A pickup for engagement to the body of an instrument having metal strings, such as a guitar in position proximate to the strings. The pickup features a coil having loops of wire wound around a recess having a magnetic member therein which projects a magnetic field to magnetize the strings. The electrical current in said coil wire induced by a movement the strings generates a first electrical signal from said first end of the coil wire and corresponding AC second electric signal from said second end of the coil wire. One or a plurality of tap wires engaged to the coil wire at tap points, provide additional individual electronic signals which may be mixed, or may be communicated individually to an amplifier or mixing component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to stringed instruments. More particularly, the disclosed device and method of employment thereof, relates to a pickup for stringed instruments, in particular guitar pickup devices for electric guitars. The present invention provides a customizable pickup device by employing means for varying the induced voltage communicated through the wire forming the coil of the device to one or a plurality of output signal lead ends. In one mode the means for varying the induced voltage is provided by the operative engagement of one or a plurality of tap wires communicating with the output wire lead end, engaged at different points along the length of wire forming the coil of the pickup, which produces different signals at each output lead end depending on the location of the tap connection.
2. Prior Art
Stringed instruments have been employed by musicians for centuries. Amplification of such instruments has been employed since the early 1900's when tubes were invented which could amplify input sound from microphones. Between 1920 to 1950, the need for guitar amplification increased where musicians desired to employ guitars to accompany the louder instruments of a big band style orchestra. Over time, the amplification of guitars and later, other stringed instruments, evolved to employ guitar pickups, on solid body guitars.
There exists a wide variety of guitar pickup designs available to the average consumer. One conventionally known guitar pickup is a passive magnetic pickup design employing the physics of electromagnetic induction to generate an electronic signal which is communicated to an amplifier for reproduction by loudspeakers. Other designs include piezoelectric pickups and optical pickups, however are conventionally employed for specialized purposes and are not widely used. Additionally employed to electrify the sound of some stringed instruments such as a guitar, are microphones, which are mounted internally with acoustic guitars and other similar stringed instruments such as a base.
Magnetic pickups used for guitars and other metal-stringed instruments, consist of or generally employ a permanent magnet with a core of material such as alnico or ceramic which is coupled with one or plurality of ferromagnetic pole pieces. The magnet and pole pieces are coiled with several thousand turns of fine wire and up to 10,000 turns. The pole pieces and coil are conventionally engaged on an elongated bobbin.
The coil generally comprises an electrical circuit which is acted upon by the magnetic fields of the permanent magnet and pole pieces. Like any electrical circuit placed near a changing magnetic filed, and in accordance with the basic laws of electricity and magnetism, the coils of the pickup will have an inductance, measured in Henries. The inductance can be anything from 1 Henry for a low output single coil pickup, to around 9 Henries or more, for the high output style humbucker pickups. The inductance depends on the number of turns of copper wire and also on the physical shape of the coils.
Additionally, every pickup coil has a characteristic DC resistance, measured in Ohms. Like Henries, the resistance measurement also depends on the number of turns and the diameter of the copper wire used. Typical values can range from about 1k (1000 ohms) up to about 15 k (15000 ohms).
Pickups are also known exhibit a "distributed" capacitance which is effectively in parallel with the inductance of the formed coil. This is caused by the addition of the very small capacitance between each turn on the coil.
The electrical signal output of a guitar pickup for amplification is provided by an analog signal communicated by electric current which is induced or generated in the coils when the magnetic field communicating with and through the coil (magnetic flux) changes. This is referred to as electromagnetic induction. When the pickup is operatively engaged to a body, adjacent to the vibrating metal strings of the stringed instrument, as the stringed instrument is strummed, the vibration and resulting movement of the strings adjacent the pickup modulates the magnetic field thereby inducing changes in the magnetic flux communicating through the coil. As such, in accordance with the laws of electromagnetic induction, this change in magnetic flux induces an alternating current signal through the coil. Lead ends of the coil are then communicated to an audio output and the electronic signal is ultimately communicated to an amplifier for producing the sounds and tones we hear today.
The material, length, gauge, and number of turns of the wire, leading to the point where the electric current or signal is captured and then communicated to an amplifier, can provide a change in the electrical signal output, namely in the capacitance, inductance and electrical voltage and current of the coil acting as an electrical circuit. These factors ultimately affect the electrical circuit characteristics of the coil, which affects the induced electrical signals providing the amplified sound and tone.
As such, manufacturers are able to produce different sounds and tone by varying the length, gauge, and number of turns of the wire forming the coil and the pickup locations on the body along the length of the strings. On some deigns there are additionally included magnetic pole pieces which, when engaged to the body of the guitar align with the strings. Conventional pole pieces can be adjustable, such as a threaded screw, or fixed and referred to as slugs.
The configuration of the pickup has changed only slightly since its first invention. A single coil pickup (employing a single coil configuration) is known in the art to be prone to electromagnetic interference generated by electrical power cables, power transformers, radio stations, and cathode ray tubes and other local sources. What is produced is an audible hum as a consequence of the interference with the windings of the pickup.
To overcome this effect, two sets of coils, pole pieces, and bobbin configurations are positioned on opposite sides of a permanent magnet, with one on the north magnetic pole of the magnet and one on the south magnetic pole of the magnet. Further each coil configuration is typically coiled reverse to one another. Due to the reverse windings in each pickup coil, and the positioning of the coils on the opposite poles of the magnet, the electro-magnetic interference signals in each pickup are equal yet in opposite phases, resulting in a cancelling of each other out, and eliminating the audible hum. This is commonly referred to as a 'humbucker' type pickup configuration. Examples can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,892,371 and 2,896,491 herein incorporated in their entirety by reference. Manufacturers are able to prologue various sounds and tones by employing various combination of single coil pickups and humbucking pickups, arranged at various locations on the body of the guitar.
Although advancements in pickup technology are present, for both single coil pickups and humbucker pickups, the coil configurations continue to stay unchanged. For example, for a humbucker, after winding, the end lead wires of each of the two coil configuration are engaged such that the coils are in series and there is a single output. As such, the induced signal is generated, and therefor sound and tone is produced which is limited by the number of turns between the start and end leads of the wire in each coil configuration. Therefor variations in sound and tone produced in the communicated electronic signal, are generally limited to number of turns, wire material, length, and wire gauge.
For example, classical musicians tend to employ pickups with relatively low number of turns of the wire forming the coil. This generally lowers the resistance through the coil and decreases the induced output voltage of the pickup, however this also allows for increasing the resonant peak. Therefor, lesser turns or windings on the coil, or coils depending on the pickup, is known to produce cleaner high frequency tones favored by country and blues musicians.
Rock musicians tend to use a pickup with a relatively high number of turns of the coil. This increases the output voltage and reduces the resonant peak and is more favorable with amplification of low, bass sounds. The high frequency sounds begin to get cut off and/or distorted. Over winding of the wire forming the coil is also employed. This produces clipping in the signal and even more of the familiar distortion in the amplified sound from the communicated signal, heard in heavy metal and rock music.
As such, musicians must selectively choose the type and configuration of the pickup employed on their instrument in order to get the sound and tone they desire. If a wide range of tones and resonate peaks over varying frequencies are desired, the musician typically purchases separate instruments having the desired pickup configuration which will communicate the electronic signal for amplification for each desired tone and range. Otherwise, the musician is limited to only one certain tone and range which is determined and limited by the pickup configuration employed on their instrument.
Consequently, there is an unmet need for a pickup employing a coil circuitry, which will allow communication of signals for amplification which are employable by all types of musicians, and music. Such a pickup should be configured for user customized sound generating electronic signals, by individual selection or mixing of both clean signals and distorted signals from the same pickup device. Such a device should allow for switching and resulting operative engagement of one or a plurality of output signal wires from their engagement positions at different points along the windings of wire forming the coil of the pickup to thereby vary the signal communicated for amplification to produce the desired sound.
The disclosed device herein has met a previously unmet need for an improved user-variable guitar pickup device which provides string sound signals in multiple types and tones, with both higher and lower resonant peaks all from the same pickup. The device herein described and disclosed advantageously allows a user to employ multiple audio outputs corresponding to each output lead which can be used individually or combined to create an output signal yielding customized tones and sounds. Further, by communicating the plurality of signals into a mixing knob or switch, or directly to a computer or MIDI conversion component, another increase the musician's choice of tone and sound is provided logarithmically, as compared from conventional two wire outputs.
In the device herein, each output signal wire produces different signals dependent on the location of the signal wire connection at the various points along its total length within the magnetic flux field of the pickup, thereby yielding great utility. This configuration provides a plurality of output signal wires communicating a plurality of unique electrical signals captured at these connection points or taps, to a plurality of respective individual output leads. Each output lead communicates a unique signal which can be in the clean range when the tap is at a point of relatively low number windings of the coil, all the way to the distorted range when the tap is at a point of relatively high number of windings of the coil of the pickup device. This configuration yields a wide range of tones and sounds which can be produced from a single pickup configuration.
For example, using the configuration of pickup herein, and a plurality of tap points on the coiled wire, which extend from different positions along the length of the coil of the pickup corresponding to a different number of turns, individual respective communications of different respective induced voltages and currents are provided. These may be used singularly or in combination to produce one or a plurality of output signals for amplification to produce an infinite number of different tones and sounds when communicated to an amplifier.
The forgoing examples of related art and limitation related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive, and they do not imply any limitations on the invention described and claimed herein. Various limitations of the related art will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the specification below and the accompanying drawings.


A powder comprising rare earth element fluoride particles having an aspect ratio of up to 2, an average particle size of 10-100 μm, a bulk density of 0.8-1.5 g/cm3, and a carbon content of 0.1-0.5 wt % is amenable to atmospheric plasma spraying. An article obtained by spraying the rare earth fluoride spray powder to a substrate undergoes few partial color changes and performs well even when used in a halogen gas plasma.

In the prior art, sprayed coatings having corrosion resistance are used for protecting substrates in a variety of service environments. While aluminum, chromium and similar metal oxides are often used as the thermal spray material, these spray materials are inadequate for use in the semiconductor fabrication process which may include exposure to hot plasma, corrosive attacks, and in particular, treatment in a halogen-based corrosive gas plasma atmosphere.
The halogen-based corrosive gas plasma atmosphere used in the fabrication of semiconductor devices contains fluorine gases such as SF6, CF4, CHF3, ClF3 and HF and chlorine gases such as Cl2, BCl3 and HCl.
Known articles which can be used in such extremely corrosive atmospheres include, for example, articles having corrosion resistant coatings obtained by spraying yttrium oxide (Patent Document 1) and yttrium fluoride (Patent Document 2) to their surface. While rare earth oxide sprayed articles are generally prepared by plasma spraying rare earth oxide, they are long used as the sprayed articles in the industrial semiconductor fabrication process because of least technical problems. On the other hand, the rare earth fluoride sprayed coatings suffer from a technical problem despite good corrosion resistance. The plasma spraying of rare earth fluoride has the problem that when the rare earth fluoride is passed through a flame at 3,000° C. or higher for melting, the fluoride can be decomposed so that the material partially converts to a mixture of rare earth fluoride and rare earth oxide. For this reason, practical utilization of rare earth fluoride sprayed articles is delayed as compared with the rare earth oxide sprayed articles.

Rare earth fluoride spray powder and rare earth fluoride-sprayed article


Powdered dairy creamer compositions are disclosed, formed by drying an emulsion containing from about 5% to about 45% by weight of an edible fat component, including one or more edible fats, from about 5% to about 75% by weight of nonfat dry milk solids, from about 0.1% to about 1.0% by weight of a hydrophilic emulsifier and from about 0.05% to about 0.5% by weight of a lipophilic emulsifier, wherein the hydrophilic emulsifier and the lipophilic emulsifier are present in a ratio of about 2:1, and one or more emulsion stabilizers present in an amount effective to stabilize the emulsion without the presence of the stabilizer being perceptible with respect to the organoleptic properties of the composition. Methods of forming the powdered dairy creamer compositions are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a powdered dairy product for creaming liquids such as coffee, tea and similar beverages, soups and other edible liquid food products. In particular, the present invention relates to a powdered dairy product for these beverages providing superior organoleptic properties resembling fresh cream.
Non-dairy coffee whiteners have become of increasing importance in the food industry because of their ease of handling and unrefrigerated shelf stability. Their success has been attributed, in part, to economics, particularly when compared with the relatively high cost of fluid dairy products and, in part, to the consumer appeal associated with a low cholesterol content from being formulated without butter fat. However, such products lack the taste, mouthfeel and other desirable organoleptic properties of cream.
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,926 to Gardiner, typical non-dairy creamers contain from 20%-40% by weight on a dry basis of fat, from 3%-15% by weight of sodium caseinate, from 35%-65% by weight carbohydrate, together with an optional emulsifier and buffering agent, which are formed into an emulsion and spray-dried. Such non-dairy creamers, when added to coffee, function to whiten or lighten the coffee and to neutralize coffee acids to produce a smoother, milder and more mellow coffee drink.
This patent also discloses that attempts to replace sodium caseinate with other water dispersible proteins such as soy protein have proved unsuccessful. The other proteins produced off-flavors, feathering of the protein in the coffee, fat separation, poor whitening properties and other problems.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,865 discloses a typical powdered non-dairy coffee creamer containing 35% by weight of a hydrogenated vegetable fat or oil, 55.25% by weight of a carbohydrate such as corn syrup solids, 5.25% by weight of a protein such as sodium caseinate, 2.5% by weight of an emulsifier such as monodiglyceride and 2% by weight of a stabilizing/buffering agent such as dipotassium phosphate. This patent further discloses that the protein functions when the product is reconstituted in coffee to encapsulate the oil or fat droplets and bind water, thereby preventing separation of the fat and coalescence of the droplets to form undesirable fat globules on the surface of the coffee. The stabilizing/buffering salts function to improve the colloidal dispersability of the protein and prevent what is termed "protein feathering" or precipitation of the protein from the acidity of the drink to which the whitener is added. U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,600 to Miller discloses another typical non-dairy coffee creamer containing from 2-50% of a vegetable oil, from 2.5%-5.5% casein, a buffering agent and an emulsifying agent, with the remainder being carbohydrate.
With respect to dairy coffee creamers, U.S. Pat. No. 2,933,393 discloses a powdered coffee creamer having from 15%-42% edible fat, lacteal nonfat solids having a calcium to phosphorus ratio below 0.85, and an added lactose equivalent to between 15% and 65% by weight, with over 62% of the lactose being in beta form. The creamer is prepared by condensing cream with whole milk or skim milk having a reduced calcium content and adding lactose to the mixture, which is then spray-dried. The process requires heat treatment of the mixture prior to spray-drying at a temperature between 203.degree. and 250.degree. F. for 1 to 20 seconds in order to convert the lactose to over 62% beta-lactose. The beta-lactose is disclosed as improving product solubility. However, many individuals are lactase-deficient and therefore lactose intolerant, particularly at the levels of lactose disclosed by this patent.
There remains a need for a powdered dairy coffee creamer having the organoleptic properties of cream when added to coffee.


A wheel cover for a front wheel of a truck includes a main body, a central cap, at least two washers, multiple bolt caps, and an insulation plate. The main body defines a central hole and multiple recesses. The insulation plate, which defines a central hole and multiple through holes, is located between the main body and a rim of a front wheel, such that the recesses of the main body and the through holes of the insulation plate are aligned to receive bolts and nuts provided for the rim of the front wheel. The two washers are fitted into two of the recesses of the main body, around the corresponding bolts, and fixed by the corresponding nuts, so that the main body is assembled to the front wheel. The bolt caps can be respectively fitted into the recesses of the main body to cover the bolts and the nuts.

For hiding the axle, bolts, and nuts of a front wheel of a truck, a wheel cover is often installed to the rim of the front wheel. As shown in FIG. 1, the wheel cover 1 is used to hide the axle 20 and the bolts 21 and nuts 22 of the rim 2, wherein the wheel cover 1 generally comprises a body 10 which has a generally conical surface 11 and a flat surface 12 formed at the top of the generally conical surface 11. Multiple holes 13 are defined at the flat surface 12. Each bolt 21 is inserted through one of the holes 13 to be connected with a nut 22 from outside of the body 10 so as to fix the wheel cover 1 to the rim 2. However, when assembling the wheel cover 1 to the rim 2, all of the nuts 22 have to removed from the bolts 21 before the wheel cover 1 is mounted to the rim 2. Although the axle 20 can be hidden by the wheel cover 1, the nuts 22 and the ends of the bolts 21 are exposed. Furthermore, the tightness of the nuts 22 has to be checked to ensure that the nuts 22 are fastened properly.
Another wheel cover 3 is shown in FIG. 2, which includes a body 30 having a generally conical surface 31 and a flat surface 32 formed at the top of the generally conical surface 31. At least two holes 33 are defined at the flat surface 32. At least two connection members 35 are located at the inside of the body 30. One end of each connection member 35 is connected to one bolt 21, and the other end of each connection member 35 is inserted through one hole 33 of the flat surface 32 for connecting to a connection part 34. The wheel cover 3 is fixed to the rim 2 by the at least two connection members 35 and the connection parts 34. However, when the length of the bolts for a rim is too short, it is difficult for the connection members 35 to connect with the bolts properly. Therefore, vibration may cause the wheel cover 3 to become loose or even drop off while the truck is moving.
The present invention intends to provide a wheel cover for a front wheel of a truck for solving the shortcomings of the conventional ones.


Methods are described that enable host devices of a multicast IP network to reliably join multicast group address(es) in talkgroup or point-to-point calls. For a talkgroup call, a sourcing host sends “hello” packets or payload to one or more network devices, addressed to a multicast group address. The receiving host issues a join command to the one or more network devices in an attempt to reliably join the multicast group address. If any packets are received by the receiving host within a designated time period associated with the attempt, the receiving host is reliably joined to the multicast group address. For a point-to-point call, a controller sends a pair of multicast group addresses, one designated for sourcing packets and the other designated for receiving packets, to a first and second host participating in the point-to-point call. The designated “source” and “receive” multicast group address are complementary for the first and second hosts. When the first or second host is acting as a source, it sends hello packets or payload addressed to its designated “source” multicast group address. When the first or second host is acting as a receiver, it attempts to join its designated “receive” multicast group address. The first or second host acting as a receiver knows that it is reliably joined to its designated “receive” multicast group address if it receives any packets addressed to that address within a designated time period.

Communication systems typically include a plurality of communication units, such as mobile or portable radio units and dispatch consoles that are located at multiple sites. Typically, the various sites include base site repeaters ("repeaters") for transceiving information such as control, voice, data and network management traffic between the communication units and each other. The repeaters and consoles are typically connected to other fixed portions of the communication system (i.e., the infrastructure) via wireline connections. The repeaters communicate with communication units and/or other repeaters at their respective sites via radio frequency (RF) communication resources, typically comprising voice and/or data resources such as, for example, narrow band frequency modulated channels, time division modulated slots, carrier frequencies, frequency pairs, etc. Communication systems are sometimes logically divided into various subgroups, known as talkgroups, which can be made up of communication units and/or consoles at different sites desiring to participate in a group or dispatch call. Communication systems may also support point-to-point calls between two communication devices which can comprise communication units and/or consoles at different sites.
Communication systems are often classified as circuit-switched or packet-switched, referring to the way data is communicated between fixed endpoints (e.g., repeater and console sites) of the system for either group calls or point-to-point calls. Historically, radio communication systems have used circuit-switched architectures where each endpoint is linked, through dedicated or on-demand circuits, to a central radio system switching point, or "central switch." The circuits providing connectivity to the central switch require a dedicated wire for each endpoint whether or not the endpoint is participating in a particular call. More recently, communication systems are beginning to use packet-switched networks using the Internet Protocol (IP). In these systems, data that is to be transported between endpoints (or "hosts" in IP terminology) is divided into IP packets called datagrams. The datagrams include addressing information (e.g., source and destination addresses) that enables various routers forming an IP network to route the packets to the specified destination(s). The destination addresses may identify a particular host or may comprise an IP Multicast address shared by a group of hosts.
Examples of IP Multicast communication systems are described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,347, titled "Wireless Communication System Incorporating Multicast Addressing and Method for Use" and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/464,269, titled "Methods for Implementing a Talkgroup Call in a Multicast IP Network," each of which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In an IP Multicast based system, host devices desiring to receive the IP packets join a multicast group address by sending Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) "Join" messages to their local router(s) which messages, in turn, are forwarded to downstream router(s). Based on the IGMP Join messages, the routers of the network build a spanning tree of router interfaces and necessary routes between those interfaces to support a call (e.g., a talkgroup or point-to-point call) between the endpoints participating in the call.
However, one problem presently encountered in IP multicast based systems is that IGMP Join messages are unreliable. That is because IGMP Join messages are delivered as "best effort" datagrams, thus it is possible that they may be corrupted somewhere in the network and not delivered to all of the downstream routers. As a result, it is possible that certain hosts (e.g., repeaters or consoles) having attempted to Join the multicast group address will not have Joined successfully and thereby will not receive IP packets addressed to the multicast group address. Moreover, those hosts will not be notified that their Join was ineffective. Although current IP multicast protocols do provide for periodic updates that can detect and repair lost packets, including lost "Joins," these updates are too slow (three or more seconds) for radio communication applications. Thus, for example, a host repeater or console relying on the network protocols to repair a lost Join message would miss all or part of a call, possibly containing critical information. Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method that would enable participating hosts in a multicast IP network having sent IGMP Join messages to know whether they have reliably (i.e., successfully) Joined an IP multicast group. Advantageously, the method will provide for detecting failed Join(s) relatively quickly (i.e., without relying on periodic updates from router(s) of the network) so that, when necessary, the Join(s) may be re-accomplished to reduce or eliminate the likelihood that any affected host(s) will lose critical information that might be conveyed in a talkgroup or point-to-point call. The present invention is directed to satisfying these needs.

Methods for achieving reliable joins in a multicast IP network


A hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode contains an alloy which comprises particles A of a first hydrogen absorbing alloy and particles B of a second hydrogen absorbing alloy of a composition different from the composition of the first alloy joined to the particles A, with a joint layer C formed at the resulting joint interfaces and having a new composition containing the component elements of the first and second alloys. In a specific embodiment, particles A of a first hydrogen absorbing alloy having a CaCu.sub.5 -type structure are joined to particles B of a second hydrogen absorbing alloy having a Zr--Ni Laves-phase structure. In another embodiment, particles A of a first hydrogen absorbing alloy having a CaCu.sub.5 -type structure are joined to particles B of a second hydrogen absorbing alloy having a CaCu.sub.5 -type structure and different form the first alloy in composition. In another embodiment, particles A of a first hydrogen absorbing alloy having a Zr--Ni Laves-phase structure are joined to particles B of a second hydrogen absorbing alloy having a Zr--Ni Laves-phase structure and different from the first alloy in composition.

Hydrogen absorbing alloy electrodes must be great in discharge capacity and great in the degree of initial activation of the hydrogen absorbing alloy and have a prolonged charge-discharge cycle life. Accordingly, it has been proposed to prepare electrodes from a mixture of different kinds of hydrogen absorbing alloys so as to give the electrode the characteristics of the different alloys (for example, JP-A-129936/1989, -173062/1991 and -162355/1992).
For example, hydrogen absorbing alloys with an AB.sub.5 -type crystal structure have a relatively great degree of initial activation and a relatively long charge-discharge cycle life, but are small in discharge capacity. On the other hand, hydrogen absorbing alloys having an AB.sub.2 -type crystal structure are relatively great in discharge capacity but small in the degree of initial activation and short in charge-discharge cycle life. It is therefore practice to prepare hydrogen absorbing alloy electrodes by mixing together a hydrogen absorbing alloy of AB.sub.5 -type crystal structure and a hydrogen absorbing alloy of AB.sub.2 -type crystal structure, molding the mixture and sintering the molded mixture.
Furthermore, AB.sub.2 -type hydrogen absorbing alloys having a Zr--Ni Laves-phase structure are known as alloys having a great discharge capacity. While such alloys vary in properties depending on the composition, the degree of initial activation and the charge-discharge cycle life thereof are generally in trade-off relationship with each other; the alloys excellent in one of these properties are inferior in the other. Accordingly, an AB.sub.2 -type alloy (e.g., Zr--Mn--V--Ni alloy) of a composition ensuring a great initial activation degree is mixed with another AB.sub.2 -type alloy (e.g., Zr--Ti--V--Ni alloy) of a composition having a long charge-discharge cycle life to prepare hydrogen absorbing alloy electrodes from the mixture. The electrodes obtained are improved in both the properties of initial activation degree and charge-discharge cycle life.
In the case where electrodes are prepared from a sintered mixture of AB.sub.5 -type hydrogen absorbing alloy and AB.sub.2 -type hydrogen absorbing alloy as conventionally practiced (JP-A-162355/1992), or in the case of hydrogen absorbing alloy electrodes prepared from an alloy wherein the surfaces of AB.sub.2 -type hydrogen absorbing alloy particles are covered with finer AB.sub.5 -type hydrogen absorbing alloy particles (JP-A-173062/1991), joint interfaces are formed between the AB.sub.2 -type hydrogen absorbing alloy particles and the AB.sub.5 -type hydrogen absorbing alloy particles, whereas the joint interfaces are not exposed on the surfaces where hydrogen absorption and desorption reactions proceed, so that the electrodes are not effectively improved in initial activation and charge-discharge cycle life. Alternatively when one of AB.sub.5 -type hydrogen absorbing alloy and AB.sub.2 -type hydrogen absorbing alloy is coated with an electrically conductive metal or ceramic and then mixed with the other alloy in a bare state, followed by sintering to prepare electrodes from the sintered mixture, the electrodes fail to exhibit a fully improved initial activation degree since joint interfaces are not satisfactorily formed between AB.sub.5 -type hydrogen absorbing alloy particles and AB.sub.2 -type hydrogen absorbing alloy particles owing to the coating.
When hydrogen absorbing alloy electrodes are prepared by mixing together hydrogen absorbing alloys of different crystal structures and sintering the mixture as in the prior art, the characteristics available are merely approximate to the average of those of the alloys. Thus, the electrodes fail to exhibit outstanding characteristics synergistically resulting from the characteristics of the component hydrogen absorbing alloys.
Further hydrogen absorbing alloy electrodes prepared from a mixture of hydrogen absorbing alloys which are merely different in kind as heretofore practiced have characteristics which are also approximate to the average of the characteristics of the different alloys, and it is impossible to obtain characteristics synergistically resulting from the different hydrogen absorbing alloys.


A method for performing wireless communications and an associated apparatus are provided, where the method is applied to an electronic device. The method includes the steps of: receiving at least one data stream, wherein each data stream from the at least one data stream is transmitted from a wireless channel; in a first iteration, utilizing a Maximum Likelihood (ML) estimator to perform demapping processing on at least one portion of the at least one data stream to obtain Log-Likelihood Ratios (LLRs) of the first iteration and performing Turbo decoding according to the LLRs of the first iteration to generate resultant LLRs of the first Iteration; and in at least one following iteration, utilizing a Max A Posterior (MAP) estimator to perform demapping processing on at least one portion of the at least one data stream and performing Turbo decoding, successively, in order to cancel interference due to the wireless channel.

The present invention relates to removing interference for receivers (e.g. inter-stream interference for multiple input multiple output (MIMO) receivers or multi-path interference for general receivers) to enhance the performance, and more particularly, to a method for performing wireless communications, and to an associated apparatus.
According to the related art, a portable electronic device equipped with a touch screen (e.g., a multifunctional mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet, etc) may be very helpful to the user. In a situation where the portable electronic device is designed to have mobile phone functions, some problems may occur. For example, there may be a tradeoff between the performance and the compact size of the portable electronic device. Although some solutions are proposed the related art, it seems unlikely that they can resolve the problems without introducing side effects. For example, a conventional method is typically helpful only when one stream is acknowledged and the other stream is not acknowledged, while another conventional method directly cancels the interference without optimal sense on decoder input. In another example, another conventional method may consume a lot of computing power on decoder, where the timing constraint would be critical. Thus, a novel method is required for enhancing performance of an electronic device.

Method and apparatus for performing wireless communications with aid of successive data processing in multiple iterations


An olefin oligomerization process comprises contacting an olefin feed with a catalyst composition. The catalyst composition includes a crystalline aluminosilicate having FAU, EMT or a combination of FAU and EMT framework type. The crystalline aluminosilicate has cobalt and at least one alkaline earth metal selected from calcium, barium, strontium and mixtures thereof within its intra-crystalline cages.

Propene and butene oligomerization into C6 to C16 olefins (also referred to as higher olefins) are industrially important petrochemical processes. These higher olefins are used for example as intermediates in hydroformylation processes leading to valuable chemicals. The branching degree of the higher olefin and the position of the carbon-carbon double bond determine the reactivity in hydroformylation. Most valuable are linear and little branched oligomers. Olefins with low or medium branching index and alpha-olefins in particular find application in plasticizer and surfactant synthesis. Strongly branched oligomers are less desired but can be added to the gasoline pool.
Solid phosphoric acid (SPA) has been widely used as a catalyst for oligomerization of feedstreams containing alkenes with 2 to 12 carbon atoms. However, SPA produces significant amounts of undesired cracked products, it cannot be regenerated and has to be disposed of at the end of the operation or when its activity is no longer satisfactory. Homogeneous catalysts, especially nickel complexes, are known to yield quasi linear oligomers. An example of a homogeneous process is the Difasol process. Homogeneous catalysts, however, present a problem of catalyst recovery. Heterogeneous nickel catalysts are also used for olefin oligomerization such as in the Octol processes. Nickel catalysts are also sensitive to feed impurities such as sulphur and nitrogen components.
Various zeolites have been proposed as an alternative to SPA or to nickel containing species as oligomerization catalysts. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,399 reports an olefin oligomerization process in which a feedstock containing olefins is passed over a ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst. U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,768, U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,270, U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,357, U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,104 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,610,112 indicate the use of selectivated forms of ZSM-5 and of other zeolites having a constraint index from 1 to 12, namely, ZSM-11, ZSM-12, ZSM-22, ZSM-23, ZSM-35, ZSM-48, ZSM-50 and ZSM-57 in olefin oligomerization. WO 93/16020 discloses an alkene oligomerization process over a zeolite catalyst selected from zeolites of the TON(H-ZSM-22, H-ISI-1, H-Theta-1 H-Nu-10, KZ-2), MTT (H-ZSM-23, KZ-1), MFI (H-ZSM-5), MEL (HZSM-11), MTW (H-ZSM-12) or EUO (EU-1) structure types, H-ZSM57, zeolites of the ferrierite structure family, offretites, H-ZSM-4, H-ZSM-18, zeolite Beta, faujasites, zeolite L, mordenites, errionites and chabazites.
WO 95/22516 discloses an olefin oligomerization process with improved selectivity to certain oligomers. The process is carried out over a catalyst comprising at least one molecular sieve having a refined constraint index greater than 10 and at least one molecular sieve having a refined constraint index within the range of from 2 to 10. Examples of molecular sieves having a refined constraint index greater than 10 include ZSM-22, ZSM-23 and certain ferrierites. Examples of molecular sieves having a constraint index within the range of from 2 to 10 include ZSM-5, 11, 12, 35, 38, 48 and 57, SAPO-11, MCM-22 and erionite.
Heterogeneous acid catalysts such as supported phosphoric acid or zeolites mainly result in branched oligomers. In Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2000, 30, 4376-4379, J. A. Martens and R. Ravishankar reported a process for dimerization of butene over ZSM-57, achieving a conversion level of 89% and a dimer product selectivity of 85.7%. The octene (dimer) fraction mainly comprised dimethylhexenes (76% of the octene fraction). The branching index of the dimer fraction therefore approached a value of 2. In Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2005, 44, 5687-5690, J. A. Martens and W. H. Verrelst reported a study on propene oligomerization over ZSM-22, in which ZSM-22 showed very high propene conversion with high yields of dimer and trimer products. The dimer fraction consisted mainly of methylbranched hexenes, with a significant amount of linear hexenes. Within the trimer fraction, dibranched nonenes were dominant products. When the outer catalyst surface was poisoned with collidine, ZSM-22 even gave a trimer fraction extremely rich in monobranched products (80%) with a significant amount of linear trimers (15%).
There remains a need for alternative oligomerization processes with high conversion, product selectivity and which provide oligomers of high linearity. There further exists a need for alternative catalysts to conventional zeolite, SPA and nickel catalysts that can achieve high conversion, product selectivity and product linearity in oligomerization processes.
WO 03/082780 discloses selectivated ZSM-22 or ZSM-23 molecular sieves as oligomerization catalysts to provide products such as octenes and dodecenes from butene, having low degree of branching and a low amount of hindered double bonds. Oligomerization is preferably carried out at a temperature from 190 to 230° C.
US20040068072 discloses cobalt containing organometallic catalysts for dimerization of olefins. Oligomerization is preferably carried out in the temperature range of 10 to 50° C.
GB1124765, GB1124766, GB1183201, GB1095982, Journal of Catalysis 6, 385-396 and 419-424, Robert Schultz et al. (1966), all teach cobalt containing activated carbon catalysts for oligomerization of olefins. The preferred process temperature ranges from −20 to 90° C.
In Bulletin of Chem. Soc. Jap p. 2597-2601 (1997), Kuznetsov et al. disclose the use of modified FAU type zeolite catalysts. On CoY, CaY, CoX hydrooligomerization takes place. The most preferred catalyst, NiX, is used for selective oligomerization of propylene. CoY is obtained by direct ion exchange of NaY to CoNaY. At about 85% NaY exchange the product was Co3.5Na1Al8Si184O384. CoX was obtained by direct exchange of NaX to CoNaX. At about 65% NaX exchange the product was Co28Na31Al87Si105O384. Oligomerization was carried at out a temperature of at least 190° C.
EP 261730 discloses a method for the dimerization of olefins, in particular olefins having between 4 and 24, and preferably between 10 and 20 carbon atoms, using zeolite X and Y having alkaline metals on 10 to 50% of its exchangeable sites, a bivalent or trivalent metal on 1-30% of its exchangeable sites, and the remainder of the exchangeable sites being acid sites.
Microporous and Mesoporous Materials 103 (2007) p. 1-19, J. Denayer et al. describes the use of zeolite X containing cobalt and calcium for removal of cyclopentadiene from 1-octene. CoCaX is made by exchanging NaX to NaCaX, followed by calcination. The obtained NaCaX is then exchanged to CoCaX. The product is Co34Ca9Al86Si106O384.


The present invention suggests thermoplastic polymer particles for molding, which can solve all at once the problem of fine powder caused by suspension polymerization process, the problem of reducing energy consumption when drying caused by emulsion polymerization process and the problem of the compounding process for processors, and a process for preparing the same. 100 parts by weight of polymer particles having an average particle size of 50 to 500 μm prepared by suspension polymerization are coated with 22 to 100 parts by weight of an emulsion polymer prepared by emulsion polymerization. A polymer suspension comprising the polymer having an average particle size of 50 to 500 μm prepared by suspension polymerization and a polymer latex prepared by emulsion polymerization are mixed in a proportion of 22 to 100 parts by weight of the emulsion polymer based on 100 parts by weight of the suspension polymer. After the solid content concentration of the polymer particles within the suspension of the polymer mixture is adjusted to 25 to 35% by weight, the mixture is contacted with an electrolytic aqueous solution at the Vicat softening temperature of the emulsion polymer or lower. Then, after heating to the Vicat softening temperature of the emulsion polymer or higher, the polymer particles are recovered by solid-liquid separation.

Suspension polymerization is widely used industrially as a method for preparing common thermoplastic resin such as vinyl chloride resin, styrene resin, acrylic resin and methacrylic resin, from the viewpoints that controlling polymerization heat is easy and polymer particles can easily be recovered by simply conducting dehydration and drying.
However, when polymer particles are prepared by suspension polymerization, the particle size thereof usually exhibits a broad distribution and fine particle polymers, which are extremely far from the desired particle size, are also produced at the same time. As a result, unwanted results occur, such as filtration properties become extremely poor due to clogging of the filter fabric caused by the fine powder in the dehydrating step, fine powder flows out into the wastewater from dehydration, problems in the steps often occur due to clogging of fine powder, operation environment becomes poor due to generation of dust and risk of dust explosion increases.
The reason that fine powder develops in suspension polymerization is because considerable emulsification is conducted when beginning suspension polymerization as the monomer used in polymerization has some water-solubility or because the monomer drops are over-dispersed, as the monomer is subjected to strong shearing by stirring. Until now, in order to overcome such disadvantages, studies have been conducted such as selecting the type and amount of dispersion stabilizer added when polymerizing regarding the former (JP-A-49-88987) and homogenizing the fluid state by improving the stirring blade regarding the latter. However, even when these methods are used together, completely preventing development of fine particles is difficult in many cases, becoming a large disadvantage to manufacturers with respect to wastewater treatment.
Also, in emulsion polymerization, when granulated and recovered graft copolymer resin is melted and kneaded with rigid plastic, impact strength is exhibited because the graft copolymer is redispersed within the rigid plastic while maintaining the particle size at polymerization. Therefore, emulsion polymerization is widely used as a process for preparing an impact modifier of rigid plastic such as vinyl resin, styrene resin, acrylonitrile-styrene resin, polycarbonate resin and polyether resin.
Usually, in order to recover the desired graft copolymer from an emulsion polymer latex, a granulation step of coagulating and recovering the latex is necessary. The granulation step has a large influence not only on the particle size distribution of the recovered particles, the amount of fine powder and powder properties such as fluidity, but also on productivity of after-treatment such as dehydrating properties and drying properties. Conventionally, in the case of recovering particle polymers from a latex prepared by emulsion polymerization, usually a coagulating agent is added to the latex, a solid-liquid dispersion is formed by the steps of coagulation in the liquid phase and thermal treatment and thereafter, dehydration and drying are conducted to obtain powdery synthetic resin. However, in the case of this method, the shape of the powder is indefinite and problems often occur. For example, problems in the steps often occur, as a considerable amount of fine powder is included, and operation environment becomes poor due to generation of dust. As a result, various improvements have been considered by suggestions of new granulation methods including vapor-phase coagulation (JP-A-52-68285) and delayed coagulation (JP-A-60-217224). However, in spite of such efforts, the amount of water and electric power used in the coagulation step, washing step and drying step of the various granulation methods described above is significantly larger than in suspension polymerization process. From the viewpoint of energy conservation, the above methods are still not satisfactory and development of a new granulation method including designing resin is desired.
On the other hand, in the field of mold processing, a polymer which is usually used as thermoplastic resin, that is a polymer obtained by suspension polymerization which is processed into an article by a molding machine, is hardly processed alone and usually a quality modifying agent such as an impact modifier or processability modifying aid. As mentioned above, such quality modifying agents are usually prepared by emulsion polymerization and recovered as powder. Usually, in order to obtain a molded article with excellent properties, processors conduct the so-called compounding process of adding and mixing a quality-modifying agent to the above polymer and thereafter conducting mold processing. However, the present conditions are that this compounding process is forcing decrease in operational efficiency to processors, as operation environment becomes poor due to generation of dust.
Also, as a toner for developing static-charged images which has excellent frictional charge properties and excellent moisture-absorption properties, JP-A-57-45558 discloses a toner for developing static-charged images comprising particles formed by suspension polymerization and a coating layer comprising fine particles formed by emulsion polymerization on the surface of the particles. However, in this method, after recovering the polymer obtained by suspension polymerization once, the coating step with the polymer obtained by emulsion polymerization is conducted and therefore, this method does not solve the problems of fine powder caused by suspension polymerization.
As a toner in which both adhesion and low-temperature fixation of the toner are achieved, JP-A-2000-112174 discloses a toner for developing static-charged images, in which at least 95% of the surface of the polymer particles obtained by suspension polymerization is coated with a polymer obtained by emulsion polymerization. However, in this method, the polymer solid content concentration of the polymer suspension, when coating the polymer obtained by suspension polymerization with the polymer obtained by emulsion polymerization, is at most 25% and in such conditions, the effect of improving filtration properties cannot be obtained. Also, the average particle size of the polymer obtained by suspension polymerization which is used is 2 to 10 μm, therefore being fine powder itself. Consequently, this method is not a method which solves the problems of fine powder caused by suspension polymerization of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,307,134, 4,333,969, 4,333,970 and 4,385,156 disclose a method of coating a styrene polymer obtained by suspension polymerization with a polymer obtained by emulsion polymerization for a polymer used in foamed molded articles. However, these methods are not methods which solve the problems of fine powder caused by suspension polymerization.
JP-A-6-179754 discloses a suspension polymer, which contains non-adhesive granulated powder and has a glass transition temperature lower than 50° C., wherein the granulated powder has a non-adhesive coating comprising an emulsion polymer having a glass transition temperature higher than 50° C., and a process for preparing the same. This method is a method which can be used to prevent blocking of the polymer obtained by suspension polymerization which has a low glass transition temperature. Furthermore, a coating with an excess amount of the polymer obtained by emulsion polymerization causes development of fine particles when dehydrating and therefore, the polymer obtained by emulsion polymerization is 2 to 10 parts based on 100 parts of the polymer obtained by suspension polymerization. Consequently, this method is not a method which solves the problems of fine powder caused by suspension polymerization of the present invention.
Furthermore, JP-A-56-50907 discloses the method of partially coagulating an emulsion polymer latex, adding thereto an ethylenic monomer while stirring, converting the polymerization system from an emulsion system to a suspension system and conducting suspension polymerization, as an emulsion-suspension polymerization method. According to this method, a polymer obtained by suspension polymerization which is usually used as thermoplastic resin, and polymer particles obtained by emulsion polymerization, which are an impact modifier, are unified to prepare complex particles. Additionally, when this method is used, the coagulating (granulating) step which is essential for recovering the emulsion polymer latex can be omitted, the obtained particles have an excellent spherical shape and the amount of fine powder is extremely little. Also, granulated particles having low dry load (low water content after dehydration) are obtained and so the amount of energy consumption is more advantageous than in the current emulsion polymerization process. Consequently, the problems of suspension polymerization and emulsion polymerization process can be significantly reduced. However, this method is inferior with respect to productivity, in that increase in viscosity of the system when converting from an emulsion system to a suspension system is remarkable and the total polymerization time to continue conducting suspension polymerization after developing the polymerization scale or completing emulsion polymerization is extremely long.
Therefore, a method which can solve all at once the problem of fine powder caused by suspension polymerization process, the problem of reducing energy consumption when drying caused by emulsion polymerization process and the problem of the compounding process for processors is currently not available.

Polymer particles and process for production thereof


Mid-UV dyes enabling ultra thin antireflection coatings for multi-layer i-line photoetching are produced from bichalcones; bis-a-cyanoacrylates/bis-cyanoacrylamides; and 1.4 divinylbenzenes. The dyes are nonsubliminal and differentially insoluble in standard photoresist solvents.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to Anti-Reflective Coatings (ARCs) for multi-layer i-line photoresist systems. More particularly, it relates to improved i-line dyes, which dyes have differential solubility characteristics for use in ultra-thin layer ARCs.
2. Background of the Prior Art
Recently, integrated circuit (IC) manufacturers when printing submicron feature sizes in the range of 0.35-0.70 microns have relied upon mid-ultraviolet (mid-UV) sensitive photoresist. The principal exposure wavelength for these photoresists is 365 nm, which corresponds to the i-line spectral peak of the Hg--Xe arc lamp. The use of this shorter wavelength, as compared to the 436 nm g-line peak, permits greater resolution and broadens depth of focus. Thus, the term "i-line resist" has been used inter-changeably with "mid-uv photoresist". The resolution of i-line resists can be further enhanced by providing substrate reflection control. This can be achieved in two ways. The first way is by adding dye into the resist at some expense to photospeed and feature profile quality. The second way is by employing a multi-layer resist scheme wherein a dyed bottom layer plays the light absorbing role.
Two types of multi-layer schemes have been used in the industry. At one time, relatively thick (ca. 1 micron) bottom layers having low dye concentration were popular. It is desirable that those bottom layers now be replaced by high optical density, ultra-thin ARCs to simplify the etching of the ARC, which would lead to improved critical dimension control. However, the development of ultra-thin ARCs for i-line applications has been hampered by the unavailability of suitable dyes.
Some advances have been made in developing prior art i-line dyes for single-layer-resist-type processes. However, there is a drawback to such dyes, as well as dyes designed for the multi-layer resist processes, which accommodate a relatively thick (1.3 micron) bottom or sublayer ARC. This drawback of the prior art and their attendant i-line dyes are explained below.
An example of a classically cited strongly absorbant mid-UV i-line dye in the prior art is Michler's ketone (bis-N,N-dimethylaminobenzophenone). In order to employ Michler's Ketone in photo-etch processing, conditions peculiar to such processing must be accommodated. That is, it is common to process photoresist layers and their ARCs at temperatures as high as 200.degree. C. Unfortunately, Michler's Ketone, like many other prospective i-line dyes, tends to sublime or volatize at such temperatures, and therefore lacks the requisite thermal stability to undergo such processing.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,166, R. W. Blevins disclosed a single layer non-subliming resist system which used butadienyls as i-line dyes. The dyes surprisingly overcame the tendency of previously known mid-UV dyes to sublime at processing temperatures near 200.degree. C., even though the molecular weight of the butadienyls was less than the molecular weight which would have predicted thermal stability. The predictably higher molecular weight dyes, as taught by Blevins, were to be avoided because they would not exhibit good solubility in photoresist solvents such as chlorobenzene and ethoxyethyl acetate. A drawback of these dyes is that the process used to produce the butadienyls yields the butadienyls at an unacceptably low 10%. More importantly, these dyes are so soluble that they cannot be used in ultra-thin ARCs without leaching into the photoresist top layer of multi-layer systems.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,918, Mr. A. Goel disclosed a multi-layer resist system which employed butadiene or bromine substituted butadienes as the i-line dye, especially N,N'-dibutyl-N,N'-di(1-(4,4-dicyano-1,3-butadiene))-1,6-hexanediamine. Although this dye system is acceptable for the relatively thick (1.3 micron) bottom layers of the multi-layer resist systems, it is ineffective for ultra-thin ARCs. Like the single layer i-line dyes, these butadienes are highly soluble in photoresist solvent systems. Therefore, although the 1.3 micron thickness of the bottom layer ARC serves to lessen the leaching, ultra-thin ARCs suffer so much loss of dye that substrate reflection cannot be controlled.
The drawback to each of these prior art i-line dyes is that they lack effective differential solubility. That is, the very same solubility in photoresist solvents such as chlorobenzene and ethyoxyethyl acetate which allow the dyes to be formulated in known polymer coating systems such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), will either limit dye use to single layer photoresist systems, or risk, in multi-layer systems, having the dye leaching out of the ARC layer into the top photoresist layer.
Accordingly, a non-subliming i-line dye having strong mid-UV absorptivity which would be sufficiently soluble in ultra-thin ARC layers to produce an effective high optical density in layers having less that 0.25 microns thicknesses, yet characterized by being insoluble in photoresist solvents, would represent an unexpected advancement in the art and fulfill a long felt need in the industry.

Non-subliming mid-UV dyes and ultra-thin organic arcs having differential solubility


In a method for providing measured values for end customers: The measured value for a process variable is recorded using a sensor and is transmitted to a process control system. The number of transmission operations is counted on the basis of the number of transmission operations. The fundamental advantage of the invention is that the end customer no longer pays for the sensor itself, but rather only for that which he actually requires, the measured value.

In process automation, field transmitters are widely used which regulate or control process cycles in production plants.
Examples of field transmitters are level gages, which determine the level in a liquid container, pressure gages, which determine the pressure of a liquid or of a gas, e.g. in a pipeline, mass flow meters, which determine the mass flow of a liquid in a pipeline section, or valves, which regulate the flow in a pipeline section.
Field transmitters can essentially be divided into two groups, namely sensors, which determine a process variable such as level, pressure, mass flow or temperature, or actuators, which influence a process variable such as the flow in a pipeline section. One example of actuators are valves.
Generally, field transmitters are connected to a process control system by means of a data link, said process control system controlling the entire process cycle in a production plant.
Data are transmitted on this data line on the basis of the known standards, such as Hart, Profibus or Fieldbus.
The data link is used to forward the measured values supplied by a sensor to the process control system, where they are processed. The control commands from the process control system are likewise forwarded to the appropriate actuators via the data link, and said actuators then react accordingly and open or close a valve, for example.
The field transmitters are sold to the end customer, who uses them on the desired process component.
In some cases, the process components do not occupy the same space in a production plant, but instead are distributed, which means that it would be too complex to connect the field transmitters directly to a process control system, e.g. using a data bus system. Examples of such process components are distributed tanks for propellant or fuel, and lime containers for combating forest damage by acid rain, which are set up with a broad scatter in forest areas.
In this case, the data transmission to the process control system takes place by radio.
The end customer is actually interested only in the measured value supplied by the sensor. In his process control system, he requires only this value in order to be able to control the production plant.
The way in which the measured value is obtained is of no importance to the end customer. The crucial factor for the end customer is that he is provided with a reliable measured value.
Today, the end customer pays for the sensor and not for that which he actually requires, the measured value.
A faulty sensor supplies no measured values and is therefore of no use to the end customer. The end customer does not want to pay for a sensor which supplies no measured values.
Many end customers require the measured value at relatively short intervals of time; others require the measured value only relatively infrequently. However, both end customers pay the same amount for the sensor, even though they use it with different frequency.

Method for providing measured values for end customers


A method for compressing data is provided that includes receiving a communications flow communicated by a mobile station and communicating with a proxy element in order to determine if an incoming packet is associated with an internet protocol (IP). The method also includes performing a mapping between a non-IP based protocol associated with the incoming packet and an IP protocol in cases where the incoming packet is non-IP based in order to generate an IP compatible packet to be processed by a forwarding path element and communicated to a next destination.

Communication systems and architecture have become increasingly important in today's society. One aspect of communications relates to maximizing bandwidth and minimizing delays associated with data and information exchanges. Some radio access network (RAN) products may focus on the transport of traffic from the cell site, where the base transceiver station is located, to the central office (CO) site, where the base station controller is located. These RAN products may implement inadequate compression techniques, as significant delays are generally incurred and optimal bandwidth allocations may not be realized. Such products may also be inflexible in targeting (or operating effectively with) certain types of data propagating along particular communication links. Other types of data are simply not accounted for or discarded, whereby network components are unable to process the communication flows.
Additionally, most proposed solutions for effectuating proper data and information exchanges add significant overhead and cost in order to achieve efficiency. For example, T1/E1 lines are generally expensive and, thus, should be maximized in order to achieve favorable system performance. Accordingly, the ability to provide a communication system that consumes few resources, accommodates diverse communication flows, and achieves minimal delay presents a significant challenge for network designers and system administrators.

System and method for compressing information flows in a network environment


An improvement in a drawer lock of a cabinet includes a cylinder, a trigger bar, a fixing block, a sliding block, a latch hook, a first elastic member and a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism has a clutch pivotally engaged with a latch bar. A second elastic member keeps the clutch to be engaged with the latch bar at a preset angle. The latch hook of a closing drawer can wedge the latch bar to turn an angle smoothly while the clutch and the sliding block remain stationary, so as to prevent causing any damage to the latch hook even when the cabinet is in a locked position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement in drawer locks and, more particularly, to an improvement in drawer locks for use in a cabinet which contains more than one drawer. The present enables the drawn out drawers to be closed and automatically locked again after the cabinet has been latched and locked.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a conventional tools or articles cabinet, there is usually provided casters at the bottom thereof to enhance its mobility. In addition to this, the drawer may be opened and drawn out for easily accessing things held in the drawer.
However when more than one drawers are opened and drawn out, it might result in the entire cabinet being tilted over to one side because of the unbalanced weight thus causing people to be hurt. To prevent this from happening, there is often provided a safety drawer lock which allows only one drawer to be opened and drawn out at a time. FIGS. 1 and 2 show such an example. It includes a cylinder 1, a trigger bar 2, a fixing block 3, a sliding block 4, a first elastic member 5, a latch hook 6 and a latch bar 9. The rear end of the cylinder 1 has a first slot 11 engaging with a front end of the trigger bar 2. The rear end of the trigger bar 2 goes through the fixing block 3 and engages with the sliding block 4 which is slidable transversely. The sliding block 4 is a -shaped frame having an opening 41 running through the top and bottom flanges, and two spaced second and third slots 42 and 43 formed in a lateral wall. The trigger bar 2 has its rear end engaged with the second slot 42. The third slot 43 is engageable with a spring blade 44 which is fixed to an inside surface of the sliding block 4. The latch bar 9 is an elongated plank with a plural number of latch openings 91. At a lateral side of the latch bar 9, there is provided a spindle 92 with two ends extending out of the plank. At another lateral side of the latch bar 9, there is a strut 93 with one end extending out of the plank. The first elastic member 5 has two ends engaging respectively with the strut 93 and the fixing block 3. The latch hook 6 fixed to a drawer 7 is a plate with a hooking slot 61, a left slant edge 63, a right slant edge 64 and a finger 62.
When in use, a key is inserted into the cylinder 1 and turned clockwise. The trigger bar 2 is also being turned and moves the sliding block 4 to the left. The spring blade 44 pushes the strut 93 and turns the latch bar 9 to a preset angle clockwise. The latch opening 91 disengages with the finger 62 on the latch hook 6. The drawer 7 is then free to open and draw out.
When one of the drawers is drawn out, the left slant edge 63 will move against the latch bar 9. With the aid of the first elastic member 5, the latch bar 9 is pushed to the locking position to lock all other drawers that are not opened.
By means of such arrangements, only one drawer is allowed to open and be drawn out at one time. Therefore, it can prevent two or more drawers from being drawn out and causing the cabinet to tilt, because of unbalanced weight. However when a user incidentally turns the cylinder 1 counter clockwise, the trigger bar 2 will turn and move the sliding block 4 to the right, the strut 93 will be moved to turn the latch bar 9 counterclockwise. It becomes to be in a locking position. Then the opened and drawn out drawer cannot be closed unless the cylinder 1 is opened again. When trying to close the opened drawer by force, the latch hook 6 will hit the latch bar 9 and may become damaged. It could become an annoyance to users.


A tread of elastomeric material for tires, this tread being provided with a plurality of incisions, each incision of average width e being defined by facing walls, this tread being characterized in that at least one of the walls defining each incision comprises at least one first series and one second series of lines of motifs forming reliefs relative to said wall and having a maximum height measured perpendicular to said wall at least equal to 1/10 of the width e, each series of lines comprising a plurality of lines extending in the same direction, the lines of the first series intersecting the lines of the second series, and in that at least one of the walls is provided over its entire surface with an average roughness of between 1/100 and 1/10 of the width e of the incision.

In the context of improving the performances of its tires, the applicant company has filed several patents in which various geometries of incisions are described which, while creating additional ridges which are indispensable for cutting the film of water covering the roadway, make it possible to limit the loss of rigidity of the tread due to the presence of these incisions. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,965 describes a specific arrangement of incisions in a zigzag within the thickness of a tread; U.S. Pat. No. 5,783,002 describes an incision the opposing walls of which are provided with motifs in relief intended to fit into one another when passing into the imprint with the roadway. These various incisions ensure mechanical cooperation of the walls of rubber mix which is very appreciable for reducing the relative movements between said walls.
The development of vehicles using new driving aid systems (wheel anti-locking system when braking, anti-skid system, stability control system) mean that the requirements in terms of the performance of tires have changed.
For these vehicles, there has been discovered a need for a tire having a tread provided with a plurality of incisions to form a plurality of ridges intended to come into contact with the roadway, these incisions having a new geometry which, while limiting the reduction in overall rigidity of this tread under high shearing stresses, has the ability to reduce as far as possible the relative movements between the opposed walls once they are in at least partial contact with each other under low shearing stresses (and very particularly in rainy weather or when the roadway is wet).
In the known prior art, there are documents which state the advantage of producing on the walls of the incisions areas of roughness having specific dimensions. For example, the Japanese document published under the number 96/175115 advocates a roughness of between 20 and 300 microns.
However, it was demonstrated that merely these areas of roughness were insufficient to achieve a good compromise under all conditions of use of these tires.

Tread comprising incisions and lamella for molding these incisions


Aromatic substrates are Ar-brominated in high yield and selectivity by reacting the substrate with a brominating agent in the presence of at least about 0.19 gram per mmol of substrate of a zeolite catalyst which has an absorbed water content of no greater than about 7.5 weight percent.

This invention relates generally to the selective aromatic bromination (Ar-bromination) of aromatic substrates, and more specifically to an improved process for the selective para-bromination of benzene derivatives in the presence of a shape selective zeolite catalyst.
The selective para-bromination of toluene, catalyzed by NaY zeolite in the presence of an epoxide, has been reported by F. de la Vega et al., J Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 1989, 653. The ratio of p- and o-isomers obtained was 98 to 2, but only about 10 to 13 percent of the toluene was converted. In experiments using no epoxide or in the presence of carbonates, the reaction proceeded to completion but the final para-selectivity was only 67%. The amount of zeolite catalyst used was about 0.09 gram per mmol of toluene. It was stated that adding a fresh batch of catalyst made the reaction resume with the same selectivity, but the final conversions obtained are not reported.
The para-selective bromination of benzene derivatives, such as toluene, using shape-selective zeolite catalysts, for example, NaY, HY, and NaX zeolites, has also been described by K. Smith et al., xe2x80x9cHighly efficient para-selective bromination of simple aromatic substrates by means of bromine and a reusable zeolitexe2x80x9d, Chem. Commun., 1996, 467-468. In contrast to de la Vega, much larger amounts of zeolite were used in order to obtain complete conversion. When NaY zeolite was used in an amount of 0.55 gram per 0.85 mmol of toluene (0.65 gram per mmol), it was reported that 98% absolute yields of p-bromotoluene were obtained. The yield of para-brominated products which can be achieved is also indicated to depend upon the type of zeolite used. For example, NaY zeolite gave better conversion (yield) than using the same amount of a NaX zeolite in producing p-bromotoluene. Smith et al. claim that the zeolite catalysts can be regenerated by calcination, but it is not believed that calcination returns the zeolites to their original state. In any event, the relatively large amount of catalyst required to be regenerated would make this process too expensive to be practical from a commercial standpoint.
It has now been found that the absorbed water content of the zeolite has a significant effect on the yield and selectivity when producing p-brominated benzene derivatives. In fact, water saturated zeolites favor chain bromination over ring substitution. We have found that maintaining the absorbed water content of the zeolite below a certain level, which varies depending upon the particular zeolite used, permits high selectivity and yields to be achieved using much smaller amounts (about one-half as much) of zeolite than required by Smith et al.
In accordance with this invention, there is provided a process for selectively Ar-brominating an aromatic substrate comprising reacting said substrate with a brominating agent in the presence of at least about 0.19 gram per mmol of said substrate of a zeolite catalyst which has an absorbed water content of no greater than about 7.5 weight percent.
The zeolite catalysts for use in the process of the invention are chosen such that the aromatic substrate will fit into the pores of the zeolite. This permits bromination to occur within the pores where access to sites on the substrate other than the desired position is hindered. Accordingly, such zeolite catalysts are termed as being xe2x80x9cshape selectivexe2x80x9d. For simple aromatic compounds such as, toluene, fluorobenzene, and isobutylbenzene, faujasites (e.g., NaX, HY, and NaY zeolites) which have a pore (aperture) size of about 7 angstroms give para-brominations in high yield and selectivity provided the zeolites are dried and kept dry. The optimum pore size for the selective bromination of other aromatic substrates is selected depending upon the size and shape of the molecules to be brominated. In general, the pore size should range from about 6 to 8 angstroms and preferably from about 6.5 to 7.5 angstroms. The most preferred types of zeolite for use in the process of the invention are NaX and NaY zeolites. Such zeolites are well knownxe2x80x94for example, type X zeolites corresponding to the typical formula:
Na86(AlO2)86(SiO2)106.264H2O,
and type Y zeolites corresponding to the typical formula:
Na56(AlO2)56(SiO2)136.250H2O,
where a portion of the sodium cation could be substituted by other cations such as K+, Ca++, Mg ++, Ba++, Zn++, and Fe++. Proton form zeolite catalysts, such as HY zeolites, as well as mixtures of cation and proton form zeolites, can also be used.
The pores of the zeolite particles, where the selective bromination process takes place, should be kept substantially free of absorbed water. Accordingly, in practicing the process of the invention, the zeolites should have an absorbed water content of no greater than about 7.5 weight percent, preferably no greater than about 5.0 weight percent, and most preferably less than 5 weight percent water, based on the total weight of zeolite and water. As used in the specification and claims herein, by xe2x80x9cabsorbed water contentxe2x80x9d is meant the weight percent of water which can be removed by drying the zeolite at a temperature of from 240-250xc2x0 C. at a pressure of from 0.1-0.05 mm Hg for 4 hours. The zeolite may also contain additional water which requires higher temperatures for removal. Although it is not possible to distinguish between water of hydration and absorbed water, for the purpose of this invention the residual water content of the zeolites which is not removed by the 240-250xc2x0 C. drying procedure is considered to be water of hydration. The complete removal of this residual water might further improve the shape selectivity function of the zeolite. However, the presence of the residual water does not prevent the achievement of good yields and selectivity when using much smaller amounts of catalyst than are required by the prior art process. It is important that the dried zeolites be protected against excessive exposure to atmospheric moisture prior to use, because the zeolites may pick up sufficient moisture during handling, or even when kept in a desiccator for a few days, so as to significantly decrease their effectiveness. NaX zeolites appear to be more sensitive to absorbed water content than NaY zeolites.
The zeolites used in the examples below contained varying amounts of absorbed water when received from the vendor. Absorbed water was removed by drying the zeolites at a temperature of 240-250xc2x0 C. for four hours at a reduced pressure of from about 0.1 to 0.05 mm Hg. Thermogravi-metric analysis (TGA) under nitrogen from 20-900xc2x0 C. removes not only the absorbed water, but also the water of hydration. Although such high temperature drying conditions could be used, it was found that the drying procedure at 240-250xc2x0 C. and reduced pressure is sufficient to achieve good yields and selectivity.
In order to illustrate the ready water absorption by zeolites, vendor samples of NaY and NaX zeolites were tested for water content by TGA from 20-900xc2x0 C. under nitrogen. A sample of NaY zeolite as received from the vendor contained 24-25 wt % water. After drying at 240-250xc2x0 C. and 0.1-0.05 mm Hg for four hours, analysis by TGA under nitrogen showed a rapid water pick up of about 6.4 wt % at temperatures below 100xc2x0 C. When again heated to 900xc2x0 C., the sample lost this water followed by an additional 5.2 wt %, indicating that the xe2x80x9cdryxe2x80x9d zeolite still contained about 5.2 wt % water.
A sample of NaX zeolite as received from the vendor contained 7.3 wt % water. After drying at 240-250xc2x0 C. as described above, the sample showed a fast water absorption of 3.1 wt % during handling. When again heated to 900xc2x0 C., it lost this absorbed water followed by an additional loss of 7.3 wt % indicating that the xe2x80x9cdryxe2x80x9d zeolite contained 7.3 wt % water.
In order to examine the rate of water absorption by xe2x80x9cdryxe2x80x9d zeolite, we exposed one gram samples of dried NaY zeolite in dry 20 mL vials to laboratory air and the water gain was measured gravimetrically. Even after 24 hours at these conditions, the zeolite picked up a maximum of 0.4 wt % water. The small exposed surface area and the generation of a protective layer of wet zeolite on top could be the reason for the slow rate of water absorption. When this experiment was carried out with the zeolite in a dish, such that the zeolite had a larger exposed surface area, with occasional mixing, the zeolite was saturated (25 wt %) with absorbed water in 5 hours. When the zeolites were exposed to the atmosphere in a container having a large surface area, they became saturated with 25 wt % of absorbed water over a relatively shorter period of time. These experiments demonstrate the need to store and handle the zeolites in a manner which avoids excess water pick-up prior to use.
The amount of zeolite catalyst used is preferably selected to give the best yield and selectivity for any particular catalyst and aromatic substrate combination. A minimum amount of at least about 0.19 gram of zeolite per mmol of substrate, and preferably a minimum amount of at least about 0.3 gram of zeolite per mmol of substrate should be used in order to obtain substantially complete conversions with good selectivity. For economic reasons, the amount of zeolite should be kept to the minimum consistent with good yields and selectivity. In any event, good yields and selectivity can be obtained using less than the 0.65 gram per mmol of substrate required by the prior art.
The aromatic substrates which can be selectively brominated by the process of the invention include polycyclic aromatic compounds such as naphthalene as well as benzene compounds. The invention is particularly useful in the para-bromination of benzene derivatives. Non-limiting examples of such derivatives include C1 to C10 (preferably C1 to C4) alkyl substituted arenes or halogenated benzene compounds such as toluene, fluorobenzene, isobutylbenzene, tert-butylbenzene, ethylbenzene, cumene, chlorobenzene, bromobenzene and the like.
Any agent that is capable of producing electrophilic bromonium ion (Br+) can be used in the bromination process. Examples of such agents include bromine (Br2), N-bromosuccinimide (NBS), dibromodimethyl hydantoin and BrCl. It is preferred that when bromine is used in the process of this invention, it should be essentially anhydrous, i.e., contain less than 100 ppm by weight water, and contain no more than 10 ppm by weight of organic impurities, e.g., oil, grease. carbonyl-containing hydrocarbons, iron, and the like. With such a bromine purity, there is little, if any, impact on the color attributes of the products. Available, commercial grade bromine may have such purity. If, however, such is not available, the organic impurities and water content of the bromine can be conveniently reduced by mixing together a 3 to 1 volume ratio of bromine and concentrated (94-98 percent) sulfuric acid. A two-phase mix is formed which is stirred for 10-16 hours. After stirring and settling, the sulfuric acid phase, along with the impurities and water, is separated from the bromine phase. To further enhance the purity of the bromine, the recovered bromine phase can be subjected to distillation.
The bromination process is carried out in an organic solvent medium. The organic solvent medium used for the bromination process should be anhydrous and inert to the reactants. Preferred solvents include acetonitrile and halogenated, saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons such as lower alkyl halidesxe2x80x94for example, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, tetrachlorethane, bromochloromethane, methylene chloride, trichloroethane, dibromoethane, dibromomethane, ethylene dichloride, and the like.
Amounts of solvent are used so as to provide a concentration of from about 10 to 100 grams of solvent per gram of aromatic substrate. The amount of brominating agent used is preferably in slight excess (e.g., about 5 to 10%) to the stoichiometric amount needed to substitute a single bromine atom onto the aromatic ring. The order of addition of reactants can be varied, but at least in some cases, it was found that adding bromine to zeolite prior to adding the aromatic reactant resulted in lower conversions when compared to adding the bromine to a mixture of zeolite and reactant.
Preferred reaction temperatures range from about 0 to 70xc2x0 C. The reactions are usually complete in from about 1 to 4 hours. After the bromination reaction is complete, the product can be recovered and purified, if necessary, using conventional techniques. For example, the zeolite is separated by filtration and the filtrate is washed with a 20% by weight solution of aqueous sodium sulfite and then dried either by azeotropic distillation or by the use of a drying agent such as magnesium sulfate. The zeolite can be regenerated for reuse by treatment first with dilute sodium hydroxide solution and then with water and heating in nitrogen at 400 to 450xc2x0 C. for from 1 to 3 hours or at 240-250xc2x0 C. and 0.1-0.05 mm Hg for 2-3 hours.
The invention is further illustrated by, but is not intended to be limited to, the following examples.

Selective bromination of aromatic compounds


A varifocal lens is disclosed, comprising, from front to rear, a first lens unit of negative power, a second lens unit of positive power, and a third lens unit of negative power, all these lenses being moved along a common optical axis when the focal length of the entire lens system varies, wherein all the lens units each are constructed with either one lens, or two lenses, the total number of lenses being limited to 3 or 4, while still maintaining good optical performance.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to zoom lenses suited to photographic cameras or video cameras and, more particularly, to zoom lenses having three lens units with the lens unit of negative power preceding, these three lens units being made to move when varying the magnification, thus shortening the total length of the lens, minimizing the bulk and size and maintaining good optical performance.
2. Description of the Related Art
There have been previous proposals for a zoom lens comprising, from front to rear, a first lens unit of negative power, a second lens unit of positive power and a third lens unit of negative power, all these three lens units being made to move when varying the focal length, in, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Sho 64-72114.
This type of zoom lens is amenable to a relatively wide image angle at the wide-angle end and, therefore, has found its use in many wide-angle photographic systems.
In the same document, conditions are set forth for moving the first, second and third lens units, and the construction and arrangement of the three lens units are specified for good stability of aberration correction against zooming, thereby achieving a zoom lens of high optical performance in a zoom ratio of 2-3. The zoom lens comprises 8-9 lens elements as a whole, and is relatively compact, so it is suited particularly to the lens-shutter camera.
The above-described proposal of the Japanese Laid-Open Patent application No. Sho 64-72114 provides for shortening the optical total length of a zoom lens (or the distance from the front vertex to the focal plane) by using two or more lens elements in constructing each of the lens groups. This affords to strengthen the refractive power of every lens unit in such a manner that, for example, chromatic aberrations are corrected in each individual lens unit.