In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an abrasion resistant ceramic insulation tile. The insulation tile is provided with a porous ceramic material having a surface. The insulation tile is further provided with a preceramic polymer which is permeated through the surface. The preceramic polymer forms an integral ceramic matrix with the porous ceramic material upon pyrolyzation.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a ceramic tile having improved abrasion resistance and a method for applying an abrasion resistant layer. Specifically, it relates to ceramic insulation tiles used in high-temperature aircraft applications to protect metallic structure from hot engine exhaust.
2. Background Art
Ceramic insulation tiles are used in aircraft applications to protect the aircraft metallic structure from high temperature engine exhaust. Current insulation tiles provide adequate protection from high temperatures, but not from the abrasion caused by high velocity engine exhaust gases and associated erodents. Because high temperature insulation tile is composed of a porous lightweight ceramic, however, abrasion is particularly damaging to the physical integrity of the ceramic tile.
For example, engine exhaust gases such as CO.sub.2, O.sub.2, CO, and unburned fuel at high flow rates can abrade and erode insulation tile. Further, abrasion can arise from airborne particulate matter related to aircraft operation such as sand, dirt, soot, engine coatings, and turbine blade particles. Therefore a means of improving the abrasion resistance of such insulation tiles to extend the life of such tiles and reduce the cost of operation of the related aircraft is required.
Current methods of increasing the abrasion resistance of insulation tiles are costly and labor intensive. For example, one method is the chemical vapor deposition of SiC onto such tiles. This approach is costly and has limited improvements in abrasion resistance. Another approach is to spray a glass frit on the tile in multiple steps. This method requires extensive training of production personnel, is costly and very labor intensive. Further, the results of this process may not be highly reproducible because of the many manually controlled steps involved in the process.
Thus, one object of the invention is to provide a ceramic insulation tile that is resistant to abrasion from the types of gas flow and erodents present in high temperature aircraft operation.
Another object of the invention is to provide an abrasion resistant ceramic insulation tile that is low in cost and can be made with a process that is not labor intensive.
Another object of the invention is to provide a process to make an abrasion resistant ceramic insulation tile that is uncomplicated and, therefore, highly reproducible. This object will also reduce the cost of the resulting tile.
A further object of the invention is to provide an abrasion resistant ceramic insulation tile that is lightweight, which object is a mission critical parameter on all modern aircraft for performance and economy of operation.

Abrasion resistant ceramic insulation tile and method


A system for facilitating electronic transfer of funds includes a transfer administrator in communication with a transferor institution, one or more intermediary institution, and a transferee institution, the transferor institution having an account at the one or more intermediary institution. The transfer administrator may be configured to receive an incoming payment request designating said transferor institution, a quantity of funds to be transferred, and the transferee institution. The transfer administrator generates and issues a translated payment order based at least in part on the incoming payment request and configured to accomplish a transfer among the transferor institution, the one or more intermediary institution, and the transferee institution. Finally, the transfer administrator may facilitate processing of a balancing payment among the transferor institution, the one or more intermediary institution, and the transferee institution.

In today's world, electronic funds transfers have become increasingly common. Where a single financial institution has an account relationship with both a transferor, i.e., provider, and a transferee, i.e., recipient, of transferred funds, completing an electronic transfer of funds is a relatively simple task. This is because the single financial institution involved has sufficient authority to accomplish all the steps necessary to complete the transfer, e.g., both the authority to debit an account of the transferor and the authority to credit an account of the transferee.
Yet, in many situations, no single financial institution exists that has these necessary account relationships with both the transferor and the transferee. The more common case is that the transferor's financial institution is distinct from the transferee's financial institution, creating a need for the establishment of a relationship between these institutions. For example, a transferor may have an account relationship with a first institution while a transferee has an account relationship with a second institution. The first institution, however, may not have any established relationship with the second institution.
To address this need, it has become common for financial institutions to employ one or more intermediary, i.e., correspondent, institutions. In such cases, the intermediary institution provides a mechanism through which a transferor's institution and a transferee's institution may reliably ensure the debiting of an account of the transferor, the crediting of an account of the transferee, and appropriate balancing transactions between the institutions, i.e., the completion of the electronic funds transfer. Thus the intermediary institution effectively bridges the gap between the institutions that have the relationships with the transferor and the transferee.
Within the United States, most independent financial institutions maintain an account relationship with one of the Federal Reserve Banks, and are thus referred to as Federal Reserve member institutions. Through the Federal Reserve Bank system, Federal Reserve Banks are able to serve as intermediary institutions, thus providing the bridging function among Federal Reserve member institutions. Accordingly, where a transferor has an account relationship with a first institution that also has an account relationship with one of the Federal Reserve Banks, the first institution may cooperate with the Federal Reserve Bank to accomplish a transfer of funds to any other institution that also has a relationship with any of the Federal Reserve Banks. Thus, the transferor may electronically transfer funds to any transferee so long as that transferee also has an account relationship with a Federal Reserve member institution.
To facilitate automated processing of such transactions, the Federal Reserve Banks have established a communication protocol known as the Fedwire Funds Transfer Protocol. This protocol is described in the Fedwire Funds Transfer Reference Card, published by Federal Reserve Financial Services effective Jul. 15, 2002 and is hereby incorporated by reference for background purposes. In addition, most member institutions have developed infrastructures within their institutions to automate and simplify the processing of Fedwire transactions. For example, member institutions may integrate their internal accounting systems with the Fedwire messaging, wiring, and settlement instructions to eliminate manual ledger entering, e.g., debiting and crediting, and translating of messages.
Unfortunately, not all institutions are able to, or choose to, use one of the Federal Reserve Banks as an intermediary. For example, financial institutions located entirely outside the United States rarely enjoy status as members of the Federal Reserve system. Similarly, a small but significant minority of institutions within the United States maintain no account affiliation with any of the Federal Reserve Banks. As a result, such institutions may not possess an established infrastructure or may not otherwise be equipped to efficiently use the Fedwire Funds Transfer Protocol.
Another drawback of the Federal Reserve system is that it does not facilitate provision of meaningful customer service when transferring funds from a member institution to a non-member institution. Fedwire does not provide any mechanism for tracking and reporting on the status of transactions once they have cleared the Fedwire system. For example, where a transferor institution desires to transfer funds through Fedwire to another U.S. institution, e.g., so that the second U.S. institution may be able to accommodate a further transfer to a foreign institution, the use of Fedwire will effectively insulate the transferor institution from the foreign institution. Put another way, when a transferor institution relies on Fedwire, no standardized or automated mechanism exists for the transferor institution to acquire information regarding the status of the terminal portion of the transfer (the portion of the transfer from the second U.S. institution to the foreign institution). In such cases, transferors who may have no relationship with the ultimate transferee institution may not have access to any convenient mechanism for investigating where or why a transfer failed. This difficulty can be significant where the transferee institution is located in a foreign country.
In many cases, financial institutions that cooperate to accomplish electronic funds transfers charge fees for their services. In some cases, it may be desirable that such fees be waived, refunded, or credited, either wholly or partially, or that other rewards be offered based on a cooperating institution's compliance with a prescribed set of criteria, such as transaction volume, transaction frequency, membership, affiliation, use of a desired protocol, and the like. As financial institutions increase the extent to which they engage in electronic funds transfers, it becomes increasingly important to distinguish those electronic funds transfers that may participate in such incentive offerings from those that are exempt from participating in such incentive offerings. As used herein, the phrase "participating transfer order" refers to an electronic funds transfer order that enables one or more of the associated institutions to substantially participate in incentive offerings due to compliance with prescribed criteria such as those mentioned above. Where use of a specific protocol or messaging system enables an institution to substantially participate in incentive offerings, that system or protocol is described as a "participating electronic funds transfer protocol." Accordingly, as used herein, the phrase "participating transfer" refers to an electronic funds transfer that substantially qualifies for incentives due to its compliance with prescribed criteria such as those mentioned above.
Contrariwise, where use of a specific protocol or messaging system causes the sending institution to be substantially excluded from incentive offerings, that system or protocol is described as an "exempt electronic funds transfer protocol." Accordingly, as also used herein, the phrase "exempt payment request" refers to an electronic funds transfer request that causes the transferor, i.e., sending, institution to be substantially excluded from incentive offerings due to its use of an exempt electronic funds transfer protocol. Similarly, as used herein, the phrase "exempt transfer" refers to an electronic funds transfer that substantially precludes incentives due to its use of an exempt electronic funds transfer protocol.
It should be noted that individual countries, or groups of countries, may have an established infrastructure, and/or a standardized mechanism, for accomplishing electronic funds transfers among financial institutions. For example, in the United States, financial institutions predominantly rely upon the Fedwire Funds Transfer Protocol discussed above to accomplish money transfers among financial institutions where both the transferor institution and the transferee institution are Federal Reserve member institutions. Use of the Fedwire Funds Transfer Protocol generally precludes participation in incentive offerings (i.e., Fedwire is an exempt electronic funds transfer protocol). Use of the Fedwire Funds Transfer Protocol does, however, provide for settlement of the transaction. Consequently, when the Fedwire system is used, messaging and settlement occur simultaneously with the sending of the Fedwire message, and no intermediary institution, other than the Federal Reserve Banks, is involved.
As shown in FIG. 1, transfers accomplished using the Fedwire payment system 100 typically involve a transferor institution 110 and a transferee institution 130. Transfers accomplished using the Fedwire payment system 100 may also involve one or more of the Federal Reserve Banks acting as an intermediary institution 140. Typically, a transferor 101 communicates a request with corresponding value 105 to a transferor institution 110. It should be noted that the value may be delivered by the transferor 101 to the transferor institution 110 as cash, commercial paper, or sufficient information to identify an account from which sufficient funds may be drawn. In addition to delivering funds, or identifying the source of funds, to be transferred, the transfer request 105 typically identifies a transferee institution 130, a quantity of funds to be transferred, a transferee 190, and may also identify a specific transferee's account 190 at the transferee institution 130.
In response to the transfer request 105, the transferor institution 110 may retrieve information from a database 111, such as a banker's almanac or other similar database, to identify and select an intermediary institution 140 that has an account relationship with the transferee institution 130. Using this information, the transferor institution 110 may initiate the transfer through the appropriate intermediary institution 140 using whatever protocol the intermediary institution 140 requires, e.g., the Fedwire protocol, by communicating one or more payment order 115 to the intermediary institution 140.
Based on the payment order 115, the intermediary institution 140 provides value 135 to the transferee institution 130, and the transferee institution 130 provides a corresponding amount of value 145 to the transferee 190. It should be noted that value may be provided by delivering cash, issuing commercial paper, crediting an account of a recipient, or other means known in the art.
As discussed herein, there are a variety of transfer systems and associated communication protocols currently in use throughout the world, e.g., Fedwire, SWIFT, CHIPS, ACH. In general, these transfer systems and/or protocols allow financial institutions to transfer funds on their own behalf or on behalf of their customers. Such transfers may result from, for example, trades of federal funds and other interbank transactions, purchases, sales of securities, or time-sensitive payments. Although the Fedwire system accommodates transfers by telephone and other conventional forms of communication, most transactions are accomplished through on-line communications using computer systems. For more information on the Federal Reserve system, see The Federal Reserve System—Purposes and Function, Eighth Edition, December 1994 (Library of Congress 39-26719), which is hereby incorporated by reference for background purposes.
While domestic electronic funds transfer systems and protocols such as Fedwire are used extensively to accomplish electronic funds transfers within their associated networks of affiliated institutions, e.g., members of the Federal Reserve system, they do not adequately accommodate transfers of money among financial institutions where the transferor financial institution and the transferee financial institution are not affiliated with such a network of institutions, particularly in the case of international funds transfers. In addition, many domestic electronic funds transfer systems do not typically provide any rewards, rebates, refunds, credits or other types of incentives for their use. Thus, financial institutions using domestic transfer systems such as Fedwire are typically limited to conducting only domestic, exempt electronic funds transfers.
As used herein, the term "domestic electronic funds transfer" refers to an electronic funds transfer where both the transferor and the transferee and/or their respective financial accounts and/or financial institutions are situated within a single nation (e.g., the United States). Similarly, as used herein, the terms "domestic electronic funds transfer protocol" and "domestic electronic funds transfer system" refer to systems and protocols for accomplishing domestic electronic funds transfers (e.g., Fedwire and its counterparts operated within the United States).
To facilitate transfers of money among financial institutions where it is impossible or undesirable to accomplish transactions using only a single domestic and/or exempt system such as Fedwire (e.g., where the transferor institution and the transferee institution are located in different nations and/or where the transferee institution otherwise discourages or precludes use of Fedwire or any other domestic or exempt protocol), various international and/or participating electronic funds transfer systems have been developed. For example, the Society of Worldwide International Financial Telecommunications has developed a secure communication system utilized among institutions, known as the SWIFT messaging system (protocol). Many foreign financial institutions utilize the SWIFT protocol because it facilitates, and is widely accepted for conducting, international transfers. In addition, many institutions also desire to use the SWIFT protocol to gain access to incentives not available in conjunction with Fedwire (i.e., SWIFT is a participating electronic funds transfer protocol).
It should be noted, however, that unlike Fedwire, many funds transfer systems and/or protocols may not necessarily provide for settlement, i.e. may not include payment to balance the funds transfer. For example, SWIFT is a purely messaging protocol and does not currently provide settlement capability. Accordingly, when a transferor institution sends a SWIFT message to an intermediary institution or directly to a transferee institution, the transferor must also provide a means for balancing the transfer, i.e., must provide some form of value to the transferee institution. As used herein, electronic funds transfer protocols that provide for settlement are referred to as "settling protocols," and electronic funds transfer protocols that do not provide for settlement are referred to as "non-settling protocols."
As briefly mentioned above, in addition to facilitating international transfers, use of the SWIFT protocol may enable financial institutions to access various incentives. For example, in accordance with a rebate process known as a benededuct, intermediary institutions using the SWIFT protocol may rebate a portion of the fees charged to the other institutions if, for example, a pre-determined transaction volume through the intermediary institution is reached. While it should be noted that a wide variety of incentive mechanisms are possible, an exemplary scheme shifts part or all of the liability for the fees associated with a particular transfer from the transferor institution to the transferee institution. In accordance with this scheme, fees charged by the transferor institution may be collected by the intermediary institution via automatic deduction from the proceeds to be paid to the transferee. Other schemes may enable the transferor and/or transferee institutions to share in the fees collected by the intermediary institution. Thus, financial institutions using such incentive providing transfer systems are participating institutions, and the transfers they conduct are participating transfers. It should be noted once again, however, that the Fedwire system does not accommodate such sharing of fees among the participating institutions, and is, thus, an exempt funds transfer system.
Typically, financial institutions adopt a single electronic finds transfer protocol and develop their infrastructures to support use of that protocol, e.g., Fedwire. Despite the advantages offered by the SWIFT system and other participating systems, the vast majority of financial institutions in the United States have adopted and established infrastructures based on the Fedwire protocol and have elected to not automate their use of the SWIFT communications system or any other incentive-offering system. Thus, these institutions typically may automatically transmit only exempt electronic funds transfer orders. Moreover, often as a result of insufficiently trained staff or under-developed infrastructures, many of those institutions that could otherwise manually issue participating transfers, nevertheless, fail to comply with formalities, e.g., they fail to properly prepare SWIFT-formatted payment orders, causing those transfers to also be non-participating, i.e., exempt, transfers.
To effect an international transaction in the most advantageous manner, it is typically necessary or desirable to use an intermediary institution that is both situated in the country of the transferor institution and equipped with an international network. Most major international institutions, and domestic intermediary institutions with full international networks and capabilities, however, have payments/communications software and hardware that are based on, and therefore require use of, a participating protocol, e.g., the SWIFT protocol. Thus, these institutions are not equipped to accommodate common exempt or domestic transfer protocols such as Fedwire. For this reason, it is currently difficult and inefficient for financial institutions in the United States who may have adopted and established infrastructures based on an exempt domestic protocol such as Fedwire to use a participating (e.g., SWIFT-based) intermediary institution to accomplish international transfers. As a result, with respect to international payments or transactions with an international connection (i.e., the transferee is outside the country of the transferor), exempt institutions typically cannot adequately access the processing capabilities, favorable cost/pricing, reconciliation services, inquiry services, and/or other advantages typically enjoyed by other intermediary institutions, placing exempt institutions at a disadvantage relative to participating institutions.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a system and method for facilitating electronic funds transfers that would permit a transferor's institution to use its preferred electronic funds transfer system and/or protocol while also accommodating use of an appropriate funds transfer protocol and/or system according to the preferences of an intermediary institution or a transferee's institution. It would further be advantageous to have a system and method that would enable financial institutions transmitting exempt funds transfers to continue to use their current exempt funds transfer infrastructures, e.g., Fedwire, while nevertheless enjoying the benefits of participating transfers. It would further be advantageous to have a system and method for facilitating electronic funds transfers that would accommodate an exempt payment request while accessing the benefits associated with participating payment orders by including the ability to automatically generate participating payment orders based at least in part on the exempt payment request. It would further be advantageous to have a system and method for facilitating electronic funds transfers that would accommodate use of non-settling protocols by providing a convenient means for settling such transfers.

System and method for facilitating electronic transfer of funds


An access method for adjusting variable power in the CDMA mobile communication system includes obtaining acquisition information through receiving a prefix of a physical random access channel, and an access prefix and a conflict detection prefix of a physical common packet channel and evaluating quality, respectively; performing precise control of transmission power of a message section of the physical random access channel, and the conflict detection prefix, a power control prefix, and a message section of the physical common packet channel; transmitting a control indication of the precise control; and transmitting the message section of the physical random access channel, and the conflict detection prefix, the power control prefix, and the message section of the physical common packet channel by using a value among a plurality of power bias values.

In the access technology of the radio communication, there is an access method based on the fast indication. The burst data of the access can often be divided into several sections, the next section of the information is transmitted normally only when the responses of the data in the preceding sections (For example, an acquisition response, and the like) have been received. Normally, this type of responses only has responses with two values of 1 and −1, or with three values of 1, −1, and 0. Wherein, only one value, for example 1, is used for the indication acquired successfully and allowed to access. Thus, the more precise control function can not be sufficient.
Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in the access of the physical random access channel (PRACH) and the physical common packet channel (PCPCH) of the up channels in WCDMA, the fast indication method is used for indicating the prefix acquisition situation. For the physical random access channel (PRACH), the acquisition indication channel (AICH) is used to indicate the acquisition on the down link. For PCHCH, the access prefix acquisition indication channel (AP-ACH) and the conflict detection/channel assignment indication channel (CD/CA-ICH) are used. For the physical random access channel (PRACH), a value evaluated by the open loop power is firstly used by the user equipment as the transmission prefix of the initial transmission power. If the acquisition indication information of the down link acquisition indication channel (AICH) has not been received (or the received acquisition indication information is 0), then another prefix will continuously be transmitted subsequently by adding power ΔP0. If the received acquisition indication is −1, then it will exit the procedure and report to the upper layer. If the received acquisition indication is 1, then the information section will be transmitted by using a preamble power bias ΔPp-m corresponding to the last successful access.
In this way, because an error may be reach +/−12 dB under an extreme situation of the open loop power evaluation, and considering the throughput of the physical random access channel (PRACH), ΔP0 being not taken very small, and the affect of the channel fading, AP power which is accessed successfully at last and the acquisition probability at the said power may change significantly. If this is taken as a reference power to transmit the signals of the information section by increasing the power bias ΔPp−m (once this parameter is assigned by the high layer, all of the user equipment will use this fix parameter in a long period unless reassigning), the variation range of the power of the information section may also be very large, causing the comprehensive performance of accessing the entire physical random access channel (PRACH) worse.
The access procedure for the physical common packet channel (PCPCH) is slightly similar as that of the physical random access channel (PRACH), a transmitted access prefix AP is evaluated firstly by the user equipment based on the open loop power. If the acquisition indication information of the down link prefix acquisition indication channel (AP-AICH) is not received (or the acquisition indication is 0), then the prefix will continuously be transmitted by using power bias ΔP0. If the received acquisition indication is 1, then the conflict detection prefix (CD-P) will be transmitted by using the same power.
If the corresponding conflict detection prefix (CD-P) is not received in the conflict detection/channel assignment indication channel (CD/CA-ICH), then the procedure will be exited and reported to the upper layer. If it is received, then the power control prefix and the message section are transmitted by using the power bias of ΔPp−m.
For the same reason as that for accessing the physical random access channel (PRACH), AP power which is accessed successfully at last of the physical common packet channel (PCPCH) and the acquisition probability based on the said power may change significantly. In this way, the conflict detection transmitted subsequently and the power control prefix and the initial power of the message section will also change significantly. Thus, it causes the comprehensive performance of the entire link worse.
The frame format of the acquisition indication channel (AICH) in WCDMA is shown in FIG. 3, wherein,
      a    j    =            ∑              s        =        0            15                                            AI        s                          b                  s          ,          j
The value of acquisition indication AI is taken as 1, 0, and −1 based on the result of the acquisition. S represents the sequence number of the characteristic code. See Table 1 for the value of bs and j (Table 1 is a characteristic code table of the acquisition indication channel):
TABLE 1sbs,0, bs,1 . . . , bs,310111111111111111111111−1−111−1−111−1−111−1−11121111−1−1−1−11111−1−1−1−111311−1−1−1−11111−1−1−1−11111411111111−1−1−1−1−1−1−1−111511−1−111−1−1−1−111−1−1111161111−1−1−1−1−1−1−1−1111111711−1−1−1−111−1−11111−1−11181111111111111111−1−1911−1−111−1−111−1−111−1−1−1−1101111−1−1−1−11111−1−1−1−1−1−11111−1−1−1−11111−1−1−1−111−1−11211111111−1−1−1−1−1−1−1−1−1−11311−1−111−1−1−1−111−1−111−1−1141111−1−1−1−1−1−1−1−11111−1−11511−1−1−1−111−1−11111−1−1−1−1sbs,0, bs,1 . . . , bs,310111111111111111−1−111−1−111−1−111−1−1211−1−1−1−11111−1−1−1−13−1−1−1−11111−1−1−1−1114111111−1−1−1−1−1−1−1−15−1−111−1−1−1−111−1−111611−1−1−1−1−1−1−1−111117−1−1−1−111−1−11111−1−18−1−1−1−1−1−1−1−1−1−1−1−1−1−1911−1−111−1−111−1−11110−1−11111−1−1−1−11111111111−1−1−1−11111−1−112−1−1−1−1−1−1111111111311−1−11111−1−111−1−114−1−111111111−1−1−1−1151111−1−111−1−1−1−111
Thus, it is stipulated in the current protocol that the acquisition indication channel can only have three types of indications of 0, 1, and −1 for a certain characteristic code. Wherein, only the acquisition indication "1" is used to indicated that the accessing is allowed, however, more precise power control information cannot be provided.
The same format as that used for the acquisition indication channel (AICH) can be used to transmit the prefix acquisition indication channel (AP-ACH).
For the conflict detection/channel assignment indication channel (CD/CA-ICH),
      a    j    =                    ∑                  i          =          0                15                                                              CDI          i                ×                  b                                    s              i                        ,            j                                +                  ∑                  k          =          0                15                                                              CAI          k                ×                  b                                    s              k                        ,            j                              wherein, CDIi and CAIk generate the value, refer to Table 2 (Table 2 is a generation table for CDIi and CAIi in the conflict detection/channel assignment indication channel);
TABLE 2Conflictdetectionprefix iChanneltransmittedcharacteristicassignmentCharacteristicby usercodesequencecodeequipment iCDIisinumber kCAIksk0+1/010+1/001−1/01−1/02+1/032+1/083−1/03−1/04+1/054+1/045−1/05−1/06+1/076+1/0127−1/07−1/08+1/098+1/029−1/09−1/010+1/01110+1/01011−1/011−1/012+1/01312+1/0613−1/013−1/014+1/01514+1/01415−1/015−1/0
Therefore, only two indications of 1 and −1 are used to indicate that the conflict detection has been acquired, and it is unable to provide to the user equipment the more precise control indication.
Because the power fluctuation range of the current physical random access channel (PRACH) and physical common packet channel (PCPCH) is very large when acquiring, however, only one indication is used for permitting access when the acquisition is successful, thus, it causes the fluctuation range of the subsequent information transmission power, which takes the said power as a power bias reference, of the subsequent sections also being very large, and causing the whole access performance degrading.

Variable power adjustment access method in CDMA mobile communication system


When a discharge start voltage takes a normal value under the normal temperature, priming discharge starts at a time t1. In this case, at a time t3 that is later than the time t1 by a predetermined time t, a sustain driver control signal Ssud2 is raised to put a sustain electrode into the floating state to stop the priming discharge. When the discharge start voltage takes a higher value than usual under the high temperature, the priming discharge starts at a time t2. In this case, at a time t4 that is later than the time t2 by the predetermined time t, the sustain driver control signal Ssud2 is lowered to put the sustain electrode into the floating state to stop the priming discharge. With such a configuration, provided is a plasma display device capable of implementing excellent and stable display quality while maintaining constant, even if a discharge start voltage varies, the charge state in display cells after a priming period, and a drive method for such a plasma display device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to alternating-current (AC) discharge plasma display devices and drive methods therefor.
2. Description of the Related Background Art
Plasma display devices including plasma display panels (in the below, referred also to as PDPs) serving as display panels generally have many advantages, e.g., thin-and-large-screen display with relative ease, wider viewing angle, and faster response speed. With such various advantages, the PDPs have recently become popular for use as flat displays of wall televisions, public display boards, and others. The PDPs are classified into two types of direct-current (DC) discharge PDPs and AC discharge PDPs according to their operation mode. The DC-type PDPs operate in response to direct-current discharge between electrodes, which are exposed to the discharge space filled with discharge gas. The AC-type PDPs operate under the conditions of AC discharge with electrodes not directly exposed to discharge gas with a dielectric layer therearound. With the DC-type PDPs, the discharge continues during voltage application, and with the AC-type PDPs, the discharge is sustained by reversing the voltage polarity. The AC-type PDPs are varying in the number of electrodes in a cell, i.e., two or three.
Described below is the structure and drive method of a conventional three-electrode AC-type plasma display device. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a display cell of the conventional AC-type plasma display device. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the conventional AC-type plasma display device. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a scan driver and a scan pulse driver of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a sustain driver of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a data driver of FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, the plasma display device is provided with a display panel 1, and a driving circuit therefor. The display panel 1 includes a plurality of display cells in a matrix.
By referring to FIG. 5, the display panel 1 is provided with two insulation substrates 101 and 102, both of which are made of glass. The insulation substrate 101 serves as a back substrate, and the insulation substrate 102 as a front substrate. The surface of the insulation substrate 102 facing the insulation substrate 101 carries transparent scanning electrodes 103 and transparent sustain electrodes 104, all of which are extending along the horizontal direction of the panel, i.e., lateral direction. In such a manner as to overlay on the scanning electrodes 103 and the sustain electrodes 104, trace electrodes 105 and 106 are provided. The trace electrodes 105 and 106 are made of metal, for example, and provided for the purpose of reducing the electrode resistance in value between the electrodes and an external drive. The scan electrodes 103 and the sustain electrodes 104 are covered by a dielectric layer 112, and the dielectric layer 112 is protected from discharge by a protection layer 114 made of magnesium oxide or others.
The surface of the insulation substrate 101 facing the insulation substrate 102 carries a data electrode 107. The data electrode 107 is placed orthogonal to the scan electrodes 103 and the sustain electrodes 104 viewed from the direction perpendicular to the surface of the insulation electrode 101, i.e., viewed from the top. The data electrode 107 thus extends along the perpendicular direction of the panel, i.e., longitudinal direction. A partition wall 109 is also provided to partition the display cell in the horizontal direction. A dielectric layer 113 covers the data electrode 107, and on the surface of the dielectric layer 113 and the side surfaces of the partition wall 109, a fluorescent layer 111 is formed. The fluorescent layer 111 is the one converting ultraviolet light into visible light 110 through discharge of discharge gas. By the partition wall 109, a discharge gas space 108 is reserved between the insulation substrates 101 and 102. The discharge gas space 108 is filled with discharge gas of helium, neon, or xenon, or gas mixture thereof.
By referring back to FIG. 1, in the display panel 1, n (where n is a natural number) scan electrodes 31 to 3n (103) and n sustain electrodes 41 to 4n (104) are alternately provided at established intervals. These scan electrodes 31 to 3n and sustain electrodes 41 to 4n are all extending in the line direction (horizontal direction). The display panel 1 also includes m (where m is a natural number) data electrodes 101 to 10m (107) extending in the column direction (vertical direction). These data electrodes 101 to 10m are so placed as to be orthogonal to the scan electrodes 31 to 3n and the sustain electrodes 41 to 4n when viewed from the top. Display cells are also provided in a matrix, each at a point most proximal to both the scan electrode and the data electrode, or at a point most proximal to both the sustain electrode and the data electrode. This means that the display panel 1 carries (n×m) display cells.
The plasma display device is provided with a drive power source 21, a controller 22, a scan driver 23, a scan pulse driver 24, a sustain driver 25, and a data driver 26, all serve as drive circuits of the display panel 1.
The drive power source 21 generates, for example, a logic voltage Vdd of 5V, a data voltage Vd of about 70V, and a sustain voltage Vs of about 170V. The drive power source 21 also generates, based on the sustain voltage Vs, a priming voltage Vp of about 400V, a scan base voltage VbW of about 100V, and a bias voltage Vsw of about 180V. The logic voltage Vdd goes to the controller 22, the data voltage Vd goes to the data driver 26, the sustain voltage Vs goes to both the scan driver 23 and the sustain driver 25, the priming voltage Vp and the scan base voltage Vbw go to the scan driver 23, and the bias voltage Vsw goes to the sustain driver 25.
The controller 22 is a circuit for generating various control signals based on a video signal Sv coming from the outside. The control signals include scan driver control signals Sscd1 to Sscd6, scan pulse driver control signals Sspd11 to Sspd1n and Sspd21 to Sspd2n, sustain driver control signals Ssud1 to Ssud3, and data driver control signals Sdd11 to Sdd1m and Sdd21 to Sdd2m. The scan driver control signals Sscd1 to Sscd6 all go to the scan driver 23, the scan pulse driver control signals Sspd11 to Sspd1n and Sspd21 to Sspd2n all go to the scan pulse driver 24, the sustain driver control signals Ssud1 to Ssud3 all go to the sustain driver 25, and the data driver control signals Sdd11 to Sdd1m and Sdd21 to Sdd2m all go to the data driver 26.
Referring to FIG. 2, the scan driver 23 is exemplarily configured by six switches 231 to 236. The switch 231 receives the priming voltage Vp at one end, and the other end thereof is connected to a positive line 27. The switch 232 receives the sustain voltage Vs at one end, and the other end thereof is connected also to the positive line 27. The switch 233 is grounded at one end, and the other end thereof is connected to a negative line 28. The switch 234 receives the scan base voltage Vbw at one end, and the other end thereof is connected also to the negative line 28. The switch 235 is grounded at one end, and the other end thereof is connected to the positive line 27. The switch 236 is grounded at one end, and the other end thereof is connected to the negative line 28. These switches 231 to 236 are respectively turned ON or OFF based on their corresponding scan driver control signals Sscd1 to Sscd6. The voltage of a predetermined waveform is then forwarded to the scan pulse driver 24 through the positive and negative lines 27 and 28. In the scan driver 23, a resistance element (not shown) such as a field-effect transistor is connected to between the switch 231 and a node (not shown) receiving the priming voltage Vp, and the switch 232 and a node (not shown) receiving the sustain voltage Vs. Such a resistance element successively changes the voltage for application to the switches 231 and 232 through change of the resistance value between source and drain as a result of application of control voltage to a gate.
Still referring to FIG. 2, the scan pulse driver 24 is exemplarily configured by n switches 2411 to 241n, n switches 2421 to 242n, n diodes 2431 to 243n, and n diodes 2441 to 244n. The diodes 2431 to 243n are connected in parallel to their corresponding switches 2411 to 241n at both ends, and the diodes 2441 to 244n are connected in parallel to their corresponding switches 2421 to 242n at both ends. The switches 241a (where a is a natural number equal to or smaller than n) is connected serially to the switch 242a. The switches 2411 to 241n are each connected to the negative line 28 at one end, and the switches 2421 to 242n are each connected to the positive line 27 at one end. The connection point between the switches 241a and 242a is connected to the scan electrode 3a that is placed at the ath line, counting from the upper side of the display panel 1. The switches 2411 to 241n, and 2421 to 242n are each turned ON or OFF based on the scan pulse driver control signals Sspd11 to Sspd1n and Sspd21 to Sspd2n. The scan electrodes 31 to 3n then sequentially receive the voltage Psc1 to Pscn of a predetermined waveform.
By referring to FIG. 3, the sustain driver 25 is exemplarily configured by three switches 251 to 253. The switch 251 receives the sustain voltage Vs at one end, and the other end thereof is connected to all the sustain electrodes 41 to 4n. The switch 252 is grounded at one end, and the other end thereof is connected to all the sustain electrodes 41 to 4n. The switch 253 receives the bias voltage Vsw at one end, and the other end thereof is connected to all the sustain electrodes 41 to 4n. The switches 251 to 253 are each turned ON or OFF based on their corresponding sustain driver control signals Ssud1 to Ssud3. The sustain electrodes 41 to 4n then simultaneously receive a voltage Psu of a predetermined waveform.
By referring to FIG. 4, the data driver 26 is exemplarily configured by m switches 2611 to 261m, m switches 2621 to 262m, m diodes 2631 to 263m, and m diodes 2641 to 264m. The diodes 2631 to 263m are connected in parallel to their corresponding switches 2611 to 261m at both ends, and the diodes 2641 to 264m are connected in parallel to their corresponding switches 2621 to 262m at both ends. The switches 261b (where b is a natural number equal to or smaller than m) is connected serially to the switch 262b. The switches 2611 to 261m are each grounded at one end, and the switches 2621 to 262m each receive the data voltage Vd at one end. The connection point between the switches 261b to 262b is connected to the data electrode 10b at the bth line, counting from the left side of the display panel 1. The switches 2611 to 261m, and 2621 to 262m are each turned ON or OFF based on the data driver control signals Sdd1m to Sdd21 and Sdd21 to Sdd2m. The data electrodes 101 to 10m then sequentially receive the voltages Pd1 to Pdm of a predetermined waveform.
Described next is the write-select drive operation of the conventional plasma display device structured as above. FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing the write-select drive operation of the conventional plasma display device. In the drive method of the conventional plasma display device, a field is configured by a plurality of subfields (hereinafter, referred also to as SFs), and each subfield has four periods of priming period Tp, address period Ta, sustain period Ts, and charge removal period Te, those of which are set in sequence. In the priming period Tp, the display cells are all illuminated so as to activate, equalize, and initiate their charge state. In the address period Ta, the display cells are all made to cause write discharge to generate wall charge before generating sustain discharge in the subsequent sustain period Ts. In the sustain period Ts, the sustain discharge is generated in the display cells formed with the wall charge in the preceding address period Ta. In the charge removal period Te, the wall charge is removed from the display cells illuminated in the sustain period Ts.
Described next in detail is the operation in each of those periods. In the below, as to the scan electrodes and the sustain electrodes, their reference potential is the sustain voltage Vs. The potential higher than the sustain voltage Vs is referred to as positive potential, and as negative potential for the lower potential. The reference potential of the data electrodes is a ground voltage GND, and the potential higher than that is referred to as positive potential, and as negative potential for the lower potential.
In the priming period Tp, the controller 22 first starts generating control signals, i.e., the scan driver control signals Sscd1 to Sscd6, the sustain driver control signals Ssud1 to Ssud3, and the scan pulse driver control signals Sspd11 to Sspd1n and Sspd21 to Sspd2n. The control signals also include the data driver control signals Sdd11 to Sdd1m in the level based on the video signal Sv coming from the outside, and the data driver control signals Sdd21 to Sdd2m in the low level. Thus generated control signals are forwarded to their corresponding drivers.
As a result, in the priming period Tp, the high-level scan driver control signal Sscd1 turns ON the switch 231, and the high-level sustain driver control signal Ssud2 turns ON the switch 252. The scan pulse driver control signal Sspd11 to Sspd1n are all lowered in level so that the switches 2411 to 241n are all turned OFF, and the scan pulse driver control signals Sspd21 to Sspd2n are all raised in level so that the switches 2421 to 242n are all turned ON. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, the scan electrodes 31 to 3n all receive a positive priming pulse Pprp, and the sustain electrodes 41 to 4n all receive a negative priming pulse Pprn. In the display cells, this causes priming discharge in the discharge gas space 108 in the vicinity of an electrode-to-electrode gap, i.e., between the scan electrodes 103 (31 to 3n) and the sustain electrodes 104 (41 to 4n). At this time, by successively changing the resistance value of the resistance element that is connected between the switch 231 and the priming voltage Vp, the priming pulse Pprp can be of a saw tooth waveform with which the potential continuously increases from the sustain voltage Vs to the priming voltage Vp.
In this manner, active particles are generated in the discharge space 108 for helping generate write discharge in the display cells. Moreover, the scan electrodes 31 to 3n are each attached with the negative wall charge, the sustain electrodes 41 to 4n are each attached with the positive wall charge, and the data electrodes 101 to 10m are each attached with the positive wall charge thereon.
Thereafter, responding to the sustain driver control signal Ssud2 lowered in level, the switch 252 is responsively turned OFF, and the sustain electrodes 104 (41 to 4n) are put into the floating state. As a result, the potential of the sustain electrodes 104 is successively increased due to the potential of the scan electrodes 103, thereby stopping the priming discharge. As such, stopping the priming discharge with the sustain electrodes 104 put into the floating state can prevent the priming discharge from being excessive, favorably reducing the black level, i.e., the brightness of the lowest tone (number 0). Accordingly, to reduce such a black level, preferably, the sooner the better to put the sustain electrodes 104 into the floating state as long as the priming discharge can sufficiently occur.
The sustain driver control signal Ssud1 is then raised in level, and the switch 251 is responsively turned ON. The scan driver control signal Sscd2 is then lowered in level, and the switch 232 is turned OFF. The scan driver control signal Sscd3 is then raised in level, and the switch 233 is turned ON. As a result, after the sustain electrodes 41 to 4n are all maintained at the potential of 170V sustain voltage Vs, the scan electrodes 31 to 3n each receive a priming removal pulse Ppre. Such pulse application resultantly causes weak-level discharge in every display cell, and this reduces the wall charge on the electrodes, i.e., the negative wall charge on the scan electrodes 31 to 3n, the positive wall charge on the sustain electrodes 41 to 4n, and the positive wall charge on the data electrodes 101 to 10m.
In the early address period Ta, the switch 253 is being ON due to the high-level sustain driver control signal Ssud3, and the switches 234 and 235 are both being ON due to the high-level scan driver control signals Sscd4 and Sscd5, both are those provided in the later priming period Tp. Here, the switches 2411 to 241n are being ON, and the switches 2421 to 242n are being OFF due to the high-level scan pulse driver control signals Sspd11 to Sspd1n, and the low-level scan pulse driver control signals Sspd21 to Sspd2n. Therefore, the sustain electrodes 41 to 4n each receive a positive-going (bias voltage VsW) bias pulse Pbp, and the potential of the pulses Psc1 to Spcn to be applied to the scan electrodes 31 to 3n is temporarily maintained at the scan base voltage Vbw.
Under such a state, the scan pulse driver control signals Sspd11 to Sspd1n are sequentially lowered in level, and correspondingly thereto, the scan pulse driver control signals Sspd21 to Sspd2n are sequentially raised in level. In response to such level change, the switches 2411 to 241n are consecutively turned OFF, and the switches 2421 to 242n are consecutively turned ON. In synchronization therewith, although not shown, the data driver control signals Sdd11 to Sdd1m are raised in level based on the video signal Sv, and correspondingly thereto, the data driver control signals Sdd21 to Sdd2m are lowered in level. In response, the switches 2611 to 261m are all turned ON based on the video signal Sv, and the switches 2621 to 262m are all turned OFF. When writing is performed in the display cell locating at the ath line and the bth column, the scan electrode 3a at the ath line receives the negative scan pulse Pwsn, and the data electrode 10b at the bth column receives the positive data pulse Pdb. This resultantly causes opposing discharge in the display cell at the ath line and the bth column. This opposing discharge serves as a trigger, and surface discharge occurs as writing discharge between the scan electrodes and the sustain electrodes, whereby the electrodes are attached with the wall charge. The display cells having no writing discharge caused therein remain in the less-wall-discharge state after the electric charge is removed in the priming period Ta.
In the next sustain period Ts, the scan driver control signals Sscd2 and Sscd6 alternately rise and fall repeatedly for the number of times predetermined for the subfield. As a result, the switches 232 and 236 are alternately turned ON and OFF repeatedly. In synchronization therewith, the sustain driver control signals Ssud1 and Ssud2 alternately rise and fall repeatedly for the number of times predetermined for the subfield, and resultantly the switches 251 and 252 are alternately turned ON and OFF repeatedly. Accordingly, the scan electrode 31 to 3n each receive the negative sustain pulse Psun1 for the number of times predetermined for the subfield, and in synchronization with the sustain pulse Psun1, the sustain electrodes 41 to 4n receive the negative sustain pulse Psun2 for the number of times predetermined for the subfield. At this time, the display cells having no writing performed therein in the address period Ta have considerably less amount of wall charge, and thus no sustain discharge occurs even if the display cells receive the sustain pulse. On the other hand, in the display cells having writing discharge caused therein in the address period Ta, the scan electrodes are attached with the positive charge, and the sustain electrodes are attached with the negative charge. The sustain pulse and the wall charge voltage are thus superposed on each other, and the voltage between the electrodes exceeds the discharge start voltage so that discharge occurs.
In the next charge removal period Te, the scan driver control signal Sscd3 rises, and thus the switch 233 is accordingly turned on. As a result, the scan electrodes 31 to 3n each receive a negative charge removal pulse Peen. Such pulse application resultantly causes weak-level discharge in every display cell, and this reduces the wall charge on the scan electrodes and sustain electrodes in the display cells that have been illuminated in the sustain period Ts, whereby the display cells can be all made uniform in their charge state.
With such a conventional technology, however, there are the following problems. The discharge start voltage at which discharge starts in the display cells is not generally constant but varies. With Paschen's Law, the discharge start voltage is dependent on the product of the electrode-to-electrode distance and the display cell pressure. Under the requirements for the plasma display devices to operate, the discharge start voltage will be higher with the larger product. If the PDP is increased in temperature, for example, the pressure increase is observed not only for the discharge gas itself but also in the discharge cells. This is due to gas escape, which is absorbed in the partition walls in the display cells. This resultantly increases the discharge start voltage. If no discharge occurs for a long time, charged particles in the discharge cells are reduced in number with time. This is the reason why the discharge start voltage is higher at start-up of the plasma display devices compared with during their steady-state operation.
FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing in detail the priming period Tp of FIG. 6. FIG. 7 shows a part of the address period Ta subsequent to the priming period Tp, and the charge removal period Te for the preceding subfield. As shown in FIG. 7, when the discharge start voltage takes a normal value, e.g., when the PDP is at the normal temperature, the priming discharge starts at a time t1 at which the potential difference (hereinafter, referred also to as surface voltage) between the scan electrodes and the sustain electrodes exceeds the discharge start voltage. At a time t3 at which the sustain electrodes are put into the floating state, the priming discharge stops. On the other hand, when the discharge start voltage takes a higher value than usual, i.e., when the PDP is at the high temperature, the surface voltage exceeds the discharge start voltage at a time t2 later than the time t1 so that the priming discharge starts. The priming discharge started as such stops at the time t3. Therefore, when the PDP is high in temperature, the priming discharge does not continue that long compared with when the PDP is at the normal temperature, and thus the priming discharge is not enough. If the discharge start voltage is considerably high, the surface voltage may not reach the discharge start voltage even at the time t3, and thus no priming discharge may occur.
In consideration thereof, to cause the priming discharge without fail even when the discharge start voltage is high, there is no choice but to set the priming voltage Vp higher. Thus set priming voltage Vp is unnecessarily high for the normal conditions with the low discharge start voltage, resultantly causing the priming discharge to be excessive. The resulting excessive priming discharge raises the black level, thereby lowering the image contrast. If the priming voltage Vp is set at its optimum value for the normal conditions with the low discharge start voltage, as described above, no priming discharge occurs when the discharge start voltage is high. Even if the priming discharge occurs, the resulting level is not enough. This results in writing failure for some display cells with no writing discharge occurred. In the display cells observed with such writing failure, no sustain discharge occurs, and thus images suffer from inconsistency, unfavorably degrading in image quality.
For betterment, Patent Document 1 (JP-A-2000-20021) describes the technology of increasing the priming voltage at start-up of plasma display devices compared with during their steady-state operation with rectangular priming pulses. In Patent Document 1, there is a description telling that the priming discharge occurs without fail even at the PDP start-up.
In the technology of Patent Document 1, however, the rectangular priming pulses arises a problem. That is, the rectangular pulses cause instability during discharge, and the resulting discharge will be unnecessarily too bright. In this sense, the rectangular priming pulses are not considered practical.
In view thereof, there is a possibility of increasing the priming voltage only at the PDP start-up as described in Patent Document 1 with the saw tooth priming pulses as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. With this method, the priming discharge can be indeed started when the discharge start voltage is high, but the start time therefor varies. The concern here is that the time t3 at which discharge stops is substantially constant irrespective of the discharge start voltage. Therefore, a change of the discharge start voltage leads to a length change of the period for the priming discharge, causing the priming discharge to be nonuniform. As a result, the display cells through with the priming period will not be uniform in their charge state depending on the operation requirements, resulting in varying display quality.

Plasma display device and method for driving the same


A hair cosmetic containing (A) a specified quaternary ammonium salt, (B) a dimethylpolysiloxane having a weight average molecular weight of 300 or more and 3,000 or less, and water, the hair cosmetic being used by applying on the hair and then rinsing away, wherein the content of the component (B) is 0.5 mass % or more and 60 mass % or less, and a receding contact angle (θR) of water droplet as measured by the expansion-contraction method with respect to the surface of a polyethylene plate which is applied with the hair cosmetic and then subjected to water washing is 82° or more and 110° or less. A treatment method of hair including (I) applying the hair cosmetic on the hair and spreading it over the entire hair, and (II) rinsing away the hair cosmetic with water from the entire hair.

Since the moisture contained in the hair wetted with water after shampooing of hair is hardly removed, a lot of persons have a sense such that a drying behavior using a towel, a dryer, or the like is in general troublesome and time consuming. In recent years, requirements for desiring roominess and pleasantness in daily living are becoming strong due to diversification of a lifestyle, and persons who desire to finish simply the drying behavior after shampooing of hair are increasing.
Meanwhile, when the hair is allowed to stand without being thoroughly dried, arrangement of the hairstyle is impaired, thereby causing sleep-mussed hair or untidy hair.
With respect to the aforementioned requirements regarding the hair cosmetic, there are made the following proposals.
JP 2015-224200 A (PTL 1) and JP 2016-121091 A (PTL 2) disclose, as a hair cosmetic which after being applied to the hair, is capable of drying the hair for a short time, a hair cosmetic, such as a hair conditioner composition containing a specified higher alcohol, a cationic surfactant, and a dimethylpolysiloxane.
JP 1-168608 A (PTL 3) discloses a composition for hair drying, containing a volatile silicone, methylphenylpolysiloxane, and ethanol; and JP 2003-286137 A (PTL 4) discloses a cosmetic for hair quick drying, containing a lower alcohol and spherical powdery particles.
JP 2011-511830 A (PTL 5) discloses a hair treatment composition composed of an oil-in-water emulsion composition of a specified amino-modified dimethylpolysiloxane.


A cleaning liquid composition is provided. More particularly, a cleaning liquid composition includes a transition metal compound represented by Chemical Formula 1 (see the detailed description of the present invention); and a hydrocarbon-based solvent, and a cleaning method of a polymerization apparatus using the same.

A solution polymerization method which facilitates preparation of a high molecular weight polymer is mainly used to polymerize the high molecular weight polymer from a monomer including diene. For example, the high molecular weight polymer such as solution styrene butadiene rubber (SSBR), butadiene rubber (BR), styrene butadiene styrene block copolymer (SBS), or the like, is polymerized by the solution polymerization method.
However, when the high molecular weight polymer is polymerized using the solution polymerization method, the high molecular weight polymer is accumulated in a polymerization reactor, thus causing problems in that heat exchange efficiency in the polymerization reactor is lowered, productivity is lowered due to volume reduction inside the polymerization reactor due to the accumulated high molecular weight polymer, and the accumulated polymer flows into a lower end of the polymerization reactor to block transfer of reaction products.
Accordingly, in order to solve the above-described problems, jet-cleaning in which the high molecular weight polymer accumulated with high pressure water is physically removed by directly supplying manpower into the reactor periodically is performed. However, the removal time is required for 5 days on average during the jet-cleaning, and thus operation of production equipment including the corresponding polymerization reactor is stopped during the corresponding time, which has a bad impact on productivity. Further, there is always a possibility of a safety accident since the manpower is supplied directly into the polymerization reactor, and there is a problem in that water is used in the jet-cleaning, and thus a process for removing water, or the like, is additionally required to resume the solution polymerization, in particular, anionic polymerization after the cleaning is completed.
Therefore, as a method for removing the high molecular weight polymer accumulated in the polymerization reactor, a cleaning method capable of securing both productivity and safety has been demanded instead of a physical manner such as jet-cleaning. Accordingly, the present invention suggests a chemical method utilizing a catalyst capable of removing a rubber that is accumulated.

Cleaning liquid composition and method for cleaning polymerization apparatus using same


A speech synthesizer generating system and a method thereof are provided. A speech synthesizer generator in the speech synthesizer generating system automatically generates a speech synthesizer conforming to a speech output specification input by a user. In addition, a recording script is automatically generated by a recording script generator in the speech synthesizer generating system according to the speech output specification, and a customized or expanded speech material is recorded according to the recording script. After the speech material is uploaded to the speech synthesizer generating system, the speech synthesizer generator automatically generates a speech synthesizer conforming to the speech output specification. The speech synthesizer then synthesizes and outputs a speech output at a user end.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a speech output system and a method thereof, in particular, to a speech synthesizer generating system and a method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
The demands to automatic services and devices have been increasing along with the advancement of technologies, wherein speech output is one of the commonly demanded services. With speech guidance, less manpower is consumed and automatic services can be provided. High quality speech output is a common user interface required by various services. In particular, speech is the most natural, convenient, and secure information output in a mobile device having limited display screen. In addition, audio books provide a very efficient learning method, especially for learning a foreign language.
However, existing speech output methods can be categorized into two modes which respectively have their own disadvantages. Voice recording is one of the two modes, and which is time-consuming and has high cost and unchangeable speech output. Speech synthesis is the other speech output mode which provides low-quality and inflexible speech quality and is difficult to customize a speech.
Referring to FIG. 1, a system and method for text-to-speech processing in a portable device are provided by AT&T in U.S. Pat. No. 7,013,282. According to this method, a user 130 inputs some text into a desktop computer 110. Then the input text is converted by a text-to-speech (TTS) module 112 in the desktop computer 110. To be specific, the text is converted into a speech output 118 by a text analysis module 114 and a speech synthesis module 116. In this invention, the TTS conversion operation is performed by the desktop computer 110 which has high calculation capability, and the synthesized speech output 118 is transmitted from the desktop computer 110 to a handheld electronic device 120 having lower calculation capability. The speech output 118 output by the TTS module 112 includes a carrier phrase and a slot information and is transmitted to a memory of the handheld electronic device 120. The handheld electronic device 120 then concatenates and outputs these carrier phrases and slot information.
However, in foregoing disclosure, the content to be converted by the TTS module is unchangeable, which is very inflexible. In addition, the speech synthesis module in the desktop computer 110 for synthesizing the speech is also unchangeable. Moreover, the desktop computer 110 and the handheld electronic device 120 have to operate synchronously.
A speech synthesis apparatus and selection method are provided by HP in U.S. Pat. No. 6,725,199 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,062,439. A method for assessing speech quality is provided in these disclosures, wherein an "objective speech quality assessor" is used for generating a confidence score for a speech-form utterance, and the speech-form utterance having the best confidence score is selected among a plurality of TTS modules to improve the quality of the speech output. If there is only one TTS module, the text is rewritten into other texts having the same meaning and then the speech-form utterance of these rewritten texts having the best confidence score is selected as the speech output.

Speech synthesizer generating system and method thereof

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A thermal energy storage system includes a unique control arrangement to enable it to operate in three steady state operational modes, namely, ice making, direct cooling and shift cooling, as well as two transitory modes, namely hypermigration and pump out. The hypermigration mode enable the thermal energy storage system to switch into the shift cooling mode by desirably positioning the refrigerant charge in the ice module heat exchanger. The pump out mode is needed to move the refrigerant charge into the condensing unit in preparation for the direct cooling mode of operation from either the shift cooling mode or the ice making mode. The thermal energy storage permits the refrigerant charge to be in the proper location when each change in mode operation occurs.

The present invention relates in general to a thermal energy storage system, and more particularly, to a refrigerant management control and method for a thermal energy storage system.
In the prior art, certain air conditioning apparatus with thermal energy storage were developed for the purpose of efficiently exploiting the two-tier pricing system utilized by electrical utilities. One exemplary apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,064 to Fischer.
By way of background, electrical utilities have developed a two-tier pricing structure which is divided into peak hours and off-peak hours. Peak hours occur when electrical demand is maximized, such as those periods of the day corresponding to the average daily highest temperatures, and which generally relate to some extent to those hours surrounding the afternoon-time period. One important reason for the relatively high extent of electrical demand during the period of the day when the temperatures are the greatest (i.e., at the "peak hours") is because of the utilization of air conditioning systems in a large percentage of commercial and residential buildings. The "off peak" hours occur when the outdoor temperatures are cooler and electrical demand is minimized. The "off peak" hours correspond generally to the night time period around and after the midnight hour, when the demand for cooling, is minimized because of the lower outdoor temperature, the relative inactivity of persons, and when the household utilization of electricity for electrical lighting is minimized.
As a result of the greater demand for electricity during the peak hours of the day, the rate prices for electricity during such peak hours are substantially greater than the rate prices for electricity during the off peak hours.
The amount of electricity utilized at business and residential buildings is substantial during peak hours as the condensing unit in the air conditioning apparatus operates to meet the cooling requirements of the building. In view thereof, it has been proposed (such as for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,064 to Fischer and, U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,219 to Grose), that is would be advantageous to store energy during off peak hours and to use such stored energy during peak times to reduce the power consumption of the compressor in the condensing unit.
The prior art structures, as shown for example in the Fischer patent 4,735,064, are directed to apparatus having an insulated storage tank which contains a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger in the storage tank contains a refrigerant. A condensing unit is connected to the heat exchanger for supplying liquid refrigerant to the heat exchanger, which refrigerant upon expansion freezes or solidifies the storage material in the tank during a first time period, which corresponds to the period of off peak electrical demand. The storage medium may be water or a phase change material such as polyethylene glycol. The heat exchanger is also connected to an evaporator which receives cold refrigerant liquid from the heat exchanger in the storage tank during a second time period, which corresponds to the period of peak electrical demand. In addition, the condensing unit is typically connected to the evaporator by means of conduits passing through the storage tank, and thus provides refrigerant to the evaporator during a third time period, when some cooling may be necessary. This third time period occurs during off peak hours. Energy use and operating cost are reduced by operating to provide cooling in this way during off peak hours.
One problem with such prior art structure is that there is melting of some of the ice in the storage tank when the thermal energy storage system is operated during the third time period. Further, operation has proved to be less than optimally efficient due to low evaporating temperature in the direct cooling mode and due to low evaporating temperature operation in the ice making mode to re-make the ice which has been melted during the direct cooling mode operation. Thus, there is an "energy penalty" associated with cooling by the freezing and melting of ice as compared to conventional air conditioning methods involving direct pumping of refrigerant from the condenser of the condensing unit to the evaporator.
An improvement in such prior art is provided by the structures disclosed in application Ser. No. 07,706,057 filed May 28, 1991, and entitled Combined Multi-Modal Air Conditioning Apparatus and Negative Energy Storage System. The said application, which is assigned to the same assignor as the present case, discloses a system which permits optimally efficient operation by means of by-passing of the storage tank by the circulating refrigerant when the apparatus is in the direct-cooling mode, thereby to avoid melting the stored negative heat energy storage medium, usually comprising water which then does not have to be refrozen. The combined multi-modal air conditioning apparatus and negative energy storage system can be operated in a direct cooling mode, an ice making mode and a shift cooling mode to provide improved operating cost efficiency over prior art systems such as that of Fischer 4,735,064. In the direct cooling mode, the ice storage tank is isolated from the refrigeration system. In the ice making mode, the heat exchanger in the storage tank functions as the evaporator in the refrigeration system. Heat is removed from the storage medium. If the storage medium is water, it will solidify and form ice. In the shift cooling mode, the condensing unit is effectively isolated from the storage tank and the evaporator and a liquid pump circulates refrigerant between the heat exchanger in the storage tank and the evaporator.
Neither the known thermal energy storage systems nor the systems disclosed in the copending application Ser. No. 07/706,057 filed May 28, 1991 have not taken into account providing the proper refrigerant change for each mode of operation. The problem was to provide the proper refrigerant charge where it needs to be in each mode of operation and to be able to transport the refrigerant charge to its new location in the system when a switch in mode operation occurs.
An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal energy storage system or TES system with improved refrigerant charge management control and method.
Another object of this invention is to provide a thermal energy storage system operable in direct cooling, ice making and shift cooling steady state modes with two transitory modes that allow for proper control of the refrigerant charge.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a thermal energy storage system having direct cooling, ice making and shift cooling steady state modes with a hypermigration mode prior to shift to shift cooling and a pump out mode prior to shift to direct cooling in order to properly locate the refrigerant charge in the TES system prior to initiation of each of these steady state modes of operation. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made more apparent hereafter.

Refrigerant management control and method for a thermal energy storage system


The present invention provides a hot melt adhesive composition comprising an epoxy-modified block copolymer obtained by epoxidizing a carbon-carbon double bond of a conjugate diene component in a block copolymer having a polymer block (A) comprising mainly a vinyl aromatic compound and a polymer block (B) comprising mainly a conjugate diene compound in one molecule, a paraffin wax having a melting point of 40 to 100.degree. C., a tackifier and an antioxidant. The hot melt adhesive composition of the present invention is well compatible with a paraffin wax and a tackifier because it has an epoxy group which is a polar group in a molecule. Further, the hot melt adhesive composition has excellent heat resistance and cold resistance because of a combination of the epoxy-modified bloc copolymer as a base polymer with paraffin wax, and while the melt viscosity is low, the heat resistance is high.

A hot melt adhesive is a non-solvent type adhesive which has a solid content of 100% at room temperature. It is heated and molten when used and adhered and applied on a matter to be adhered, followed by cooling to solidify it, whereby the adhesive strength is revealed. This hot melt adhesive has less risks of environmental pollution and a fire because of a non-solvent type and has such many advantages that setting time for adhesion can be shortened and handling is easy. Accordingly, it is used widely in various fields such as bookbinding, packaging and woodworking as applicators spread rapidly.
Hot melt adhesives are usually composed by adding various waxes as a tackifier and a viscosity control agent to thermoplastic resins such as, for example, olefin base copolymers which are base polymers. Generally used as the base polymers described above are ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers and ethylene-acrylate copolymers out of the olefin base copolymers in terms of flexibility and costs. Further, widely used as the tackifier are natural resins and derivatives thereof such as rosin base resins and terpene base resins, and petroleum resins. Petroleum waxes, mineral waxes such as coal, and low molecular weight polyethylene waxes are used widely as the waxes.
Hot melt adhesives are widely used in the respective fields of automobiles, packing containers and structural materials, but the sufficiently high adhesive properties are not displayed to base materials comprising olefin base copolymers having less polarity as base polymers and base materials provided with surface coatings with silicon and wax. On the other hand, hot melt adhesives using thermoplastic rubber are excellent in a heat resistance and a cold resistance but have a high viscosity, so that specific applicators have to be used.
Usually, required to hot melt adhesives are many characteristics such as (1) low melt viscosity in order to improve workability and a wetting property to base materials, (2) high cold resistance and flexibility as well as a high adhesive strength, (3) high heat resistance in order to allow an adhesive strength to be revealed even at high temperatures, (4) short setting time and (5) high heat stability. However, if the melt viscosity is reduced, the heat resistance is lowered. On the other hand, if the heat resistance is elevated, not only the melt viscosity grows large but also the cold resistance and the flexibility are reduced. Thus, plural conflicting characteristics are required in hot melt adhesives. In order to allow these characteristics to be compatible with each other, the structural components and the composition proportions have been investigated, but it is difficult to allow the cold resistance to be compatible with the heat resistance. An object of the present invention is to provide a hot melt adhesive composition which is excellent in a heat resistance and a cold resistance.

Hot-melt adhesive composition excellent in heat resistance and cold resistance


A method and apparatus for fusion joining polyethylene pipe. A power source supplies an input power to an input of a power supply. The input power has generally constant current and is converted to an output power at a relatively high frequency. The relatively high frequency output power is delivered to an installation tool. The output power delivered to the installation tool is controlled. The output power can be controlled as a function of ambient temperature surrounding the installation tool.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for fusion joining polyethylene pipe using a frequency converter and/or power supply mounted within a housing that can be easily moved to an installation site. Many different suitable power sources can be used to feed the power supply with an input power. The power source, such as a generator on a truck, conventional line power or a battery pack, can be located remote from the installation site.
2. Description of Prior Art
Many different methods and apparatuses exist for fusion joining polyethylene pipe, such as with electrofusion fittings or induction fusion fittings. In conventional electrofusion methods, a pipe coupling or other fitting normally has a wire coil molded within the coupling or other fitting. Electrical leads, contacts or electrodes are often mounted on an external portion of the coupling body, for electrical contact access. In a typical conventional electrofusion procedure for axially joining two pipes, each pipe end portion is cleaned, scraped and then positioned within a coupling receiver. A clamp is often used to secure or hold the pipe with respect to the coupling. Power is supplied directly to a wire coil molded within the coupling. The wire coil then transfers heat to the polyethylene material and fuses the coupling material directly to the pipe material.
In conventional induction fusion procedures, a rigid heater element is molded within the coupling or other fitting. The coupling provides no direct access to external contacts or electrodes electrically connected to the rigid heater element. Current flow through the rigid heater element is generated by induction from a primary coil within an application tool that is positioned around the coupling or other fitting. Normally, a high frequency current is delivered to the application tool for a predetermined time period. A primary coil within the application tool is energized and then induces a secondary current within the rigid heater element. The temperature of the rigid heater element increases to a generally constant value and then the polyethylene material or other plastic material surrounding the rigid heater element fusion bonds the polyethylene or other plastic material of the pipe and the coupling or other fitting.
In many conventional processes associated with either electrofusion or induction fusion heating, the power delivered to the wire coil of an electrofusion fitting or a heater element of an induction fusion fitting, necessitates relatively heavy gauge or large cables that must be relatively short, due to the high current and high frequency power waveform transmitted through the cables. Thus, it is often necessary to position the power source relatively close to an installation site or fusion site. Quite often significant amounts of labor and time are necessary to setup and breakdown power equipment necessary to deliver power requirements demanded by the installation tool.
There is an apparent need for a method and apparatus that can be more conveniently used at an installation site or a fusion site.

Method of inductively fusion joining plastic pipes


The invention concerns an operating element, in particular a pushbutton, for a motor vehicle, having at least of a touch-sensitive pushbutton operating on a capacitive basis and a housing, wherein the pushbutton is movably mounted in the housing, wherein a capacitor that forms the capacitance is composed of a metallic area applied to an inner or outer side of a surface facing the user, and the metallic area forms an electrode of the capacitor that is electrically contacted in the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an operating element, in particular a pushbutton, for a motor vehicle, including at least of a touch-sensitive pushbutton operating on a capacitive basis and a housing, wherein the pushbutton is movably mounted in the housing.
2. Description of the Background Art
It is known to make keys or operating elements with capacitive elements so that a function connected with the key can be selected and/or actuated by means of an electronic analysis unit when the key is touched. By way of example, a touch-sensitive momentary switch operating on a capacitive basis is described in DE 203 11 127 as an input option for computer systems or electronic devices. In this design, a point illumination unit for the key surface in the form of a self-luminous display is applied to the back of a support plate, and a capacitive, touch-sensitive input option is arranged on the front as the touch surface.
Another touch-sensitive key is described in EP 0 780 865. This document describes a device with a key that is sensitive due to capacitive action for detecting the presence of an element through an electrically insulating plate, wherein the key is carried by a printed circuit board that is essentially parallel to the plate and is electronically connected to an electronic sensing circuit arranged on the printed circuit board. One electrode of this electrical assembly is composed of a spring leaf, which is made of an electrically conductive material and has a base plate that is affixed to the printed circuit board.


A portable electronic device includes a motion sensor and a controller. The motion sensor detects an alternating signature motion of a limb of the user about a virtual axis corresponding to the limb. The motion sensor may be an accelerometer capable of detecting three dimensional acceleration. The accelerometer detects acceleration along X, Y and/or Z axes, in which acceleration peaks of the X and Z axes alternate with each other and acceleration of the Y axis remains substantially steady relative to the X and Y axes. The portable electronic device controls at least one function based on the detected alternating signature motion of the limb and/or acceleration along the X, Y and/or Z axes.

Portable electronic devices are ubiquitous in today's society. Such devices include, for example, cell phones, smart phones, wearable devices, portable media players, tablet computers, personal digital assistants, handheld gaming devices, handheld global positioning satellite (GPS) units, image and/or video cameras, and media devices, just to name a few. A portable electronic device is generally configured such that visual or audible information output by the device is presented uniformly across a display screen or from output speakers under an assumption that, in most cases, the user will generally center the device in his or her field of view/hearing when using it. Additionally, the keys and buttons of portable electronic devices are typically configured with default functions, although some devices allow users to manually change button or key functions by proceeding through a series of operations available to the users through electronic menus.
Many portable electronic devices, including wearable devices, require two-handed operations to activate a function. One hand is used to support the device, whether grasped in an open hand or secured to the user's wrist, and the other hand selects a button or contacts a touch screen of the device to activate the function. Other portable electronic devices include accelerometers to recognize certain gestures, but the accelerometers are activated only after a button is pressed. Operations requiring two hands are particularly detrimental to people with active lifestyles in which both hands are not always conveniently available. As a result, users may refrain from experiencing all the benefits of the portable electronic device.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated alone or relative to other elements to help improve the understanding of the various example embodiments of the present invention.

Portable electronic device and method for controlling operation thereof based on user motion


A data storage device and a flash memory control method with high efficiency are disclosed. The random access memory of the data storage device is allocated to provide a collection and update area for logical-to-physical address mapping tables that correspond to logical addresses recorded into the physical-to-logical address mapping table. When recording a logical address corresponding to a new logical-to-physical address mapping table that has not appeared in the collection and update area into the physical-to-logical address mapping table, the microcontroller of the data storage device is configured to collect the new logical-to-physical address mapping table into the collection and update area and perform an update of the new logical-to-physical address mapping table within the collection and update area.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to data storage devices with flash memory and flash memory control methods.
Description of the Related Art
Flash memory, a data storage medium, is common in today's data storage devices. For example, flash memory is typically used in memory cards, USB flash devices, solid-state drives, and so on. In another application with multi-chip package technology, a NAND flash chip and a controller chip are combined in one package as an embedded multi-media card (e.g. eMMC).
A flash memory device provides storage space which is divided into blocks, and each block includes a plurality of pages. An erase operation designed for flash memory is performed on a block-by-block basis, to release space one block at a time. When updating data, the new data is written into a spare space rather than being overwritten on old data. To manage the flash memory, the mapping information between the host side and the flash memory has to be maintained. It is more complex to manage flash memory rather than other conventional storage mediums. It can be very tricky to manage mapping information for a flash memory.

Data storage device and flash memory control method


Provided is a sealing material for multi-layered glasses, including: a polysulfide resin (A) and a polyester resin (B) which is represented by Formula (1-1):

It is said that, for a typical house, the amount of heat dissipation through a glass window is 20 to 30%. Conventionally, to reduce the amount of heat dissipation through a glass window, a multi-layered glass which has enhanced heat insulation property of a glass window according to overlay of plural plate glasses is used.
A multi-layered glass is produced by, for example, a method in which at least two glass plates opposed to each other are spaced apart via a spacer like an aluminum material, each lateral surface of the spacer opposed to those two glass plates that are spaced apart is adhered to the two glass plates by using a primary sealing material to form a hollow layer between the two glass plates, and then the outer side of the primary sealing material is sealed by a secondary sealing material. This method is referred to as a dual sealing method, and it is widely employed.
The intermediate layer between the two glass plates is generally filled with dry air. However, there is also a multi-layered glass having enhanced heat insulation property of a multi-layered glass according to filling of inert gas such as nitrogen, argon, xenon, krypton, or sulfur hexafluoride.
As for the primary sealing material used for the above dual sealing method, a resin composition having polyisobutylene as a main component is known. Furthermore, as for the secondary sealing material, a composition of ordinary temperature curable resin such as a composition having polysulfide resin as a main component, a composition having polyurethane resin as a main component, or a composition having silicone resin as a main component, or the like is used. Among them, for the purpose of preventing the infiltration of air or water from outside to the intermediate layer between the two glass plates, a composition having polysulfide resin as a main component, which has an excellent low water permeation property (water vapor permeation resistance) and an excellent low gas permeation property (gas barrier property), is often used (polysulfide resin-based sealing material).
As a plasticizer used for the above polysulfide resin-based sealing material, a phthalic acid diester-based plasticizer like butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP); a hydrocarbon-based plasticizer like chlorinated paraffin, alkylene triphenyl; dibutyl adipate, dibutyl diglycol adipate, or the like are conventionally known.
In addition to the above plasticizers, also known is a polyester-based plasticizer obtained by condensation of polysulfide resin with adipic acid, alkylene glycol, and benzene monocarboxylic acid as a plasticizer having excellent low-temperature compatibility and also low viscosity (see, PTL 1, for example). Specifically, a polyester-based plasticizer obtained by condensation of adipic acid, propylene glycol, and benzoic acid is known.
Furthermore, as a polyester-based plasticizer which is excellent in terms of low volatility and low bleeding property, a polyester-based plasticizer obtained by using adipic acid, propylene glycol, and benzoic acid and having a weight average molecular weight of 500 to 5,000 is known (see, PTL 2, for example).
In recent years, it is required for a multi-layered glass to have even higher heat insulation property and maintain the heat insulation property for a long period of time, and, accordingly, a secondary sealing material which has an excellent gas barrier property and water vapor permeation resistance is needed to have the higher heat insulation property and maintain the heat insulation property for a long period of time. In addition, to maintain the heat insulation property for a long period of time, leakage of dry air or inert gas from a gap between a glass and a sealing material needs to be prevented so that a good adhesion property between a multi-layered glass and a secondary sealing material is also necessary. Thus, the secondary sealing material is required to have a higher gas barrier property, a higher water vapor permeation resistance, and a higher adhesion property to a glass compared to a polysulfide resin-based sealing material that is obtained by using the polyester-based plasticizer described in the aforementioned PTL 1 or PTL 2.

Sealing material for multi-layered glasses, and multi-layered glass

Abstract: or Formula (1-2):

Abstract: wherein A represents a dibasic acid residue, G represents a diol residue, X1 and X2 represent a hydrogen atom or a group represented by Formula (2-1):

Abstract: wherein R represents an aromatic group or an aliphatic group, and X3 and X4 represent an aromatic group or an aliphatic group, n and m each represent the average number of repetitions of a repeating unit in parentheses and are each a numerical value larger than 0, and some or all A's are aromatic dibasic acid residues, and which has an aromatic dibasic acid residue content of 20 to 70% based on chemical formula weights calculated from the chemical formulae represented by [ ]N and [ ]M and also has a number average molecular weight of 400 to 5,000.