A fluid flow control for use with a process chamber. In the disclosed embodiment, the process chamber is for ion implantation of a workpiece such as a silicon wafer and the fluid flow control is to assure the flow rates are maintained at values which are efficient in evacuating and pressurizing the chamber do not dislodge particulate contaminants from the process chamber walls. In the disclosed design, wafers are inserted into the chamber by use of a loadlock which avoids the requirement that the process chamber be cyclicly pressurized and depressurized. A diffuser plate intercepts fluid flowing into and out of the process chamber.

One example of a manufacturing process that requires controlled evacuation and repressurization of a work station is the process of controlled doping of silicon wafers with ions in an ion implantation chamber. Ions from a source are accelerated along an ion travel path to impinge upon the wafers and introduce controlled doses of impurities into the silicon wafer. The ion travel path must be evacuated to assure the ions are well collimated. To accomplish this process in the prior art, wafers have been introduced to an ion implantation chamber, either through a loadlock or by introducing the wafers directly into the implantation chamber. If a loadlock arrangement is used; the loadlock chamber is successively evacuated and pressurized as wafers are inserted into the loadlock on their travel path to the ion implantation chamber. If no loadlock is used, the wafers are inserted directly into the ion implantation chamber which itself must be pressurized, evacuated, and then repressurized as the workpiece are inserted into the chamber, treated and then removed.
Other examples of processes involving pressurization and depressurization of a chamber are known in the prior art. In a sputter coating procedure, for example, a workpiece is inserted into a treatment chamber and then a coating is applied to the surface of the work piece by sputtering the coating material away from a target. This procedure can be used, for example, in coating magnetic material into a recording medium. Again, prior to conducting the coating process, the work piece must be inserted into the chamber and then the coating process conducted at a reduced pressure.
It is often a requirement in these processes that the level of contaminants within the processing chamber is kept at a minimum. If the contaminant level in a doping chamber, for example, exceeds a specified value, the semi-conductor yield of the process will be reduced.
Although steps are taken to reduce the level of particulate contamination within a processing chamber, these steps cannot totally avoid such contaminants. Particulates are inevitably introduced, for example, as the workpieces are inserted into an ion implantation chamber. These particulates tend to settle on the interior walls of the chamber and remain in place until air flow that occurs during chamber evacuation and repressurization dislodge the particles causing them to move within the chamber. If the particulate contaminants remain attached to the chamber walls, the work piece can be inserted into the chamber, treated, and removed without undue contamination. It is when the particles are dislodged and come to rest on the workpiece either before or after the ion implantation process that the particles' presence reduces production yield.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,787 to Stoltenberg which issued Apr. 26, 1988 recognizes the possibility for contaminant presence effecting the yields during semi-conductor wafer fabrication. This patent recognizes the possibility of dislodging contaminants from chamber walls as air enters and exits the process chamber. As a proposed solution to the dislodging problem, the '787 patent recommends the use of "soft-start valves" which open in accordance with a controlled profile so that "turn on" turbulence is reduced. Specifically, the '787 patent calls for a pressurization and depressurization of a chamber in accordance with a time profile.
Prior art loadlocks have at least partially addressed particle transport mechanisms, but none has been able to achieve evacuation times of the order of two seconds to satisfactory throughput in an ion implanter which processes wafers serially.
Recent attention has been focused on aerodynamic transport of particles under supersonic flow conditions. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,233 to Milgate, Ill. See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,933 to Mack, which is incorporated herein by reference.
During venting of a loadlock, if supersonic flow occurs within the system, it can produce turbulence that strips particles from the surfaces in fluid communication with the loadlock. The Mack design isolates the region of supersonic flow from particle contamination by confining the supersonic flow to a region in the annular vent gas inlet region by using large flow expansion in this region so the flow transitions to subsonic, and by assuring that under all operating conditions, flow is out of this region into the lock bell to prevent influx of particles. These features work together to minimize the deleterious effects of supersonic flow.
Turbulence presents several problems in areas where particle transport is to be minimized. In laminar flow, the lines of flow tend to transport particles in the direction of bulk flow, but in turbulent flow in which eddy currents occur throughout the flow stream, particles can flow upstream of the bulk flow direction. In corners and dead spaces where there are abrupt changes in flow area, eddy currents cause flow to recirculate under either laminar or turbulent flow. These eddy currents and recirculating flows interfere with any efforts to clean the chamber using the flow of fluid over the internal surfaces. Laminar flow is thus to be preferred for its superior ability to sweep already entrained particles along with the bulk flow--a property essential for effective flow induced cleaning. Smooth, well-controlled flow sections are also desirable.
A second problem with turbulent flow is that it is characterized by a higher surface stress and thus more effectively removes and entrains particles to chamber surfaces. This property, while being valuable during cleaning, is problematic during venting since it will tend to detach particles from the wall and deposit them on the wafer surface.
It is thus important to take whatever measures can be taken to eliminate the possibility of turbulent flow and to eliminate regions of abrupt changes in flow area which might trap particles during cleaning.
The prior art system depicted in FIGS. 14A, 14B includes a chamber C with fluid ports P extending circumferentially around a wall of the chamber and located beneath a wafer W supported within the chamber C. Flow paths within the chamber are non-radial. This design is incorporated in a medium current implanter available from Eaton under the designations 6200 A and AV. With non-radial flow, the maximum flow velocity is not minimized. For example, assume that there is one hole at the chamber edge for admitting vent gases and the maximum flow velocity occurs at that hole. If there were two holes, the maximum velocity could be reduced by half. Addition of holes at the periphery would further decrease the maximum velocity until in the limit there is a slit of given width around the periphery of the chamber. This line of reasoning demonstrates that they way to minimize the peak flow velocity is to introduce air around the periphery as evenly as possible. This causes the Reynolds number to be minimized and thus the viscous drag and the probability of entraining particles. Another disadvantage of this lock is that flow can sweep particles from the back of the wafer or the bottom of the loadlock onto the font face of the wafer.
A prior art medium current implanter from Varian, designated by Model No. E220, is believed to include a chamber with large dimensions transverse to the flow path and abrupt changes in the flow cross-sectional area. The fluid flow in this system is believed to be generally radial around the wafers during both pumping and venting. The abrupt changes in flow cross section, however, may cause eddy currents which make flow cleaning difficult. The large dimensions transverse to flow cause large Reynolds numbers and thus decrease the velocity at which turbulent flow and thus particle entrainment occur. The large dimension also should result in longer pumping time. There is also evidence that the higher the Volume to Surface ratio, the more particle agglomeration occurs at a given level of humidity.
Surface preparation has been shown to affect particle generation and transport in high purity gas distribution systems. It has also been shown to affect outgassing characteristics of materials. Treatments which create smooth, continuous, dense and inert surfaces are advantageous in both respects. These surfaces can be achieved by combinations of mechanical, electro-chemical and chemical treatments which may include polishing and cleaning processes. Application of these surface treatment techniques can improve the lock's initial particle performance and thus improve its transport of particles at initial pumpdown since lower gas loads from outgassing either shorten the pumping time or allow more restrictive throttling of gas flow during early parts of the evacuation cycle.

Fluid flow control method and apparatus for an ion implanter


A shielding gas for MAG welding wherein a carbon steel solid wire is used for lap fillet welding of a galvanized steel sheet; wherein the shielding gas is a mixed gas composition consisting of 8 to 15% by volume of oxygen, 20 to 30% by volume of carbon dioxide, and residual % by volume of argon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a MAG (metal active gas) welding method of a galvanized steel sheet wherein corrosion proofing is provided on the surface of the steel sheet.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-091198, filed Mar. 28, 2005, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the fields of components and equipment pieces of associated with and/or used for automobiles, business equipment and the like, a galvanized steel sheet is widely used due to its excellent corrosion resistance and luster thereof. The galvanized steel sheet is a sheet in which galvanization is conducted on an iron base surface of a steel sheet.
However, there is a problem in that many pits and blowholes are generated when MAG welding is conducted on a galvanized steel sheet(s). The reason is that, since zinc has a melting point (419° C.) and boiling point (907° C.), which are lower than those of steel having a melting point (1535° C.) and boiling point (2750° C.), when zinc enters in a molten pool while welding is conducted, zinc vapor generated from the zinc is caught in the molten pool together with air, and blowholes are formed when said air and zinc vapor fail to reach the surface before the solidifying process of the welded metal is completed. When such pits are produced, a problem arises in that strength which should be achieved by the welding inherently cannot be obtained. Therefore, when pits are generated, repair of the portion where pits are generated is conducted. Furthermore, when a galvanized steel sheet is welded at high speed, further large numbers of pits, blowholes and the like are formed, and this is unpreferable.
In order to solve the problems, the following methods and the like have been conducted in general.
(1) Zinc is removed mechanically in advance from a line on which welding should be conducted. However, in the method, the number of steps for welding increase due to the addition of steps for removing zinc from the line, and this causes a problem in that the cost increases due to the addition of the steps.
(2) Occurrence of pits is prevented such that a zinc vapor generated is prevented from moving to the surface of the metal by using, for example, a welding wire, which comprises increased amounts of Si, Mn and the like, for welding a galvanized steel sheet in order to increase the viscosity of the molten metal. On the other hand, occurrence of pits and blowholes is prevented such that, for example, a welding wire comprising decreased amounts of Si, Mn and the like is used for welding a galvanized steel sheet in order to decrease the viscosity of the molten metal so that a zinc vapor rise to the surface of the metal easily. However, in fact, such wires do not provide excellent effects for preventing the generation of pits and/or blowholes.
(3) A method is proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent No. 2668125, wherein generation of pits and blowholes is prevented by using a mixed gas consisting of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and argon, which occupies the residual volume of the mixed gas, for welding. The mixed gas is used in order to prevent an occurrence of a zinc vapor by the effect of oxidation of zinc caused by oxygen. Furthermore, a method is proposed wherein generation of pits and blowholes is prevented due to the effect that surface tension of the molten metal is decreased due to oxygen and gases pores included in a molten metal rise to the surface easily. However, the disclosed welding speed thereof is only 120 cm/min.
Accordingly, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a shielding gas which does not generate pits and blowholes in a welded portion when a lap fillet welding or the like of a galvanized steel sheet is conducted in a MAG welding method.

Shielding gases for MAG-welding of galvanized steel sheets and welding method using the same


In a hydraulic machine, a stay ring is provided with an upper bearing and an intermediate bearing so that an upper spindle of a guide vane is supported thereon. A bottom ring is provided with a lower bearing so that a lower spindle of the guide vane is supported thereon. The hydraulic machine is designed so that a runner and the guide vane can be removed from the bottom side if the bottom ring and an upper draft tube are removed. The guide vane is supported on the stay ring so as to make a head cover compact and to be capable of lifting the head cover through an upper pit liner if the head cover is formed as an integral structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hydraulic machine such as a hydraulic turbine, a pump and a reversible pump-turbine. More specifically, the invention relates to a hydraulic machine which can be easily disassembled and assembled.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A typical hydraulic machine, such as a hydraulic turbine and a pump, is installed in a double-flooring type building or a barrel type building. FIG. 15 shows a conventional hydraulic machine installed in a barrel type building. This hydraulic machine comprises a spiral case 1 connected to a steel pipe which introduces water from an upper pond (not shown), a stay vane 2a arranged on the inner periphery of the spiral case 1, and a stay ring 2 which clamps the stay vane 2a from the upper and lower sides to form a passage. The stay ring 2 has an upper flange 2b and a lower flange 2c. On the stay ring 2, a head cover 3 having a head-cover flange portion 3a is mounted by connecting the head-cover flange portion 3a to the upper flange 2b by means of bolts. In addition, on the stay ring 2, a bottom cover 4 having a bottom-ring flange portion 4a is mounted by connecting the bottom-ring flange portion 4a to the lower flange 2c by means of bolts.
In the passage inside of the stay vane 2a and between the upper cover 3 and the bottom cover 4, a guide vane 5 is arranged so as to form a circular cascade. The guide vane 5 has an upper spindle 5a and a lower spindle 5b. The upper spindle 5a of the guide vane 5 is rotatably supported on an upper guide vane bushing 6 and an intermediate bearing 7, which are provided on the head cover 3. The lower spindle 5b is rotatably supported on a lower bearing 8 provided on the bottom cover 4. Water flow-regulated by the guide vane 5 flows into a runner 9, and water flowing out of the runner 9 passes through an upper draft tube 10 to be discharged from a draft tube liner to a tailrace. The runner 9 is connected to the lower end portion of a turbine main shaft 11. Rotational torque of the runner 9 is transmitted to a generator via the turbine main shaft 11 to generate electricity. The head cover 3 is formed with an outer-periphery seal on the side of a runner crown 9a. The head cover 3 is also provided with a guide vane arm 12, a guide vane ring 13 and a operating ring 14. Above the stay ring 2, a lower pit liner 15 and an upper pit liner 16 are provided to form a pit of the hydraulic turbine. As shown in FIG. 16, each of the pit liners 15 and 16 is provided with a concreted turbine barrel 17. This turbine barrel 17 is designed to sufficiently support thereon the weights of generator stationary and rotary portions loaded on the lower pit liner 15, the hydraulic thrust weight when being driven, and so forth. The size of a turbine room 19 is determined in view of the size of the turbine barrel 17 and the maintenance space for auxiliary machinery provided in the turbine room 19. In the hydraulic machine with the aforementioned construction, particularly in a generator for a large capacity of reversible pump-turbine, a generator lower bearing bracket is provided with a thrust bearing and a lower guide bearing. In order to enhance the rigidity of the generator lower bearing to prevent the deformation thereof if thrust weight is applied thereto, it is required to decrease the diameter of the generator lower bearing bracket. In order to decrease the diameter of the generator lower bearing bracket, the inner diameter of the upper pit liner 16, on which the lower bearing bracket is mounted, must be decreased.
Therefore, in conventional hydraulic machines, the head cover 3, which is a large structure of the hydraulic machine and which is required to be disassembled for maintenance, has a four-piece structure which can be divided into four pieces. In addition, the inner diameter of the upper pit liner 16 is determined to be a necessary and minimum size in which each divided pieces can be lifted. For that reason, the inner diameter of the upper pit liner 16 is less than the inner diameter of the lower pit liner 15. As mentioned above, the conventional head cover 3 has a four-piece structure. Therefore, in order to assemble the head cover 3, four pieces must be combined with each other on the guide vane 5 in a complicated process to fasten joint portions by means of bolts, and then, the fastened four pieces must be mounted on the upper spindle 5a of the guide vane 5. The head cover 3 must be assembled at a high level above the guide vane 5 and within a narrow pit while the heavy equipment is lowered through the narrow upper pit liner 16 by means of a crane. Therefore, the assembly work must be carefully performed by skilled persons for several days.
In a field assembly of a hydraulic machine, in order to align the stationary parts, the head cover 3 is first temporarily assembled to perform the alignment. After the temporary assembly and alignment are completed, the head cover 3 is disassembled to be lifted. Thereafter, the runner 9 and the turbine main shaft 11 are introduced, and then, the head cover 3 is assembled again to install the hydraulic machine on the site. For that reason, it takes about two weeks to perform the assembly, disassembly and re-assembly processes of the head cover 3. However, in recent years, in the field installation work, it is required to shorten the processes to early increase the quantity of power supply, so that it is greatly desired to shorten the assembly operation of the head cover 3.
In addition, since the head cover 3 is divided into four pieces, the number of days for manufacturing the head cover is 1.5 times as longer as that of an integral head cover, the cost thereof increases, and the structural strength thereof becomes weak. The outer diameter of the turbine barrel 17 is derived by adding, to the inner diameter of the lower pit liner 15, a necessary thickness of concrete, which can bear the weights of stationary parts and rotary portions of the generator, and the water thrust load produced when the hydraulic machine is actuated. The inner diameter of the lower pit liner 15 is greater than the outer diameter of the head cover 3 by a work space required for tools which fasten head-cover mounting bolts. Therefore, the outer diameter of the turbine barrel is increased, so that the maintenance space for auxiliary machinery on the turbine room floor is insufficient. In some cases, the floor size may be increased to increase the construction cost. In addition, as mentioned above, since the head cover 3 must be disassembled and assembled after it is temporarily arranged on the guide vane 5, it is required to secure a space in a vertical direction for arranging therein the divided pieces of the head cover 3. Therefore, the height of the lower pit liner 15 is so defined as to secure the space. The installation position of the generator is determined on the basis of the height of the lower pit liner 15. Therefore, even if the height of the generator is decreased and the height of the building is also decreased, it is not possible to lower the installation position of the generator unless the method for assembling the head cover 3 is changed, so that it is not possible to decrease the construction period and cost.
In addition, since the installation position of the generator is a high position, the turbine main shaft 11 and the generator shaft are long, so that the critical speed is decreased. Therefore, it is required to enhance the rigidities of the shafts, e.g., by increasing the diameters of the shafts. Moreover, in a hydraulic machine, it is required to repair the runner 9 and the guide vane 5 due to cavitation damage and sedimentary friction while being actuated. When the runner 9 and the guide vane 5 are carried out for repair, it is required to disassemble the generator to lift the disassembled generator. Therefore, it is also required to disassemble a set of parts mounted on the head cover 3, so that the term of repairing work is remarkably increased. In particular, in recent years, as the capacity of the hydraulic machine is increased and the size thereof is decreased, the repairing interval is decreased due to cavitation damage and sedimentary friction, so that it is required to decrease the term of repairing work in order to improve the availability.


A ball and socket joint body for terminals of control cables has a transverse passage with respect to the coupling of the cable with the terminal which forms two reciprocally opposed inlet mouths of freely choosable alternative use, and a central chamber for housing a ball with elastically deformable retaining and seat structure. The retaining and seat structure can comprise a sleeve provided with perimetral projections, or a first shock-absorbing sleeve and a second sleeve provided with coplanar sectoral projections or two "U"-shaped springs or a sleeve and two "U" shaped springs which traverse it.

The present invention relates to a ball and socket joint body for control cable terminals, which is generally applicable to control cables for the transmission of thrust-traction forces, which are usually known as push-pull operating cables. More particularly, the ball and socket joint body of the invention is applicable to terminals of thrust-traction control cables generally used as a means of linkage between the gearbox and its operating shift lever in automobile vehicles.
Widely known in the art are many embodiments of thrust-traction control cables which, basically consisting in a sheathed steel cable, are extensively used in the automobile industry as an articulated means of linkage between an actuating control and its associated mechanism. Such control cables are provided at one of their ends with a terminal which, when coupled to the corresponding actuating control, forms a ball articulation or ball and socket joint. Essentially, said articulation comprises a ball and socket body and a ball, in which the ball and socket body constituting the terminal is fixed to the corresponding end of the steel cable of the control cable by means of a rigid linking piece, such as an axially mounted metal rod, while the ball is fixed to the actuating control. The ball and socket body comprises a housing designed to receive the ball with a close fit and in such a way that once the ball and socket body and the ball are coupled together, the control cable is able to transmit thrust-traction forces along its axis for any of the actuating control positions habitually used.
In the known embodiments of ball and socket joint bodies such as those described above, the means for coupling of the ball and socket joint body with the ball consist, in summary, of a single opening made in the ball and socket joint body to permit the insertion by pressure of the ball into a spherical housing. In general, said coupling arrangement constitutes a clear disadvantage, in that coupling of the control cable with its corresponding actuating mechanism calls for prior positioning of the ball and socket joint body of the cable with respect to the ball. This disadvantage is accentuated in those cases in which the actuating control is formed by the gearbox gear shift lever; in this case, the positioning of the ball and socket joint body of the terminal of the control cable is generally only possible by rotating the control cable about itself, which given the usual scale of said control cables, together with the difficulty of access to the ball of the lever, constitutes an operation by no means devoid of difficulties and requiring in any case an execution time which increases fitting costs.

Ball and socket joint body for control cable terminals


Given an image converted into a chromatic space (101), a method is used for identifying a color cast (i.e. a dominant color), through statistical analysis (105) of the distribution on an color plane of the chromatic space of the color histogram of a region of the image's near neutral objects, said region being defined in such a way as to include a significant percentage of the starting image.

More specifically, the invention concerns a method for determining the presence of a color cast in an image, without having any a priori knowledge of the characteristics of the objects of the image reproduced.
The images may be generated by a video camera, or by equipment for the production of scientific or topographical images or images designed for medical diagnoses, by a camera for photographs, and the like.
The same images may also be displayed on a monitor and subsequently printed by means, for example, of an ink jet printer.
A color cast in an image is the deviation of the colors of a photograph from those of the original image. In studying the properties of an image, it is fundamentally important to be able to identify the presence of a color cast, which may have different origins: it may for instance be introduced by particular lighting conditions or by the image acquisition and transmission process and therefore be of artificial origin, or it may be a peculiar characteristic of the image, as in the case of a photograph taken at dusk or under water. In any case, identifying the cast makes subsequent correction of the image possible, so that a result more faithful to the original image is obtained.

Method and device for detecting a color cast in an image


A ceiling panel that conceals the grid in a suspended ceiling, having opposed active first and second edges with profiles different from one another, and opposed passive edges. An access kerf, and a registration kerf, at different levels in the active edges, along with a registration step in one active edge, permit the panel to be inserted, or removed, by successive hinge actions. When installed, the panel is locked to the ceiling with no visual indications on how the panel can be removed. During installation the panel is self-centering and self-aligning.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a panel for use with a supporting grid in a suspended ceiling. The panel is of the type that conceals part or all of the grid, when viewed from below.
2. Background Information
Suspended ceilings are common. They use a grid of metal beams in the form of an inverted T-section, commonly of a 15/16″ flange width dimension, to support the panels. The rectangular openings formed by the grid are generally either 24″×24″ or 24″×48″ with correspondingly sized panels. However, irregularly shaped and sized openings and panels are used. Dimensions may be in metric units.
The present invention applies to such suspended ceilings and panels.
The panels are of various ceiling substrates, such as mineral fiber, fiberglass, wood, metal, plastic, or other composition. They are positioned within the grid opening, and are supported by the grid. The panels are either of the type that expose the grid when the ceilings are viewed from below, or conceal the grid either fully or partially, when viewed from below. This invention involves those panels that conceal the grid when viewed from below.
Panels for a ceiling with exposed grids have a form of upper lip extending over the top of the grid with no lip on the panel below the grid. The panel hangs from the grid, by means of this upper lip. Such panel is relatively simple to install, position and remove. These panels are not intended to be locked by themselves to the grid.
Panels that conceal the grid from below, on the other hand, pose special problems, since the portion of the edge underlying the grid interferes with any simple installation, positioning, and removal. Panels that conceal the grid, however, are desirable for among other benefits, their appearance, as well as their ability to lock to the grid. The grid can be partially or totally hidden. Additionally, since the panels of this type cover the metal grid, they can have a beneficial effect during a fire, since they serve to insulate the metal from the effects of the heat, particularly, where panels are of a fire retardant material, as is generally the case.
Since panels that conceal generally have a lip below the grid as well as one above the grid, there is the potential for locking the panel to the grid. This is especially useful again during a fire, and even more so during a seismic disturbance. Falling panels during a quake present a serious threat to the safety of persons present below the ceiling, and particularly so where gatherings occur such as in auditoriums or public areas.
Panels locked to the grid which give no visual clue to their removal procedure also provide a degree of security against unauthorized access to the space above the ceiling.
Notwithstanding the desirable features of panels that conceal the grid, their use has been limited to a great degree because of problem with installation and removal. In some instances, special shaped grids must be used. In other designs, auxiliary clips or metal attachments to the grid are necessary. Generally, the space above the grid must be used in installing, or removing the panel, requiring such space to be available, thus reducing room height.
In some instances, the installer must position each panel visually from below, with a resulting slowdown in installation. Even without the necessity of visual positioning during installations, in prior art panels that conceal, the installation is a relatively slow procedure.
Often, in prior art, special tools were necessary to install or remove panels that lock or conceal.
Prior art patents relating to panels in suspended ceilings that conceal the grid, and in some instances lock, include U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,218,092, 3,640,012, 3,714,752, 3,900,997, 4,189,895, 4,696,141, 4,760,677, 4,862,663, and U.K. Patent 2,200,151B, and French patents 1,313,963, and 1,227,191. These panels show various edge designs that engage the grid.


Accessories such as jewelry lighted with chemiluminescence. The accessories have decorative chemiluminescent article holders which utilize apertures or spaces for direct viewing of the chemiluminescent article. The accessories, may include ornamental elements back-lit by chemiluminescence.

1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The present invention relates to jewelry and other clothing accessories utilizing chemiluminescence for decorative lighting.
2. Background Art
This application is directed toward an improvement in typical jewelry or clothing accessory items by use of chemiluminescent materials to illuminate the accessory. Chemiluminescence has been known to exist in nature in organisms such as fireflies. Study of those naturally existing chemiluminescent organisms led to artificial chemiluminescence as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,362. U.S. Pat. No. 3,576,987 went a step further to describe a now familiar chemiluminescent device that is associated with large luminescent tubes and loops often sold at fairs and parades.
Other patents have incorporated the art of chemiluminescence in some form into jewelry items. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,910 discloses use of the chemiluminescent tube in the form of a closed loop designed for use as an article of jewelry, e.g. a necklace, bracelet, or ring. The patent further discloses use of an ornamental member for jewelry pieces which can be comprised of a light-transmitting material or opaque and preferably light-reflecting material used in combination with chemiluminescence, and further describes the ornamental member as comprising a flat smooth surface, a multi-faceted surface, a curved surface of any other configuration, design or representation. The '910 patent generally describes use of a chemiluminescent tube having chambers separated by a fold which, upon releasing the fold, allow mixing of chemicals achieving chemiluminescence of the tube or use of two separate holding chambers with direct placement of the chemicals within the item to achieve the luminescence. Finally, the '910 patent describes utilization of a replaceable chemiluminescent cartridge for insertion into a channel comprising a chamber for receipt of the cartridge formed in the rigid ornamental members. The '910 device uses chemiluminescent tubes as the sole ornamental portion of the jewelry or use of chemiluminescence for illuminating an ornamental article from within.
Additionally, prior art devices include a brooch as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,374,375 and earrings as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,968,357 and 3,814,926 that utilize traditional incandescent light for illumination of the jewelry items. The devices are illuminated by use of lighting fixtures encased entirely or partially within the jewelry item behind transparent materials. These devices have all the drawbacks of traditional incandescent lighting: requirement of a power source, bulk, garish lighting effects, and significant heat output. This makes them inconvenient, and in the case of heat output, sometimes dangerous for use in jewelry articles.
Prior art devices do not utilize chemiluminescent sticks for dramatic lighting techniques such as back lighting or disposing the chemiluminescent element as incorporated into the ornamental design, instead of merely lighting an ornamental element. The present invention overcomes the dangerous and inconvenient properties of prior art incandescent devices while utilizing chemiluminescence for new more dramatic jewelry lighting effects.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Jewelry exhibiting chemiluminescent properties


According to one embodiment, a current input converter includes a first metal plate having a solid shape, which has one end attached to the terminal table and one other end attached to one end of a primary-side coil of the transformer, and connects the terminal table and the one end of the primary-side coil of the transformer to each other, and a second metal plate having a solid shape, which has one end attached to the terminal table and one other end attached to one other end of the primary-side coil of the transformer, and connects the terminal table and the other end of the primary-side coil of the transformer to each other.

For example, a protective relay apparatus performs an accident determination calculation depending on a size or a phase condition of an input current to an electric power system. When an accident occurs in a protective block, a gate is instructed to remove the block causing the accident, to protect the safe power system. In this protective relay apparatus, a current input converter is provided to convert an external input current into a predetermined analog amount. Through the current input converter, the external input current is taken into a terminal table in the protective relay apparatus by an instrument transformer. The input current is electrically isolated and converted into a predetermined analog amount by an internal transformer. The analog amount is further converted into a digital amount to perform a calculation processing for an accident determination.
Generally, when a current is taken in from an electric power system into a protective relay apparatus, connection from a terminal table as an input unit of the protective relay apparatus to a primary side of a transformer inside the protective relay apparatus is formed by wiring based on direct conduction or by a patterned conductor on a printed circuit board built in the protective relay apparatus.
In this case, there is a need to reduce resistance from the input unit of the protective relay apparatus to a primary side of the transformer inside the protective relay apparatus, in order to ensure an excessive current tolerance for the input unit. Hence, a thick lead such as a copper wire which has a sufficient line diameter is used when wiring is employed. A pattern width is increased when a patterned conductor is used.
Then, when wiring is employed, spaces for terminal connection and for wiring work are required to connect the terminal table as the input unit of the protective relay apparatus and the lead wire inside the protective relay apparatus, and consequently limit the size of the protective relay apparatus. On the other side, when a pattern on the printed circuit board is used for connection from the terminal table as the input unit of the protective relay apparatus to the primary side of the transformer, double-sided patterning is required or a sufficient pattern width is required in order to suppress increase in temperature of a pattern. Upon necessity, consideration is required to increase a pattern film thickness and consequently limits pattern designing and the size of the printed circuit board. In case of wiring a lead, wiring work is required and therefore causes a possibility of a wiring error when the protective relay apparatus is assembled.
In a structure of mounting a transformer aiming at downsizing/thinning and weight reduction, a transformer is inserted into a through hole formed in a printed circuit board, and a secondary coil is wound about a coil bobbin of the transformer. Support legs extending in mutually opposite directions are formed integrally on the coil bobbin. The support legs are bridged over an open end surface of the through hole on a surface side of the printed circuit board. The transformer is configured to suspend from the printed circuit board and is thereby fixed to the printed circuit board (for example, see Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2004-296471 (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Document 1")).
In Patent Document 1, however, downsizing/thinning is achieved by modifying the structure of the transformer to simplify assembly of the transformer, and reduction in resistance of a wire or a patterned conductor from a terminal table to a primary side of a transformer inside a protective relay apparatus is not intended. That is, the structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 needs to ensure a sufficient size for the printed circuit board in order to maintain a wiring space or a pattern space on the printed circuit board. Therefore, an input unit of the protective relay apparatus cannot be downsized. In addition, neither wiring work between the terminal table and the primary side of the transformer inside the protective relay apparatus nor wiring check work for preventing wiring errors can be easily carried out.
Under the circumstances, it is desired to provide a current input converter which can shorten connection from a terminal table as an input unit to a primary side of an internal transformer, to satisfy an excessive current tolerance, and can improve work efficiency by preventing wiring errors.


Thermoplastic bicomponent binder fiber can be combined with other media, fibers and other filtration components to form a thermally bonded filtration media. The filtration media can be used in filter units, such as breather caps. Such filter units can be placed in the stream of a mobile fluid and can remove a particulate and/or fluid mist load from the mobile stream. The unique combination of media fiber, bicomponent binder fiber and other filtration additives and components provide a filtration media having unique properties in filtration applications.

A. Filter Medium, Media, and Filter Structure
Non-woven webs for many end uses, including filtration media, have been manufactured for many years. Such structures can be made from bicomponent or core shell materials are disclosed in, for example, Wincklhofer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,616,160; Sanders, U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,195; Perrotta, U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,540; Gessner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,827; Nielsen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,764; Nielsen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,765; Powers et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,459; Berger, U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,641; Hollingsworth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,436; Berger, U.S. Pat. No. 6,174,603; Dong, U.S. Pat. No. 6,251,224; Amsler, U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,252; Sorvari et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,355,079; Hunter, U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,721; Cox et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,839; Stokes et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,528,439; Amsler, U.S. Pat. No. H2,086, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,853,439; 6,171,355; 6,355,076; 6,143,049; 6,187,073; 6,290,739; and 6,540,801; 6,530,969. This application incorporates by reference PCT Publication WO 01/47618 published on Jul. 5, 2001, and PCT Publication WO 00/32295 published on Jun. 8, 2000. Such structures have been applied and made by both air laid and wet laid processing and have been used in fluid, both gaseous and air and aqueous and non-aqueous liquid filtration applications, with some degree of success. In this regard we have found that the non-woven webs that are used for particulate removal from mobile fluids often suffer from a number of disadvantages.
Many attempts to obtain such non-woven structures with suitable perforate supports have been made. In many melt blown materials and layers made with thermal lamination techniques, the resulting structures often obtain incorrect pore sizes, reduced efficiency, reduced permeability, lack of strength or other problems rendering the media or filter structure insufficient for useful fluid filtration applications.
A substantial need exists for filtration media, filter structures and filtration methods that can be used for removing particulate materials from fluid streams, and in particular gaseous streams such as air, aqueous, and non-aqueous liquids such as lubricating oils and hydraulic fluids. The invention provides such media, filtration structures and methods and provides a unique media or media layer combinations that achieve substantial permeability, high media strength, substantial efficiency and long filtration life.
Certain gas streams, such as blow-by gases from the crankcase of diesel engines, carry substantial amounts of entrained oils therein, as aerosol. The majority of the oil droplets within the aerosol are generally within the size of 0.1-5.0 microns. In addition, such gas streams also carry substantial amounts of fine contaminant, such as carbon contaminants. Such contaminants generally have an average particle size of about 0.5-3.0 microns. It is preferred to reduce the amount of such contaminants in these systems. A variety of efforts have been directed to the above types of concerns. The variables toward which improvements are desired generally concern the following:    (a) size/efficiency concerns; that is, a desire for good efficiency of separation while at the same time avoidance of a requirement for a large separator system;    (b) cost/efficiency; that is, a desire for good or high efficiency without the requirement of substantially expensive systems; (c) versatility; that is, development of systems that can be adapted for a wide variety of applications and uses, without significant re-engineering; and, (d) cleanability/regeneratability; that is, development of systems which can be readily cleaned (or regenerated) if such becomes desired, after prolonged use.
B. Mist Tolerant Breather Cap
Some filtration mediums can be utilized within a breather cap. In some prior systems, breather caps enable the ingression and egression of gas into reservoirs of oils and fuels when the fluid level of the reservoir changes. Some prior breather caps utilize filter elements to prevent the ingress of moisture and solids into the reservoirs while allowing for fluid and gas displacement. However, during the egression of the gas from the reservoir, fluid mist from the reservoir can escape and/or coat the filter element. Escaping fluid can pollute the ambient air surrounding the reservoir. Contamination of the breather cap by the fluid in the reservoir typically shortens the lifetime of the breather cap severely. There is a need in the art for a breather cap tolerant of fluid mist. There is also a need in the art for a breather cap capable of preventing fluid mist from escaping the reservoir.

Filter medium and breather filter structure


An electronic trip molded case circuit breaker includes components that are designed for high speed robotic assembly. A unitary trip-to-test button is down-loaded within the circuit breaker housing for automatic alignment with the circuit breaker operating mechanism during the circuit breaker assembly process. The trip-to-test button includes an exhaust gas barrier along with a roller actuator for interacting with the circuit breaker operating mechanism during a test function.

Industrial-rated circuit breakers are currently available having operating components that are designed for automatic assembly to provide cost improvement as well as improved operating efficiency. The precision alignment performed by the automated assembly equipment assembles the operating components within very close operating tolerances. An operating mechanism designed for down-loaded automated assembly is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,263. The operating mechanism assembly includes a pair of operating springs that are overcentered for rapidly driving the movable contact arm and the attached movable contact away from the stationary fixed contact to interrupt the circuit current. The operating mechanism includes a cradle operator which engages a latch assembly to prevent the movable contact arm from being driven to its open position under the urgence of the charged operating springs. The compact latch assembly includes a primary and secondary latch operating within a common support structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,671,890 entitled "Manually Operable Molded Case Circuit Breaker With Special Trip Testing Means" and U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,173 entitled "Rotatable Trip Test Assembly for Molded Case Circuit Breakers" both describe a trip-to-test button that allows the circuit breaker operating mechanism to be manually articulated for test purposes. In some applications, it is more advantageous to articulate the operating mechanism by linear displacement of the trip-to-test button shaft rather than by rotation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,658 entitled "Molded Case Circuit Breaker Trip-To-Test Button and Auxiliary Switch Interface" describes one such trip-to-test button having an extended shaft for interacting with the circuit breaker operating mechanism that is automatically assembled during the circuit breaker manufacturing process.
When such trip-to-test buttons are used within higher ampere rated applications in accordance with European Electrical Industry Standards, the arc gases generated within the circuit breaker enclosure when such breakers are tested under full load conditions contact the bottom parts of the trip-to-test buttons that interact with the circuit breaker operating mechanism. The accumulation of the associated debris that accompanies the arc gases could interfere with future trip-to-test functions.
One purpose of the invention, accordingly, is to provide a trip-to-test button assembly that is automatically assembled and integrally protected against arc gas debris contamination.

Molded case circuit breaker trip-to-test button


The plasma display panel includes a substrate, a plurality of electrodes formed on the substrate, a dielectric layer covering the plurality of electrodes, and a protective layer covering the dielectric layer. The protective layer comprises MgO with 0.1 to 3 mol % of ZrO2 added.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma display panel, and in particular, to a protective layer for a plasma display panel with improved performance characteristics.
(b) Description of Related Art
Generally, a plasma display panel (PDP) is a display device which displays characters or graphics. In operation, a predetermined voltage is applied across two electrodes placed within the discharge space of the plasma display panel with the resulting plasma discharge generating ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light excites a phosphor film to generate visible light of a predetermined pattern, thereby displaying the desired images.
Plasma display panels are generally classified as an AC type, a DC type or a hybrid type. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a discharge cell of a common AC type plasma display panel. As shown in FIG. 10, the plasma display panel 100 includes a front (or rear) substrate 111, a plurality of address electrodes 115 formed on the bottom substrate 111, a dielectric layer 119 formed on the substrate 111 with the address electrodes 115, a plurality of barrier ribs 123 formed on the dielectric layer 119 to maintain the discharge distance while preventing the inter-cell cross talk, and a phosphor layer 125 formed on the barrier ribs 123.
A plurality of discharge sustain electrodes 117 are formed on a front substrate 113 facing the rear substrate 111 such that they are spaced apart from the address electrodes 115 by a predetermined distance while perpendicular thereto. A dielectric layer 121 and a protective layer 127 sequentially cover the discharge sustain electrodes 117. The protective layer 127 is typically formed from MgO, which is transparent such that visible light can pass through. It is known that such a MgO-based protective layer 127 can protect the dielectric layer 121 while maintaining excellent electron emission capacity. Recently, other materials have been also investigated for use in forming a protective layer 127.
The MgO protective layer is provided at a thickness of 3,000 to 7,000 Å and protects the dielectric layer from ion bombardment, and emits secondary electrons to lower the discharge voltage. The MgO protective layer is formed using various techniques such as sputtering, electron beam deposition, ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and sol-gel, and recently, the ion plating technique.
With the electron beam deposition technique, the electron beams accelerated by the electromagnetic fields collide against the MgO depositing material to heat and vaporize it, thereby forming a MgO protective layer. Compared to the electron beam deposition technique, the sputtering technique makes the resulting protective layer denser and provides improved crystal alignment, but involves high production costs. With the sol-gel technique, the MgO protective layer is formed with a liquid phase.
As an alternative to the various techniques of forming the MgO protective layer, the ion plating technique has been recently introduced with the steps of ionizing evaporated particles and forming a layer. The ion plating technique is similar to the sputtering technique in that it gives the properties of adherence and crystallinity to the resulting MgO protective layer, but differs from the latter in that it provides an advantage in making the deposition at high speed on the order of 8 nm/s.
The MgO material may be formed with a single crystalline phase or a sintered one. When the single crystalline MgO material is melted to make the deposition, it is difficult to control the concentration of dopants because the solid solution is limited by the cooling speeds. Therefore, the MgO protective layer is often formed by using the sintered MgO material where the relevant dopants are quantitatively added, based on the ion plating technique.
As the MgO protective layer contacts the discharge gas, the amount of MgO and its layer formation conditions may greatly influence the discharge characteristics and the performance characteristics of the MgO protective layer. Accordingly, it is desired to find an optimum material composition for the protective layer, which is well adapted for obtaining the desired performance characteristics.


To detach a substrate from a table without damaging the substrate. According to Embodiment 1, provided is a substrate processing apparatus including a table to hold a substrate, a plurality of lift pins that are arranged at periphery of the table and configured to arrange or separate the substrate on or from the table and to be movable in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the table, a drive mechanism that includes a motor to move the lift pins in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the table, and a control device that is configured to control the drive mechanism. The control device is configured to be capable of moving the lift pins at a first speed and at a second speed different from the first speed.

Chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) apparatuses for polishing surfaces of substrates have been known in the fabrication of semiconductor devices. In a CMP apparatus, a polishing pad is pasted on the upper surface of a polishing table to form a polishing surface. The CMP apparatus presses a polishing target surface of a substrate held by a top ring against the polishing surface and rotates the polishing table and the top ring while supplying a slurry as polishing liquid to the polishing surface. Accordingly, the polishing surface and the polishing target surface are relatively moved with the surfaces being in sliding contact, and the polishing target surface is polished.
In a typical CMP apparatus, the polishing table or the polishing pad is larger than a substrate to be polished. While the substrate is held by the top ring such that a polishing target surface faces downward, the substrate is polished. The polished substrate is cleaned by a sponge member, such as of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), rotating in contact with the substrate, and is then dried.
A known finishing process unit presses a contact member having a smaller diameter than a substrate against the polished substrate to move the contact member relative to the substrate (see Patent Literature 1, for example). Such a finishing process unit is provided in a CMP apparatus separately from a main polishing unit, and the substrate after primary polishing can be slightly and additionally polished and cleaned. In a finishing process unit, in order to bring a contact member into contact with a substrate at a high pressure and thereby to improve the cleaning effect and to increase the polishing speed, the substrate is required to be held by a table that is in contact with the entire back surface of the substrate. As one example, the table has a support surface in which a plurality of openings is formed in communication with a fluid passage connected to a vacuum source, and the substrate is vacuum-sucked onto the table through these openings. Alternatively, the substrate may be vacuum-sucked onto the table through a backing material made of elastic polyurethane foam, for example. In this case, the backing material is provided with through-holes at respective positions corresponding to the openings in the table.
For placing a substrate onto the table or detaching the substrate from the table, a plurality of extendable/retractable lift pins disposed along the outer periphery of the table may be used (see Patent Literature 2, for example). Specifically, the lift pins receive a substrate, which is conveyed by a conveyor robot, at a position above the support surface of the table, by supporting the lower surface of the substrate. Thereafter, the lift pins are lowered to a position below the support surface of the table. During the lowering of the lift pins, the substrate is placed onto the support surface of the table when the lift pins pass the table. After completion of processing on the table, the lift pins are raised from the lower end position to the upper end position. During the raising of the lift pins, when the lift pins pass the table, the lift pins abut against and support the lower surface of the substrate to lift the substrate. When the lift pins reach the upper position, the conveyor robot lifts up the substrate by picking up the substrate at the bottom, thereby delivering the substrate from the lift pins to the conveyor robot.

Substrate processing apparatus and method for removing substrate from table of substrate processing apparatus


A system and method for processing financial transactions includes an input receptive of cash and a plurality of images of physical items of the transaction, wherein the images contain a visual record of the transaction data such as an amount of monetary value. A front, counter transaction processor processes the cash and a first item image and generates front counter transaction data. A back counter transaction processor processes item images of the transaction and generates back counter transaction data. A match module matches back counter transaction data to front counter transaction data. An output is adapted to transmit front counter transaction data and back counter transaction data to at least one of form fields and a temporary transaction datastore.

Financial institutions typically interact with parties to transactions, such as individuals, partnerships, companies, and corporations, by providing points of presentment at locations that are convenient to the parties to the transactions. Points of presentment include, for example, front counters of bank branches, cash vaults, merchant back offices, and automatic teller machines (ATMs) providing deposit automation. Parties to transactions present physical items embodying a transaction at these points of presentment, and these items typically include checks, cash, withdrawal slips, deposit slips, loan payment slips, and/or remittance slips.
While tellers often assist parties to transactions at some points of presentment, these tellers are typically required to spend excessive amounts of time and attention to data entry and transaction balancing. Furthermore, the tellers typically have no way of ensuring that all items of a transaction are valid. In addition, points of presentment affording no teller assistance rely entirely on the party to the transaction to ensure that the transaction is balanced. Thus, the teller's focus is on the transaction and not the customer.
Often, financial institution branches will assemble and process the transaction long after the party to the transaction has departed the point of presentment. As a result, unbalanced and/or invalid transactions are discovered late, without affording the party to the transaction or teller at the point of presentment an opportunity to correct or otherwise balance the transaction.
The need remains, therefore, for a system and method of processing a transaction at a point of presentment that improves quality control of transactions while reducing time and labor requirements at a point of presentment. The present invention fulfills this need.

Front counter and back counter workflow integration


A process for preparing a high purity vinylpyrrolidone polymer which dissolves clearly in an organic solvent can be provided. The process for preparing a high purity vinylpyrrolidone polymer, wherein vinylpyrrolidone is polymerized by using a redox initiator comprising an organic peroxide and a sulfite, and thereafter the product is contacted with an anion exchange resin to be purified.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a vinylpyrrolidone polymer, in particular, a process for preparing a high purity vinylpyrrolidone polymer which is soluble in an organic solvent such as isopropanol.
Concerning a process for preparing vinylpyrrolidone polymer, an initiator such as hydrogen peroxide, an azo compound or a redox initiator consisting of a peroxide and Rongalit is used conventionally. If one of these initiators is used, however, the resulting vinylpyrrolidone polymer is not useful for a cosmetic use because a by-product like 2-pyrrolidone or a by-product derived from the initiator is produced in a large amount.
Therefore, Applicant proposes a process for preparing a vinylpyrrolidone polymer by using a redox initiator consisting of an organic peroxide and a sulfite. Though a by-product like 2-pyrrolidone can be decreased in the process, the resulting vinylpyrrolidone polymer is insoluble in an organic solvent because sulfate ion and unreacted sulfite ion which are by-products remain in it.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a high purity vinylpyrrolidone polymer which has a decreased amount of a by-product derived from an initiator and is soluble in an organic solvent to be transparent.
Therefore, the present invention relates to a process for preparing a high purity vinylpyrrolidone polymer, which is characterized in polymerizing vinylpyrrolidone by using a redox initiator comprising an organic peroxide and a sulfite, and thereafter contacting the product with an anion exchange resin.
The present invention relates to the above-mentioned process for preparing a high purity vinylpyrrolidone polymer, wherein the sulfite is ammonium sulfite.
The present invention relates to the above-mentioned process for preparing a high purity vinylpyrrolidone polymer, wherein the organic peroxide is hydroperoxide.
The present invention relates to each of the above-mentioned processes for preparing a high purity vinylpyrrolidone polymer, wherein the organic peroxide is tert-butyl hydroperoxide.
The present invention relates to a high purity vinylpyrrolidone polymer containing a small amount of sulfate ion and sulfite ion, which is obtained by polymerizing vinylpyrrolidone using a redox initiator which contains an organic peroxide and a sulfite, and thereafter contacting the product with an anion exchange resin.
The present invention relates to the above-mentioned high purity vinylpyrrolidone polymer which contains at most 10 ppm of sulfate ion and at most 20 ppm of sulfite ion, based on the vinylpyrrolidone polymer.
The process for preparing a high purity vinylpyrrolidone polymer of the present invention comprises polymerizing vinylpyrrolidone (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cVPxe2x80x9d) by using a redox initiator which contains an organic peroxide and a sulfite, and purifying by adding an anion (basic ion) exchange resin to the resulting vinylpyrrolidone polymer aqueous solution and contacting the product with the anion (basic ion) exchange resin to remove sulfate ion and sulfite ion. Vinylpyrrolidone (VP) ordinarily means N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone.
A vinylpyrrolidone polymer implies a VP homopolymer and a copolymer consisting of VP and other monomers (the copolymer contains preferably at least 20% by weight, more preferably at least 30% by weight of VP units).
As other monomers, for example, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, an alkylester of acrylic acid (for example, methyl acrylate and ethyl acrylate), an alkylester of methacrylic acid (for example, methyl methacrylate and ethyl methacrylate), an aminoalkylester of acrylic acid (for example, diethylaminoethyl acrylate), an aminoalkylester of methacrylic acid, a monoester of acrylic acid and a glycol, a monoester of methacrylic acid and a glycol (for example, hydroxyethyl methacrylate), an alkaline metal salt of acrylic acid, an alkaline metal salt of methacrylic acid, ammonium salt of acrylic acid, ammonium salt of methacrylic acid, a quaternary ammonium derivative of an aminoalkylester of acrylic acid, a quaternary ammonium derivative of an aminoalkylester of methacrylic acid, a quaternary ammonium compound of diethylaminoethylacrylate and methyl sulfate, vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether, an alkaline metal salt of vinyl sulfonic acid, ammonium salt of vinyl sulfonic acid, styrene sulfonic acid, a styrene sulfonate, an allylsulfonic acid, an allyl sulfonate, methallylsulfonic acid, methallyl sulfonate, vinyl acetate, vinyl stearate, N-vinylimidazol, N-vinylacetamide, N-vinylcarbazol, acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-alkylacrylamide, N-methylolacrylamide, N, N-methylenebisacrylamide, a glycol diacrylate, a glycol dimethacrylate, divinylbenzene, a glycol diallylether, or the like are employed.
Polymerization of VP or copolymerization of VP and other monomers can be carried out according to a solution polymerization in an aqueous solvent or in a mixed solvent consisting of an aqueous solvent and an organic solvent. For example, VP can be polymerized by adding an organic peroxide aqueous solution and a sulfite aqueous solution to a VP aqueous solution.
As the VP aqueous solution, for example, an aqueous solution having a VP concentration of 10 to 60% by weight, preferably 20 to 50% by weight can be used. When an aqueous solution containing VP and other monomers is employed as the VP aqueous solution, the aqueous solution is 10 to 60% by weight, preferably 20 to 50% by weight, in total concentration of VP and other monomers. When the concentration of the VP aqueous solution is low, a low productivity and high cost tend to be caused. When the concentration of the VP solution is high, a trouble in the reaction tends to be caused because viscosity becomes high with passage of time during polymerization and stirring becomes difficult.
As the organic peroxide, for example, any hydroperoxide such as tert-hexyl hydroperoxide, p-menthane hydroperoxide, cumene hydroperoxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide, and any peroxide such as benzoylperoxide, laurylperoxide and stearylperoxide can be used. Hydroperoxide is preferable among them from the fact that a by-product derived from the initiator is decreased. tert-Butyl hydroperoxide is preferable in particular because in case of employing tert-butyl hydroperoxide as an initiator by-products such as tert-butanol can be removed easily by heating, or by decompressing.
An organic peroxide is added in an amount of preferably 0.005 to 5% by weight, more preferably 0.02 to 3% by weight based on VP. When an organic peroxide is added in a small amount, the polymerization rate tends to decrease causing a low productivity. And when added in a large amount, the peroxide remains as impurities after polymerization, which is not preferable in a product quality, and tends to cause trouble in preparation of a polymer having a relatively high molecular weight.
The organic peroxide may be added in a form of solid or liquid or in a form of an aqueous solution.
A sulfite is used as a reductant. The sulfite produces sulfate ion in a redox reaction, but the sulfate ion can be adsorbed and removed easily by using an anion exchange resin. Therefore, the sulfite is suitable in the present invention as compared with other reductants. As the sulfite, for example, an ammonium salt of a sulfurous acid comprising sulfurous acid, thiosulfurous acid, hyposulfurous acid and metasulfurous acid, an alkaline metal salt thereof (for example, a sodium salt or a potassium salt thereof, an alkaline earth metal salt thereof (for example, a magnesium salt or a calcium salt thereof can be employed. Among those mentioned above, ammonium sulfite is more preferable because does not turn into an ash content and can be removed easily for the reason of its high volatility.
The sulfite is added in an amount of preferably 0.005 to 10% by weight, more preferably 0.02 to 7% by weight based on VP. When the sulfite is added in a small amount, a high polymerization ratio is difficult to be obtained and non-reacting monomers tend to remain in a large amount. And when added in a large amount, the sulfite or the oxide thereof, i.e. sulfate, tends to remain in products.
The sulfite can be added to a VP aqueous solution, for example, in a form of an aqueous solution.
The mole ratio of the organic peroxide and the sulfite is preferably 1:0.5 to 1:20 so that the organic peroxide does not remain in products.
The above-mentioned polymerization initiator may be added after or before the temperature of the above-mentioned VP aqueous solution is adjusted to a polymerization temperature.
The polymerization temperature is preferably 10 to 90xc2x0 C. When the polymerization temperature is low, the polymerization rate and the productivity tend to decrease. When the polymerization temperature is high, the radical concentration in the reaction system tends to increase accelerating a termination reaction, and the initiator tends to be used ineffectively and required in a large amount.
The polymerization reaction is almost completed in 0.5 to hours.
According to the process mentioned above, for example, a vinylpyrrolidone polymer having a K value of 10 to 120 can be obtained.
A K value according to Fikentscher method is a value which represents a molecular weight and can be evaluated by the means as follows. If the K value is less than 20, a viscosity of the 5% (g/100 ml) aqueous solution is measured. If the K value is at least 20, a viscosity of the 1% (g/100 ml) aqueous solution is measured. The concentration of the sample is calculated based on dry substances thereof. If the K value is at least 20, 1.0 g of the sample is measured precisely, and put into a measuring flask having a capacity of 100 ml. Then, distilled water is added thereto at room temperature to dissolve the sample completely with shaking, and distilled water is added additionally thereto in total 100 ml precisely. Thirty minutes after the resulting sample solution is left to stand in a thermostat (25xc2x10.2xc2x0 C.), a measurement with Ubbelohde viscometer is carried out. The time required for the sample solution to flow between two of marked lines is measured. The mean is calculated by repeating the measurement several times. Measurement of distilled water is carried out similarly in order to provide a relative viscosity. Two of the resulting flow time are corrected based on a correction value according to Hagenbach-Couette.       K              xe2x80x83            value    =                                          300                        ClogZ                    +                                    (                              C                +                                  1.5                                    ClogZ                                            )                        2                              +              1.5                ClogZ            -      C                      0.15                C            +              0.003                          C          2
In the above formula, Z is a relative viscosity (xcex7 rel) of the solution at concentration C, and C is a concentration of a sample (%: g/100 ml).
The relative viscosity xcex7 rel is calculated according to the formula as follows.
xcex7 rel=(the flow time of the solution)/(the flow time of water)
According to the present invention, a vinylpyrrolidone polymer aqueous solution is purified by contacting it with anion exchange resin (basic ion exchange resin). A contact process is, for example, the process wherein an anion exchange resin is suspended in a vinylpyrrolidone polymer aqueous solution to make it fine, and thereafter filtration is carried out. Further, another example is the process wherein an anion exchange resin is used as a stationary phase and a vinylpyrrolidone polymer aqueous solution is poured thereinto.
Concerning the anion exchange resin, anything that is used generally as the anion exchange resin, for example, polystyrenetrimethylamine-divinylbenzene copolymer or polystyrenemonohydroxyethyldiethylamine-divinylbenzene copolymer, can be used as a composition. Particularly, polystyrenetrimethylamine-divinylbenzene copolymer is preferable because it has a relatively high heat-resisting temperature and can adsorb sulfate ion and sulfite ion effectively (for a relatively short time) by raising a temperature.
Furthermore, a cross linking agent such as divinylbenzene can be used in an amount of a range wherein the cross linking agent is used generally in an anion exchange resin, preferably 4 to 20% by mole, more preferable 6 to 12% by mole. When the cross linking agent is used in a too small amount, an ion exchange resin tends to become fragile and then tends to be easy to get mixed as a impurity in a product. When a cross linking agent is too much, an exchange capacity per unit weight decreases and an efficiency of adsorption decreases. There are, for example, gel type or macroporous type as a resin structure, and any type can be employed. In the present invention, gel type is preferable because of the high exchange capacity per unit weight thereof and low costs.
The anion exchange resin can be used at least 10 g, preferably 0.1 to 10 kg, based on 1 mole of sulfate ion and sulfite ion which are contained in a vinylpyrrolidone polymer aqueous solution. When the anion exchange resin is used in a small amount, sulfate ion and sulfite ion are not adsorbed and removed sufficientlly. When the anion exchange resin is used in a large amount, the recovery of a polymer tends to decrease.
The form of an anion exchange resin is not limited particularly. A globular form having 0.01 to 5 mm of a grain size is preferable, and a globular form having 0.1 to 1.5 mm of a grain size is more preferable. An anion exchange resin having a small grain size tends to be difficult to be separated from a polymer aqueous solution. An anion exchange resin having a large grain size tends to require an increased time for treatment or to require to be used in an increased amount.
The temperature to contact the product of a polymerization reaction with anion exchange resins can be changed within a wide range. The temperature is preferably 10 to 60xc2x0 C., more preferably 25 to 50xc2x0 C. When the temperature is low, the treatment tends to require a long time. When the temperature is high, anion exchange resins tends to be denatured.
The time to contact can be at least 1 minute, preferably 5 minutes to 24 hours. When the time to contact is short, adsorption and removal of sulfate ion and sulfite ion tends to be insufficient. When the time to contact is long, productivity tends to decrease.
The purification with anion exchange resins can provide a high purity VP polymer containing at most 10 ppm of sulfate ion and at most 20 ppm of sulfite ion, based on the VP polymer.
The treatment for adsorption can be carried out when sulfate ion and sulfite ion to be treated are dissolved and exist in a system as a clear solution. Concretely, a mixed solvent consisting of an organic solvent such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol or acetone and water can be used. Preferably, a mixed solvent has at least 5% by volume of water based on the organic solvent. Also, a mixed solvent comprising at least 3 kinds of solvents can be used.

Process for preparing high-purity vinylpyrrolidone polymer


A solid effervescent antacid formulation comprising as primary ingredients from about 35 to about 53 percent by weight of calcium carbonate, from about 0 to about 14 percent by weight of magnesium carbonate, from about 3.5 to about 7 percent by weight of a bicarbonate salt, from about 3.5 to about 7 percent by weight of malic acid and from about 21 to about 35 percent by weight of a bulking agent.

a) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an antacid formulation and more specifically to a solid effervescent antacid formulation comprising calcium carbonate, optionally in combination with magnesium carbonate, as the antacid component, a combination of a bicarbonate salt and malic acid as the effervescent component, and a bulking agent.
b) Information Disclosure Statement
The use of calcium carbonate as an antacid either alone or in combination with other antacids such as magnesium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide is known.
The use of sodium bicarbonate in effervescent salts and of citric acid as an acidulant in effervescent salts, powders and tablets is known as is the use of sodium bicarbonate and citric acid in combination in antacid formulations. One such antacid formulation marketed as a tablet to be dissolved in water to produce an effervescent antacid solution contains sodium and potassium bicarbonate and citric acid.
Antacid formulations have been marketed in various forms such as chewing gums, tablets, lozenges, powders and liquids. Many antacid formulations intended to be taken in solid form tend to leave a rather unpleasant chalky taste in the mouth. This problem is overcome by the present invention.


A control valve arrangement for controlling a start coupling of an automatic gearbox comprising a clutch control valve (3, 37, 41, 48, 49) for controlling at least one clutch actuating device (4, 40) which, during normal operation of the gearbox, converts a supply pressure input (P_V1, P_V2) into a clutch actuation pressure (P_K, P_K1, P_K2) according to a pre-control pressure or an electric pre-control signal in order to control the clutch actuation device. An activating pressure (P_A) can be supplied to the clutch control valve or directly to the clutch activation device in the event of a discontinuation of the pre-control pressure or pre-control signal according to the engine and gearbox output speed, whereupon the clutch actuation device is maintained in a closed position as long as the above mentioned speed remains above a predetermined limit.

In automatic transmissions with automated, wet start clutches, the general practice is to convert a typical mechanical transmission into an emergency operation, for example if following the failure of a transmission control apparatus, which alleviates the failure of power in a transmission in such a manner the start clutch, now unpowered, is caused to disengaging. Especially, in a case of driving in heavy traffic, this strategy can lead to serious results, since the vehicle has become capable of no more than a powerless, forward rolling behavior.
Engagement of the wet start clutch in such a condition of driving, because of technological safety reasons, is also impossible since the shutdown of power remains in force only because of a hydraulic clutch activation pressure. Insofar as the vehicle's drive motor stalls itself upon the diminution of the travel velocity with the engaged clutch, there is still a low residual speed at which the important motor driven co-acting aggregates, such as brake action reinforcement or power steering pumping can no longer properly function.
In a typical automatic transmission with a dry start clutch, during mechanical emergency operation, the clutch is engaged so that the output torque of the vehicle remains in a technological connection with the motor output until the vehicle comes to a standstill. In such a case, it is true that no dangerous, critical conditions of driving exist for the vehicle although, following the standstill, the vehicle can no longer be brought into motion or even pushed into a safer location.
In accordance with the foregoing, obviously there exists a need for a control apparatus for a start clutch of an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle which, in dependency upon the speed of rotation of the motor and/or the speed of rotation of the output drive of the transmission, the power flow in the drive string is first interrupted when a predetermined threshold speed of rotation of the motor and/or transmission output speed of rotation is understepped. In this way, no stalling of the motor of the vehicle occurs, the auxiliary aggregates remain operable and the driver is still given the advantage of removing himself and his vehicle from a possibly dangerous driving zone. Additionally by way of such a control system, even an induced movement of the vehicle, which is then in standstill, is possible since an otherwise movement blocking, power-flow connection between the motor and the transmission is broken.
Based on this background, DE 199 43 939 A1 discloses a hydraulic emergency control for a stepless transmission, wherein a dedicated clutch to the transmission becomes separable and engagable according to the speed of rotation of the vehicle motor. Thereby, in the case of a disturbance, a renewed stalling of the drive motor can be avoided upon the understepping of a defined threshold value of rotation speed and as well, a startup upon the overstepping of the threshold is enabled. According to the design of the emergency control, the possibility exists that the speed of rotation related signal can be engendered, for example as (1) a hydraulic pressure, as (2) a pneumatic pressure or as (3) an electrical voltage; any one of which can be functional.
Additionally, DE 102 38 104 A1 teaches a procedure for controlling an emergency shifting program for an automatic transmission with a start clutch, which is particularly designed to allow a realization of an emergency operation upon the standstill of the vehicle, as well as permitting a by-pass of the lowering of the speed of rotation of the motor to a point below the stalling threshold. In the case of this procedure, provision has been made that the emergency shifting program is controlled by a signal related to the vehicle travel speed and/or to the speed of rotation of the motor, which is computer processed by valve-logic and acts in such a manner that the motor operation is interrupted only in the compression stage in order to prevent the motor from stalling.
Accordingly, the purpose of the invention is the creation of a control valve arrangement for controlling of a start clutch of an automatic transmission where, during an emergency control operation, the start clutch can be disengaged if the speed of rotation of the motor and/or the output speed of rotation of the transmission, i.e., the travel speed of the vehicle, falls below a predetermined threshold value. The purpose encompasses the fact that this valve arrangement is to be economical in manufacturing costs, simple in design and reliable under emergency conditions.

Control valve arrangement for controlling a start clutch of an automatic gearbox


There is provided a method of placing a plurality of operational cells of a semiconductor device within a semiconductor layout, comprising determining timing data for each of the plurality of operational cells, determining switching activity from RTL or design constraints for each of the plurality of operational cells, determining power grid switch locations relative to each of the plurality of operational cells, deriving a cost function based upon the determined timing data, determined switching activity from RTL/design constraints and determined relative power grid switch locations and initially placing the plurality of operational cells according to the derived cost function.

As semiconductor devices have developed, there has been a move towards creating semiconductor devices with lower supply voltages, yet higher operational currents (so called low-voltage, high-current designs). In such designs, one of the significant causes of power loss/waste (i.e. power dissipated as heat, rather than contributing to the processing capability of the semiconductor) is from the so called "IR drop".
IR drop is typically caused by the losses resultant from the resistive portion (R) of the active parts of a semiconductor's impedance interacting with the currents (I) flowing through those active portions of the semiconductor device, according to Ohms law. In actual fact, the dissipated power losses are related to the square of the current, according to the equation Power loss=I2R. Active portions of a semiconductor device may be defined by those currently enabled/powered up, and receiving a clock or other switching signal.

Method for placing operational cells in a semiconductor device