multi-axis concept from prior art.

In the surveillance industry, including but not limited to home and/or business surveillance and animal/game/trail surveillance, conventional fixed (non-moveable) axis, fixed board mounted cameras can detect motion only up to approximately 60 degrees dependant only on the (FOV) field of view from the camera lens, and are not capable of 360 degree horizontal or 90 degree vertical movement whatsoever.
Surveillance systems have been developed that utilize one or more cameras as imaging devices, which cameras are typically mounted in opportune locations for periodically or continual surveillance. Such systems may take images at regular intervals or may be triggered by movement or other sensors. The cameras are mounted to be pointed to a specific location and may include adjustability in the setting up of the camera to view a desired location.
In the case of surveillance equipment that is mounted to a building or facility, cameras are typically hard-wired to a system, which wiring includes a power supply. Power can be provided to run the camera and any sensors used to trigger the camera.
In the case of remote surveillance systems, such as can be set up at remote locations not having a power connect, batteries must provide power to operate the camera and any sensors. The long term supply of power or the supply of greater power than needed for simple camera and sensor operation is a problem and dependent on the quantity of battery power that is available as supplied. Battery power is limited not only in time but also in the degree of power available to operate devices.
The present invention solves the aforementioned problems and shortcomings of the prior art, and also provides multi-axis apparatuses and systems, which can be used full-time under all types of light conditions, day and night.

Multi-axis camera surveillance apparatus


An ion beam measuring device includes: a mask that is used for shaping an original ion beam into a measuring ion beam including a y beam part elongated in a y direction that is perpendicular to a traveling direction of the ion beam and an x beam part elongated in an x direction that is perpendicular to the traveling direction and the y direction; a detection unit that is configured to detect an x-direction position of the y beam part and a y-direction position of the x beam part; and a beam angle calculating unit that is configured to calculate an x-direction beam angle using the x-direction position and a y-direction beam angle using the y-direction position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ion beam measuring device and a method of measuring an ion beam that are appropriate for an ion implantation apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Methods for measuring the angle of the traveling direction of an ion beam have been known. In such a method, for example, a mask plate having small circular holes that allow a part of a ribbon-shaped ion beam to pass therethrough is arranged on the upstream side of a beam monitor. In another method, a flag moved by a translation mechanism is used, and the flag has first and second shapes that enable the measurement of the angle of the ion beam. The first shape is the shape of a perpendicular slot, and the second shape is the shape of an inclined edge.
In an ion implantation process, the angle of an ion beam to be implanted is controlled or managed. Particularly, in the ion implantation of a high energy region, the angle has been desired to be controlled or managed with high precision. However, in such a region, generally, the beam current is small, and accordingly, it is not easy to perform high-precision measurement. As described above, when the passage of a beam is restricted by the small circular holes of the mask plate, the beam current is extremely small, and accordingly, it may be difficult to perform measurement with required precision. In addition, it is complicated to measure beam angles of two directions perpendicular to the traveling direction of an ion beam by using the movable inclined edge.

Ion beam measuring device and method of measuring ion beam

Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ion Technology Co., Ltd.


In a WDM network employing optical amplifiers, a method of detecting changes in the number of channels present in erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA) that are caused by faults or system reconfigurations. In accordance with the technique of the present invention, the power of one signal channel and the power of the amplified spontaneous emission generated by the local EDFA's are monitored.

In WDM optical networks, which are based on the optical transparency offered by erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA's) a number of signal channels can be transmitted simultaneously and routed independently. In such a network, it is desirable to ensure that when channels are added or dropped, which can result from changes in provisioning or network reconfigurations, as well as from network faults, the performance of the surviving channels will be not impaired. Because of the saturation characteristics of EDFA's this requires readjusting the EDFA gains to maintain channel power levels within acceptable limits.
Changes in provisioning and/or network reconfiguration can give rise to added or dropped channels, but these changes can in principle be predicted and corrected for by the network control and management (NC&M) system. However, it remains necessary to detect conditions arising from system faults because these cannot be controlled or predicted by the NC&M system. Such faults are most likely to result from channel failures or degradation in the optical transmission path. When these two problems happen, it is critical they be detected so that proper measures can be taken.
Monitoring the power of only one channel or the total power of all the channels does not provide sufficient information to determine the appropriate corrections. Variations of upstream optical losses or the output powers of upstream amplifiers which may occur cannot be distinguished from dropped/added channels but call for very different corrective actions. The proper way is to determine the number of channels present. One possibility is to demultiplex the channels (either in the transmission path or after a tap) and detect the presence of each channel independently. However, this method is complicated and expensive.

Method of identifying faults in WDM optical networks


An artificial hollow core boulder and method of fabrication. A plastic trash bag is loosely filled with newspaper, tied shut, and wrapped with a layer of chicken wire. The chicken wire wrapped bag is hand pressed into a boulder like shape and a hole is cut into the chicken wire at the bottom of the wrapped bag. Wet stucco mix is troweled over the chicken wire and the wire is lightly pulled away from the plastic. A second layer of stucco mix is troweled over the dried first layer of stucco. A hole is cut in the plastic bag through the hole in the chicken wire and the newspapers are removed. The hollow core artificial boulder is filled through the hole with expended, crushed, cans and plastic bottles. The hole is sealed with chicken wire and stucco. The completed boulder is sealed with penetrating acid stain or latex stain.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to artificial boulders and specifically to a method of making artificial hollow core boulders and rocks using a large percentage of expended materials.
2. Prior Art
Boulders and rocks have long been used in landscaping for aesthetic purposes, such as to provide a natural effect, to highlight certain areas and to enhance the beauty of the areas. And the use of artificial boulders for aesthetic purposes is well known in the prior art.
Currently, many people are concerned with recycling and with the environment.
The present invention provides an artificial hollow core boulder or rock that is aesthetically pleasing, easy and economical to make, and can be manufactured locally. It also provides for the use of materials that would otherwise be waste and go into already overcrowded landfills.
Previously, artificial hollow rocks and boulders have been made using a mold, thus increasing manufacturing expense, and the method of their manufacture has not addressed recycling.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,100 (1996), to Kluh and Precht proposes to manufacture large scale artificial rocks from plastic reproductions. This would involve having to go to the sites to get the molds for the reproductions, and it does not address recycling.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,927 (1999), to Roberts proposes a method of producing artificial rock formations using flexible molds of latex. This entails having to first make master models, then to make the actual molds, and does not address recycling.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,411 B1 (2001), to Warfel proposes a hollow decorative rock product that is made from a mold and is basically a shell that can be used to cover outside items such as utility boxes. Again, this requires that a mold be made before the rock can be constructed. Also, there is little similarity between this rock and its method of manufacture and the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,033,744 (2000), to Bright, Sr. proposes a rock shell formed to resemble a boulder. The exterior surface has an aperture into the cavity, which can be filled with ballast. This invention does not address recycling. Again, it has little similarity in its method of manufacture to the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,359 B1 (2002), to O'Connell proposes a rock shell, shaped and colored like a rock with a hollow interior for a light source. Again, this invention does not address recycling, and this rock differs significantly from the rock of the present invention and its method of manufacture.
The current inventors could find no method in the prior art of making a hollow core artificial boulder or rock that was similar to the method of our invention.

Method of making an artificial hollow core boulder filled with non-biodegradable waste


A plurality of removable shields are disclosed for use with ion source in ion implanters. Specifically, the shields fit over the extraction electrode assembly, the sides of the interior walls and the cold-plate inside an ion source chamber. The shields are easily mountable and dismountable by the maintenance personnel. It is shown that shields can very effectively protect the insides of ion source from contamination by toxic materials emanating from the ionization source. A method is also disclosed for cleaning the shields outside the ion source by means of bead blasting followed by washing by deionized water and rinse with isopropyl alcohol. It is shown that the turn-around-time for preventive maintenance of an ion source in an ion implanter can be shortened by a factor of four.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to ion implanters, and more particularly to an ion source having new shields for improved cleaning and maintenance of the ion source.
(2) Description of the Related Art
In semiconductor manufacturing, ion implantation is primarily used to introduce dopant ions into silicon wafers. This is accomplished by generating, in an ion implanter, a gas plasma such that the resultant particles can be accelerated under the influence of electric field, and directed onto a semiconductor substrate for implantation to a desired depth beneath the surface of the substrate. Because of its superiority over chemical doping, ion implantation has replaced diffusion (chemical) doping in an increasing number of VLSI (very large scale integration) applications. Along with it, however, it has brought some new problems--cleaning and maintenance of the equipment being one of the important ones--both from an operational point of view, as well as the safety of workers.
In general, problems associated with cleaning and maintenance are exacerbated by the complexity of the ion implanters used in the fabrication of VLSI. Complexity arises from the many subsystems that the implanters usually have. Each of the subsystems contain several components and they are exposed to materials which can be extremely hazardous. Most commonly used materials, called feed source, for implanting silicon are boron (B), phosphorous (P) and arsenic (As). They can be lethal when supplied in gaseous form, such as BF.sub.3, PH.sub.3, AsH.sub.3, or less toxic when generated from solid sources. The insides of chambers that are exposed to these materials must be cleaned at regular intervals as a preventive maintenance measure.
One of the subsystems that is critical to the operation of ion implanters is a chamber called the ion source where feed source material is ionized. Ionization is accomplished usually by first heating the feed source molecules to a desired temperature and vaporizing it. Then the particles are directed to an arc chamber where ions are formed typically through collision with electrons from an arc discharge. An ion extraction and analyzing device next selects only the ion species of interest, and rejects all others forming an ion beam that is separated from the remaining species by an analyzing magnet. By adjusting the magnetic filed strength, only the ionic specie of interest is given a particular trajectory that allows it to pass through a resolving slit (aperture) and into an acceleration tube. The evacuated tube creates the acceleration field to adjust the ion energy to the desired energy level, focuses the ion beam to a particular size and shape, and distributes the ions uniformly over the target area, namely, the semiconductor substrate. Of the subassemblies that is most exposed to many different specie of the hazardous feed source is the ion source. This is seen in FIG. 1.
In the ion implantation system shown in FIG. 1, ion generating source (10) provides the needed ion beam (30) which is formed by an ion extraction electrode assembly (20). The path of ion beam (30) is controlled by analyzing magnet (45) and the beam is directed into acceleration tube (70) and then on to implantation chamber (50). It should be noted that analyzing magnet (45) is supported by a high-voltage system which is not shown in FIG. 1; neither is a movable system that allows the implantation chamber (50) to be aligned relative to the ion beam (30) for they do not directly pertain to the aspects of this invention. Suffice it to say that ion beam (30) impinges upon one or more silicon wafers that are automatically placed on a rotating platform (55) by means of a robot arm (60) that transfers wafers back and forth between a wafer holder (62) and the platform (55) through a vacuum port (64). Ion beam (30) impacts each of the wafer and selectively dopes those wafers with ion impurities. It will be observed that subassemblies other than the ion source (10) are exposed to only the ions of selected beam (30).
The ion implanter shown in FIG. 1 is of the high current type with maximum beam current of about 10 milliamps (mA) and energies ranging between about 10 to 160 kilo electron volts (keV), and includes a spinning platform for moving multiple silicon wafers through the ion beam. Ion beam (30) is wide enough to impact an entire wafer surface as the platform rotates each wafer though the ion beam. Another type of implanter, known as medium current implanter, treats one wafer at a time with a total beam current of up to 2 mA and maximum energies of about 200 keV. The medium current implanters use beam shaping electronics to deflect a relatively narrow beam from its initial trajectory to selectively dope or treat the entire wafer surface. In comparison with the medium current implanters, it is found that the particulate residues and contaminants left behind in the ion source chamber of high current implanters are much denser and cover much larger surface area. Also, high current implanters contain more components in their ion source chamber and therefore are more susceptible to collecting particulates during the process of ionization.
One of the additional components that have a large area and that is usually covered with particulate matter generated during ionization is the cold plate. It will be known to those skilled in the art that cold-plate is necessitated because of the high temperatures encountered with high current implanters. Furthermore, the cold-plate is usually not easily accessible through the access door to the ion source.
Generally, dismounting parts of an ion implanter for purposes of cleaning is very time consuming and labor intensive. On the other hand, reaching into the interior of the ion source, cleaning the chamber walls, other surfaces around the cold-plate as well as around extraction electrode assembly is difficult and hazardous for personnel responsible for preventive maintenance. In prior art, there have been attempts made--and successfully--at shielding certain components, but only locally rather than globally for the entire interior of an ion source. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,006, for example, heated filament cathode is shielded from plasma stream locally so that the life of the filament can be extended. No shielding attempt is made in U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,355 even when dopants are vaporized from solid in a crucible inside the ion source. The interior walls, and other components inside the ion source are covered with particulate matter emanating from the crucible. It is therefore the purpose of this invention to disclose techniques for facilitating the protection of the largest portion of the interior surfaces of an ion source and other components that reside inside the ion source. It is believed that the disclosures herein will result in more cost effective maintenance of ion implanters with much reduced hazard to workers on the semiconductor manufacturing line than presently available in the state of the art.

Source inner shield for eaton NV-10 high current implanter

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A device for inserting information bits into a specific frame structure essentially comprises an elastic memory whose capacity is designed to contain at each time defined by a reduced insertion bit rate D2/N a variable number of bits of words read in a buffer memory written at a reduced bit rate D1/N not yet inserted or not yet reinserted in the outgoing frames, this number varying according to justification commands generated previously, devices for selecting bits contained in said elastic memory for insertion or reinsertion in the outgoing frames, and devices for temporarily blocking the buffer memory read clock if the number of bits to store in the elastic memory exceeds a predetermined limit value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns digital transmission and in particular time-division multiplex digital transmission.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The frame structures of time-division multiplex digital bit streams vary according to the bit rate of the tributaries to be multiplexed and are mostly the subject of CCITT recommendations.
They usually include time slots reserved for transmitting information signals representing the traffic payload and time slots reserved for transmitting auxiliary signals such as order wire or justification signals.
The present invention is more particularly concerned with a device for inserting bits constituting a digital bit stream having a given bit rate into time slots of a given frame structure reserved for transmitting information signals.
The invention is particularly applicable to the construction of frames for time-division multiplexed digital bit streams produced by multiplexing digital tributaries at different bit rates using a synchronous multiplexing hierarchy as defined in CCITT Recommendations G.707, G.708 and G.709.
The theory of a multiplexing hierarchy of this kind is outlined in FIG. 1. The various bit rates that can be multiplexed by this hierarchy are the bit rates of 2 408 kbit/s, 8 448 kbit/s, 34 368 kbit/s, 1 554 kbit/s, 6 312 kbit/s, 44 736 kbit/s and 139 264 kbit/s recommended by the CCITT and listed down the righthand side of this figure.
There are various possible multiplexing structures for this multiplexing hierarchy depending on the bit rates of the tributaries to be multiplexed for a given application, and each multiplexing structure (such as that shown in bold line in this figure) representing tributaries to be multiplexed with bit rates of 1 544 kbit/s, 2 048 kbit/s, 8 448 kbit/s and 34 368 kbit/s comprises a number of hierarchy levels, denoted N1, N2, N3 in the example under consideration, running from right to left in the figure, in the direction in which the frames are constructed from the various tributaries.
Tributaries can be introduced and entities called containers and entities called multiplexing units can be constituted at the various hierarchy levels of a multiplexing structure. The multiplexing units constituted at a given hierarchy level and denoted TU or AU (TU11, TU12, TU22 for level N1, TU31 for level N2 and AU4 for level N3 in the example under consideration) are formed by adding to the containers constituted at the same hierarchy level signals for indexing and justifying these containers relative to these multiplexing units.
The containers constituted at a given hierarchy level and denoted VC (VC11, VC12, VC22 for level N1, VC31 for level N2 and VC4 for level N3 in the example under consideration) are each formed by adding auxiliary signals, either to a multiplex signal obtained by multiplexing together multiplexing units constituted at a lower hierarchy level, or to an information signal sampled on a tributary introduced at the level in question and denoted C (C11, C12, C22 for level N1 and C31 for level N2 in the example under consideration).
In the context of its application to the constitution of such frames, the invention is more specifically used to insert tributaries into containers. The following description makes particular reference to the insertion of a 139 264 kbit/s tributary C4 into a container VC4.
FIG. 2 shows the frame structure of a container VC4 as defined by the previously mentioned CCITT recommendations, the container VC4 being divided into superframes each formed by a succession of nine such frames.
As shown in this figure, the bits of the 139 264 kbit/s digital bit stream C4 are inserted into this frame in groups of twelve (unreferenced) bytes called information bytes and are separated by bytes X and Y called systematic insertion bytes. The first group of twelve bytes is preceded by a byte W assigned to the transmission of information bits, the byte W being itself preceded by a systematic insertion byte. The last group of twelve bytes is similarly preceded by a specific byte Z assigned partly to transmitting information bits I. The eighth bit of byte Z is a stuff bit R which is ignored when the frames of the container VC4 are received. The seventh bit of the byte Z is a justification opportunity bit S for the tributary C4 relative to the container VC4 for the frame in question and can therefore be either an information bit or a stuff bit, depending on the justification state of this frame.
Justification is a standard technique for matching the rate of the bits to be inserted and the bit insertion rate. In the example under consideration, where the justification is positive justification, the S bit of a frame is an information bit of the tributary C4 unless this tributary is justified relative to the container VC4 for the frame in question, in which case the S bit is a stuff bit. The justified or non-justified state of a frame is indicated by the value of a justification control bit C, the C bit occupying in this instance the first location of the systematic insertion bytes X.
The use of this technique conventionally requires a buffer memory into which the incoming information bits are written under the control of a write clock at the clock rate of these bits and which is read under the control of a read clock at the insertion clock rate and a comparator for comparing the phase of the write and read clocks and commanding justification as needed according to the comparison result. When justification is applied, the insertion of a justification opportunity bit in place of an information bit imposes a delay in the insertion of this information bit which is obtained by a corresponding adjustment of the buffer memory read timing.
In the example under consideration the bit rates are 139 264 kbit/s and 155 520 kbit/s. With some technologies the device performing the insertion cannot operate directly at these bit rates but only at reduced bit rates requiring division of the incoming and outgoing digital bit streams into N reduced bit rate digital bit streams, in which case the buffer memory principle mentioned above is no longer directly applicable.
An objective of the present invention is to provide an insertion device enabling operation at reduced bit rates.

Device for inserting information bits into a specific frame structure


A lens control apparatus for controlling a lens apparatus having an extender is provided. When an operation of storing a shot is performed in a shot box connected to the lens apparatus having an extender, a memory stores data including a position of a zoom lens group at that time, a position of a focus lens group at that time, and a magnification of the extender at that time. When an operation of reproducing the shot is performed, a CPU transmits a control signal for moving the zoom lens group and the focus lens group to positions represented by the shot. In addition, the CPU transmits to the lens apparatus a control signal for setting the magnification of the extender at a value of the magnification thereof represented by the stored shot.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lens control apparatus and, more particularly, to a lens control apparatus having a shot function of preliminarily storing data including a set state of controlled objects, such as zoom and focus, of a lens apparatus as data called a "shot" and of reproducing the shot by a shot reproduction operation.
2. Description of Related Art
An apparatus called "a shot box", in which a shot function (preset function) is installed, is known as a lens control apparatus for controlling a lens device for use in a television camera for broadcast-use or business-use (see, e.g., JP-A-2001-160912 and JP-A-2005-130255). The shot function serves to preliminarily store data including set states (corresponding to set positions) of zoom (e.g., a zoom lens group) and focus (e.g., a focus lens group) as a shot and to thereby enable automatic reproduction of the set states of the zoom and the focus, which are stored as the shot, by performing a turn-on operation of a shot switch provided in the shot box.
Incidentally, zoom of the lens apparatus is a control object of the lens apparatus, which is controlled by moving a movable zoom lens group for continuously varying a focal length of a shooting optical system. Aside from this, an apparatus provided with an extender for converting a focal length by a magnification is known. The magnification of the extender is set such that the focal length can be changed between values obtained by a plurality of magnifications, e.g., from a value equal to an initial value to a value twice the initial value and vice versa by, e.g., changing the type of a lens group (extender lens group) to be inserted into a shooting optical system.
However, a shot box in the related art neither stores nor reproduces information concerning an extender magnification (magnification of a focal length to be converted by an extender lens group inserted into a shooting optical system) as a controlled object of the shot function. Thus, sometimes, the extender magnification at storing of a shot differs from that at reproducing of the shot. In this case, an inconvenience occurs, in which the focal length (shooting angle of view) at reproducing of a shot differs from that at storing of the shot.


An oscillation amount adjusting device for an oscillating roller has a sleeve detent plate for restraining the rotation of a sleeve. An operator manually loosens a sleeve locking bolt to render the sleeve rotatable relative to a rotating shaft supporting the sleeve. The rotation of the sleeve is restrained by the sleeve detent plate. In this state, the rotating shaft supporting the sleeve is rotated by an oscillation drive motor to adjust the oscillation amount of oscillating rollers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an oscillation amount adjusting device for an oscillating roller in an inking device of a printing press. More specifically, the invention relates to an oscillation amount adjusting device which can make adjustment by remote and automatic control using a motor while achieving space saving without exerting adverse influence on printing.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an inking device of a printing press, ink in an ink reservoir is sequentially fed to many distribution rollers via ink ductor rollers. In the distribution rollers, the ink is uniformly distributed, and transferred to a printing plate supported on the circumferential surface of a plate cylinder. The above-mentioned many distribution rollers consist of combinations of metal rollers and rubber rollers. Among them, the metal roller is called an oscillating roller, which is designed to swing laterally (in a roller axis direction) under the action of a swing device (oscillation mechanism) while rotating, thereby distributing the ink uniformly.
When rainbow printing is to be performed, or when the machine speed has been changed, it becomes important to adjust the oscillation amount of the oscillating roller. A conventional oscillation amount adjusting device for adjusting the amount of oscillation by remote and automatic control is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-199051 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1). However, this oscillation amount adjusting device has a large-scale drive system composed of a rotating drum, a shaft, a lever, and a link plate, thus requiring a large space, posing the problem that its installation may be difficult in view of roller arrangement and its relation with other devices.
Furthermore, the oscillation amount adjusting device of Patent Document 1 swings a plurality of oscillating rollers in the roller axis direction by interconnecting these rollers by levers. Thus, the plurality of oscillating rollers simultaneously stop at the position of the swing end, presenting the problem that the thickness of an ink film tends to be uneven. Also, the plurality of oscillating rollers simultaneously stop and begin to move in the reverse direction, causing the problem that shock due to load increases to affect printing adversely.
To solve these problems, it is conceivable to adopt an oscillation mechanism designed to produce differences in the phase of each oscillating roller in its swing motion by the grinding motion of a disk, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1979-3763 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 2).
In adjusting the oscillation amount of the oscillating roller in the oscillation mechanism disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, a method as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1981-6864 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 3) is adopted. As shown in FIG. 16, a cylindrical sleeve 102 having an outer peripheral surface inclined with respect to the axis of an inclined shaft portion 101 of a rotating shaft 100 is rotatably fitted on the inclined shaft portion 101, and shaft ends of a plurality of oscillating rollers 104a, 104b. . . are rotatably supported on a disk 103 rotatably supported by the sleeve 102.
Thus, when the rotating shaft 100 is rotated in a manner interlocked with a drive motor or the like of a printing press, the inclined shaft portion 101 of the rotating shaft 100, which has an inclined axis, makes an oscillatory motion. The disk 103, which is journaled about the inclined shaft portion 101 via the sleeve 102, makes a so-called grinding motion. During this process, the oscillating rollers 104a, 104b. . . swing in the axial direction, with their phases being sequentially shifted in accordance with the order of arrangement of the oscillating rollers 104a, 104b . . . .
In adjusting the amount of oscillation of the oscillating rollers 104a, 104b. . . , driving of the printing press is once shut down. Then, an operator loosens an adjusting bolt 105 manually, inserts a tool into a hole 102a of the sleeve 102 to rotate the sleeve 102 by a predetermined angle, and then tightens the adjusting bolt 105 to lock the sleeve 102 to the rotating shaft 100 again.
In the oscillation amount adjusting device disclosed in the aforementioned Patent Document 3, the operator has to rotate the sleeve 102 manually while moving all of the oscillating rollers 104a, 104b. . . remaining stopped. Thus, a burden is imposed on the operator. Moreover, the accuracy of adjustment depends on the technical ability of the individual operator. Hence, if, after adjustment, the printing press is driven and the adjustment is found to be unsuccessful, the printing press must be shut down and adjusted again, thus posing the problem of taking time.

Oscillation amount adjusting device for oscillating roller


A plastic tamper indicating closure including a base wall, a peripheral skirt having an inner surface with interengaging threads engaging cooperating threads on a container such that said closure is removed by relative rotation. A first interrupted score line extends circumferentially about the skirt defining a weakened line by interrupted scores forming bridges and defining a wider connecting portion. The score line defines a tamper indicating band which has portions for engaging an annular bead on a container to inhibit removal of the closure such that the bridges must be broken to remove the closure. The tamper indicating band has a first axial score line adjacent the connecting portion that has its upper end intersecting the interrupted score line. A second axial score line is spaced circumferentially from the first axial score line and extending from the lower edge of the tamper indicating band and has an upper edge spaced from the weakened line of the band to define a strap such that the band successively expands at the second score line and the first score line as the closure is applied to a container and as the closure is removed, the strap yields and the weakened line is broken and the strap is severed at said second score line leaving the tamper indicating band attached to the closure by the connecting portion.

In providing tamper indicating closures, it is conventional to form a tamper indicating band that is connected to the closure by integral bridges and the band has means thereon for engaging an annular flange or the like on the container such that when the closure is unthreaded from the container the bridges are broken. Such closures are shown for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,613,052, 4,721,218, 4,801,030, 4,801,031, and 5,080,246.
Another aspect of tamper indicating closures is to provide the band so that it is not completely severed from the closure when the closure is removed from the container. Such constructions are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,904,062, 4,033,472, 4,205,755, 4,530,436, 4,545,496, 4,458,821, 4,666,053, 4,720,018, 4,978,016 and 5,080,246.
Among the objectives of the present invention are to provide an improved tamper indicating closure which will accommodate the expansion of the tamper indicating band during application; wherein the tamper indicating band passes over the retention bead or flange on the container and fully seats on the container after closure application; wherein when the closure is removed from the container, the tamper indicating band is maintained on the closure; and wherein a portion of the connecting band provides a large gap giving more visual indication that the tamper indicating band has been severed from the container.
In accordance with the invention, the plastic tamper indicating closure comprises a base wall, a peripheral skirt having an inner surface with interengaging threads engaging cooperating threads on a container such that said closure is removed by relative rotation. A first interrupted score line extends circumferentially about the skirt defining a weakened line by interrupted scores forming bridges and defining a wider connecting portion. The score line defines a tamper indicating band. The band has portions for engaging an annular bead on a container to inhibit removal of the closure such that the bridges must be broken to remove the closure. The tamper indicating band has a first axial score line adjacent the connecting portion that has its upper end intersecting the interrupted score line. A second axial score line is spaced circumferentially from the first axial score line and extends from the lower edge of the tamper indicating band and has an upper edge spaced from the weakened line of the band to define a strap such that the band successively expands at the second score line and first score line as the closure is applied to a container and as the closure is removed, the strap yields and the weakened line is broken and the strap is severed at said second score line leaving the band attached to the closure by the connecting portion.


A vending machine for dispensing heated granular foodstuffs includes a receptacle dispensing assembly for dispensing a receptacle into a receiving zone. A cooled storage hopper stores granular foodstuffs, and has an open bottom end. A discharge assembly is in communication with the open bottom end for transporting the quantity of the granular foodstuffs away from the cooled storage hopper. A heating assembly receives the quantity of the granular foodstuffs from the discharge assembly, heats the quantity of the granular foodstuffs with a heating fluid, and dispenses the quantity of the granular foodstuffs into the receptacle in the receiving zone. A heating fluid generator supplies heating fluid to the heating assembly. A condiment dispenser dispenses at least one condiment into the receptacle in the receiving zone.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,667 (Miller et al.) discloses a popcorn vending apparatus that includes a hot air cooker assembly, an elevator type supply assembly for furnishing raw kernels to the cooker, a cup dispenser, a dispenser including a pump for withdrawing butter flavoring from its original container and dispensing to the vended container of popcorn, and a salt dispenser for delivering tubes of salt to the purchaser. The cooker includes a transparent receptacle tiltable from a cooking position to a dispensing position. A chute assembly for delivering both the cups and cooked popcorn to a delivery station includes means for preventing unauthorized access to the interior of the apparatus housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,684 (Chaikowsky) discloses a popcorn vending apparatus that includes a cup dispenser for dispensing a cup in an area accessible by a purchaser, a cooker assembly for cooking corn kernels and dispensing the cooked kernels to a cup in the purchaser accessible area, and a corn dispenser for dispensing a measured quantity of corn to the cooker. The dispenser includes a hopper and a transporting mechanism for transporting measured quantities of corn from the hopper to the cooker. The transport mechanism includes a tubular member and a rotatable open spiral in the tubular member. The transporting mechanism includes a precision drive which is capable of rotating the open spiral a predetermined number of revolutions. There is also a flavor dispenser for dispensing flavoring in a cup in the purchaser accessible area. The flavor dispenser includes a dispensing head and a support for moving the head over a cup in the dispensing area.

Vending machine for dispensing heated granular foodstuffs


A method for fabricating a thin film magnetic head assembly including the procedure of hardening a portion of the upper pole-tip photoresist mask to create a planarizing stitching pedestal in the region where the upper pole-tip overlaps with the upper pole-yoke. The upper pole assembly is deposited in two steps to create a stitched pole consisting of an upper pole-tip joined to an upper pole-yoke element at the stitching pedestal. The method reduces process complexity by eliminating masking steps and also eliminates the usual close alignment requirements for upper insulation and pole-yoke deposition procedures, thereby improving process yield.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to thin film magnetic head fabrication procedures in general and, more specifically, to a planarization procedure for controlling registration in the stitching junction of the upper pole of a magnetic head having a very narrow pole-tip configuration.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Thin film magnetic read/write heads are used for reading and writing magnetically coded data stored on a magnetic storage medium such as a magnetic disk or magnetic tape. There is a continuing strongly-felt need for increasing the data storage density in such media. Most efforts to increase magnetic data storage density involve techniques for increasing the areal bit density in the magnetic medium.
In rotating magnetic disk drives, the areal density is equivalent to the product of the number of flux reversals per millimeter and the number of tracks available per millimeter of disk radius. Thus, high areal data storage density requires recording heads with high linear resolution and narrow track-width. The linear resolution of a two-pole inductive head is related to the gap between the pole-tips at the air bearing surface (ABS). In the present art, submicron gaps are commonly available. Recent improvements in magnetoresistive (MR) sensor fabrication have led to development of the dual element head, which combines the MR read and inductive write elements. This dual element approach solves the low read-back signal sensitivity problem associated with narrow inductive heads. Thus, further substantial increases in areal recording density can be obtained by emphasizing the narrow gap characteristics of the inductive write head without incurring unnecessary penalties associated with design tradeoffs for improved read signal sensitivity.
In pushing the areal density limit in magnetic recording using the dual MR-inductive element approach, the problems associated with fabricating narrow-track inductive write heads are now more limiting than the problems associated with fabricating narrow-track MR read heads. Experimental and modeling results indicate that further substantial increases in areal recording density must come from reductions in track width rather than from increases in linear flux transition densities in the recording media.
The major barrier to narrower track widths imposed by conventional thin film inductive head fabrication techniques is the extreme topographical variation confronted when defining the upper pole-tip. For instance, FIG. 1 shows the typical topological differences between the pole-yoke area (t.sub.1) and the pole-tip area (t.sub.2) of a conventional thin film head. Because of the topography shown in FIG. 1, conventional thin film techniques require the upper pole-tip to be deposited through a 15-18 micron layer of photoresist material. Unreliable results are well-known for attempted deposition of a layer width of one to three microns at the bottom of a 15-20 micron groove depth. Several new pole-tip fabrication approaches have been proposed to address this problem.
For instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,954, Mark A. Church discloses a fabrication technique where a protective chromium layer is deposited over the gap wedge region 10 (FIG. 1) to protect the gap-forming layer 12 from erosion during subsequent processing steps to ensure the desired gap thickness. However, Church does not suggest a solution to the problem presented by a very narrow deposition at the bottom of a deep groove.
This problem is more directly addressed by Eisei Togawa, et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,624. Togawa et al teach the need for a special tapered trench placed laterally across gap wedge 10 to avoid the use of a thick photoresist film during deposition of the upper pole layer. This procedure involves removing the gap-forming layer at the bottom of a recessed insulating film window and then redepositing gap-forming layer material to a thickness equal to the desired gap thickness. Because this new procedure is performed before depositing the upper pole material, the rectangular bottom formed on the gap-forming layer is free of the negative effects of a thick photoresist layer. However, Togawa, et al teach a method requiring many new and exacting masking and etching procedures, which increase the cost of forming precise narrow track heads.
Other practitioners avoid the problems of varying topography by defining the upper pole-tip immediately following the deposition of the gap-forming insulating material layer. A. Paton ("Electromagnetic Transducer With Thin-Film Pole Pieces", IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 15, No. 7, December, 1972, page 2182) long ago suggested a two-piece pole configuration having a pole-tip element joined to a larger pole-yoke element. More recently, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,197, Watson R. Henderson disclosed a process for fabricating a thin film magnetic head where the upper pole-tip is formed immediately following deposition of the gap-forming layer. Because the subsequent insulation layers 14 and 16 and the coil layer 18 (FIG. 1) are not yet in place, the photoresist thickness (t.sub.2) in gap wedge region 10 is still relatively small, thereby avoiding the difficulties associated with deeply grooved masks. Unfortunately, Henderson neither teaches nor suggests how to solve process-related problems such as joining or "stitching" the upper pole-yoke layer to the upper pole-tip layer, controlling intermediate erosion of the upper pole-tip or planarizing the surface upon which the upper pole-yoke layer is deposited. Misregistration of insulation layers 14 and 16 at the junction of the lower pole tip (not shown) may provide an extremely uneven surface for the upper pole-yoke layer deposition.
Because the upper pole-tip is exposed during the subsequent insulation and coil deposition steps, the pole-tip surface may be undesireably changed or damaged before completion of the head fabrication. It is well-known that such exposure causes undesirable variations in pole-tip thickness and tracking width.
T. Kawabe, et al ("Fabrication Of Thin Film Inductive Heads With Top Core Separated Structure", IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, Vol. 26, No. 6, November, 1991, pp. 4936-4938) discusses an improvement to the Henderson pole-stitching method where a protective film is deposited over the upper pole-tip in the gap wedge region 10 (FIG. 1) to protect it during subsequent processing. This protective or "sacrificial" film is later easily removed with a selective solvent. However, Kawabi, et al neither teach nor suggest a method for planarizing the underlying layers to ensure proper formation of the stitching junction between the upper pole-tip and upper pole-yoke portions of the head.
As used herein, a "stitched" pole is a pole formed in two or more separate steps, such as where a pole-tip is first deposited and a pole-yoke later deposited and joined ("stitched") to the existing pole-tip. Tip-yoke junction formation is not a problem in the earlier single-step upper pole fabrication procedure known in the art because the upper pole is deposited in a single layer. Introduction of the stitched-pole technique adds several new processing problems, including the uneven pole-yoke deposition surface resulting from imprecise registration between the first upper pole-tip deposition and the subsequent insulating layer deposition steps. Misregistration problems cause yield reductions, which increases to the fabrication cost of such heads. Until now, a simple and satisfactory method for eliminating surface planarization problems related to formation of upper pole stitching junctions was unknown in the art. These unresolved problems and deficiencies are clearly felt in the art and are solved by this invention in the manner described below.

Thin film planarization process for fabricating magnetic heads employing a stitched pole structure

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for determining a marking material usage estimate for a print job to be performed by a printing system is provided. The method is implemented in a computer system having one or more processors configured to execute one or more computer program modules. The method includes receiving compressed data of an image of the print job, wherein the image has a plurality of image pixels each having an image pixel intensity value, wherein the image pixels are transformed into the compressed data using a compression scheme; obtaining marking material usage statistics by partially decompressing the compressed data so as to obtain average pixel intensity values of the image pixels in the image; and determining the marking material usage estimate for the print job using the obtained marking material usage statistics.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to printing systems, and more specifically, to a system and a method for estimating the amount of marking material required for a print job.
2. Description of Related Art
When pricing a print job, print shops must be able to estimate the needed consumables and expenses, e.g., paper sheets, binding tape, periodic printer maintenance and shipping. In any print process, a key cost component is the marker or marking material used to generate the prints. In the case of xerographic printing, this marking material, toner, can be a significant factor in determining the overall expense of producing the print job.
Inaccurate marking material usage estimation may negatively impact print shops in a variety of ways. If the shop underestimates the amount of marking material needed to print a job, job production costs will exceed the estimate and the shop may lose money. Alternatively, if the shop overestimates the amount of marking material needed to print a job, its pricing may be high, causing the print shop to lose the job to a competitor.
The amount of marking material used for a page of the print job is generally related to the intensity value assigned to each pixel of that page. A straightforward approach is to acquire these intensity values is to produce an uncompressed bitmap of the page and sum the intensity values at the pixel locations. This approach of gathering image data (from the uncompressed bitmap) to be used to estimate marking material usage is relatively slow. That is, the steps of writing and reading a full bitmap used in this approach are often computationally inefficient and expensive, and decrease the performance of the printing system. Therefore, a high performance approach for estimating marking material usage is needed.

System and method for estimating marking material usage for a printing system


A process to prepare a paraffinic hydrocarbon from a solid carbonaceous feedstock, preferably coal by performing the following steps,

The Fischer-Tropsch process can be used for the conversion of (hydro)carbonaceous feedstocks into liquid and/or solid hydrocarbons. The feedstock, e.g. natural gas, associated gas, coal-bed methane, biomass, heavy oil residues, coal, is converted in a first step into a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide (this mixture is often referred to as synthesis gas or syngas). The synthesis gas is then fed into a reactor where it is converted over a suitable catalyst at elevated temperature and pressure into paraffinic compounds ranging from methane to high molecular weight molecules comprising up to 200 carbon atoms, or, under particular circumstances, even more. Examples of the Fischer-Tropsch process are described in e.g. WO-A-02/02489, WO-A-01/76736, WO-A-02/07882, EP-A-510771 and EP-A-450861.
WO-A-2006/070018 describes a process wherein preferably coal is converted into a synthesis gas by means of partial oxidation. Part of the synthesis gas is subjected to a catalytic water shift process step and combined with non-shifted synthesis gas. The resulting mixture is used to perform a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis to obtain a paraffinic product. In this publication reference is made to the well-known gasification processes for coal.
Examples of well-known coal gasification processes are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,146 and in WO-A-2004/005438. U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,146 describes a gasification system for a solid particulate comprising a gasification reactor and a synthesis gas cooling vessel. In this publication a method and apparatus is described for controlling rapping of the heat exchange surfaces as present in the separate cooling vessel. Rapping is required to avoid deposits to accumulate on the surfaces of the heat exchangers.
A problem with the syngas cooler of WO-A-2004/005438 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,146 is that the heat exchanging surfaces introduce a large complexity to the design of said apparatuses. Furthermore extensive measures like rapping are required to avoid deposits to accumulate on the heat exchanger surfaces. Another problem is that the heat exchanging surfaces are even more vulnerable to fouling from feedstocks with for instance a high alkaline content. There is thus a desire to process high alkaline feedstocks as well as a desire to provide more simple processes. This especially wherein the synthesis gas is used in a Fischer-Tropsch process, which in itself is already a complicated process.
EP-A-0400740 describes a process wherein syngas is produced by gasification of solid fuel in a reactor vessel equipped with tangential burners. The obtained slag flows downwardly while the syngas flows upwardly and is quenched in a single quench section located above the reactor.
The afore discussed gasification reactors have in common that the synthesis gas as produced flows substantially upwards and the slag flows substantially downwards relative to the gasification burners as present in said reactors. Thus, all these reactors have an outlet for slag, which is separate from the outlet for synthesis gas. These reactors have the advantage that large capacities per reactor are achievable. These reactors are different from a class of gasification reactors as for example described in EP-A-926441 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,476 where both slag and synthesis gas flow downwardly and wherein both the outlet for slag and synthesis gas are located at the lower end of the reactor.
It would be advantageous to provide a more simple process to prepare a paraffinic product from a solid carbonaceous feed using the 'high capacity gasification reactors' as described above.

Solid carbonaceous feed to liquid process

Abstract: (a) feeding an oxygen comprising gas and the carbonaceous feedstock to a burner positioned horizontal and firing into a reactor vessel,

Abstract: (b) performing a partial oxidation of the carbonaceous feedstock in said burner to obtain a stream of hot synthesis gas which flows upwardly relative to the burner and a liquid slag which flows downwardly relative to the burner,

Abstract: (c) cooling the hot synthesis gas by first cooling the gas to a temperature of between 500 and 900° C. by injecting a gaseous or liquid cooling medium into the synthesis gas and subsequently second cooling the gas in to below 500° C. by directly contacting with water,(d) separating solids from the cooled synthesis gas by means of a water scrubbing process step,(e) performing a water shift reaction on at least part of the scrubbed synthesis gas,(f) separating sulphur compounds, carbon dioxide and other possible impurities from the shifted gas to obtain a purified synthesis gas, and(g) performing a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis using the purified synthesis gas of step (f) to obtain a synthesis product comprising paraffinic hydrocarbons.