A wipe sampling assembly used for an ion mobility spectrometer is disclosed. The wipe sampling assembly comprises three layers in which the upper layer and the lower layer are protective paper sheets, while the middle layer is a sampling swab. The swab will not be contaminated when not in use as it is covered by the two protective paper sheets. The hand can only contact the protective paper and will not contact the swab while sampling to prevent the swab from being contaminated. The above wipe sampling assembly is used with no need for any additional device, thus making it easy to operate and carry.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wipe sampling assembly used for an ion mobility spectrometer to collect particulate samples on the surface of an article.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ion mobility spectrometry is a rapid, sensitive and portable technique for field detection. The technique has been widely applied by military and security inspection agencies to detect toxic chemical agents, explosives, illicit drugs etc.
When an ion mobility spectrometer is used to detect contraband materials, a particulate sampling method is most usually employed. A swab is swiped over the surface of an article to collect any particles of explosives or drugs and the swab inserted into the inlet port of the spectrometer. The analyte is then thermally desorbed from the swipe, enter the ionization chamber and pass along the drift tube where they are detected and identified.
At present, there are mainly two types of particulate sampling modes adopted by the ion mobility spectrometer:
1. A Wipe Sampling Mode in which the Swab is Held with a Hand During Wiping and Sampling
The above wipe sampling mode is performed by using a hand to hold the swab directly and swipe over a surface for sample collection. In order to prevent the hand from contacting the surface (since the contaminated hand may interfere with sample collection and detection), the swab and the corresponding inlet port has to be made large. It will not only cause a waste of swabs, but more importantly, heat can not be concentrated so that heating efficiency will be greatly reduced due to the large-sized inlet, which may adversely affect the detection sensitivity of the spectrometer. Moreover, more electrical energy is needed. Accordingly, the operating time of a battery will be shortened, thereby leading to the performance degradation of the instrument. In addition, since the swab contacts directly with the hand, dust-free gloves must be worn and frequently replaced to prevent a cross contamination between the hand and the swab so that the sampling operation is very inconvenient.
2. A Wipe Sampling Mode in which a Sampling Strip is Gripped by a Wiping Device During Wiping and Sampling
The above wipe sampling mode uses smaller sampling swabs which are suitable to an ion mobility spectrometer with a small inlet port. However, since a dedicated wiping device is used, the sampling operation is still inconvenient.


A method for establishing collaborative communications can include the step of receiving a request for a collaborative session with a designated user from an originating client. An intermediate client can be enabled, where the intermediate client can be deployed within a server that is communicatively linked to the originating client through an Internet protocol network. A mobile device associated with the designated user can be determined. A communication session can be initialized across a wireless network between the intermediate client and the mobile device. At least one collaboration message can be conveyed between the originating client and the mobile device using the intermediate client as a communication intermediary.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of computer software and, more particularly, to a means for providing collaboration services to wireless devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Collaboration software is software that permits people to exchange ideas and work products in real-time from geographically disperse locations. Collaboration software components can include Web conferencing, video and telephony teleconferencing, instant messaging, chatting, co-browsing, and the like. Effective use of collaboration software can result in substantial time and cost savings because collaboration software can result in effective communications among individuals without requiring the individuals to be located in the same physical location.
Conventional collaboration software solutions can require that two users be subscribed to a collaboration server and be online before collaboration communications can be established between the two. For example, in order for a first user to send an instant message to a second user, both users have to subscriber to a common instant messaging server and both users have to be online and communicatively linked via an Internet Protocol (IP) network.
Requiring both users be linked via and IP network ignores many communication possibilities with mobile computing devices, which can be accessible via a mobile wireless network. That is, conventional technologies do not permit a user to initiate collaborative communications from a client computing device with a second user having access to a mobile computing device. For example, conventional collaborative software solutions do not permit instant messaging communications between a desktop computer user and a user of a mobile telephone and/or personal data assistant that is communicatively linked to desktop computer through a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO).

Providing collaboration services to a wireless device

International Business Machines Corporation


An apparatus and system for separating a liquid from a mixed gas stream includes a porous graphite foam support comprising graphite foam with pores having a first pore size and a membrane support surface. A porous condensation membrane layer is provided on the membrane support surface, and interlocked with the pores of the graphite foam. The condensation membrane layer includes capillary condensation pores having a second pore size that is less than the first pore size. A mixed gas stream passageway is in fluid communication with the condensation membrane layer. A liquid collection assembly collects condensed liquid from the condensation pores and the graphite foam support pores. A gas inlet is provided for flowing the mixed gas stream into the mixed gas stream passageway. A gas outlet is provided for exhausting gas from the mixed gas stream passageway. A method for separating a liquid from a mixed gas stream is also disclosed.

The availability of potable water and water suitable for agricultural uses is of the utmost concern in many parts of the world. And during military conflicts, the high risk of chemical and biological contamination and/or limited supply in locally available water sometimes requires that a large quantity of water be transported to ensure its suitability for human consumption. The transport of such large amounts of water strains supply and logistical resources. The need to transport water can be significantly reduced if water can be reclaimed and purified from alternate sources, such as any humid gas stream including engine exhaust, waste water from kitchens and showers, and human waste. For example, diesel exhaust typically contains approximately 10% water vapor. During recent conflicts in the Middle East, assuming the use of approximately 12 million gallons of fuel per week, 100% reclamation of water produced from fuel consumption could provide about 12 million gallons of water per week. By employing standard thermodynamic water condensation, only about 50% of the water in exhaust containing 10% water vapor can be condensed at ambient conditions.
The reclamation of potable water from mixed gas streams is described in Judkins et al. U.S. Pat. No. 8,511,072 (Aug. 20, 2013) and Judkins et al U.S. Pat. No. 9,394,672 (Jul. 19, 2016), the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated fully by reference. These patents describe the reclamation of water from mixed gas streams utilizing capillary condensation pores provided on metal supports. The weight of such metal supports, and in some cases also the thermal conductivity, result in structures and systems that can be improved.


A multistage catalytic hydrocarbon conversion system is disclosed in which hydrocarbons flow serially through at least two reaction zones and through which catalyst particles move. Where three reaction zones are used, the effluent stream from the first reaction zone is split between the second and third reaction zones. One portion of the effluent stream is combined with hydrocarbons that bypassed the first reaction zone, and the combined stream is passed to the second reaction zone. The other portion of the first reaction zone effluent stream and at least a portion of the effluent stream of the second reaction zone are passed to the third reaction zone. This invention is applicable to processes where the first and second reaction zones are susceptible to pinning in that this invention decreases the mass flow through the first and second reaction zones while nevertheless maintaining high hydrocarbon conversion.

Hydrocarbon conversion processes often employ multiple reaction zones through which hydrocarbons pass in series flow. Each reaction zone in the series often has a unique set of design requirements. A minimum design requirement of each reaction zone in the series is the hydraulic capacity to pass the desired throughput of hydrocarbons that pass through the series. An additional design requirement of each reaction zone is the capability to perform a specified degree of hydrocarbon conversion. Designing a reaction zone for a specified degree of hydrocarbon conversion, however, often results in a reaction zone being designed larger than the minimum size required for hydraulic capacity alone. Consequently, in a hydrocarbon conversion process having multiple reaction zones with series flow of hydrocarbons, one reaction zone may have more hydraulic capacity than some other reaction zone in the series. For example, in a hydrocarbon reforming process, the last or second-to-last reforming reaction zone often has excess hydraulic capacity in comparison with the first or second reforming reaction zone.
Generally, such excess hydraulic capacity for additional throughput is not detrimental to the performance of the oversized reaction zone or any other reaction zone in the series. In theory, a process unit with extra hydraulic capacity in one or more of the reaction zones in the series could run for years with no ill effects. Nevertheless, perhaps years later when the process unit is revamped for increased throughput, an interesting debottlenecking dilemma arises: How can the extra, heretofore-unused hydraulic capacity in a large reaction zone be effectively used, in light of the fact that two or more smaller reaction zones in the series may have little or no excess hydraulic capacity?
As answers to this question, the prior art provides two debottlenecking solutions that involve re-routing the flow of hydrocarbons around two smaller consecutive reaction zones in the series. One prior art solution involves bypassing a portion (B %) of the total (100%) hydrocarbon flow through a bypass line entirely around the two smaller reaction zones, passing the remainder (100% minus B %) of the total flow of hydrocarbons in series-flow through the two smaller reaction zones in the series, combining the bypassed portion with the effluent of the second of the two smaller reaction zones, and passing the total flow of hydrocarbons through the larger reaction zone(s) only. The flow of hydrocarbons through the series can then be increased to the lesser of the combined hydraulic capacity of the smallest reaction zone and the bypass line or the smallest hydraulic capacity of the other larger reaction zone(s) of the series. The primary disadvantage of this solution, of course, is that all of the hydrocarbons that bypass one of the smaller reaction zones also bypass the other smaller reaction zone. Another disadvantage of this solution is that of the total hydrocarbons that pass through the series, only 100% minus B % passes through both of the two smaller reaction zones. Therefore, on average the hydrocarbons pass through fewer reaction zones, contact less catalyst or otherwise experience hydrocarbon conversion conditions for a shorter time, and therefore undergo less hydrocarbon conversion. Where a portion of the total flow of hydrocarbons is bypassed around more than two reaction zones, the disadvantages are compounded.
Another prior art solution involves placing two consecutive smaller reaction zones in parallel-flow rather than in series-flow, and passing only part rather than all of the hydrocarbons through each parallel reaction zone. This solution combines the smaller, parallel-flow reaction zones effectively into one large reaction zone that is in series-flow with the other larger reaction zone(s) of the series. The flow of hydrocarbons through the series can then be increased to the lesser of the combined hydraulic capacity of the parallel-flow reaction zones or the smallest hydraulic capacity of the other larger reaction zone(s) of the series. Although this second solution has an advantage in that none of the hydrocarbons that bypass one of the parallel-flow reaction zones also bypasses the other parallel-flow reaction zone, the disadvantage of this second solution is that none of the total hydrocarbon flow through the series passes through both of the two smaller reaction zones. The more smaller reaction zones placed in parallel, the greater are the disadvantages of this second solution.
Consequently, a method is sought for passing hydrocarbons through multiple reaction zones where a portion of the total reactant flow must be bypassed around two or more consecutive reaction zones, but where nevertheless the detrimental effects on hydrocarbon conversion are minimized. The method must prevent hydrocarbons that bypass one of the reaction zones from also bypassing the next reaction zone in the series. Furthermore, the method must maximize the total amount of hydrocarbon that passes through all of the reaction zones that are bypassed.

Hydrocarbon conversion process using staggered bypassing of reaction zones


The present invention provides a thermal conductive composition formed by blending a thermal conductive filler of not less than 600 mass parts to 100 mass parts of a liquid silicone having a viscosity in a range of 20 to 2000 mPa·s. Since the thermal conductive composition is not crosslinked further or cured at a normal temperature of 25° C., it keeps a putty state, and the thermal conductivity is not less than 3 W/m·K. A heat-dissipating putty sheet according to the present invention is formed by applying the thus obtained thermal conductive composition onto a release sheet. The heat-dissipating putty sheet having a thickness ranging from 0.5 mm to 3 mm can be released manually from a release base, or it can be transferred from a release sheet to a heat-generating part or a dissipator so as to be attached to a desired position easily.

Recently, removing heat from heat-generators has been considered as an important object in various fields. Particularly for various electronic equipment and electronic devices such as personal computers, removing heat from heat-generating electronic parts (hereinafter, referred to as "heat-generating part") has been an important object. As a temperature rises at the heat-generating part, malfunctions may occur, and this will result in a major cause of failures in the equipment. Conventionally, for a thermal conductive member used in a part of a heat-dissipating and cooling structure for a heat-generating member or the like mounted on a substrate, a thermal conductive dissipating sheet or the like has been proposed, and used in various fields for the purpose of removing heat from heat-generating parts in various electronic equipment and various electronic devices such as personal computers (see JP H07-183434A).
However, since heat generation at such a heat-generating part has increased more and more recently, thermal conductive members and heat-dissipating sheets are required to have a high thermal conductivity Since a heat-dissipating sheet of a rubber sheet (e.g., Thercon TR manufactured by Fuji Polymer Industries Co., Ltd.) has a limited performance in improving the thermal conductivity, use of heat-dissipating gel sheets has been increased due to its softness and good adhesiveness. Even such a heat-dissipating gel sheet cannot sufficiently account for the increasing heat output at heat-generating parts, and sometimes, the sheet cannot meet the requirement.
In light of these circumstances, recently, a thermal conductive grease or the like has been often used, since the grease can be applied and spread to form an extremely thin film, and it provides excellent adhesiveness between a heat-generating part and a heat-dissipating member, while the operability is sacrificed.

Thermal conductive composition, a heat dissipating putty sheet and heat dissipating structure using the same


An entangled inductor structure generates opposite polarity internal magnetic fields therein to substantially reduce, or cancel, external magnetic fields propagating outside of the entangled inductor structure. These reduced external magnetic fields propagating outside of the entangled inductor structure effectively reduce a keep out zone (KOZ) between the entangled inductor structure and other electrical, mechanical, and/or electro-mechanical components. This allows the entangled inductor structure to be situated closer to these other electrical, mechanical, and/or electro-mechanical components within the IC as compared to conventional inductors which generate larger external magnetic fields.

Integrated circuits (ICs) include various interconnected electrical, mechanical, and/or electro-mechanical components formed onto one or more semiconductor substrates. Often times, electronic designers of these ICs specify various keep out zones (KOZs) between these various interconnected electrical, mechanical, and/or electro-mechanical components to ensure these ICs operate as intended. For example, these various KOZs can represent minimum distances between these various interconnected electrical, mechanical, and/or electro-mechanical components to prevent electromagnetic energy produced from one of the electrical, mechanical, and/or electro-mechanical components effecting another one of the electrical, mechanical, and/or electro-mechanical components. Conventionally, the various KOZs can be quite large due to various radiated magnetic fields propagating around these various interconnected electrical, mechanical, and/or electro-mechanical components.

Method of forming entangled inductor structures

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


There is provided a process for producing an organic-inorganic hybrid glassy material, including the sequential steps of (a) concentrating a starting sol of an organic-inorganic hybrid glassy material, thereby yielding a precursor material having meltability; (b) melting the precursor material; (c) subjecting a product of the step (b) to a heating treatment under reduced pressure; and (d) subjecting a product of the step (c) to a high-temperature heat treatment at 300° C. or higher.

The present invention relates to an organic-inorganic hybrid glassy material, where a raw material used in a sol-gel process is a starting material for that, and also to a process for producing the same.
With regard to materials which soften at temperatures not higher than 600° C., polymer materials, low-melting glasses, etc. have been famous and, for a long time, they have been used in many areas such as sealing and encapsulating materials, passivation glass, glaze, etc. Since their physical properties are different between polymer materials and low-melting glasses, they have been used differently depending upon the environment in which they are used. In general, in case that heat resistance and airtight property have a priority, glass has been used, while, in the field where characteristics other than heat resistance and airtight property have a priority, organic materials represented by polymer materials have been used. However, as a result of recent progress in the art, characteristics that have not been demanded up to now have received attention, and the development of materials having such characteristics has been expected.
In view of the above, the development for polymer materials where heat resistance and airtight property are enhanced and for glass where softening temperature region is made low or so-called low-melting glass has been positively carried out. Particularly in the market of electronic materials where heat resistance and airtight property are demanded, low-melting glass represented by a PbO—SiO2—B2O3 series or PbO—P2O5—SnF2 series glass has been a material which is indispensable in the field of sealing, coating, etc. of electronic parts. In addition, energy required for molding process or, in other words, the cost can be reduced in low-melting glass, as compared with high melting point glass, and therefore that meets the recent social demand for conservation of energy. Further, when it can be melted at a temperature at which an organic material having optical function property is not broken, its application as a host for (non-linear) optical material containing an optically functioning organic material to optical information communication devices such as optical switch is expected. As such, there has been a demand in many fields for materials having heat resistance and airtight property, which are characteristics of common melted glass, and also being apt to have various characteristics as in the case of polymer materials, and especially the expectation is concentrated upon low-melting glass. Furthermore, an organic-inorganic hybrid glass has been also receiving public attention as one of low-melting glasses.
With regard to low-melting glasses, for example, Tick glass represented by glass of an Sn—Pb—P—F—O type (see P. A. Tick, Physics and Chemistry of Glasses, Vol. 25, No. 6, pp. 149-154 (1984)) is famous, and, since it has a glass transition point at around 100° C. and also has an excellent water resistance, it has been used in some of the market. However, in this low-melting glass, since lead is contained in its main constituting components, there has been a necessity to use an alternative material due to the recent trend of environmental protection. In addition, demanded characteristic to Tick glass has been greatly changed, and at the same time the demand as such has been diversified as well.
With regard to common methods for the production of glass, melting method and low-temperature synthesis method have been known. Melting method is a method where a glass material is directly heated to melt and vitrified by quenching. Many kinds of glass are produced by this method, and low-melting glasses are also produced by this method. In the case of low-melting glass, however, there are many restrictions for glass composition that can be constituted such as that the containment of lead, alkali, bismuth, etc. is necessary for lowering its melting point.
On the other hand, with regard to a low-temperature synthesis method for noncrystalline bulks, there are sol-gel process, liquid-phase reaction method and nonaqueous acid-base reaction method. In a sol-gel process, a metal alkoxide or the like is subjected to a hydrolysis-polycondensation and subjected to a thermal treatment at a temperature that is higher than 500° C. (see K. Kamiya, S. Sakka and N. Tashiro, Yogyo Kyokaishi, 614-618, 84 (1976)), usually at 700 to 1,600° C., whereby a bulk can be produced. However, when the bulk produced by a sol-gel process is considered as a material for practical use, there have been many cases where the product becomes porous, due to decomposition and burning of organic materials, such as alcohol, which are introduced in the preparation of the starting solution, or due to evaporation and release, etc. in the heating process of decomposition gas of organic materials or water. Thus, there has been a problem in terms of heat resistance and airtight property. As such, in the production of bulk by a sol-gel process, many problems have been still left unsolved, and particularly production of low-melting glass by a sol-gel process has not been carried out.
Furthermore, a liquid-phase reaction method has a low productivity because of its low yield, and in addition it uses hydrofluoric acid or the like in its reaction system and is limited to the synthesis of a thin film at best. Accordingly, it is almost impossible to use it as a practical means for the synthesis of bulks.
A nonaqueous acid-base reaction method is a means which has been developed recently, and, although it is able to produce an organic-inorganic hybrid glass which is one of low-melting glasses (see M. Takahashi, H. Niida and T. Yoko, New Glass, 8-13, 17 (2002)), it is still in a stage of development and all kinds of low-melting glasses cannot be produced by that.
Accordingly, the production of many kinds of low-melting glasses has been carried out not by a low-temperature synthesis method but by a melting method. Therefore, due to melting of glass materials, the glass composition thereof is limited, and, with regard to low-melting glasses that can be produced, the type thereof has been very limited.
Incidentally, at present, low-melting glass is prominent as a material in view of heat resistance and airtight property, and it is often that the required physical property is demanded in a form of being represented by low-melting glass. However, the material is not limited to a low-melting glass. If the required physical property is satisfied, there is no large problem in low-melting or low-softening material other than glass.
JP 2005-35876 A, corresponding to US 2005/0132748 A1, discloses a process for producing an organic-inorganic hybrid glassy material, which has a softening point lower than that of low-melting glass, contains no lead, and has chemical durability, by using a phenyl-containing starting material used in sol-gel process.
In other prior art documents, there have been known a process for producing quartz glass fibers by a sol-gel process (see JP-A-62-297236), a process for producing titanium oxide fibers by a sol-gel process (see JP-A-62-223323), and a process for producing a semiconductor-doped matrix by a sol-gel process (see JP-A-1-183438). There has been also disclosed a low-melting glass of a P2O5—TeO2—ZnF2 type by a melting method (see JP-A-7-126035).

Organic-inorganic hybrid glassy material and its production process


Communicating voice over a packet-switching network is implemented on a telecommunications network that includes the packet-switching network, two coding units coupled to the packet-switching network and to an originating node and a terminating node, respectively, and at least one signaling apparatus. The first of the two coding units is configured to extract signaling data associated with the voice call and transmit the signaling data and its network address to the signaling apparatus. Signaling data for establishing the voice call is received by the signaling apparatus, and a network address of the coding unit in the packet-switching network is obtained. The second coding unit is controlled to establish a bearer channel with the first coding unit for carrying the voice data through the packet-switching network, based on the network address.

Recent legislative changes in the United States have promoted competition in the telecommunication industry and spurred demand for new services at lower prices. These trends are pressuring major telecommunications carriers to increase capacity while reducing the cost of providing service. Consequently, major carriers around the world are looking to packet technologies, such as Internet Protocol (IP), frame relay, and Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), to replace circuit-switched technologies in the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) for providing voice capability. In addition, IP, frame relay, ATM, and other packet-based technologies offer narrow-band and broad-band services to selected customers on the same network, providing the same platform for integrated voice, data, and video services from low bandwidth to very high bandwidths.
Over the decades, however, major voice carriers have invested heavily in developing a Signaling System 7 (SS7) signaling and switching infrastructure to offer reliable telephone service. This infrastructure includes countless systems for billing, provisioning, maintenance, and databases that are compatible only with SS7. These systems are commonly referred to "legacy systems," a term that also includes other proprietary protocols such as ISDN_PRI, DPNSS, ISUP, TUP, NUP, H.323, and SIP. Due to the substantial investment in the legacy systems, it is desirable to keep the legacy systems in operation, yet still take advantage of the newer packet technologies.
These legacy systems, however, do not handle the protocols for the newer packet-switching networks, and, due to the age of many of the legacy systems, it is difficult and expensive to upgrade or replace the legacy systems to support the newer packet-switching protocols.
Accordingly, there exists a need for establishing and carrying voice calls that are originated or terminated by legacy systems over a packet-switching network. There is also a need for a way to seamlessly integrate legacy SS7-type systems and newer packet-switching networks.
Moreover, certain demographic trends are motivating telephone call carriers to integrate their systems with packet-switched networks. Certain countries are known to generate an above-average amount of long-distance telephone traffic. For example, residents of Israel are known to consume long-distance telephone services at a rate far greater than the average of residents in other industrialized nations. Long-distance telephone services carried over the PSTN are expensive. Voice calls carried over the globally accessible packet-switched network known as the Internet, however, are generally free. Accordingly, local telephone companies and other call access providers in certain countries are acutely interested in finding ways to integrate the PSTN with the Internet.


An instant-start ballast for a multiple gas discharge lamp fixture has a single half-bridge inverter that is used to drive at least two series resonant output circuits. Each series resonant output circuit is used to drive two gas discharge lamps. A single output voltage limiting circuit is provided with a microprocessor that monitors the combined output voltages of the series resonant output circuits and uses a single voltage limiting transistor to control the output voltages of the circuits. A capacitor is associated with each gas discharge lamp socket in the fixture such that a voltage across the capacitor indicates that a lamp has been installed in the socket associated with the capacitor. The ignition sequence will only be initiated if the capacitor voltages indicate that a lamp has been installed in each socket of a fixture.

An electronic ballast for a gas discharge, fluorescent or high-intensity discharge lamp provides the current, voltage, and wave-form conditions needed to operate the lamp. An instant-start ballast is a ballast that is designed to instantly start a gas discharge lamp such as a fluorescent lamp by applying a high voltage across the lamp without preheating the cathode. Prior art instant-start ballasts, like that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,925,990, have been in use for some time. In these prior art instant-start ballasts, it has been necessary to provide a relatively high output voltage to start the gas discharge lamps. In addition, the high output voltage needs to be maintained for an extended period of time, usually on the order of milliseconds, at a constant and well controlled value to ignite the lamps. In the case of the ballast of the '990 patent, the high start-up output voltage is sensed by placing a series resistor in series with a resonant capacitor. The start-up voltage is typically limited by a fast feedback loop and sensed for amplitude by rectifying it with a diode, smoothing it with a capacitor, and applying it to a sensing node of microprocessor.
Multiple lamp ballasts have been designed that provide power to two or more gas discharge lamps. These multiple lamp ballasts are configured to provide each one of the lamps coupled to the ballasts with the proper operating current and voltage. For example, the above described instant-start ballast configuration has been adapted for use with a four-lamp ballast as set forth in the prior art circuit shown in FIG. 1. In such a circuit, a single ballast 2 essentially drives two complete output stages 4 and 6 of the kind previously described above, with each output stage 4 and 6 providing output terminals 8 and 10 for two respective lamps. A transistor 12 is used to invert the signal from the microprocessor 3 for one of the output stages 4 and 6. Inverting the signal for one of the output stages 4 and 6 reduces the ripple current stress on the bulk capacitors 14 and 16 by causing the two output stages 4 and 6 to run out of phase. This prior art system works but has the disadvantage of being relatively expensive. The added expense is a result of the need to use two half-bridge drivers 18 and 20 and four output FETS 22, 24, 26 and 28, along with two voltage limiting circuits 30 and 32. The increased number of components used in such a prior art circuit also decreases the reliability of the circuit.
Relatively high output T5 lamps are gradually replacing older T8 lamps in mainstream office ceiling applications. The most efficient way of driving these lamps is using instant-start technology. However, because of the high lamp voltage and high lamp current of these lamps, the conventional parallel resonant, instant-start circuits for such are very inefficient and expensive to make. For the greatest efficiency, series-resonant, direct coupled ballasts are preferred. However, these types of ballasts have problems in meeting the UL through lamp leakage requirements.
In view of the above described deficiencies in the prior art, what is needed is a more cost effective and efficient method and circuit for implementing an instant-start, four-lamp ballast that uses fewer components than prior art ballasts.

High efficiency 4-lamp instant start ballast


A modular seismic cable handling system contained in a knockdown intermodal freight container, the freight container configured for secure containment and shipment of the system, as well as being configured to open to a platform designed to engage the main deck of a marine vessel, providing, with cable handling equipment contained therein, a relatively portable, self contained seismic cable handling system, on a vessel which may not specifically be designed for such an activity. The present invention may include a large wheel mounted in the front of the vessel for retrieving seismic cable from the water, a horizontally mounted cable handler comprising an eight wheel cable puller for pulling the cable from the wheel, urging same to the main deck level of the vessel, the cable puller comprising four pairs of tires configured for frictional, rotational contact another along their outer surface, to frictionally grab and pull a seismic cable along a linear path. The pulled cable is urged along a track running generally the length of the vessel, where a smaller, rear cable puller further urges the cable to the rear of the vessel. The present system further contemplates a trolley cable deployment system for deploying the cable into cable bins on the main deck for storage, as well as to sea, which trolley system includes a cable wheel puller arrangement having movement situated along the longitudinal axis of the container, allowing flexible placement of the cable in cable storage bins situated on the main deck area.

Although the prior art has contemplated various and diverse wheeled cable pullers, none have contemplated the system of the present invention. Marine seismic cable operations have in the past required the deployment of custom built, costly vessels specifically designed for seismic cable handling operations, which vessels were so specialized in design as to be largely dedicated to seismic operations only. Consequently, when seismic work was not needed, these dedicated seismic vessels would have to be moored, and exceedingly costly proposition.
The following patents are considered to be at least of general pertinence to the present invention:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. Inventor Date of Issue ______________________________________ 5,284,323 Pawkett 02/08/1994 5,217,176 Hall 06/08/1993 5,199,659 Ziliblich, Jr. 04/06/1993 5,197,716 Zibilich, Jr. et al 03/30/1993 4,596,492 Monti et al 06/24/1986 4,581,723 Savit 04/08/1986 4,570,245 Thigpen 02/11/1986 4,540,159 Jordan 09/10/1985 4,676,483 Magill 06/30/1987 4,581,723 Savit 04/08/1986 4,254,940 Thyvold 03/10/1981 3,843,096 Wilson et al 10/22/1974 3,719,348 Wells 03/06/1973 3,630,461 Suganti et al 12/28/1971 3,448,962 Miller 06/10/1969 3,093,333 Bishop 06/11/1963 2,659,549 Galin 11/17/1953 1,703,777 Pernot 02/26/1929 ______________________________________
Regarding patents on foldable or knock-down intermodal-type cargo containers, the following patents may be of some pertinence:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. Inventor Date of Issue ______________________________________ 3130850 Oakey 04/28/1964 3223274 Tolnai 12/14/1965 3602388 Hurkamp 08/31/1971 3765556 Baer 10/16/1973 3796342 Sanders et al 03/12/1974 4214669 McQuiston 07/29/1980 4339039 Mykleby 07/13/1982 4860911 Jones, Sr. 08/29/1989 5284323 Pawkett 02/08/1994 5197716 Zibilich Jr et al 03/30/1993 ______________________________________
U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,245, issued 1986 teaches in column 3, discussion of FIG. 3 (line 8) a tensiometer 32 comprising a sheave communicating with a cable, the sheave situated upon a linear path, and traversing that path in order to maintain constant tension on said cable. U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,723 teaches in large part the same invention as '245, and is attributed to the same inventor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,159 teaches a cable tensioner operating along the same lines, but with vertical rather than horizontal linear movement of the sheaves. U.S. Pat. No. 3,448,962 also contemplates a vertically traversing sheave for tensioning.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,093,333, issued 1963, teaches a cable handling vessel having a retrieval ramp (5), a cable retrieval engine (4), and means to stow the cable below deck. Also included is a discussion (cols 1,2) of "lump" storage of cable on the deck.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,703,777 also contemplates a submarine cable deployment, retrieval system, including cable guide means for stowing same below deck. Also discussed is the problems with stowing cable in "lumps", and the associated tangling and knotting therewith.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,973, also issued 1996 to AT&T Corp., teaches a "Transport Apparatus for Large Network Telecommunication Equipment" teaching a transport apparatus having two cable storage bays, switch bays, and cross connect equipment, all hingedly affixed for deployment.
Several patents relate to collapsible and knock-down type intermodal containers, although most of these patents teach folding containers for the purpose of reduced space for storage, and not knock-down to serve as a platform for a specific task. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,214,669, 3,130,850, 3,223,274, 3,765,556, and 3,796,342.
As may be discerned by a review of the above patents, the prior art has failed to teach a cable handling system which may be implemented with a variety of vessels not particularly designed for seismic cable
Lastly, the prior art has failed to teach or contemplate a cable trolley system which effectively directs cable into the main deck in lump storage, without knotting or binding.

Modular seismic cable handling system with knockdown container


The invention relates to an improved system for supplying filtered oil to wet brakes of the tractor without additional/auxiliary pump. The system comprises of a suitably sized connection provided on the drain line of the Hydraulic system, which supplies required quantity of filtered oil to the wet brakes through a passage with a line pressure of 2-3 kg/cm2. This positively ensures the oil supply and circulation of oil for heat removal from wet brakes. A hollow bush is so sized and located on the brake housing so as to maintain the required level of oil in the brake housing and to drain the excess oil in the transmission housing.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved oil system for supply of oil to wet brakes of a tractor without the requirement of an additional auxiliary oil pump.
2. Background of the Related Art
It is generally known that oil supply systems for wet brakes utilize assemblies that employ either an auxiliary oil pump to supply a forced quantity of oil for functioning of wet brakes, where oil is received from a transmission housing and returns back to the source, or the wet brakes are an integral part of transmission housing and receive required quantity of oil from the same housing on account of its location. However, the design of an integral construction complicates the serviceability of the wet brakes in the instance of problems. Further, the oil received by the wet brake is not filtered and contain small impurities and particles that lessen the life of the brake due to wear and impregnation.


A bearing structure of a turbo charger is provided. The turbo charger includes a semi-float bearing, a rotary shaft. The semi-float bearing is cylindrical and mounted in the bearing housing. The rotary shaft passes through the semi-float bearing and is supported rotatably by the semi-float bearing. The bearing structure includes a slinger wall and a projecting portion. The slinger wall is provided on the rotary shaft so that it is opposed to an end face in the axial direction of the semi-float bearing. The projecting portion projects from at least one of the slinger wall or the end face to the other. The projecting portion is provided in an annular shape along the circumferential direction of the semi-float bearing. The projecting portion includes a cutout portion that links the inner circumferential face side of the semi-float bearing with the outer circumferential face side thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bearing structure of a turbo charger.
2. Description of Related Art
As a bearing structure of a turbo charger, as indicated in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-133635 (JP 2005-133635 A), for example, a bearing structure in which a semi-float bearing is mounted in its bearing housing to support a rotary shaft of the turbo charger has been known. This semi-float bearing is formed cylindrically. The above-described rotary shaft passes through the semi-float bearing and has a slinger wall which is opposed to an end face in the axial direction of the semi-float bearing.
Oil is supplied to each of between the outer circumferential face of the semi-float bearing and the bearing housing and between the inner circumferential face of the semi-float bearing and the rotary shaft. Then, the supply of oil between the outer circumferential face of the semi-float bearing and the bearing housing results in formation of oil layer between the outer circumferential face of the semi-float bearing and the bearing housing so as to suppress vibration of the same bearing (rotary shaft). On the other hand, the oil supplied between the inner circumferential face of the semi-float bearing and the rotary shaft lubricates a gap between the inner circumferential face of the semi-float bearing and the rotary shaft and at the same time, cools the same portion.
In the above-mentioned bearing structure of the turbo charger, the oil supplied between the inner circumferential face of the semi-float bearing and the rotary shaft flows to the outer circumferential face side of the same semi-float bearing via a gap between the end face in the axial direction of the semi-float bearing and the slinger wall of the rotary shaft. If the oil flow increases, it becomes difficult to retain oil between the inner circumferential face of the semi-float bearing and the rotary shaft, thereby the cooling efficiency by the oil being reduced.
If the direction of the oil flow cannot be controlled when the oil supplied between the inner circumferential face of the semi-float bearing and the rotary shaft flows to the outer circumferential face side of the semi-float bearing via the gap between the above-mentioned end face and the aforementioned slinger wall, a following problem may occur. That is, the oil which flows out to the outer circumferential face of the semi-float bearing via the gap between the above-mentioned end face and the aforementioned slinger wall may flow to a wheel fixed to the end portion in the axial direction of the rotary shaft of the turbo charger so that there is a fear that it may leak out to the same wheel side.


A method for making a protector to prevent galvanic anodes from being accidentally knocked off a pipeline in which a mold having a frusto-conical shape is placed around each end of a segmented anode, with an opening at the top of the mold opposite a gap between anode segments, liquid components of a rapid setting elastomeric polymer are injected into the opening until all of the cavities and the gap are filled, and the polymer is allowed to set up and adhere to the anode and to the pipe.

When pipelines are laid under water, particularly offshore in sea water, they are usually protected against galvanic corrosion by attaching galvanic anodes made of materials such as zinc or aluminum. These anodes will preferentially corrode and thereby protect the pipeline against corrosion. Such anodes usually consist of two or more arcuate segments which encircle the pipe. Pipelines larger than about 12 inches in diameter are commonly coated with a thick layer of concrete to weight the pipeline down in the water. On these, the anodes are placed in gaps in the concrete, and do not extend above the surface of the concrete. Smaller pipelines, however, will sink of their own weight, so concrete coatings are not used. On these, the anodes have a substantially larger diameter than the pipeline. The anode protector of this invention is designed for this type of installation.
Offshore pipelines are commonly laid from a continuously moving vessel known as a lay barge. On some lay barges the joints of pipe making up the pipeline are welded together on the barge. On others, known as reel type lay barges, the joints of pipe are welded together on shore and coiled up in a coil as much as 300 feet in diameter on the lay barge. The anodes are attached to the pipeline while it is still on shore or after it is put on the lay barge. In either case, the pipeline is continuously fed off the stern of the barge as the barge moves forward in the water. The forward motion of the barge causes the pipeline to be pulled off the stern of the barge by the weight of the pipe depending from the barge. To facilitate movement of the pipeline on the deck of the steel barge, it is sometimes supported on two or more sets of rollers which are mounted on the deck. Each set of rollers may consist of two pairs of automobile wheels with rubber tires set to engage and support the pipeline. The pipeline then moves down an elongate cradle, or "stinger", which extends rearwardly and downwardly from the lay barge toward the bed of the body of water. In some cases, the weight of pipe depending from the barge is great enough to pull the pipeline off the barge too fast. In such cases a tensioning device is used to restrain the pipeline movement. Such tensioning devices may consist of spring-loaded tracks engaging the pipe, or sets of automobile tires, in either case with brakes applied as necessary to hold the pipe back.
It will be appreciated that due to wind, wave and current action there is often some lateral and vertical movement of the barge which makes it impossible to draw the pipeline off the barge in a smooth straight line at all times. The erratic motions produced under such circumstances often causes shock blows to the galvanic anodes as they pass over the rollers and down the stinger. Such shock blows tend to damage and tear the anodes loose from the pipeline. Whenever an anode is torn loose, it is necessary to stop the barge movement, weld the anode back on, and then restart the barge, all at great expense to the pipe laying operation.
In addition, the tensioning devices cannot pass over the anodes, so it is necessary to either put the anodes on after the pipe passes through the tensioner, or use two tensioning devices. If the latter option is chosen, every time an anode is reached during the laying of the pipeline, it is necessary to attach a second tensioning device on the other side of the anode, and then release the first tensioning device until the anode passes through. This is also a time-consuming and expensive operation. However, if it is not done, the axial load of the tensioner on the anode would tear it loose from the pipe. The alternative of welding the anodes on after the pipe goes through the tensioner is equally objectionable, because it slows down the laying of the pipe.


A packaging cushion assembly includes at least one foldable packaging plate including a base plate that has two opposite first sides, two opposite second sides, two opposite first side plates connected respectively and foldably to the first sides, and two opposite second side plates connected respectively and foldably to the second sides. Each of the first and second side plates has an outer wall plate section connected foldably to the respective first or second side, a spacer plate section connected foldably to the outer wall plate section, and an inner wall plate section connected foldably to the spacer plate section. The outer wall plate section of each second side plate has two connecting plates respectively and foldably connected to two ends thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a packaging cushion assembly, more particularly to a packaging cushion assembly that can be folded so as to form a receiving space, that can be unfolded so as to save space, and that can be recycled.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a currently available packaging cushion assembly 100 is used on top and bottom portions 140, 141 of an assembled computer module 14 to protect the computer module 14 from damage due to impact during transport. The packaging cushion assembly 100 includes a pair of unitary frame bodies 1 each made of a foam material. Each of the frame bodies 1 has a bottom wall 10, and four sidewalls 12 extending perpendicularly and respectively from four end peripheries 11 of the bottom wall 10. The bottom wall 10 and the sidewalls 12 cooperatively define a receiving space 13. During packing, the frame bodies 1 respectively and directly cover top and bottom portions 140, 141 of an article, such as the computer module 14, through the receiving spaces 13 thereof so as to protect the computer module 14 from damage due to impact during transport.
Since each frame body 1 of the packaging cushion assembly 100 is formed as a unitary body from foam material, the frame body 1 cannot be folded so that it occupies a substantial space during transport.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An actuator for an oscillator which can control the fluctuation of the oscillation of an electrostatic driven oscillator such as the detection error by controlling the fluctuation of the amount of the noise mixed into a displacement detecting signal. An actuator oscillates a drive frame and a detecting frame in the X-direction by outputting the drive signal to a drive electrode to detect the displacement of the drive frame in the X-direction as a displacement detecting signal. The actuator generates a direct-current voltage component of the drive signal increased or decreased based on the detected displacement signal and the alternating voltage component of the drive signal having a constant amplitude to maintain the oscillation amplitude of the drive frame constant.

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7 119 with respect to Japanese Application No. 2000-077091 filed on Mar. 17, 2000, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention generally relates to an actuator for an oscillator. More particularly, the present invention pertains to an actuator for an oscillator for oscillating an electrostatic driven type oscillator provided with an angular rate sensor.
A block diagram of a known actuator for an oscillator for oscillating electrostatic driven type oscillators provided with angular rate sensors is shown in FIG. 14. As shown in FIG. 14, a signals for the displacement of the electrostatic driven type oscillator caused by the oscillation in a driving direction is outputted from a driving direction displacement detecting electrode 81 to a displacement signal detecting portion 82.
The displacement signal outputted to the displacement signal detecting portion 82 is synchronously detected at a timing synchronized to the displacement in a driving direction in a synchronous detection circuit 83 to be outputted to an amplitude adjuster 84 as oscillation amplitude data.
Simultaneously, the displacement signal outputted to the displacement signal detecting portion 82 is outputted to the amplitude adjuster 84 after being phase-shifted by approximately 90 degrees in a 90 degree phase shifter 85. By means of the phase shift of the displacement signal by approximately 90 degrees via the 90 degree phase shifter 85, an alternating voltage component of the drive signal having phase-contrast by approximately 90 degrees relative to the displacement signal is generated in the amplitude adjuster 84 to facilitate the oscillation of the electrostatic driven type oscillator.
The oscillation amplitude data outputted to the amplitude adjuster 84 is compared with a predetermined amplitude value in the amplitude adjuster 84. When the oscillation amplitude data is smaller than the predetermined amplitude value, the alternating voltage component of the drive signal having increased amplitude is generated (incremental adjustment). On the other hand, when the oscillation amplitude data is larger than the predetermined amplitude value, the alternating voltage component of the drive signal having decreased amplitude is generated (decremental adjustment). The amplitude adjustment of the alternating voltage component of the drive signal in the foregoing manner is performed for controlling the amplitude driving force of the oscillator to have constant amplitude in the driving direction of the oscillator. The alternating voltage component of the drive signal of which the amplitude is adjusted in the foregoing manner is outputted to an adder 86.
In the adder 86, a drive signal is generated by incorporating the alternating voltage component of the drive signal of which the amplitude is adjusted and the direct-current voltage component (bias voltage) of the drive signal having a predetermined value. The drive signal generated in this manner is supplied to a drive electrode 87 fixed on a substrate. When the voltage of the drive electrode of the oscillator side is grounded (GND), the oscillator is oscillated to have constant amplitude in the driving direction by the oscillation of the electrostatic attraction (oscillation driving force) generated to be proportional to the second power of the drive signal (driving voltage) between the oscillator and the drive electrode 87.
Generally, electrostatic driven type oscillators are oscillated by a drive signal consisting of the alternating voltage component and the direct-current voltage component supplied thereto. The electrostatic driven oscillators are oscillated by the oscillation of the electrostatic attraction (oscillation driving force) generated proportional to the second power of the drive signal between the electrostatic driven type oscillator and a drive electrode. The displacement (oscillation amplitude) of the electrostatic driven type oscillator according to the oscillation in the driving direction is detected as the displacement signal. The generation of the drive signal is controlled by an amplitude adjusting means to maintain the constancy of the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven type oscillator in the driving direction based on the detected displacement signal. By controlling the generation of the drive signal, the oscillation driving force (electrostatic attraction) of the electrostatic driven type oscillator is controlled to maintain the constancy of the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven type oscillator in the driving direction.
The alternating voltage component of the drive signal is a cause of the noise of the displacement detecting signal because of the approximately same frequency with the displacement detecting signal. Thus, the alternating voltage component of the drive signal becomes a main cause of the detection error of the oscillation condition of the electrostatic driven type oscillator. When the angular rate is detected while the electrostatic driven type oscillator is oscillated, the alternating voltage component causes a lag of the detected output.
When the amount of the noise deriving from the alternating component of the drive signal is stable, the detection error of the oscillation and the lag of the detected output of the angular rate maintain an approximately fixed level. When the detection error of the oscillation and the lag of the detected output of the angular rate maintain an approximately fixed level, they can be easily corrected. Therefore, when the amount of the noise deriving from the alternating voltage component of the drive signal is stable, it is easy to correct the error. However, when the increase or decrease of the alternating voltage component of the drive signal is adjusted for maintaining the oscillation amplitude in the driving direction to be constant while the Q factor of the electrostatic driven type oscillator in the driving direction is fluctuated by the change of the electrostatic driven type oscillator due to the passage of time and the change of the environmental temperature, the amount of the noise mixed in the displacement detecting signal is fluctuated. Thus, the detecting error of the oscillation condition of the electrostatic driven type oscillator and the lag of the detected output of the angular rate are fluctuated by the increase or decrease of the alternating voltage component of the drive signal.
In light of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an actuator for an oscillator preventing unfavorable conditions such as the change of the detection error and the fluctuation of the lag of the detecting output of the angular rate of the oscillation of the electrostatic driven type oscillator by controlling the fluctuation of the amount of the noise mixed in the displacement signal.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an actuator for oscillators minimizing the fluctuation of the alternating voltage component of the drive signal.
To attain the above objects, the following technical means are provided with the actuator for the oscillator of the present invention which includes an electrostatic driven type oscillator, an oscillator driving means for oscillating the electrostatic driven type oscillator by outputting a drive signal thereto, a displacement detecting means for detecting the displacement based on the oscillation of the electrostatic driven type oscillator as a displacement signal, and an amplitude adjusting means for controlling the generation of the drive signal outputted from the oscillator driving means to maintain the constancy of the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven type oscillator based on the detected displacement signal. The amplitude adjusting means includes an alternating voltage component generating means for generating an alternating voltage component of the drive signal having a constant amplitude or an amplitude proportional to the oscillation amplitude and a direct-current voltage component generating means for generating the direct current of the drive signal controlled to be increased or decreased based on the detected displacement signal. Based on the drive signal consisting of the alternating voltage component and the direct-current voltage component, the oscillation driving force of the electrostatic driven type oscillator is controlled to maintain the constancy of the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven type oscillator.
According to the foregoing technical means, the amplitude adjusting means generates an incorporated drive signal consisting of the alternating voltage component or the alternating voltage component proportional to the oscillation amplitude maintaining a constant amplitude by the alternating voltage component generating means and the direct component generating means and the direct-current voltage component of which increase or decrease is controlled based on the detected displacement signal. Based on the drive signal, the oscillation driving force (electrostatic attraction) of the electrostatic driven type oscillator is controlled to maintain the constancy of the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven type oscillator in the driving direction.
Thus, even when the Q factor of the electrostatic driven type oscillator in the driving direction is fluctuated due to the change of the electrostatic driven type oscillator by the passage of time and the change of the environment temperature, only the direct-current voltage component of the drive signal is increased and decreased to maintain the constancy of the alternating voltage component (amplitude). Accordingly, even when the Q factor of the electrostatic driven type oscillator in the driving direction is fluctuated due to the passage of time and the change of the environment temperature, the amount of the noise in the displacement signal deriving from the alternating voltage component of the drive signal is kept stable. This helps the correction of detection error changes as long as the noise amount is stable by keeping a fixed level.
Another aspect of the technical means of the actuator for the oscillator of the present invention involves the arrangement whereby the increase or decrease of the direct-current voltage component of the drive signal is controlled by one of three ways as follows. The increase or decrease of the direct-current voltage component of the drive signal is controlled to be proportional to the difference between the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven type oscillator detected based on the displacement signal and a predetermined amplitude or is controlled to be proportional to a value obtained by performing time integration of the difference between the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven type oscillator detected based on the displacement signal and the predetermined amplitude or is controlled to be proportional to an addition of the value obtained by performing time integration of the difference between the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven type oscillator detected based on the displacement signal and the predetermined amplitude and the value proportional to the difference between the oscillation amplitude and the predetermined amplitude.
When the increase or decrease of the direct-current voltage component of the drive signal is controlled to be proportional to the difference between the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven type oscillator detected based on the displacement signal and the predetermined amplitude, the lag of the control of the oscillation driving force of the electrostatic driven type oscillator is minimized to provide a control having a good response to the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven type oscillator. When the direct-current voltage component of the drive signal is controlled to be proportional to the value obtained by performing time integration of the difference between the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven type oscillator detected based on the displacement signal and the predetermined amplitude, the difference between the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven type oscillator and the predetermined amplitude is controlled to be almost zero, which can provide a control with high accuracy to the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven type oscillator. When the direct-current voltage component of the drive signal is controlled to be proportional to the addition of the value obtained by performing time integration of the difference between the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven type oscillator detected based on the displacement signal and the predetermined amplitude and the value proportional to the difference between the oscillation amplitude and the predetermined amplitude, the lag of the control of the oscillation driving force of the electrostatic driven type oscillator is minimized and also the difference between the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven type oscillator and the predetermined amplitude is controlled to be almost zero, which can provide a control with high response and high accuracy to the amplitude of the electrostatic driven type oscillator.
A further aspect of the technical means of the present invention involves the arrangement whereby the alternating voltage component of the drive signal is generated having a phase contrast by approximately 90 degrees to the displacement signal and having the amplitude of the alternating voltage component of the drive signal proportional to the amplitude of the displacement signal or is generated proportional to a signal obtained by performing one of the differentiation, the integration, or the 90 degree phase-shift to the displacement signal.
When the alternating voltage component of the drive signal is generated having a phase-contrast of 90 degrees to the displacement signal, the electrostatic driven type oscillator is oscillated at the most effective resonant point. When the amplitude of the alternating voltage component of the drive signal is generated proportional to the amplitude of the displacement signal, provided that the oscillation of the electrostatic driven type oscillator becomes stable, an alternating voltage component of the drive signal having a constant amplitude is generated. Thus, for instance, compared to the conventional method as shown in FIG. 14 which generates the alternating voltage component of the drive signal separately, the structure of the alternating voltage component generating means is simplified. Further, when the alternating voltage component of the drive signal is generated proportional to the signal obtained by performing the differentiation, the integration, or the phase-shift by 90 degrees to the displacement signal, provided that the oscillation of the electrostatic driven oscillator is stable, the alternating voltage component of the drive signal having a constant amplitude is generated only by damping or amplifying the signal obtained by performing the differentiation, the integration or the phase-shift by 90 degrees to the displacement signal based on the oscillation of the oscillator. Thus, for instance, the structure of the alternating voltage component generating means (circuit structure) is simplified compared to the conventional method as shown in FIG. 14 which generates the alternating voltage component of the drive signal separately. By performing the differentiation, the integration, or the phase-shift by 90 degrees to the displacement signal, the alternating voltage component of the drive signal having the phase-contrast by approximately 90 degrees to the displacement signal is generated. Accordingly, the electrostatic driven type oscillator is oscillated, at the most effective resonant point.
A still further aspect of the technical means of the present invention involves a first drive electrode and a second drive electrode having opposite electrostatic attraction directions, which is generated between the electrostatic driven type oscillator and the first and the second drive electrodes respectively. According to the foregoing technical means, the electrostatic driven type oscillator is oscillated by respective signals, each having an inverted alternating voltage component with respect to each other supplied to the first and the second drive electrodes in which the directions of the electrostatic attraction respectively generated between the electrostatic driven type oscillator are opposed to one another. In this case, the noise mixed with the displacement signal deriving from the alternating voltage component of each drive signal applied to the first and the second drive electrodes is offset. This reduces the total noise deriving from the alternating voltage component.
Furthermore, by providing a structure equalizing the electrostatic attraction of the first drive electrode and the second drive electrode generated between the electrostatic driven type oscillator by respective drive signals including an inverted alternating voltage component, the component of the force generated proportional to the second power of the direct-current voltage component and the component of the force generated proportional to the second power of the alternating voltage component in the oscillation driving force (electrostatic attraction) applied to the electrostatic driven type oscillator are offset from one another to reduce unnecessary motion.


The invention relates to preparation of a rubber composition which contains polybutadiene elastomers with balanced reinforcing filler network, rubber composition prepared thereby and tire with at least one component comprised of such rubber composition.

Tires may be prepared with treads comprised of diene-based rubber compositions which contain reinforcing filler as a combination of rubber reinforcing carbon black and precipitated silica. The precipitated silica may be used together with a silica coupler to couple the precipitated silica to diene-based elastomers contained in the rubber composition.
The rubber composition may, for example, contain dual polybutadiene elastomers. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 9,518,158.
The rubber composition may, for example, be a phase mixed rubber composition. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 9,890,270.
It may sometimes be desired to promote increasing stiffness as well as abrasion resistance of a cured rubber composition for a tire component, such as for example a tire tread as indicated by its cured storage modulus G′ property and abrasion resistance as indicated DIN or Grosch abrasion properties, while substantially maintaining or beneficially reducing its internal hysteresis as indicated by its rebound and/or tangent delta (tan delta) properties.
An increase in such stiffness property of a rubber composition may often be expected to increase its hysteresis property which, in turn, may be expected to promote an undesirable increase in internal heat generation for the tire tread during the tire's operational service. An increase in such hysteresis property may be indicated, for example, by a decrease in the rubber composition's rebound property, particularly its hot (100° C.) rebound property, and/or an increase in its tangent delta (tan delta) property.
A challenge is presented to promote an increase in a cured rubber composition's stiffness (e.g. an increase in the cured rubber composition's storage modulus G′ property) as well as its abrasion resistance while substantially maintaining or improving (reducing) its hysteresis property, particularly for a tire tread rubber composition, as well as desirably substantially maintaining the uncured rubber's processability.
For such challenge, it is desired to evaluate providing the rubber composition as a composite of a blend of rubber masterbatches individually comprised of combinations of polybutadiene elastomer(s) and reinforcing filler selected from rubber reinforcing carbon black and/or precipitated silica together with associated combinations of silica couplers.
It is proposed for the overall tread rubber to contain diene-based elastomers comprised of dual cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomers, optionally containing additional diene-based elastomer such as, for example, at least one of cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber (natural or synthetic rubber), styrene/butadiene rubber, isoprene/butadiene rubber and 3,4-polyisoprene with variations of reinforcing filler comprised of rubber reinforcing carbon black, precipitated silica, or their combination, together with variations in silica coupling agents for the precipitated silica. Such dual polybutadiene elastomers are referred to herein, for convenience, as a specialized polybutadiene elastomer and as a designated polybutadiene elastomer.
The specialized polybutadiene elastomer is the product of polymerization of 1,3-butadiene monomer in an organic solvent with catalyst comprised of an organonickel compound with attendant physical properties.
The designated polybutadiene elastomer is the product of polymerization of 1,3-butadiene monomer in an organic solvent with catalyst comprised of a neodymium compound with attendant physical properties.
In practice, it is recognized that a reinforcing filler, such as rubber reinforcing carbon black and precipitated silica, has a preferential reinforcing affinity for the first diene-based elastomer with which it is mixed such as, for example, the specialized or designated cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomer.
For this evaluation, it is desired to provide rubber compositions comprised of at least one of rubber reinforcing carbon black and precipitated silica with specialized cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomer and with designated cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomer followed by blending the specialized and designated cis 1,4-polybutadiene containing rubber compositions.
For this evaluation, it is further desired to provide dual silica couplers for the rubber compositions as bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) polysulfides with varied polysulfide contents.
The silica couplers are referred to herein, for convenience, as a specialized silica coupler having an average in a range of from about 3 to about 4 (e.g. about 3.2 to about 3.8) connecting sulfur atoms in its polysulfidic bridge provided for said specialized cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomer in said first masterbatch.
Representative example of such specialized silica coupler is Si69™ from Evonik.
A silica coupler referred to as a designated silica coupler having a relatively reduced average in a range of from about 2 to about 2.6 connecting sulfur atoms in its polysulfidic bridge is provided for said designated cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomer in said second masterbatch. Representative example of such designated silica coupler is Si266™ from Evonik.
It is intended that the silica couplers are to be used with the precipitated silica contained in the masterbatches although the specialized silica coupler may be used in the first masterbatch if the only reinforcing filler is a rubber reinforcing carbon black since it is believed that the coupler with the higher polysulfide content may promote a degree of beneficial rubber reinforcing interaction with the carbon black.
The specialized cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomer differs from the designated cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomer in a sense of having a relatively broad heterogeneity index (number average molecular weight, Mn, divided by its weight average molecular weight, Mw) in which its number average molecular weight (Mn) is relatively low for a cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomer. Such combination of relatively wide heterogeneity index and relatively low Mn for the specialized cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomer is believed to be indicative of a branched polymer structure, or configuration, for the elastomer which, in turn, is believed to promote better processability for the uncured elastomer in a sense of lower elastomer viscosity (lower Mooney ML1+4, 100° C. viscosity) and thereby more tolerable of the specialized silica coupler containing the higher connecting sulfur atom content which may promote an increased Mooney viscosity of uncured elastomer.
Representative of such specialized cis 1,4-polybutdiene elastomer is BUD4001™ from The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.
The designated cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomer differs from the specialized cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomer in a sense of having a relatively narrower heterogeneity index (number average molecular weight, Mn, divided by its weight average molecular weight, Mw) in which its number average molecular weight (Mn) is not relatively low for a cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomer as compared to the specialized cis 1,4-polybutadiene. Such combination of relatively narrower heterogeneity index and higher Mn for the designated cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomer is believed to be promotive of a higher uncured elastomer viscosity (higher Mooney ML1+4, 100° C. viscosity) and thereby less tolerable of the specialized silica coupler containing the higher connecting sulfur atom content which may promote an increased Mooney viscosity of uncured elastomer and more tolerable of the designated silica coupler containing the lower connecting sulfur atom content which may have a reduced tendency to promote an increased Mooney viscosity of uncured elastomer.
Representative of such designated cis 1,4-polybutdiene elastomer is BUD1223™ from The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.
The purpose of the evaluation is to evaluate providing a dual polybutadiene elastomer composition (specialized and designated polybutadiene elastomers) together with dual silica couplers (specialized and designated silica couplers associated with the specialized and designated cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomers, respectively) and rubber reinforcing fillers to provide a rubber composition containing a complex reinforcing filler network.
In practice, it is recognized that a reinforcing filler (e.g. the rubber reinforcing carbon black and precipitated silica) has a preferential reinforcing affinity for the first diene-based elastomer with which it is associated such as by mixing therewith. It is believed that such preferential reinforcing filler reinforcement phenomenon is understood by those having skill in such art.
For this evaluation, it is therefore desired to individually and separately promote such preferential reinforcing affinities of such reinforcing fillers with the respective selective and designated cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomers (with associated specialized and designated silica couplers) by the preparation of the two individual rubber masterbatches followed by blending them together.
In this manner then, for the blended elastomer composition, it is envisioned that the indicated reinforcing filler may maintain a greater preferential reinforcing affinity for the specialized cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber of the first masterbatch and the indicated reinforcing filler maintains a greater preferential reinforcing affinity for the designated cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber of the second masterbatch, within the blended elastomer composition (blended masterbatches).
It is further believed that restricting the silica couplers to the specialized silica coupler for the specialized cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomer containing first masterbatch and the designated silica coupler for the designated cis 1,4-polybutadiene containing second masterbatch further promotes the aforesaid affinities of the respective reinforcing filler to the individual rubber compositions to aid in promoting a complex reinforcement network.
As a result, for the blend of the rubber masterbatches, it is further envisioned that only a limited migration of the filler reinforcement of the specialized cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber based first masterbatch may occur into the filler reinforcement of the designated cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber based second masterbatch and vice-versa.
The rubber composition comprised of the blend of the rubber masterbatches, together with sulfur curative, may then be shaped to form a tire component such as a tire tread and sulfur cured, together with assembled tire components, to form the tire.
It is important to appreciate that such preparation of the rubber composition network for this evaluation is intended to be a significant departure from a more simple step-wise sequential mixing of precipitated silica and rubber reinforcing carbon black reinforcing fillers in a rubber composition and from a more simple mixing of elastomers and reinforced fillers.
The term "phr" where used herein, and according to conventional practice, refers to "parts of a respective material per 100 parts by weight of rubber, or elastomer".
The terms "rubber" and "elastomer" where used herein, are to be used interchangeably, unless otherwise prescribed. The terms "rubber composition", "compounded rubber" and "rubber compound", if used herein, are used interchangeably to refer to "rubber which has been blended or mixed with various ingredients and materials" and such terms are well known to those having skill in the rubber mixing or rubber compounding art. The terms "vulcanize" and "cure" where used therein are used interchangeably unless otherwise indicated.
The terms "specialized" and "designated" are arbitrary terms used herein to distinguish between cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomers and between silica couplers (silica coupling agents).

Rubber composition containing dual polybutadiene elastomers with balanced filler reinforcement network, preparation and tire with component


An image-sensing apparatus has an area sensor 1 that outputs image data by logarithmically converting the brightness of light incident thereon, a black-level detector 2 for detecting the black level BL of the image data at which the image data has the lowest signal level, a white-level detector 3 for detecting the white level WL of the image data at which the image data has the highest signal level, a calculation formula determiner 4 for determining, in accordance with the detected black and white levels BL and WL, the formula to be used to convert the signal level of the image data, and a dynamic range converter 5 for converting the signal level of the image data using the calculation formula determined by the calculation formula determiner 4.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image-sensing apparatus having a photoelectric conversion device that outputs a signal that is logarithmically proportional to the amount of incident light.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional area sensor having photosensitive devices such as photodiodes outputs a signal that is linearly proportional to the brightness of the light incident on the photosensitive devices as shown at (a) in FIG. 15. When a subject having brightness distribution as shown at (b) in FIG. 15 is shot with such a linear-conversion-based area sensor (hereafter referred to as a "linear sensor"), no brightness data is obtained outside the roughly two-digit brightness range (dynamic range) within which the linear sensor can effectively perform image sensing (this brightness range will hereinafter be referred to as the "shootable brightness range").
Accordingly, when the signal from this linear sensor is reproduced as an image on a display or the like, the displayed image suffers from flat blackness in low-brightness portions thereof and saturation in high-brightness portions thereof outside the shootable brightness range. It is possible to avoid flat blackness by shifting the shootable brightness range leftward or avoid saturation by shifting it rightward. However, this requires varying the aperture value or shutter speed of a camera, or the integral time for which to allow light in, and thus spoils ease of use.
On the other hand, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,575, the applicant of the present invention once proposed an area sensor (hereinafter referred to as a "LOG sensor") provided with a light-sensing means that outputs a photocurrent in proportion to the amount of incident light, a MOS transistor to which the photocurrent is fed, and a bias means for biasing the MOS transistor in such a way that a subthreshold current flows therethrough, so that the photocurrent is converted logarithmically. This LOG sensor outputs a signal whose level is natural-logarithmically proportional to the amount of incident light as shown at (a) in FIG. 16, and thus offers a wide, specifically five- to six-digit, dynamic range. This permits, even in cases in which the brightness distribution tends to shift, the brightness distribution of a given subject to lie most probably within the shootable brightness range as shown at (b) in FIG. 16.
However, a typical subject has a two- to three-digit brightness range, and therefore, if it is shot with a LOG sensor that offers a five- to six-digit dynamic range, the shootable brightness range is too wide relative to the actual brightness distribution of the subject, and thus a region where no brightness data is available is left in a low-brightness or high-brightness portion of the shootable brightness range. Specifically, as shown at (a) in FIG. 16, with respect to the dynamic range DRa of the LOG sensor, the range DRb of the output that corresponds to the brightness distribution of the subject is considerably narrow. Thus, when the output signal of this LOG sensor is subjected to level conversion so as to be converted, for example, into an eight-bit digital signal as shown in FIG. 17 in order to display an image on an output device such as a display, if conversion is so performed that the dynamic range DRc of the output device is adapted to the dynamic range DRa of the LOG sensor and that the maximum and minimum output values of the LOG sensor correspond to the maximum and minimum output levels (255 and 0), respectively, of the output device, the output device receives a signal whose level varies only within a range DRd which is merely a portion of the range covered by the eight-bit digital signal. Thus, when the image of a subject having brightness distribution as described above is reproduced using such a signal, the black portions of the image, where the brightness is lowest, are reproduced as dark gray, and the white portions thereof, where the brightness is highest, are reproduced as light gray, making the entire image low-contrast.

Image-sensing apparatus with brightness range adaptation functionality