A catalyst which efficiently removes particulate matter, SOF, sulfate, and SOOT and the like from the exhaust gas from such an internal combustion engine as a diesel engine without inducing a rise in the back pressure of the engine is provided. The catalyst for the purification of the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine is formed by using an open flow honeycomb containing in the channel walls thereof such pores as possess an average diameter in the range of 10-40 μm.

In recent years regulations on particulate matter emitted by internal combustion engines (mainly consisting of solid carbon particulates, sulfate and other sulfur containing particulates and liquid and solid hydrocarbon particulates) have been directed towards becoming more rigid due to their harmful impact on human body. Therefore to reduce the amount of emissions has been attempted in various fields. The field of the catalysts for purification of exhaust gas is no exception. Until now the methods for reducing particulate matter can be divided mainly into two fields: Catalysts with the function to trap particulate matter and oxidation catalysts with open flow substrates.
Under them catalyst technologies with trapping function mainly use substrates made of cordierite with wall flow, further to improve the efficiency of trapping particulate matter substrates made of silicon carbide are proposed. This method is intended to reduce exhausted particulate matter by trapping with a filter. This method is especially efficient if the particulate matter in the exhaust gas has a high ratio of dry soot. However, if the particulate matter is accumulated over a certain level back pressure is rising and a load can be inflicted on the engine even with the possibility leading to a complete engine stop. Especially in the case of the exhaust gas of an automobile to trap and burn particulate matter continuously throughout the whole range of engine operation is difficult because under various operation conditions of the engine the exhaust gas temperature is differing widely. Therefore, following methods are presently thought of to deal with above mentioned problem: 1) Trapping particulate matters in the low temperature area and burning them off in the higher temperature area. 2) Heat treatment methods to raise the temperature of the exhaust gas for regeneration of the catalyst by e.g. engine control, bypass and electrical heating. However, installing such heat treatment systems into automobiles is not quite realistic from the viewpoint of cost and space. Further a sudden combustion of trapped particulate matter in the catalyst leads to a dramatic rise of temperature therein leading to aging related problems such as melting of the filter.
On the other hand, heretofore oxidation catalysts have been the most reliable technologies and are widely in practical use. Oxidation catalysts are generally composed of an open flow honeycomb substrate coated with a catalytic active material. Their function is to reduce the soluble organic fraction (hereinafter referred to as SOF) from the particulate matter by absorption and subsequent combustion and decomposition. Hereby the amount of particulate matter is reduced, however, if the exhaust gas from the engine contains SOF in a low ratio, the particulate matter conversion is proportionally lower. Additionally in the case of high sulfur concentration in the fuel sulfur discharges at higher temperatures leading to higher particulate matter emissions which is another reason for concern.
An additional problem is that the catalysts function to trap and combust SOOT a considerable part of particulate matter is low resulting in a low conversion rate for particulate matter. Even at such low temperatures as such of an exhaust gas from a Diesel engine, which are remarkably lower than those of a gasoline engine (preferably lower than 350° C.), combustion of inflammable carbon particulates is requested from a good catalyst.
However, in heretofore proposed oxidation catalysts the part of the three dimensional structure which comes into contact with the gas is coated with a layer in which the catalytic active components are present as very fine particles. Therefore the contact efficiency between SOOT and the catalyst is very low and the catalytically active material is unable to bring up a sufficient combustion performance.
Therefore in recent years several methods have been proposed to raise the trapping efficiency. For example an attempt to higher the SOOT trapping efficiency of SOOT is by usage of an open flow substrate in which inorganic fibers are attached to the channel walls (the official gazette of JP-A-59-14282) or by the usage of an open flow honeycomb substrate with randomly arranged protuberances in large number on the channel walls (the official gazette of JP-A-57-99314). Another attempt to improve trapping SOOT and contact efficiency between it and the catalytically active component leading to higher SOOT combustion performance is by depositing a catalytically active component in form of protuberances on the gas inlet side of a diaphragm type gas filter (the official gazette of JP-A-7-24740). Also open flow or plugged type substrates that are able to raise trapping efficiency of SOOT were proposed. To generate protuberances on the channel walls coarse ceramic particles are attached or the surface of the channel walls are foamed (the official gazette of JP-A-58-14921).
However, the invention disclosed here is using an open flow honeycomb substrate with an average pore diameter of 10 to 40 μm in the channel walls. The catalytically active material and/or heat resistant inorganic substance is coated in form of protuberances onto the channel walls of above mentioned substrate without blocking its pores. By this trapping of SOOT and contact efficiency are improved leading to a raise in combustion performance of the catalyst. Such an invention has never been disclosed to date.
On the other hand in the official gazette of JP-A-10-151348 an open flow type oxidation catalyst containing cerium oxide and zirconium oxide is disclosed. The substrate used for this catalyst contains at least cerium oxide or zirconium, or both. By coating at least one metal oxide from the group of copper, iron and manganese onto this substrate, particulate matter combustion with high efficiency is possible. Further a technology using a coating of a metal of the platinum group and other catalyst components onto a filter type substrate has been proposed. Depending on the oxidation capacity of the catalytic material used, accumulated particulate matter in the filter can be removed by oxidation and combustion.
Further a catalyst can be thought of in which the particulates are combusted immediately when they come into contact with the catalytically active metal. If such a catalyst can be realized the above mentioned regeneration methods become obsolete because in such a catalyst a continuous regeneration takes place. However, in case high amounts of particulate matter is emitted from the engine, especially in the low temperature range the oxidation performance of the catalyst is not sufficient for a complete combustion and particulate matter is accumulating in the catalyst. In this case oxygen can not access with particulate matter blocked catalytically active metal sites and at the same time contact efficiency of newly incoming particulate matter with the catalyst is declining and therefore oxidation of particulate matter by the catalyst becomes increasingly difficult. Additionally at higher temperatures the accumulating part of hardly inflammable dry SOOT is high which makes a regeneration treatment of the catalyst necessary.
With the above mentioned problems in mind the purpose of the invention disclosed here is to provide an oxidation catalyst not using a filter but an open flow type substrate that is able to remove particulate matter by combustion from the free flowing exhaust gas.
Consequently, the object of the invention disclosed here is to offer a new catalyst for purifying exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine, the production thereof and a method to purify the exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine.
Another purpose of the invention disclosed here is to provide an exhaust gas purifying catalyst that is reducing harmful components especially particulate matter from the exhaust gas by trapping, combustion and decomposition. Also the production thereof and a method for purifying the exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine is described.
The objects mentioned above are accomplished by the following items (1)-(15).
(1) A catalyst for the purification of an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, formed by using an open flow honeycomb provided in the channel walls of cellular monolithic substrates with pores having an average diameter in the range of 10-40 μm.
(2) A catalyst according to item (1), wherein the channel walls in an open flow honeycomb substrate are coated with a catalytically active component.
(3) A catalyst according to item (1), wherein the catalytically active component is applied to the channel walls in the open flow honeycomb substrate by wash coating.
(4) A catalyst according to any of items (1)-(3) wherein the honeycomb has a rib thickness in the range of 0.05 mm-0.50 mm and a porosity in the range of 60-90%.
(5) A catalyst according to any one of items (1)-(4), wherein the amount of the catalytically active component coated to the substrate is in the range of 5-200 g/liter and the average diameter of pores in the channel walls in the catalyst after wash-coating of the catalytically active component is in the range of 10-40 μm.
(6) A catalyst for the purification of the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, having attached to an open flow honeycomb substrate a film comprising coarse granular protuberances of a catalytically active component and/or a heat-resistant substance and preventing pores in the channel walls in the substrate from being blocked and having formed in the substrate such pores as possess an average diameter in the range of 10-40 μm.
(7) A catalyst according to item (6), wherein the protuberances on the channel walls are formed of coarse granules containing granules exceeding 40 μm in diameter at a ratio of not less than 80% by weight and granules exceeding 300 μm in diameter at a ratio of not more than 5% by weight.
(8) A catalyst according to any one of items (1)-(7), wherein the catalytically active component contains at least one element selected from the class consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and rare earth metals of Groups IIIB-VB and Period 3 and Groups IIIA-VIIA, VIII, IB-IVB and Periods 4, 5, and 6.
(9) A catalyst according to either of items (6) and (7), wherein the heat-resistant inorganic substance used in forming the coarse granular attached film contains at least one member selected from the class consisting of activated alumina, silica, titania, zirconia, silica-alumina, alumina-zirconia, alumina-titania, silica-titania, silica-zirconia, titania-zirconia, and zeolites.
(10) A method for the production of a catalyst for the purification of the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine set forth in any one of items (6)-(9), characterized by mixing a coarse granular substance together with at least one dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of alumina sol, titania sol, zirconia sol, silica sol, soluble boehmite, and soluble organic macromolecular compounds into an aqueous slurry and applying the aqueous slurry and a catalytically active component by wash coating to an open flow honeycomb containing pores of an average diameter in the range of 10-40 μm in the channel walls thereof.
(11) A method according to item (10), wherein the catalytically active component is applied by wash coating after the aqueous slurry has been applied by wash coating.
(12) A method according to item (10), wherein the catalytically active component is applied by wash coating simultaneously with the aqueous slurry.
(13) A method for the purification of the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, characterized by passing the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine through a catalyst set forth in any one of items (1)-(12).
(14) A method for the purification of the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, characterized by having the catalyst for the purification of an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine set forth in any one of items (1)-(13) disposed on the upstream side or downstream side of an oxidizing catalyst relative to the flow of the exhaust gas.
(15) A method for the purification of the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, characterized by having the catalyst for the purification of an exhaust-gas of an internal combustion engine set forth in any one of items (1)-(13) disposed on the upstream side or downstream side of an NOx reducing catalyst relative to the flow of the exhaust gas.

Catalyst for purifying exhaust emission from internal combustion engine, method for preparation thereof and method for purifying exhaust emission from internal combustion engine


An electric power system simulator comprising first calculator which calculates a generator dynamic characteristic, second calculator which calculates a load dynamic characteristic and third calculator which calculates power transmission condition of an electric power system network, then the first calculator cyclically obtains an amplitude and a phase of an internal induced voltage of the generator based on data on an output power and a terminal voltage of the generator, and the second calculator calculates a load equivalent admittance at predetermined time based on data on an A.C. voltage at a load installation point, and the third calculator calculates a current flowing in each element of the electric power system based on respective data obtained by the first calculator and the second calculator and an electric power system network impedance to obtain the output power and terminal voltage of the generator, so that a condition change of the electric power system including the generators is serially simulated by alternately executing the calculations of the first and the second calculators and the calculation of the third calculator.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a simulator which simulates, in real time, dynamic phenomena of a large scale electric power system, thereby analyzing them and further performing a function test of each element of the electric power system.
2. Description of Related Art
Heretofore two types of simulators are well-known which simulate an electric power system. One is an analog type which combines many of apparatuses each of which simulates each element of the electric power system, for example, such as shown in Kansai Electric Power Co's catalog "Advanced Power System Analyzer APSA", and the other is a digital type which analyzes each element by a large general-purpose computer by using a calculation equation.
However, the conventional analog type simulator can not simulate the real large scale electric power system and further a change of condition of the electric power system to be simulated is practically impossible because it requires enormous work loads. Explaining more concretely, the analog type simulator simulates the electric power system with a miniature model which is really provided with the electric power system elements such as generators, AVRs (Automatic Voltage Regulators), power generation control apparatuses like governors, transformers, loads, SVCs (Static Var Compensator), and transmission lines, thus as a scale of the electric power system to be simulated becomes larger, the miniature model occupies a larger space. For example, in order to simulate an electric power system including thirty generators, the above APSA occupies as large area as 700 m.sup.2 for only a simulator, thus there is a limit to an occupancy area for simulation of the large scale electric power system. Further, when changing wirings of the electric power system to be simulated, it is required to change connections of the simulator and this necessitates troublesome and a large quantity of work loads.
While the conventional digital type simulator has a few CPUs, in order to analyze differential equations for simulating elements such as a generator, excitation system, PSS (Power System Stabilizer), and governing system, the simulator employs either a batch solution which solves an equation expressing the whole system or a partition solution which solves serially each equation representing each element ("High Speed Transient Stability Calculation Method suitable for Array Processor", Institution of Electrical Engineers of Japan, treatises separate volume B, article No. 59-B36, pp297-304, May 1984).
However both the solutions consume much processing time because the batch solution is required to solve a large equation at one stroke, while the partition solution is required to stop all other processing to solve one equation during its solving, thus both the solutions can not cope with the simulation, in real time, of the real electric power system. Further, the digital type simulator calculates the differential equation to express the element of the electric power system as the case of the analog type simulator as mentioned above, but it is expected that because of necessary focusing calculation, an analysis of a high speed phenomenon is difficult to effect even with the decentralized computer, and further an error when modeling a real phenomenon in an equation can not be avoided.
Now, the simulation of an electric power system is a task of solving alternately two sets of equations in time series, that is, a differential equation that calculates dynamics of each element configuring the system such as a generator, excitation system, PSS, governing system and a rotating motion system, and a network equation that expresses a relation between a bus and a transmission line.
FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing whole of calculation processes of the electric power system simulator shown in the above "High Speed Transient Stability Calculating Method suitable for Array Processor".
Step S41 is a process of initialization, Step S21 to Step S23 are processes of electric power system network calculation, Step S101 to Step S105 are processes for generator dynamic characteristic calculation and Step S45 and Step S46 are processes proper to this technique.
Procedure of this flowchart is as follows.
First, after initialization in Step S41, calculation relating to a generator bus (Step S21) and calculation relating to a non-generator bus (Step S22) are executed respectively. In this flowchart, the electric power system network calculation is performed considering a so-called constant power characteristic of consuming a constant power rather than a non-linear characteristic of a load, for example, an applied voltage, thus a solution is obtained by repeated calculations as shown in Step S21 to Step S23. That is, focusing or non-focusing is decided in Step S23, and in the case of non-focusing, the process is returned to Step S21.
When focusing is decided in Step S23, a generator output power and terminal voltage are obtained. According to decisions in Step S45 and Step S46, when focusing for the second time or more, the process ends, and in other case (focusing for the first time), a generator dynamic characteristic is calculated using information on generator output power and terminal voltage in Step S101 to Step S105. That is, calculation of a rotating motion system (Step S101), calculation of PSS (Step S102), calculation of a excitation system (Step S103), calculation of a governing system (Step S104), and calculation of a generator equation (Step S105) are respectively performed. Using data of an amplitude and a phase of a generator internal induced voltage obtained from these calculations, the process is returned to Step S21 to perform again the electric power system network calculation.
In addition, in the flowchart of FIG. 1, the processes from "START" to "END" are performed in one time step of integration, and by cyclically repeating the process of every one time step of integration, a change of condition of the electric power system is serially calculated.
Now, in the calculation of the rotating motion system in Step S101, a generator rotor position .theta. is calculated by introducing a phase .delta. as a variable which meets an equation EQU .theta.=.omega..sub.0 t+.delta.
as shown, for example, in "Analytical Theory of Electric Power System" (pp 294-299, written by Sekine, published by Denki-Shoin in 1971), where .omega..sub.0 is a rated angular velocity in an A.C. system. In a usual A.C. system, all generators are rotating at an almost rated angular velocity, thus it is known that the phase .delta. remains within the range of -360 n.degree. to +360 n.degree. and there is no problem. However, when one generator causes, for example, step-out to increase a rotational speed or when the generator is in stopped condition, the phase .delta. rapidly increases or decreases. In this case, there arises no problem in pure theory, but a problem arises in a digital numerical calculation.
In a computer system, a numerical value is generally expressed with "A* 10.sup.B ", whereby the system usually handles numbers each of which combining a mantissa A and an exponent B. But hexadecimal numbers are actually used in the computer system, however, for simplification, the numerical calculation will be explained with decimal numbers.
For example, in the computer system handling a mantissa A of four digits and an exponent B of two digits, a decimal number "58325" is expressed as 5833*10.sup.1 and this is handled as a number "583301". Therefore, either the case where the phase .delta. is equal to "58325" or equal to "58333", both the numbers are handled as "583301" in the computer system. Thus, the difference between both the numbers is to be "8" in pure theory, but becomes "0" in the computer system. Therefore, when step-out or stop of a generator lasts long, the conventional digital type electric power system simulator sometimes handles data beyond the range of significant figures of the computer system as mentioned above and below comes unable to perform precise calculations and can not simulate the system.
As mentioned above, when simulation of condition of long-lasted generator step-out, simulation of a system including a stopped generator or simulation of a system including two different frequencies A.C. systems connected with a D.C. transmission system are performed by the conventional digital type electric power system simulator, the value of the phase .delta. becomes unusually large and falls within the range of a numerical calculation error of the computer system and this sometimes disables the computer system from calculation, that is, the simulation.
Further, in the conventional electric power system simulator, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 1, repeated calculations are employed for the electric power system network calculation, thus extending an operation time, and a number of times of repetition until focusing differs depending on other condition, thereby causing a problem of an inconstant operation time. Therefore, it was difficult to perform, for example, the so-called real time simulation which advances calculation in a constant time interval. Further, in the so-called threshold running like the case of a voltage instability state, there are problems such that focusing ability is degraded to increase the number of times of calculation repetition and sometimes the case of non-focusing arises.
Further, in the conventional electric power system simulator performing the procedure of the flowchart of FIG. 1, all processings are executed by one calculating unit, thus time management, that is, processings in each predetermined time interval are relatively easily performed, but a time necessary for calculation is extended. As processings of Step S101 to Step S105 are required to be particularly performed on each generator, as a number of generators increases, a time of processings of Step S101 to Step S105 is more extended. In addition, there are problems such that, as the number of generators increases, the time management becomes more difficult and the real time simulation is disabled.
Now, as an application example of the aforementioned decentralized type computer, the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 1-245493 (1989) is proposed as a digital type simulator capable of high speed processing.
In the invention disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application No. 1-245493 (1989), a decentralized type computer having a plurality of CPUs 61 is used as shown in FIG. 2 and a different equation expressing each element of the electric power system such as a generator, excitation system, PSS or a governing system is assigned to each one of the plurality of CPUs 61. Then each calculation processings divided into each element are decentralized-processed by each CPU 61, thereby the load of each CPU is alleviated, thus the calculations can be processed at a high speed as a whole.
By the way reference numeral 62 denotes a communication line connecting the space between respective CPUs 61.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing procedures relating to one bus which is one of the elements of the electric power system in the simulator of the invention disclosed in the above Japanese Patent Application No. 1-245493 (1989). By the way the bus includes a generator bus which is directly connected to the generator and a non-generator bus which is not directly connected to the generator.
As shown in FIG. 3, in a task of obtaining a solution of the different equation performed by each CPU 61, a task of calculation relating to electric systems of each generator bus 31 (PSS 33, excitation system 34, generator 35) and a task of calculation relating to mechanical systems of each generator bus 31 (rotating motion system 36, governing system 37) can be parallel-executed. However the task of calculation relating to each element of the electric system and that of the mechanical system are performed by CPUs 61 independently, thus data interchange is necessary between both the tasks. By the way processing on the non-generator bus 32 does not requires communication with a calculation task of dynamics of the generator bus 31.
In this way, a network equation 38 representative of a relation between the buses is calculated using results of the decentralized-processings of respective CPUs 61 and transferring data 39 between the buses until focusing at each CPU 61.
Now, in the conventional simulator using the above decentralized type computer, each different equation expressing each element of the electric power system is assigned to each CPU 61, whereby respective calculations on each element of the electric power system are decentralized to reduce a processing time. However, on the other hand, generally a solution of the network equation is obtained by solving system condition expressed by a linear equation with the LU analysis method or Newton-Raphson method. For example, generally regarding a generator and a load as equivalent current sources and expressing the system condition with the following linear equation system, EQU I=YV
where
I: current PA1 Y: admittance PA1 V: voltage
then the system condition is solved with the LU analysis method regarding the current I as a known quantity and the voltage V as an unknown quantity.
Besides other some algorithms are being considered which solve the equation with the decentralized type computer, but it is not right to say that high speed analysis capability of the decentralized system is best used even when any method is used.
In addition, the conventional digital type simulator has a problem in man-machine device. For example, the simulator can not output an intermediate result of an analysis calculation of the electric power system and has only a function of outputting the analysis result in a format of a table or graph only after the end of the calculation. This originates directly from logic unable to stop the analysis calculation or to intermediately output the calculation result, but besides that it is supposed that because of a low speed of the analysis calculation, an operator could not feel a real time sense and he did not also sense necessity of the man-machine device except output of the analysis result.


A double annular combustor having concentrically disposed inner and outer annular combustors is provided with inner and outer dome plates. Each dome plate has an inner portion and an outer portion. A cowl structure having an inner portion, an outer portion and a middle portion is also provided. The cowl outer portion is connected to the outer dome plate outer portion, the cowl inner portion is connected to the inner dome plate inner portion, and the cowl middle portion is connected to the outer dome plate inner portion and the inner dome plate outer portion. at an outer end, an inner end, and a middle portion. Additionally, the inner and outer annular combustors may lie in distinct radial planes, whereby the dome plate of the downstream annular combustor includes a section extending upstream to the cowl middle portion.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the combustion system of a gas turbine engine and, more particularly, to a double annular combustor having concentrically disposed inner and outer annular combustors with inner and outer dome plates, each dome plate having an inner portion and an outer portion, and a cowl structure having an inner portion, an outer portion, and a middle portion, wherein the cowl outer portion is connected to the outer dome plate outer portion, the cowl inner portion is connected to the inner dome plate inner portion, and the cowl middle portion is connected to the outer dome plate inner portion and the inner dome plate outer portion.
2. Description of Related Art
Efforts to reduce emissions in gas turbine engines have brought about the use of staged combustion techniques wherein one burner or set of burners is used for low speed, low temperature conditions such as idle, and another, or additional, burner or burners are used for high temperature operating conditions. One particular configuration of such a concept is that of the double annular combustor wherein the two stages are located concentrically in a single combustor liner. Conventionally, the pilot stage section is located concentrically outside and operates under low temperature and low fuel/air ratio conditions during engine idle operation. The main stage section, which is located concentrically inside, is later fueled and cross-ignited from the pilot stage to operate at the high temperature and relatively high fuel/air ratio conditions. The swirl cups of the respective pilot and main stage sections generally lie in the same radial and circumferential planes, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,292,801 to Wilkes, et al. and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,374,466 and 4,249,373 to Southern.
By contrast, however, a development report to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on combustion system component technology for the Energy Efficient Engine (E.sup.3) discloses a double annular combustor configuration where the pilot stage (outer annular combustor) and the main stage (inner annular combustor) are radially offset (i.e., lie in distinct radial planes). U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,358 to Stenger also discloses a double annular combustor configuration where the inner and outer annular combustors are radially offset, but the pilot stage is placed in the radially inner portion of the combustor and the main stage section is placed in the radially outer portion thereof. In both the '358 patent and E.sup.3 configurations, the effective length of the main stage section is relatively short and the effective length of the pilot stage section is relatively long. This configuration allows for complete or near-complete combustion to reduce the amount of hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions since there is a relatively long residence time in the pilot stage section and a relatively minimal residence time in the main stage section.
Whether the inner and outer combustors are radially aligned or not, and whether the outer annular combustor acts as the pilot stage or main stage, the prior art discloses the use of a centerbody to isolate the pilot and main stages. The intended purpose of such centerbodies is to isolate the pilot stage from the main stage in order to ensure combustion stability of the pilot stage at various operating points and to allow primary dilution air to be directed into the pilot stage reaction zone. Such centerbody designs, however, require significant cooling airflows, and can interfere with the ability of the flame to jump from the pilot stage section to the main stage section as the engine power setting is increased and both stages are required. Accordingly, the present invention proposes an alternative arrangement which eliminates the centerbody between the pilot and main stages while maintaining the desirable characteristics thereof.


The present invention relates to an easily expandable indoors LED lighting device, comprising: a fixing bar which is installed on a ceiling; first and second electrode bars, which are provided on a rear surface of the fixing bar; a socket which is provided at the center of the fixing bar that is provided with the first and second electrode bars; and a bell-shaped reflective portion, which is coupled to the socket, for providing power from the first and second electrode bars to a substrate on the inside of which an LED is mounted. The present invention is lightweight, can be directly installed on the ceiling by coupling, and enables expanded installation of the lighting device that is modularized in accordance with the surface area of the ceiling, thereby providing the advantage of easy installation.

In general, a plurality of fluorescent lights are installed on a ceiling of an interior such as an office to light the interior. Fluorescent lights as light sources are relatively inexpensive but have a relatively short life span, and the brightness of the fluorescent lights decreases over time.
A radiation angle corresponding to an angle by which light is emitted is 120 degrees or more, and an interior space is illuminated at intensities of illumination which are similar as a whole.
In order to solve a problem of a fluorescent light as a light source, which has a relatively short life span and a brightness of which gradually decreases over time, technologies for employing LEDs having a very long life span and consuming low electric power have been developed.
As an example, lamps employing LEDs as light sources as in Korean Patent 10-1052457 illuminate an interior after the radiation angle of light emitted from the LEDs thereof is widened to 120 degrees or more by employing a diffusion plate or a lens.
However, in the space lighting method according to the related art, an energy saving effect cannot be obtained while LEDs of a high efficiency are used. Accordingly, an LED surface light emitting device for replacing an existing fluorescent light is adapted to illuminate an entire interior space, and does not consider a relationship between an intensity of horizontal illumination and an intensity of vertical illumination.
When a diffusion plate or a lens is used, loss of light cannot be avoided, and accordingly, higher electric power cannot help being used for the same intensity of illumination.
Further, according to the related art, a reflection plate is provided on the rear side of a light source, a lighting device cannot be easily carried and installed because a weight thereof is relatively heavy due to a metal frame for fixing a substrate, and the lighting device cannot be easily installed and maintained because a safety accident should be prevented by firmly fixing the lighting device such that the light device does not fall when being installed on the ceiling.
In addition, according to the related art, the above-described indoor LED lighting devices employing a metal frame should be individually installed, and electric power should be supplied to each indoor LED light device. Accordingly, much time is consumed in the installation operation.

Easily expandable indoors LED lighting device


An electronic component such as a semiconductor device is provided which is capable of preventing wiring breakage in a stress concentration region of surface layer wiring lines. In a semiconductor device provided with a support ball (5), no ordinary wiring line is formed in a region (7(A)) in the vicinity of the support ball (5) and a region (7(B)) at the end of the semiconductor chip facing the support ball (5), which are the stress concentration regions of the package substrate (2). Instead, a wiring line (6(C)) is formed away from these regions or a wide wiring line is formed in these regions.

There is a trend to downsize packages along with recent evolutions of semiconductor devices involving increase of the operation speed and large-scale integration. One of known technologies for package downsizing is a surface mount type ball grid array (hereafter abbreviated to BGA) in which solder balls are arranged on a package substrate.
There are two types of BGA semiconductor devices having a semiconductor chip mounted on a BGA package substrate. One is a semiconductor device in which a pad functioning as an electrode for the semiconductor chip is adhesively fixed on a package substrate in a face up state, and the pad is connected to a surface layer wiring line on the substrate by means of bonding wire, and the other is a semiconductor device in which a bump or a tape lead formed as an electrode on a surface of the semiconductor chip is connected to a wiring pattern formed on the upper surface of a package substrate in a face down state. The former type of semiconductor device is described for example in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H11-163201 (patent document). This patent document points out that, when this type of BGA semiconductor device is exposed to temperature change, there occurs breakage in surface layer wiring lines at a position on a package substrate intersecting with a visible outline defined by an end of a semiconductor chip disposed on the package substrate. This wiring breakage tends to occur in a region where a long side of the semiconductor chip intersects with the wiring. The patent document discloses, as a countermeasure against such wiring breakage, that the wiring breakage can be prevented by increasing the width of wiring in a region crossing the long side of the chip.
As for the latter type of BGA semiconductor devices, a type of BGA package in which a semiconductor chip is fixed to a package substrate by flip-chip connection while no underfill is disposed between the chip and the substrate will be effective countermeasure for avoiding the breakage of substrate surface layer wiring lines as pointed out by the patent document.
For the purpose of package downsizing, a multi chip package (hereafter abbreviated to MCP) has been developed, in which a plurality of chips are mounted on a package substrate in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional fashion, or package substrates having a chip mounted thereon are stacked three-dimensionally. The three-dimensionally stacked MCP is particularly effective for package downsizing. In the course of development of package stacked MCPs having packages stacked three-dimensionally, the present inventor has newly found an unenvisaged problem caused by wiring breakage.
Referring to FIGS. 1(A), 1(B) and 1(C) showing a semiconductor device to be discussed, signal balls 4 are disposed in a region defined by a contour 11 formed by a substrate chip, whereas support balls 5 support an overhung portion of the package substrate extending outside of the region defined by the contour formed by the chip. This means that the support balls ensures transverse strength for the package and increases its mechanical strength. In FIG. 1 (A), two support balls 5 are disposed at each of four places on the short sides of the package substrate 2.
A temperature cycle test conducted on a semiconductor device having a chip mounted on this package substrate revealed that wiring breakage would occur in package surface layer wiring lines 6(B) located in the vicinity of the support balls 5. There was found no wiring breakage in package surface layer wiring lines 6(A) not in the vicinity of the support balls 5. The wiring breakage was observed in the vicinity of the support balls 5 and in the region indicated by oblique lines in FIG. 1(B), which is an end of the semiconductor chip facing the support ball 5. Thus, it was found that the portion indicated by the oblique lines constitutes a wiring breakage prone region 10. Such wiring breakage will cause malfunction of the semiconductor device.

Semiconductor device having improved wiring


There are provided methods of fabricating a semiconductor device having a T-shaped gate and an L-shaped spacer. In the method, an insulating layer and a sacrificial layer are formed in sequence on a semiconductor substrate having a vertical gate pattern. By etching the sacrificial layer, a sacrificial spacer is formed. By etching the insulating layer until an upper surface of at least the vertical gate pattern is exposed, there is formed an L-shaped spacer, which includes a vertical portion located between sidewalls of the vertical gate pattern and the sacrificial spacer, and a horizontal portion extended from the vertical portion and located between the semiconductor substrate and the sacrificial spacer. By selectively etching a part of the vertical portion of the L-shaped spacer, an empty space is formed between upper sidewalls of the vertical gate pattern and the sacrificial spacer. A horizontal gate pattern, which is formed of a conductive layer to fill at least the empty space, is formed, and thus, there is formed a T-shaped gate being composed of the vertical gate pattern and the horizontal gate pattern.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to fabrication of semiconductor devices and more particularly, to methods of fabricating a semiconductor device having a T-shaped gate and an L-shaped spacer.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
With the improvement of high integration of semiconductor devices and the design trend of a low-power consumption thereof, length of the gate of a transistor is reduced, and operation voltage is also reduced. With the reduction of a design rule for high integration of a semiconductor device, since a parasitic capacitance is increased and a short channel effect occurs, speed of the device is reduced. Furthermore, with the narrowness of widths of a gate and source/drain regions, silicide is difficult to form, and thus, a high-performance transistor is difficult to provide.
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a semiconductor device with a conventional technology includes a gate insulating layer 11 formed on a semiconductor substrate 10, a gate 12, and source/drain regions 14 formed inside the semiconductor substrate 10 at both ends of the gate 12. Insulating layer spacers 13 are formed on the sidewalls of the gate insulating layer 11 and the gate 12. The gate 12 and the source/drain regions 14 are covered with silicide layers 15a, 15b to reduce contact resistance.
Since the size of the gate 12 is reduced with the improvement of high integration of a semiconductor device, a doping concentration of the source/drain regions 14 is increased in order to suppress the generation of a short channel effect. However, if the doping concentration is increased, an overlap width W1 of the gate 12 and the source/drain regions 14 is increased, and an overlap capacitance (Cov) between the gate and the source/drain regions, as one of parasitic capacitances, is increased. Due to the parasitic capacitance, a speed of the device, which is composed of millions of transistors, is reduced, and thus, power consumption is increased.
A structure of a T-shaped gate to reduce contact resistance is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,790, entitled, "Process for forming a T-shaped gate", issued to Kim, et. al.
Referring to FIG. 2, a T-shaped gate 21 is composed of an upper region 21a having a relatively large width, and a lower region 21b being relatively narrow in width. That is, a width W2 of an upper region 21a as a silicide formation region is maintained, and an overlap area between the T-shaped gate 21 formed on the semiconductor substrate 20 and the source/drain regions 22 formed inside the semiconductor substrate 20 can be reduced. Thus, with the presence of the T-shaped gate 21, the reduction of speed of a device due to the parasitic capacitance can be prevented.
In order to solve the problem that hot carriers are injected into a gate insulating layer by the short channel effect, a lightly doped drain (LDD) structure has been introduced. As one of the methods of forming such an LDD structure, L-shaped spacers are formed on the sidewalls of a gate, and low concentration source/drain regions and high concentration source/drain regions are formed using the gate and the L-shaped spacers as ion implantation masks.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view schematically illustrating a structure of a semiconductor device having a conventional L-shaped spacer, which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,087,234, entitled, "Method of forming a self-aligned silicide MOSFET with an extended ultra-shallow S/D junction," issued to Shye-Lin Wu, et. al.
As shown in FIG. 3, a semiconductor device having a conventional L-shaped spacer includes L-shaped spacers 33 covering the sidewalls of a gate insulating layer 31 and a gate 32, and a semiconductor substrate 30 around them. Low concentration source/drain regions 34a are formed inside the semiconductor substrate 30, overlapping the L-shaped spacer 33, and high concentration source/drain regions 34b are formed overlapping the low concentration source/drain regions 34a.
In the semiconductor device having a typical spacer as shown in FIG. 1, if an interval between the neighboring gates 12 becomes too small, it is difficult to deposit a metal layer between the spacers 13 covering the sidewalls of the gate. Thus, with the increased integration of the device, it is difficult to form a silicide layer 15b in the source/drain regions 14. On the contrary, in the semiconductor device as shown in FIG. 3, a metal layer can be readily deposited even on the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the L-shaped spacer 33, so as to provide a sufficient area for the silicide layer 35b covering the source/drain regions 34.
As such, the semiconductor device having the T-shaped gate can have a sufficient enough area of the gate silicide layer, and can reduce an overlap area of the gate and the source/drain regions. Further, the semiconductor device having the L-shaped spacer can have a sufficient enough area of the silicide layer covering the source/drain regions. However, it is not easy to form the L-shaped spacer on the sidewalls of the gate because of the structural characteristics of the T-shaped gate. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a method of easily fabricating the semiconductor device having the L-shaped spacer on the sidewalls of the T-shaped gate.

Methods of fabricating semiconductor device having T-shaped gate and L-shaped spacer


Wrapped-cone fingers for use in an air-cushion vehicle (ACV) skirt system are described. Wrapped-cone fingers may include an inner cone that is “wrapped” or generally enclosed by an outer finger. The inner cone may include an inner cone opening through which air may travel. The outer cone may include a back face opening. When inflated, the inner cone blocks the back face opening in the outer finger, allowing for increased air pressure in the outer finger and thus inflating the inner cone and outer finger of the wrapped-cone finger. Wrapped-cone fingers according to the present invention may be lightweight, inexpensive and resistant to scooping and snagging. Embodiments are also directed to ACV skirt systems and methods of manufacturing wrapped-cone fingers for use with an ACV skirt system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to air cushion vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved cushion skirt construction for an air cushion vehicle. More particularly the present invention relates to an improved air cushion skirt system that employs multiple fingers wherein at least some of the fingers are of a wrapped construction that envelops an inner inflatable member with an outer finger that has an open back, the inner inflatable member nested within an interior of the outer finger next to the open back.
2. General Background of the Invention
Hovercraft or air-cushion vehicles (ACVs) are commonly used to transport passengers and cargo over variable terrain including water, snow, and land. ACVs typically use a skirt system to contain a volume of air, or "air cushion," which supports the weight of the vehicle during operation. An ACV skirt system commonly includes a skirt bag and multiple smaller cells or "fingers" that are adjacent to one another and located around the lower periphery of the skirt bag. The skirt bag forms a boundary or curtain around the perimeter of the ACV hull to contain the air cushion. The fingers help to form an air cushion seal between the skirt bag and the underlying terrain, e.g., land or water.
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the underside of a representative hovercraft or ACV including a prior art skirt system 100 with direction of forward travel arrow 1 toward the ACV bow indicated. The prior art skirt system 100 includes a peripheral bag or skirt bag 106 and fingers 110. The skirt bag 106 is attached to the periphery of the underside of an ACV hull 102. The hull 102 may be attached to a deck 108 as shown. The skirt bag 106 may include bow 106a, port 106b, stern 106c, and starboard 106d sections.
The design of a finger 110 may vary, depending on the location of a particular finger on the perimeter of the skirt bag 106. Different finger designs may help to maintain the air cushion as the ACV moves in various directions and over different types of surfaces and terrain. For example, an open-cone or open-finger design is commonly used for fingers 110a located at the bow section 106a and side sections 106b, 106d of the skirt bag 106. An open finger 110a may include an open loop or cone of flexible material that is attached to the peripheral bag 106 along a perimeter. For further example, a closed-cone or closed-finger design is commonly used for fingers located at the stern and stern corner locations of a skirt system, e.g., skirt system 100. Closed fingers 10b may include a closed loop or cone of flexible material, forming a substantially closed air cell or compartment.
The skirt bag 106 is typically inflated through ports or feed ducts that are supplied with air by one or more fans located on the deck 108. The fingers 110 are typically inflated with air from the skirt bag and/or air from the air cushion. Feed holes in the skirt bag may supply air to closed fingers. Open fingers are open to and receive a supply of air from the air cushion. Open fingers may also have local feed holes supplying air from the skirt bag to facilitate inflation.
FIG. 2 shows a profile of a prior art skirt system 200 including a skirt bag 202 connected to a portion of an ACV hull 206. A finger 204 is attached to the skirt bag 202. The direction of forward travel arrow 1 toward the bow of the ACV indicated. The finger 204 is shown as a conventional closed finger design and would normally be located at the stern or stern corners of a skirt bag. The finger 204 may include an inner face or edge 204a and a swept-back finger or cone portion 204b that is formed by the looped edge of the finger or cone material. The inner face 204a may face in a desired direction relative to the skirt and ACV hull, depending on the type of finger and its location on the skirt bag 202, e.g., toward the bow or towards the port and starboard directions (in FIG. 2 inner face 204a is a leading edge). The inner face 204a may form an angle 208 with the underlying terrain or sea surface 10 as shown. The finger 204 design shown may sometimes be referred to as a "swept-back cone" design, in reference to the finger resembling a cone of fabric or flexible material that has been cut in half.
With continued reference to FIG. 2, the stern finger 204 is attached to the skirt bag 202 at an attachment perimeter 214 (only one portion of the attachment perimeter is shown). One of skill in the art will understand that the attachment perimeter 214 will typically have an open-ended shape for an open finger design, e.g., in the shape of the letter "U" or an open oval shape. For a closed finger design, an aft panel forming a back face 204c would normally be included to seal the swept-back cone portion 204b.
FIGS. 3 and 7 show a profile of the prior art skirt system 200 of FIG. 2 with a conventional closed finger 204 that is in a collapsed position. Closed fingers 204 may collapse in certain situations, such as when a water wave or object 10 impacts the leading edge 204a of the finger 204. When the pressure and forces on the inner face 204a exceed the counter pressure and force of the air inside the finger 204, the inner face 204a can become turned inside out thereby creating a scoop 215, e.g., a concave surface with an included angle, as shown.
The creation of a scoop 215 is sometimes referred to as "scooping". When scooping occurs in one or more close fingers, large water-generated forces or water loads can result in a degradation in ACV performance and ultimately either a material or attachment structural failure to a finger and/or adjacent skirt structure. These types of failures are sometimes referred to as finger "blow-outs". Accordingly, FIG. 3 illustrates one problem associated with prior art stern fingers, e.g., finger 204.
FIGS. 4A, 4B, 8, 9 show a prior art ACV skirt system 400 with a finger 404 and planing element or stiffener 414. Planing elements or stiffeners, such as 414, have been used to prevent scooping and related problems, described above, for closed stern fingers or stern finger cones in certain applications. Planing element 414 is attached to a leading edge 404a of the closed finger 404. FIGS. 4A and 8 show the direction of forward movement (arrow 1) toward the bow of ACV and relative to the underlying water or terrain 10 for forward motion of the ACV. FIGS. 4B and 9 show the ACV moving in a reversed direction relative to FIG. 4A, with the ACV movement arrow 3 and underlying terrain, e.g., water, movement indicated by arrow 4.
Stiffeners such as 414 may reduce the occurrence of scooping, however they may introduce other disadvantages for the associated skirt systems. Stiffeners are typically made from multiple bonded layers of skirt fabric or hard plastic. As a result of such construction, cones or fingers with stiffeners may be two to three (or more) times heavier than conventional open-finger designs. Additionally, fingers with stiffeners such as 414 may be more expensive than open-finger designs.
With particular reference to FIGS. 4B and 9, another notable problem associated with the use of stiffeners 414 may be seen. When an ACV having closed fingers 404 with leading edge stiffeners 414 backs up or moves to the stern, the planer element tip 414a can snag on the underlying terrain or water surface 10 as shown. Such snagging of the stiffener tip 414a may increase the moving resistance of the ACV and possibly result in damage to the finger 404 and adjacent structure of the skirt system 400. For example, flagellating remnants of a damaged or blown-out finger with stiffeners may cause damage to adjacent fingers or other portions of the associated skirt system.
FIG. 5 shows the underside of a stern corner of prior art ACV skirt system 500 having fingers with stiffening elements. The direction of water surface flow (arrow 2) is shown and represents the direction of water flow for normal forward motion of the related ACV. The skirt system 500 has a skirt bag (omitted for clarity) with attached fingers 502, 504, 506 including stern fingers 504 and stern corner fingers 506. The fingers 504, 506 include stiffening elements 504a, 506a located at the leading edges.
When stiffening elements 506a are used with stern corner fingers 506, the stiffening elements 506a may twist and undergo a displacement 506b, e.g., either up or down, due to the water surface flow 2 relative to the ACV. The twisting of the stiffeners 506a produces drag on the ACV and stress on adjacent fingers, e.g. stern corner fingers 506. Damage may occur to one or more of the adjacent fingers 506 as a result of such twisting and displacement (see arrow 506b).
Attempts have been made to reinforce stern corner fingers to withstand twisting stresses produced by the forces on stiffener elements. However, these efforts have had only marginal success at increasing finger life and have significantly increased the cost and weight of the fingers.
What are needed therefore are lightweight, inexpensive stern fingers for an air-cushion vehicle (ACV) that are resistant to scooping and snagging. What are further needed are related methods of manufacturing such stern fingers for use with ACV skirt systems.


An image-forming device includes an image-forming unit, a sensor, a screening unit, an excluding unit, and a determining unit. The image-forming unit forms a plurality of marks on an object. The sensor detects a light reflected on the object, the reflected light including a plurality of waveforms. The screening unit screens the plurality of waveforms into a plurality of mark waveforms corresponding to the plurality of marks respectively and a plurality of noise waveforms other than the plurality of mark waveforms. The excluding unit excludes a mark waveform adjacent to the noise waveform from the plurality of mark waveforms. The determining unit determines a position of each mark based on the plurality of mark waveforms from which the mark waveform adjacent to the noise waveform is excluded.

Some image-forming devices well known in the art have a function for correcting registration errors, that is, irregularities in positions at which images are formed on paper. This type of image-forming device first forms a registration pattern or other pattern configured of a plurality of marks on a conveying belt or the like. The image-forming device detects the positions of the marks on the belt with photosensors to determine positional relationships among the marks. Based on these positional relationships, the image-forming device can correct irregularities in image-forming positions.
However, the detection signal received from a photosensor sometimes includes signal waves associated with light reflected off scratches, stains, foreign matter, and the like (hereinafter referred to simply as "scratches and the like") on the belt, for example. Hence, it is possible that the image-forming device will erroneously detect these scratches and the like as marks of the pattern, reducing the accuracy with which the image-forming device can detect the positional relationships of marks.
In light of this problem, one conventional image-forming device disclosed in Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. 2003-98795 attempts to remove signal waves associated with scratches and the like (hereinafter referred to as "noise waves") from the detection signal so as to extract only the signal waves corresponding to marks (hereinafter referred to as "mark waves") by comparing the wave height of each signal wave in the detection signal to a threshold. This image-forming device is also capable of modifying the threshold value.


An aviator suit is provided with a sewn-on channel of hook and eye material which encloses an elongated line that extends to a floor bracket by a shear fastener. The enclosed line prevents snagging on objects within a cockpit and becomes easily removed when the VELCRO gives way during ejection when forces are exerted upon the enclosed channel line. A simplified snubber plug is releasably clamped to the aviator's seat and becomes released after the aviator has cleared a cockpit.

Military aviators are frequently fitted with a leg restraint system which pulls an aviator's legs together during cockpit ejection, thereby preventing physical injury to his limbs.
The most common leg restraint system currently used includes leg garters that must be attached with fittings to the seat leg line system. Sometimes these lines snag on objects within the cockpit or are too long or too short. The result is time-consuming adjustments. Further, the current leg garters include a number of fittings which create undue expense and reliability problems.


A light source that has a small size can provide uniform light at high efficiency and can have a high degree of freedom in design, a method for manufacturing this light source, and a projector having this light source include a solid-state light-emitting chip that supplies G-light, which is light of a predetermined wavelength range, a support, a package mold, and a heat sink that constitute a solid-state light-emitting chip supporting part for supporting the solid-state light-emitting chip, an optical guide that reflects the G-light and thus causes the G-light to exit into an illuminating direction, and a support, which is an optical guide supporting part for supporting the optical guide. A light exiting surface of the solid-state light-emitting chip and a light incident surface of the optical guide are provided at a predetermined spacing. The solid-state light-emitting chip is, for example, an InGaN-based LED flip chip.

Exemplary embodiments relate to a light source having a solid-state light-emitting chip, a method for manufacturing this light source, and a projector having this light source.
In the related art, progress has been made in research and development of light sources, particularly a light source having a solid-state light-emitting device. An example of the solid-state light-emitting device is a light-emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as LED). A structure for higher output from an LED has been proposed (see, for example, Gerard Harbers, Matthijs Keuper, and Steve Paolini, "High power LED illuminators for data and video projectors," (Japan), IDW '02 Proceedings of the Ninth International Display Workshops, Dec. 4-6, 2002). In the LED, in order to efficiently utilize emitted light, light from a solid-state light-emitting chip is refracted by a substantially hemispherical lens and then exits. Also, the space between the solid-state light-emitting chip and the lens is filled with a transparent gel. By using a transparent gel with its index matched with the lens, it is possible to further improve the efficiency of light derivation. Moreover, the light from the LED is converted to substantially collimated light by using a collimating lens or the like. With such a structure, for example, a light source for illuminating a spatial light modulator such as a liquid crystal panel can be provided. It is desirable that the light source for illuminating a spatial light modulator has a small size and supplies light with uniform intensity distribution at high efficiency.

Light source, method for manufacturing light source, and projector


A latch mechanism includes a claw rotatable between a latched position and an unlatched position, and an actuator motor. A toggle link that includes a first end, a second end, and a joint between the first end and the second end of the toggle link has one end attached to the actuator motor. The other end of the toggle link interacting with the claw to rotate the claw between the latched position and the unlatched position. A pawl engages the claw when the claw is in a latched position. A release link is attached between the joint of the toggle link and the pawl.

There are a number of single motor vehicle closure and release door latch systems in use today. Current single motor closure and release latches require sophisticated actuator motor control with bi-directional operation. In addition, current single motor closure and release latches also require complex mechanisms to achieve the functionality. If power should fail during the operation of current single motor closure and release latches, many latch mechanisms require manual intervention to disengage the power closure actuator. Other latch mechanisms use a centrifugal clutch that disconnects the motor from the mechanism in the event of a power failure. Such latch mechanism systems, however, can give the impression of a secured door due to the potentially high backdrive forces of the actuator. Other latch mechanism systems have no manual release function and do not have any means to manage power failure during closure.

Single actuator power close latch mechanism with failsafe


A sexual stimulation apparatus comprising a phallic shaped member having a handle disposed at its base. The handle has a convex surface substantially facing away from the phallic shaped member. The convex surface has at least one projection member extending therefrom. In use, the convex surface sits snugly against the palm and fingers of a user's hand, and the projection member interdigitally engages with the user's hand.

Sexual stimulation apparatus are well known and have been commercially available for many decades. Conventional sexual stimulation apparatus include dildos, vibrators and the like and are typically made from plastic, metal, silicone, rubber or other similar materials. Conventional sexual stimulation apparatus have a straight or curved shaft that is typically shaped to resemble a phallus. The shaft typically does not include a handle and at best, the shaft may include a bulbous end to assist in a user gripping the sexual stimulation apparatus during use.
However, because the shaft of a conventional sexual stimulation apparatus does not include a handle, it is difficult for a user to grip a conventional sexual stimulation apparatus comfortably during use. This can be particularly problematic for women when using conventional sexual stimulation apparatus because of the anatomical position of a woman's vagina in relation to their arms and hands. Thus, a user, and particularly a female user, may experience tension, fatigue, discomfort or pain in their wrist, upper arm, shoulder and/or back when using a conventional sexual stimulation apparatus when masturbating.
Without a handle, a conventional sexual stimulation apparatus is difficult to hold comfortably by a user, and particularly a female user, with their wrist in a natural and comfortable orientation. It is difficult for a female user of a conventional sexual stimulation apparatus to insert the conventional sexual stimulation apparatus comfortably into their own vagina during masturbation and keep their wrist in a natural and comfortable orientation.
US 2002/0188233 (Denyes) describes a vibrating stimulation device, which an individual user cannot easily or comfortably use when masturbating. The shape and configuration of the Denyes vibrating stimulation device requires that a second operator uses the device on their partner. The "gun-shaped" handle of the Denyes device does not provide an individual user with any ergonomic benefits and does not allow an individual user to utilise the "palms down" technique when in use, which allows a single user to access her vagina whilst she is in a comfortable and ergonomically beneficial orientation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,362 (Jacobs) describes an intravaginal glandular stimulation device, which an individual user cannot easily use during masturbation with a "palms down" technique. Whilst the intravaginal glandular stimulation device of Jacobs does include a handle the handle is used merely to "grasp" the device and the handle does not ergonomically contour with the individual user's hand nor does the handle sit snugly against the palm and finger's of the user's hand.
The intravaginal glandular stimulation device of Jacobs is specifically designed for G-Spot induced orgasm and thus clitoral stimulation is not a priority of the Jacobs device. Many women have reported that they find it easier to achieve orgasm when both the vagina and the clitoris are stimulated. The Jacobs device also does not have a definitive end portion and is therefore not intended to be fully inserted into an individual user's vagina or anus. In this way, the Jacobs device is most effective when used by two people simultaneously. The Jacobs device is adapted to simultaneously stimulate two users at once and accordingly has two insertable ends.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sexual stimulation apparatus which goes at least some way towards overcoming or minimising the prior art problems or limitations outlined above or at least providing an alternative thereto.


A process for recovering quantities of carbonyl compound material from spent solvent-in-water emulsions derived from paint overspray treatment and capture systems in which the spent solvent-in-water emulsion is removed from the paint overspray treatment and capture system and fed into a reaction vessel. The reaction vessel employed includes an outer housing defining a reaction chamber and a plurality of mixing blades movably positioned in the reaction chamber. The surface area of the mixing blades are maintained at a temperature sufficient to generate volatilized carbonyl compound. The interior of the reaction vessel is maintained under a vacuum. The spent solvent-in-water emulsion is processed in the reaction vessel for an interval sufficient to generate volatilized carbonyl compound. The generated volatilized carbonyl compound material is removed from the reaction vessel for recycle and reuse and the residual solid material remaining in the reaction vessel after generation of the volatilized carbonyl compound material is removed. The spent solvent-in-water emulsion which can be treated by the solvent recovery process of the present invention contains carbonyl compounds selected from the group consisting of secondary alcohol esters, secondary alcohol ester derivatives, and mixtures thereof and has a boiling point of at least 150.degree. C., a vapor pressure between about 0.5 Torr at 20.degree. C. The spent solvent-in-water emulsion processed by the carbonyl recovery method can either be previously dewatered to produce a spent solvent-in-water emulsion material with little or no water remaining or can be processed with most or all of the water portion of the emulsion present. In such instances, the water portion may be con-generated with the carbonyl compound.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to a process for recovering volatile organic materials consisting essentially of carbonyl compounds from spent solvent-in-water emulsions derived from paint overspray treatment and capture systems. More specifically, this invention pertains to a process whereby carbonyl compounds are recovered from spent solvent-in-water emulsions derived from paint overspray treatment and capture systems in a manner which permits their successful reuse.
2. Discussion of the Relevant Art
Operation of paint spray booths using solvent-in-water emulsions which permit the collection of hydrocarbon emissions from paint solvents, solubilizing various types of paints, and dispersion and collection of both solubilized and non-solubilized solids has been set forth in numerous references. Discussion of formulations employing carbonyl compounds in solvent-in-water emulsions for use in paint spray booths is discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,198,143; 5,397,496, 5,200,104 and 5,254,256 all to Zuerner et al, the specifications of which are incorporated by reference in this document.
Solvent-in-water emulsions employed in the paint spray booths serve as a replacement for a conventional water system and act as a collection medium for hydrocarbon vapors and for paint overspray. The paint overspray contacts the solvent-in-water circulating in the paint spray booth. The material is solubilized and the paint solids are dispersed within the solvent-in-water emulsion. The paint solids are recirculated within the solvent-in-water emulsion until the solvent-in-water emulsion is separated from the paint spray booth system. Spent solvent-in-water emulsions containing paint solids are chemically broken or allowed to break into separate phases as parts of the recovery process. These separated phases are generally an organic phase containing solubilized paint solids and an aqueous phase. The separated phases are then treated and reused or disposed of as appropriate. For instance, Patzelt U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,691 suggests the use of recovered aqueous portions of spent emulsion in recycled solvent-in-water emulsion materials. However, no effective method of direct, efficient recovery of the organic solvent portion of spent solvent-in-water emulsions has been discovered to date.
It is well-accepted that recovery of the organic solvent component from spent solvent-in-water emulsions derived from the overspray treatment and capture system is necessary and desirable to maximize efficiency and economy in the overall paint overspray treatment process. The recovered organic solvent component should be suitable for reuse in the paint overspray treatment and capture system. However a significant portion of the organic solvent component has remained unrecoverable due to the presence of and interaction with paint solids during the recovery process. The paint solids in the spent emulsion make it difficult to effectively recover any significant amount of relatively pure organic solvent. Separation of the organic solvent component from the paint solids was so difficult because a large portion of the solvent remained bonded with the paint solids and was essentially non-recoverable.
Various techniques have been suggested for separating solvent from spent solvent-in-water emulsions derived from paint overspray treatment and capture systems. In these techniques, the presence of paint solids derived from the paint overspray treatment system creates problems of solvent retention and thermal decomposition of the paint solids during recovery processes. Temperatures necessary to accomplish volatilization of the organic solvent have resulted in uneven solidification of the paint solids thereby trapping a significant amount of the organic solvent in the solidifying paint solids mass. Additionally, the processing temperatures necessary to volatilize the organic solvent has also resulted in thermal decomposition of the paint solids. The thermally decomposed solids are difficult not only to remove from any reaction vessel but also to handle once removed.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a process whereby organic carbonyl compound materials can be efficiently and successfully recovered from spent solvent-in-water emulsion systems derived from paint overspray treatment and capture systems. It is also desirable to provide a process in which carbonyl compound materials such as secondary alcohol esters and secondary alcohol ester derivatives can be recovered in a continuous manner without causing the thermal decomposition of remaining solid compounds.

Method for recovering a volatile organic material consisting essentially of carbonyl compounds from solvent-in-water emulsions derived from paint overspray treatment and capture systems


Electrochromic film with the general formula: ApBqOxXy wherein: —A is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Ni, Ir, Cr, V, Mn, Fe, W, Mo, Ti, Co, Ce, Pr and Hf; —B is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Nb, Al, Zr, Ta and Si; —O is oxygen; —X is an element from the group consisting of: H, F and N; and the ratio q/p is greater than 0.2 and less than 3.5, x is greater than 0.5 (p+q) and less than 5 (p+q), and y is equal to or greater than 0 and less than 2x. The film may further comprise an amount of Li, Na or K. The invention further relates to an electrochromic device comprising at least one layer of said electrochromic film.

Today, electrochromic devices are mainly commercially available as dimable mirrors in cars. However, in a near future electrochromic devices are expected to be widely used in a large variety of applications such as displays for computers and mobile phones, switchable windows, variable thermal emittance devices etc.
A typical electrochromic device is a thin film multilayer, comprising a cathode and an anode, separated by an ion conductor, and covered by transparent electron conductors on both outer sides. Such a thin film stack may be deposited on one substrate, if the ion conductor is a thin film (an all-thin-film device), or embedded between two substrates if the ion conductor is a polymer (laminated device). Such a device changes its optical transmittance from transparent to colored and back upon charge transfer between the anode and the cathode. It is required that both the anode and the cathode have suitable optical properties, i.e., are sufficiently transparent in the bleached state and sufficiently dark in the colored state. An extensive survey on electrochromic materials and devices can be found in C. G. Granqvist, Handbook of inorganic electrochromic materials, Elsevier, 1995.
In an electrochromic device—such as a window, a mirror, or a light reducing filter—it is desirable that the electrochromic thin film stack is not visually noticeable when it is in its bleached state. However, many known inorganic electrochromic oxide films, such as the oxides of nickel, iridium, and vanadium, have the drawback of not being perfectly colorless in their maximum transparent state; the films appear slightly yellow-green-brownish due to reduced transmittance (increased absorptance) in the wavelength range below 500 nm.
Examples of earlier work on increased transmittance in the bleached state are U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,860, concerning reduction of absorption in iridium oxide by addition of nitrogen, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,177, relating to increase of transmittance by applying an anti-reflecting layer on the outer side of the electrochromic device. For devices based on organic electrochromic materials, reduction of residual color in the bleached state is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,188,505.

Electrochromic film and device comprising the same


A rear light is a light disposed in a rear portion of a vehicle, and includes: a light source; a light-transmitting plate that guides incident light from the light source; and a dot portion that is disposed on the light-transmitting plate and reflects incident light to the outside of the vehicle with different reflection intensities depending on positions on the light-transmitting plate.

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle light.
A display board including a light source and a light guide board has been used to date for, for example, a character illuminated type license plate of a vehicle.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 2015-39912 describes a display board in which a dot group constituted by a large number of recesses and projections is provided on a surface of a transparent light guide board facing a reflector such that the surface area of the dots increases as the distance form a light source increases, and minute projections and recesses are formed on the front surfaces of the dots and on the back surfaces of the light guide board such that numbers and characters on a license plate can be uniformly illuminated.
It is generally known that light-emission intensity decreases as the distance from the light source increases. In some cases of a vehicle light, for example, a structure in which light emission intensity increases at an intended position independently of the distance from the light source is demanded under the request for aesthetic design.


A wireless service provider identifies a mobile computing device capable of short-range wireless communication and in an agreement to receive service from a cellular network. The wireless service provider provides, to the mobile computing device, terms for a third party computing device to accept in order to gain access to the cellular network via the mobile computing device. In response to a third party computing device agreeing to the terms, the wireless service provider indicates to the mobile computing device to allow the third party computing device to access the cellular network via the mobile computing device.

A network service provider is a business organization that sells bandwidth or network access by providing direct backbone access to the Internet and usually access to its network access points. A wireless service provider (also referred to as a cellular company, mobile network operator, wireless carrier, or mobile network carrier) is a type of network service provider that owns or controls elements necessary to sell and deliver services to an end user including, in a non-exhaustive list, radio spectrum allocation, wireless network infrastructure, back haul infrastructure, and billing. Wireless service providers provide wireless communications services to end users, typically through a cellular network.
A cellular network is a radio network using varying radio frequencies over land areas called cells. Each cell is served by at least one fixed location transceiver (e.g., radio/cell tower). Radio waves are used to transfer signals between the fixed location transceiver and a cellular phone or device. The transceiver may pass signals along to other cellular capable devices within the cell, to another transceiver, or to a wired network connection. Many mobile computing devices, such as tablet computers and smartphones, are a capable of accessing a cellular network. Wireless service providers provide this access to registered mobile computing devices, typically under terms of a wireless contract. The cell tower typically acts as the network access point to the mobile computing device.
However, not all computing devices are capable of accessing a cellular network. For example, many laptops only support Wi-Fi wireless technology. Wi-Fi has a much shorter wireless range determined by wireless network access points (or hotspots), such as wireless routers, connected on the back end to an adjacent wired LAN. Mobile computing devices that are capable of connecting to a cellular network are often additionally capable of short range wireless communication, for example through Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi also allows communications directly from one computing device to another without an access point intermediary. This is called ad hoc Wi-Fi transmission. In this manner, a wireless computing device can share their cellular Internet connection using ad-hoc Wi-Fi transmission, becoming hotspots or "virtual routers."

International Business Machines Corporation


A 3-D convolutional autoencoder for low-dose CT via transfer learning from a 2-D trained network is described, A machine learning method for low dose computed tomography (LDCT) image correction is provided. The method includes training, by a training circuitry, a neural network (NN) based, at least in part, on two-dimensional (2-D) training data. The 2-D training data includes a plurality of 2-D training image pairs. Each 2-D image pair includes one training input image and one corresponding target output image. The training includes adjusting at least one of a plurality of 2-D weights based, at least in part, on an objective function. The method further includes refining, by the training circuitry, the NN based, at least in part, on three-dimensional (3-D) training data. The 3-D training data includes a plurality of 3-D training image pairs. Each 3-D training image pair includes a plurality of adjacent 2-D training input images and at least one corresponding target output image. The refining includes adjusting at least one of a plurality of 3-D weights based, at least in part, on the plurality of 2-D weights and based, at least in part, on the objective function. The plurality of 2-D weights includes the at least one adjusted 2-D weight.

Computed tomography (CT), utilizing x-ray radiation to create internal images of the body, is a widely used imaging modality in clinical, industrial and other applications. The widespread use of CT has raised public concern that, while CT helps a large number of patients, additional cancer cases may be induced by CT-related x-ray radiation. Although CT provides a benefit in noninvasive imaging, such as for cancer screening, decreasing the radiation dose is desirable. However, reducing the radiation dose may increase noise and/or artifacts in reconstructed CT images. Such noise and/or artifacts may adversely affect diagnostic performance.


An ink feeding apparatus including an ink tube enabling ink to flow between an ink tank and an image recording unit, and an ink feeding mechanism having a bellows pump interposed in the ink tube. The bellows pump includes a bellows body whose internal volume changes by expanding and contracting in a substantially vertical direction, and a connection port provided above the bellows body to connect the bellows body and the ink tube. An angle a formed upward by an upper surface inside a ridge fold portion of the bellows body with respect to a substantially horizontal direction and an angle b formed downward by an lower surface inside a ridge fold portion with respect to a substantially horizontal direction are related as 0°≦angle b<angle a<90°. Therefore, bubbles in the bellows pump are discharged swiftly and reliably.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink feeding apparatus for feeding ink supplied from an ink tank through an ink path to an ink jet recording head, and in particular, relates to an ink feeding apparatus using a bellows pump as an ink feeding mechanism. The present invention also relates to an ink jet recording apparatus building in such an ink feeding apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, an image recording apparatus of a so-called ink jet type has been known, that records images on a recording paper by allowing ink droplets to jet from a recording head and impact on the recording paper. In such an ink jet recording apparatus, a configuration in which ink is supplied to the recording head from an ink tank for storing ink through a predetermined ink path, is adopted.
In such conventional ink jet recording apparatus, however, there is a problem of bubbles generated in the ink path in an ink supply path. Bubbles are generated by various cause. For example, there may be such a case where gas dissolved in ink appears as bubbles due to change of temperature, or exterior air reaches the ink path by penetrating an ink tube or the like. In any case, bubbles generated in the ink path will lead to poor ink jetting from the recording head.
In a conventional ink jet recording apparatus as described above, an invention has been proposed, which makes possible to remove bubbles generated in the ink path together with ink by a sucking operation called purge or the like (See, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H06-8473 (1996)). Also, a technology of removing bubbles in the ink path while jetting ink from the recording head by driving a pump provided in the ink path, has been proposed.
In the aforementioned conventional technology, a bellows pump has been known as a pump to be provided in the ink path. The bellows pump generates pumping pressure by deforming a bellows-shaped tubular body to expand and contract. Even in such a bellows pump, bubbles may be generated in ink resulting from change of temperature or the like. When bubbles should grow making such generated bubbles a core thereof, ink flows in the ink path may be blocked, or poor ink jetting may be caused by bubbles reaching the recording head. Therefore, in the bellows pump, it is desirable that bubbles are not generated, and even if bubbles are generated, it is desirable that they are removed before growing larger.

Ink feeding apparatus and ink jet recording apparatus


This invention relates to coatings for wood and improvement in the surface properties of cured coatings of the invention. The invention further relates to a method for improving at least one property such as mechanical, optical or a combination thereof and to a process for preparing a nanocrystalline cellulose-containing hydrodispersible, hydrosoluble and hydrophobic wood coating.

Inorganic reinforcing agents are added to coatings with the aim of improving various properties including mechanical properties such as abrasion, scratch and impact resistance as well as adhesion. Optical properties, such as gloss, can also be modified by the addition of certain inorganic materials. The main materials used in order to modify the properties of coatings are silica (fumed or crystalline), aluminum oxide, calcium carbonate and titanium dioxide. Some of these materials are not easily dispersible in aqueous mediums and they have a certain level of toxicity.

Coatings containing nanocrystalline cellulose, processes for preparation and use thereof


A bicycle derailleur is provided with a chain guide that basically includes inner and outer guide plates, a guide pulley and a tension pulley. The tension pulley is rotatable about a rotation axis between free ends of the guide plates. The tension pulley has an annular recess disposed about the rotation axis to form a projection. The inner guide plate has a guide section with a radially outermost edge. Preferably, the outermost edge of the guide section is located in the annular recess, and the projection projects axially further from a center plane of the tension pulley than the outermost edge. Preferably, the chain guide includes a dust cap coupled between the inner guide plate and the tension pulley. Preferably, the outermost edge of the guide section is located radially inwardly of the projection and radially outwardly of the annular portion of the dust cap.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a bicycle derailleur. More specifically, the present invention relates to a rear bicycle derailleur having an inner plate and tension pulley configured to prevent jamming of the derailleur when pushed into a moving bicycle wheel.
2. Background Information
Bicycling is becoming an increasingly more popular form of recreation as well as a means of transportation. Moreover, bicycling has become a very popular competitive sport for both amateurs and professionals. Whether the bicycle is used for recreation, transportation or competition, the bicycle industry is constantly improving the various components of the bicycle. One component that has been extensively redesigned is the bicycle derailleur.
Typically, a bicycle derailleur has a base member and a chain guide movably coupled to the base member via a linkage assembly. The base member is coupled to the frame of the bicycle. The chain guide is configured to move the chain laterally over a plurality of rear sprockets. A spring typically biases the chain guide to an innermost or outermost position relative to the sprockets. A Bowden-type control cable with an outer sheath and an inner wire is typically coupled to the derailleur and to a conventional shift control device.
The chain guide of a front derailleur includes a pair of shift plates arranged to move the chain laterally back and forth. The front derailleur is usually coupled to the seat tube of the frame. On the other, the rear derailleur is coupled to the rear triangle of the bicycle frame adjacent the rear wheel. The chain guide of the rear derailleur usually includes a pair of guide plates with a guide pulley and a tension pulley mounted between the guide plates. The chain is wrapped around both pulleys in an S-shaped manner between the guide plates in order to efficiently guide the chain to the appropriate sprocket during shifting and in order to appropriately tension the chain.
Due to the configuration of typical rear derailleurs, obstructions such as brush, debris, rocks, branches or the like sometimes contact them and cause the chain guide to move toward the rear wheel. If a sufficient force is applied to the rear derailleur, the inner chain guide plate and/or the tension pulley can be pushed into the rear wheel. In particular, if a sufficient force is applied to the chain guide by an obstruction, the inner chain guide plate and/or the tension pulley can contact the spokes of the rear wheel. Such contact can jam the rear wheel and/or the rear derailleur, resulting in decreased riding/shifting performance.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved bicycle derailleur. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.