An adjustable pick or plectrum for a stringed musical instrument is characterized by a top grip portion and a bottom tip portion, the top grip portion adapted to matingly receive the bottom tip portion through an engagement means. The top grip portion preferably has at least one slot or channel which is adapted to receive and retain at least one leg from the bottom tip portion. Preferably, each leg has one or more protrusions, so that selective holes or slots in the top grip portion are adapted to selectively receive, engage and retain each protrusion. The pick is adapted for height adjustability and/or angular adjustability as desired by the musician. The height adjustability can be set in selected positions for different flexibilities. It is seen that this pick has a multi use capability, adjustable from a solid pick through several different flexibilities, heights and angles.

Plectrums (or, "picks" as they are commonly known) are devices which help a user "pick" or strum stringed instruments of the lute family such as a guitar, banjo or mandolin. A problem often arises when a performer needs multiple picks for the different instruments and styles of music he may play during a concert. Often, for example, jazz musicians like a small pick with no flexibility, but will have to change their pick to play an acoustic guitar. Problems also exist with users having larger fingers (e.g., thumbs), which may make a plectrum difficult to use or control while playing a guitar. And, many performers like to use the plectrum at an angle relative to the guitar strings. The present invention is designed to address these and other drawbacks in prior art designs.
Various attempts have been made in the past to provide picks which allow the musician some degree of different picking abilities without having to quickly change between a stiff pick and a soft pick while playing the instrument midstream. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,622 to Storey discloses a plectrum having a flexible mid portion. With this invention, the scope of flexibility is only within the one primary flexible area of the pick. As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,228,719 to Keene discloses a pick with different flexibilities in each playing corner owing to the provision of different sized holes in the corners. However, in order to take advantage of the different flexibilities, it is necessary to rotate the pick in the musician's fingers which is virtually impossible between individual notes, especially during speed picking.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,459,274 to Galetzky discloses a mandolin pick including a rather complicated slide and screw adjustment mechanism for altering the pick's properties. The adjustment mechanism is not suitable for use during a performance and particularly between the playing of individual notes. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 1,009,403 to Gaynor discloses a picking device having a cup mechanism which when squeezed by the musician alters the flexibility of the pick but only between soft and stiff with no intermediate range or the ability to vary the flexibility gradually or to have no flexibility at all.
It is therefore desirable to be able to shift quickly between the relatively hard and soft tones available from different picks when playing notes on a musical instrument such as a guitar, without having to switch between picks in the middle of a song. The present invention solves this desire. Because of its optional flexible characteristics, the pick according to the present invention is capable of producing both hard and soft tones. Furthermore when the pick of the present invention is extended to its full height, the musician is able to hold the tip section of the pick for a hard gauge, or could let the tip section flex whilst holding the grip section, allowing the tip section to flex. While the present invention refers to the term "height", those of skill in the art will recognize that this is a relative term, so that the present invention may also be "length" adjustable by merely rotating the present invention ninety degrees, so that the term "height" may also be equated with the term "length".
Further, a musician may choose to close off the flexible section altogether by engaging (or, closing) the two halves of the pick together to form a solid, non-flexible pick structure. Likewise, by doing this, the pick becomes smaller. Smaller picks are often preferred by jazz musicians, and in this configuration, the pick of the present invention has a very hard and positive strike of a note on the stringed instrument. Musicians can also open (or, spread apart) the pick effortlessly for flexibility during playing a song on the string instrument.
Those of skill in the art will now come to realize that other advantages exist according to the present invention. For example, because the present pick is height adjustable, musicians with large hands and fingers can elongate the pick to accommodate the size of the musician's fingers. Moreover, some musicians hold a pick at an angle in order to "slice" a note or angle the pick in order to slide over the strings while playing a chord. The adjustment in the pick's angularity in relation to a string on the instrument allows a musician to adjust the pick's tip at an angle relative to the top grip portion. Moreover, the adjustable characteristics (e.g., height-wise and angularly) of the present invention allow many more users to use the present invention comfortably and with confidence.
The present invention was developed in order to overcome these and other drawbacks of the prior devices by providing a single plectrum that is height and/or angular adjustable over the entire spectrum. The present invention may function equivalently as a stiff or thick pick that enables a musician to strike an instrument's strings with a stronger attack. The present invention may also function equivalently as a very thin pick, which allows the musician to brush over a string or strings in order to produce a softer tone. Because of the present invention's angular and height adjustability, the present invention may also function as every pick variation therebetween, and every variation can be made quickly without interruption of the song being played by the musician.
The present invention has been developed in order to overcome these and other drawbacks of the prior art devices by providing an adjustable plectrum having at least a top grip portion that is adapted to receive a bottom tip portion, the bottom tip portion in one embodiment having at least one leg, the leg preferably providing flexible characteristics and a connection means to the top grip portion. Therefore the top grip portion and the bottom tip portion are preferably adjustably connectable and can be configured in several different ways.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.


The use of a compound of formula I ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are N, X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 which may be the same or different are hydrogen, hydroxy, or an optionally substituted alkyl, and Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.2 which may be the same or different are hydrogen, hydroxy, keto (.dbd.O), or one of Z.sub.1 and X.sub.1 and Z.sub.2 and X.sub.2 form a second bond of a double bond at the 1,6 or 2,3 positions with the proviso that at least one of the groupings R.sub.1 Z.sub.1 X.sub.1 R.sub.2 Z.sub.2 X.sub.2 and R.sub.1 X.sub.1 Z.sub.2 form a hydroxamate moiety (--N(OH)C(.dbd.O)-- in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is N, Z.sub.1 and/or Z.sub.2 is .dbd.O and X.sub.1 and/or X.sub.2 is OH or R.sub.1 is N, Z.sub.2 is .dbd.O and X.sub.1 is OH and B is a 5 or 6 membered ring of formula II or III ##STR2## in which R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7, R.sub.8, R.sub.9, and R.sub.10 which may be the same or different are CH or N with the proviso that ring B cannot contain more than 3 ring members which are nitrogen and the ring B may optionally be substituted with a physiologically acceptable organic or inorganic acid, for the manufacture of a medicament for use as an anti-ischaemic agent.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pharmaceutical compounds and to compositions containing them, being primarily concerned with substances of use as anti-ischaemic agents.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Free radicals are reactive substances produced constantly in the body during respiration, tissue turnover, tissue repair and in combatting infections. Under normal conditions, the antioxidant defence mechanisms operational in the body are able to minimise biological damage. However, there are situations, e.g. in certain disease processes, when free radical production overwhelms the natural defence mechanisms.
A substantial amount of evidence has been accumulated which suggests that oxygen free radicals mediate ischaemia-reperfusion injury in a variety of tissues, including the heart, lung, kidney, gastrointestinal tract, brain and inflammatory joint disease such as rheumatoid arthritis (Korthius and Granger, 1986, in `Physiology of Oxygen Radicals` Eds. Taylor, Matalos and Ward; Allen et al., 1989, Lancet ii, 282-283). Both direct and spin trapping EPR techniques have demonstrated that a burst of oxygen free radical production occurs after reperfusion of ischaemic tissue (Blasig et al., 1986 Stud. Biophys. 116, 35-42; Arroyo et al., 1987 FEBS Lett. 221 101-104; Zweier et al., 1987 PNAS USA 84, 1404-1407; Allen et al., 1989, Lancet ii, 282-283). Ischaemia-reperfusion injury is thought to involve a multicomponent process with a burst of free radical production occurring following reperfusion and a second event, possibly inflammatory damage, occurring later. Based on the protective effects of intravascularly administered selective enzyme inhibitors and radical scavenging agents/enzymes, it is widely believed that xanthine oxidase associated with endothelial cells is probably the main source for the production of oxygen radicals responsible for inducing tissue damage during the reperfusion phase.
Treatment of ischaemia/reperfusion induced injury requires the development of compounds which suppress the harmful effects of oxygen radicals during both the reperfusion and inflammatory phases. An obvious approach would be the administration of agents that selectively block currently known pathways of radical generation and the release of inflammatory mediators. For example, peroxynitrite, formed by the reaction of nitric oxide and superoxide is thought to be one of the species responsible for bringing about the toxicity of the oxygen free radicals but inhibition of nitric oxide production may be deleterious because of its physiological role in regulating thrombogenicity and vasodilation. A more suitable target would be the inhibition of superoxide production. The above is a particularly attractive strategy, due to the possibility of selectively inhibiting xanthine oxidase, the enzyme involved in the first (reperfusion) stage of ischaemic injury.
Due to the multifactorial nature of ischaemia induced injury, in addition to xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity, compounds with potent anti-oxidant activity are required to minimise free radical mediated damage to biological molecules during both the reperfusion and inflammatory phases in disease states wherein these symptoms manifest themselves. Finally compounds which bind redox active metals such as iron with high affinity such that the metal complex is not able to take part in redox cycling reactions will provide additional benefit.
It has been a problem to find compounds which fulfil some or all these requirements.

Use of xanthine oxidase inhibitors as anti-ischaemic agents


Described herein is a method for optimizing a plurality of calibration maps for an algorithm of estimation of a control quantity of an internal combustion engine, each of the maps comprising a plurality of calibration values of said control quantity estimated by said algorithm. The optimization method comprises measuring the control quantity, estimating the control quantity, and individually optimizing each calibration map based on the measured control quantity and the estimated control quantity.

As is known, modern electronic vehicle engine control units implement a plurality of algorithms that, when the engine is running, estimate engine quantities based on which the electronic control unit controls the engine operation.
These algorithms generally operate by using input quantities, of the motor type for example, generally measured by sensors when the engine is running, and experimentally determined calibration maps, which describe the trend of the quantity estimated by the algorithm, as a function of the quantities on which it depends.
As a rule, before being stored in the electronic control unit, the algorithms are calibrated using the aforementioned maps.
For example, the algorithm for estimating the instantaneous torque supplied by the engine, normally uses the number of engine revs RPM and/or the position of the accelerator pedal as input quantities, both of these detected by suitable sensors, and one or more algorithm calibration maps that describe the trend of supplied torque as a function of the number of engine revs RPM and/or position of the accelerator pedal, with the values of which the algorithm calculates each value of estimated torque.
In particular, the calibration maps of the algorithm are defined by experimentally measuring, on an engine test bench or a rolling road for vehicles, the motor quantities that will be estimated by the algorithm, as a function of the variables on which these depend, for example the torque supplied by the engine can be measured as a function of the number of revs RPM.
Carrying out the measurements of the quantities specified in the calibration maps and the calibration of the control unit's algorithms are operations that require rather long times, are particularly onerous and weigh significantly on the development costs of vehicle control units. Furthermore, the need to implement increasingly complex algorithms in the control units to carry out calculations on the basis of quantities supplied by a plurality of maps makes the process of calibrating the algorithms, consisting in the definition of map values, even longer and more complicated.
In order to simplify the calibration procedure of the algorithms, the following, for example, are known of: use of approximation formulas that describe the physics of the phenomenon to be represented, use of specific programming languages needed to be able to use algebraic formulas via which optimal parameter values can be calculated, or breaking down the algorithms into simpler algorithms and calibrating each one of them using specifically acquired data. For example, if the torque supplied by the engine depends on the product of the output of two calibration maps, usually the representative physical quantities of each of the two maps are measured and then each map is calibrated independently.
However, these solutions have several drawbacks, including:                the need to carry out specific measurements for calibration of the algorithm,        the need to carry out the measurements in special environmental and/or engine conditions,        the use of additional sensors for the acquisition of all the input and output quantities of the maps,        the propagation of measurement errors in the calibration procedure,        the poor precision of the simplified formulas utilized for describing the physical phenomenon,        the imprecision and difficulty of specific programming languages used for implementing the algorithm.
Thus, the need is felt to reduce the number of experimental measurements necessary for obtaining the maps to the bare minimum and to implement an optimization method for the calibration maps of the algorithms that at least partially overcome the drawbacks of the known methods.

Method for optimizing calibration maps for an algorithm of estimation of a control quantity of an internal combustion engine


Chain saw guide bar comprising three plates joined by welding, having a nose, a clamping area and a guiding groove for the chain, where the bending stiffness in a zone immediately in front of the clamping area is increased by omitting welds in the zone to make sure that the compressed plate buckles outward when overloaded. The zone extends in the longitudinal direction of the bar for a distance greater than the groove depth and less than the bar width.

Chainsaws mounted on tree harvester vehicles usually comprise a saw unit mounted on an articulated arm which can be extended to the tree to be felled. The same saw unit can then also be used for bucking the tree to desired lengths. The saw unit comprises the chainsaw with a saw chain, a guide bar and a motor, as well as gripping arms and feeder wheels to hold and position the tree trunk.
The guide bar is attached to the motor by clamping its clamping end between two clamping blocks. The saw chain runs around the guide bar guided by a groove, and the guide bar edges on each side of the groove usually have at least partially hardened surfaces (i.e., surfaces which are harder than the body of the guide bar) for smooth sliding of the chain for an extended time period.
Tree harvester guide bars are subjected to very great stresses in service, especially if the support of the vehicle against the ground fails, or the gripper arms of the saw unit slip on the tree trunk, with the result that the weight of the tree is transferred to the guide bar. The largest stresses occur immediately in front of the clamping blocks. The guide bar will often be permanently bent in this region when overloaded, and it has always been a desire that bent guide bars should be straightenable for further use. Three obstacles to this goal have been cracking of hardened sliding surfaces, fractures in the welds joining the plates in laminated guide bars, and abrupt local buckling of a guide bar edge into the groove, making it too narrow for the saw chain to pass easily, if at all, therethrough.
Many guide bar designs have been suggested to avoid or reduce these obstacles. Cracks in the sliding surfaces are minimized if the hardening is done only in the regions most subject to wear, as in U.S. Pat. No. 2,962,812, or specifically omitted in the critical region in front of the clamping region as in U.S. Pat. No. 2,897,856. The neighborhood of the oil supply holes within the clamping region covered by the clamping blocks in operation are also preferably unhardened.
Fracture of welds are purported to be minimized if spot welds are made especially close and numerous within the critical region and afterwards annealed as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,109, or if the welding is done before total hardening and edge hardening as in SE Patent 469,324. Local buckling is a major disadvantage with guide bars according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,109 and will also occur with bars according to SE Patent 469,324, although at a much higher load.

Chainsaw guide bar which stiffens when bent


An apparatus for supplying power to a portable electronic device is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first receptacle to which an AC/DC adaptor is connectable, a second receptacle to which an electronic device is connectable, a battery charger for charging a battery using power supplied by the AC/DC adaptor, an output circuit for supplying power to the electronic device from the AC/DC adaptor when the AC/DC adaptor is connected to the apparatus, and supplies power to the electronic device from the battery when the AC/DC adaptor is not connected to the apparatus, and a control circuit for controlling the battery charger to supply power to the electronic device while charging the battery when the AC/DC adaptor is connected to the apparatus.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to electronic apparatuses in general, and in particular to a technique for extending battery operation time of an electronic apparatus that is being powered by a DC power source such as an AC/DC adaptor.
2. Description of Related Art
Portable electronic apparatuses such as a laptop personal computers (PCs), tablet computers, and multi-function mobile phones can be operated using DC power sources. As power sources for portable electronic apparatuses, there are AC power sources and DC power sources. DC power sources include internal batteries that are mounted within portable electronic apparatuses, or external batteries connected to portable electronic apparatuses via cables.
When using an AC power source, AC power is generally converted into DC power using an AC/DC adaptor, and the power is supplied to a portable electronic apparatus. Both the internal battery and the external battery are required to be charged by the AC power source. The internal battery is typically charged using the AC/DC adaptor. A dedicated battery charger is required to charge the external battery.
For portable electronic apparatuses, there is a constant demand for lengthening the time of operation using only battery (i.e., battery operation time). In the laptop PCs, this demand is satisfied by mounting a large-sized battery pack that protrudes from a casing of a main body, additionally mounting a battery pack in a multi-purpose bay, or carrying a spare battery pack that is charged in advance.

Method and apparatus for extending battery operation time of an electronic device


The disclosure relates to a technical field of deep hole machining, particularly to a deep hole machining on-line deviating correction device based on laser detection, which solves the prior art problem of difficulty in the real-time, on-line detection and deviating correction in the process of deep hole machining. The device comprises a deep hole cutter and a cutter bar, and arranged on the cutter bar are a laser orientating block, a pyramid prism seat, the deep hole cutter and a metallic block with a heating device arranged therein. A beam emitted by a laser transmitter is orientated by the laser orientating block so as to be incident in parallel with the axis of the cutter bar, and then through a pyramid prism to form a return beam which reaches the photosensitive sensor. The advantages of the disclosure lie in that skewing of the deep hole cutter can be detected in time and skewing correction of the deep hole tool is achieved based on the heat expansion and cold contraction mechanism, and therefore the straightness and position accuracy during deep hole machining are improved.

The term "deep hole" relates to a hole having a ratio of a hole length to a hole diameter that is greater than 5, such as a hollow spindle hole and a hydraulic valve hole. Some of these holes require high machining accuracy and surface quality, and sometime the materials to be machined have poor machinability. In the process of the deep hole machining, the operator is not able to directly inspect the conditions of the machined part and the cutter, but has to listen to the sound of cutting, observe the conditions of chips, tactually feel the vibration condition and the temperature of the workpiece and observe the meters such as oil pressure gauge and electric meter, so as to make experimental judgement on the conditions of the cutting process. All the above methods is incapable of detecting the axis deviation inside the deep hole, such that a continuous dynamic detection on the straightness of the deep hole part is not achieved and therefore inaccuracy occurs. Also, the cutter for the deep hole process has poor rigidity and difficulty in removing chips, which greatly impinge the straightness of the deep holes and therefore axis of these deep holes is liable to skew. Up to day, there are no simple and practical deep hole machining on-line deviating correction device and detection means used prior to the correction.

Deep hole machining on-line deviating correction device based on laser detection


A transporting and loading system for rail-supported conveyances using transport vehicles outfitted with a standardized loading platform for ISO containers, particularly for machinery for inspecting and maintaining track installations, is provided. Transporting and loading rail-supported conveyances allowing rail-supported conveyances to be safely transported to places of use at any distance apart without special-purpose vehicles and to be deposited on and picked up from a track installation without external lifting gear is described. The transporting and loading system has a sandwich construction comprising two floor assemblies which conform to ISO container dimensions, an intermediate space between the floor assemblies for drive units, transmission units and control units for the automated movement of the loading and offloading unit, and rails are provided for holding and guiding the rail-supported conveyances on the sandwich construction.

Machinery for inspecting and maintaining track installations must be transportable because it should be employed on defined sections of track as per commissions and/or authorizations at many different locations of a rail network having many branches—and possibly even in locations around the world—at short notice and therefore without any appreciable independent driving of the measuring and processing machinery itself.
In order to make the inspection and maintenance machinery transportable, either specialized track-supported special-purpose vehicles can be used which embody a combination of machines and which move under their own power, or customized carrier vehicles can be used which make possible a loading and transporting process of the inspection and maintenance machinery.
A disadvantage of systems of the kind mentioned above consists in a higher technological cost for adapting the machinery in technical respects relating to operation and work to the diverse urban rail networks, e.g., of railroads, streetcar lines or subways, and track networks which differ from country to country in case the machinery is used worldwide. Due the size of the machinery, the use of special-purpose vehicles or customized carrier vehicles is only economical if the sites where it is to be used can be reached within a reasonable delay and steps for adapting to the track width and for depositing the machinery on various track installations can be realized in a simple manner. In addition, for worldwide use there is no available standardized solution for transportation such as, for example, containers, which would minimize logistical efforts as far as possible or afford adequate protection against environmental influences if transported by sea, for example.
Therefore, there is a need for configuring inspection and maintenance machinery for track installations in the form of smaller, flexibly adaptable, modular individual units so that this inspection and maintenance machinery can be transported more easily from one place of use to the next and so that recourse may also be had to the usual methods of transport such as by truck or standardized railroad car.
One possibility for bringing track-supported inspection and maintenance machinery directly to a place of use is to transfer it to railroad cars.
A device for carrying out construction work in an area of railroad track is known in the prior art from DE 10 2004 026 916 A1. Here, the transporting of construction materials needed for the construction work is carried out by means of rail-supported work machines on a plurality of flatbed bogie cars coupled together to form a train. A contiguous section of track is mounted over the loading surfaces of the cars so that the rail-supported work machines on the cars can also move construction materials along the length of the train. The construction materials are loaded and offloaded via the front sides of the first and/or last flatcar by means of work machines which are parked either on the cars or on the track installation over which the cars travel. However, loading and offloading of the work machines is neither provided nor described.
Loading systems particularly conforming to global standards are known for transporting smaller individual units. These loading systems can be handled with the available infrastructure without additional effort and ensure a simple and immediate transfer of inspection and maintenance machinery to the place of use.
Transport units based on elements of standardized ISO containers allow an especially simple and flexible handling of general cargo that must be transported. German Utility Model DE 92 14 306 U1 discloses a transportable loading platform with a footprint conforming to the ISO containers having a loading surface which is planar and which can therefore be used in a versatile manner. Container corners are arranged at the four corners of the loading surface. Four vertically upright posts of identical length are fastened to the container corners of the loading surface, longitudinal beams being provided therebetween at the long sides of the loading surface for reinforcement. The upper ends of the posts likewise have container corners so that a plurality of loading platforms can be stacked one above the other. The container corners and the dimensions allow handling and transporting of the loading platform by any means that are also used for ISO containers. The two short sides of the platform have a flap which is hinged to the loading surface and which can be moved from a vertical to a horizontal position. In the vertical (folded up) position, the flap closes the front openings of the loading platform; in the horizontal (folded out) position, the flap can be used as an extended loading surface which is suspended at the posts at the two lateral ends of the flap by chains of appropriate length. The lengths of the flaps are selected such that a gap existing between two railroad cars can be bridged by the flaps of two successive loading platforms so as to form a usable loading bridge. When the loading platform is deposited on level ground, the flap can also be used as a drive-up ramp by folding it down to the ground. However, the transportable loading platform according to DE 92 14 306 U1 is not suitable for loading and offloading or for protected transportation of inspection and maintenance machinery. It is not possible to overcome the difference in height between the loading platform and a track so as to allow rail-supported conveyances to be deposited directly, and there is no protection against environmental influences.

Transport and loading system for rail-based vehicles


A fuel distributor is disclosed comprising a body having a unitary construction, a fuel conduit located within the body, a fuel flow path located within the body that is oriented in a circumferential direction around an axis and in flow communication with the fuel conduit, and at least one orifice located in the body in flow communication with the fuel flow path such that a fuel entering the fuel conduit exits through the orifice.

This invention relates generally to combustors, and more specifically to fuel nozzle components having a unitary construction and fuel nozzle assemblies using such components.
Turbine engines typically include a plurality of fuel nozzles for supplying fuel to the combustor in the engine. The fuel is introduced at the front end of a burner in a highly atomized spray from a fuel nozzle. Compressed air flows in around the fuel nozzle and mixes with the fuel to form a fuel-air mixture, which is ignited by the burner. Because of limited fuel pressure availability and a wide range of required fuel flow, many fuel injectors include pilot and main nozzles, with only the pilot nozzles being used during start-up, and both nozzles being used during higher power operation. The flow to the main nozzles is reduced or stopped during start-up and lower power operation. Such injectors can be more efficient and cleaner-burning than single nozzle fuel injectors, as the fuel flow can be more accurately controlled and the fuel spray more accurately directed for the particular combustor requirement. The pilot and main nozzles can be contained within the same nozzle assembly or can be supported in separate nozzle assemblies. These dual nozzle fuel injectors can also be constructed to allow further control of the fuel for dual combustors, providing even greater fuel efficiency and reduction of harmful emissions. The temperature of the ignited fuel-air mixture can reach an excess of 3500° F. (1920° C.). It is therefore important that the fuel supply and distribution systems are substantially leak free and are protected from the flames.
Conventional combustor components such as, for example, fuel nozzles, are generally expensive to fabricate and/or repair because the conventional fuel nozzle designs include a complex assembly and joining of more than thirty components. More specifically, the use of braze joints can increase the time needed to fabricate such components and can also complicate the fabrication process for any of several reasons, including: the need for an adequate region to allow for braze alloy placement; the need for minimizing unwanted braze alloy flow; the need for an acceptable inspection technique to verify braze quality; and, the necessity of having several braze alloys available in order to prevent the re-melting of previous braze joints. Moreover, numerous braze joints may result in several braze runs, which may weaken the parent material of the component. The presence of numerous braze joints can undesirably increase the weight and manufacturing cost of the component.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have combustor components such as, for example, fuel nozzle components, that have unitary construction for reducing potential leakage and other undesirable effects described earlier. It is desirable to have a fuel nozzle that has fewer components using a unitary construction of complex components to reduce the cost and for ease of assembly. It is desirable to have a method of manufacturing unitary combustor components having complex three-dimensional geometries.


A high pressure proton exchange membrane based water electrolyzer system that may include a series of proton exchange membrane (PEM) cells that may be electrically coupled together and coupled to a proton exchange membrane to form a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) that is spiral wound onto a conductive center post, wherein an innermost PEM cell of the MEA may be electrically connected with the conductive center post, or center electrode, and wherein an outermost PEM cell of the MEA may be electrically coupled to pressure vessel cylinder, or outer electrode. Each PEM cell may include an anode portion and a cathode portion separated by a portion of the PEM membrane. In addition, a non-permeable separator layer may also be spiral wound around the conductive center post and separates the wound portions of the PEM core.

Electrolyzers convert abundant chemicals into more valuable ones by the passage of electricity, normally by breaking down compounds into elements or simpler products. A proton exchange membrane based water electrolyzer (or PEM-based water electrolyzer) is a system in which water is oxidized at an oxygen electrode, or cell anode, to produce oxygen gas, releasing hydrogen ions, or protons, and electrons. The hydrogen ions migrate through a solid polymer electrolyte from the cell anode to the cell cathode, or hydrogen electrode, under the effect of the electric field imposed across the cell, while the electrons are transferred to the cathode by a direct current (DC) power source. The protons and electrons recombine at the cell cathode to produce hydrogen. Oxygen and hydrogen are generated in a stoichiometric ratio—two volume units of hydrogen for every one of oxygen—at a rate proportional to the applied cell current. A high pressure water electrolyzer may generate hydrogen and oxygen gas at pressures sufficient for storage (up to or exceeding 10,000 pounds per square inch) without the need for mechanical compression.

High pressure proton exchange membrane based water electrolyzer system


A process for producing a stable high-temperature catalyst for reduction of nitrogen oxides in combustion exhaust gases at operating temperatures from 300° C. to over 700° C. without the need for exhaust dilution. A zeolite material is steam-treated at a temperature and duration sufficient to partially de-aluminize the zeolite to approximately a steady state, but not sufficient to fully collapse its chemical structure. Iron is added to the zeolite material. The zeolite material is calcined at a temperature, humidity, and duration sufficient to stabilize the zeolite material. Examples and specifications for ranges, order, and durations of steaming, calcining, and other steps are provided.

Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is a technology for reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from combined and simple cycle power plants and coal-fired boilers. The process involves injecting NH3 into the exhaust gas upstream of a catalytic reactor. Within the catalyst bed, NOx reacts with adsorbed NH3 in the presence of O2 to form primarily N2 and water. Traditional catalysts employed by the process consist of V2O5 supported on high-surface-area TiO2. The process achieves up to 90-95% NOx reduction efficiency at low to moderate reaction temperatures (300-420° C.). Traditional SCR processes are operated with stoichiometric NH3/NOx ratios consistent with an 80-90% NOx reduction. Operation with higher NH3/NOx ratios enhances the NOx reduction efficiency at the expense of ammonia slip, which often needs to be below than 2-5 ppm. NH3 slip contributes to emissions of nitrogen compound into the atmosphere and leads to the formation of corrosive ammonium sulfates and bisulfates downstream of the SCR. These compounds also may plug heat exchange surfaces in the heat recovery steam generator (HRSG).
For combined-cycle power plants, the SCR reactor is integrated into the HRSG. In this manner, the catalyst temperature under normal operation conditions of 50-100% load is between 300 and 370° C. However, in simple cycle power plants the temperature of the exhaust leaving a high efficiency gas turbine can exceed 600° C. Absent any heat exchange surfaces in the post turbine enclosure, the reactions between ammonia and NOx encounter these high temperatures. This requires an SCR catalyst durable to high temperatures and thermal shock, since the temperature in the gas turbine exhaust reaches its maximum in a short period of time, such as 10 minutes.
High temperature of the exhaust gases requires a reduction in the distance between NH3 injection plane and a face of SCR in order to minimize substantial decomposition of ammonia at temperatures above 500° C. A short distance between ammonia injection grid and the face of SCR dictates the installation of special distribution/mixing devices in order to mitigate maldistribution problems resulting from shrinking zone for ammonia and NOx upstream mixing.
Locating a V2O5/TiO2 SCR catalyst downstream of a gas turbine in temperatures above 550° C. is not feasible, as the temperatures of the flue gas will rapidly deactivate the V2O5/TiO2 catalyst, due to a transformation of the TiO2 from the high surface area anatase phase to the low surface area rutile phase.
Acidified, metal-impregnated, zeolite-based SCR catalysts have been investigated as an alternative to the V2O5/TiO2 SCR catalyst (Farnos et al. 1996; Parvulescu et al. 1998; Stevenson and Vartuli, 2002; Qi and Yang, 2004). Zeolite based catalysts are being investigated because they offer advantages over V2O5/TiO2 SCR catalysts, namely wider operating temperature range, greater thermal stability, and reduced disposal issues associated with the spent catalyst. Although many types of zeolites have been found to facilitate the reactions between NH3 and NOx (Long and Yang, 2002; Delahay et al, 2004; Moreno-Tost et al., 2004; Liu and Teng, 2005), zeolites ZSM-5 and zeolite beta appears to be the most promising. Unlike V2O5/TiO2 SCR catalysts, the zeolite-based catalyst is unable to effectively oxidize NO. Consequently, a metal function, such as iron, cobalt, etc. is added to the acidified zeolite in order to oxidize NO to NO2, which is decomposed according to the following reaction scheme (Long and Yang, 2002):

The rate-limiting step in the reaction sequence is the oxidation of NO to NO2. From equations 1 through 4, ammonia rapidly adsorbs onto the Brønsted acidic sites on the surface of the zeolite to yield adsorbed ammonium ions. NO is oxidized over the metal function (iron oxide) to yield NO2. NO2 interacts with the adsorbed ammonium ions to form an adsorbed ammonium nitrite complex, which decomposes upon reaction with NO to yield N2 and H2O, completing the catalytic cycle. The overall reaction is identical to that of conventional V2O5/TiO2 SCR catalysts.4NH3+4NO+O2→4N2+6H2O  (5)
Tran et al. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,689,709 and 6,914,026) report the use of iron exchanged zeolite beta and iron/cerium exchanged zeolite beta in the selective catalytic reduction of NOx using NH3. The catalyst was prepared by ion exchange of zeolite beta using cerium, followed by ion exchange with iron. The catalyst achieved enhanced stability over a material prepared without the addition of cerium. Tran et al. also report the improved stability achieved upon steam treatment at 650° C., 10% H2O for 2 hours. In all cases, catalytic materials lose activity over time.
Absil et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,710,085) report improved durability of zeolite beta upon treatment using phosphorous. The resulting material displayed enhanced stability and activity during catalytic cracking studies. Exposure of zeolite to water vapor at an elevated temperature results in the removal of framework aluminum. However hydrothermal treatments under some conditions are known to enhance both the structural stability and acidity of zeolites (Kerr et al., 1970, Breck 1974, Chen and McCullen, 1988; Stevenson et al., 2002).
Despite the above enhancements, prior catalysts do not provide stability and adequate NOx removal efficiency at temperatures above about 550° C. Thus, they cannot efficiently reduce NOx emissions in a direct gas turbine exhaust, such as in simple cycle power plants, without dilution of the exhaust with cooler air. However, dilution of the exhaust significantly reduces the overall gas turbine efficiency, and is not a cost-effective option.

High temperature catalyst and process for selective catalytic reduction of NO


A PLL status detection circuit and its associated method are disclosed herein. The circuit and the method are used to detect a PLL clock generated by a PLL of a chip to determine a status of the PLL. The PLL status detection circuit includes a counter, a status analyzing circuit and a status storing circuit. The counter is configured to generate a count value by counting cycles of the PLL clock according to a control signal. The status analyzing circuit, which is coupled to the counter, is configured to analyze the count value according to the control signal to generate an analyzed result. The status storing circuit, which is coupled to the status analyzing circuit, is configured to store the analyzed result. The status storing circuit is coupled to a scan chain of the chip so that the analyzed result is transmitted via the scan chain.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to a circuit and an associated method for testing a chip, especially to a circuit and an associated method for testing a PLL (Phase Lock Loop) inside a chip.
2. Description of Related Art
A chip must pass a series of tests to verify its quality before sale. When a clock speed inside the chip plays an important part in the functionality of the chip, an at-speed test becomes one of the essential tests. Because a test machine nowadays can only provide limited test clock speeds, the use of the PLL inside the chip to generate a high-speed clock for the at-speed test is widely accepted. As a result, the accuracy in the at-speed test is highly dependent on the quality and condition of the clock generated by the PLL. In other words, a chip's failure in the at-speed test may result either from a defect of the chip itself or from imperfection of the test clock. For example, the clock generated by the PLL has a large jitter, or the frequency of the clock is not as expected because settings for the PLL are incorrect, or because a control signal that controls the PLL is subject to the test contents of the at-speed test. In addition, since the PLL is critical in providing an accurate working clock for the entire chip to work properly, a malfunction in the PLL can lead to unexpected errors.
Some prior-art methods are proposed to verify the clock generated by the PLL. Referring to FIG. 7, a test circuit disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 7,168,020 is presented. The test circuit includes a flip-flop 201, a flip-flop 202 and an XOR gate 203. The flip-flop 201 receives a PLL clock PLL_CLK and a sampling clock EXT_CLK. The frequency of the sampling clock EXT_CLK is twice the frequency of the PLL clock PLL_CLK. Therefore, the flip-flop 201 is trigged twice within one time period of the PLL clock PLL_CLK. As a result, the output signal SAMP of the flip-flop 201 has the same frequency as the PLL clock PLL_CLK. The flip-flop 202 receives the output signal SAMP of the flip-flop 201 and the sampling clock EXT_CLK, and generates an output signal SAMP_D1. The output signal SAMP_D1 has the same frequency as the output signal SAMP but is delayed by one time period of the sampling clock EXT_CLK, namely, half the time period of the PLL clock PLL_CLK. Therefore, there is a 180-degree phase difference between the output signal SAMP_D1 and the output signal SAMP. In other words, an output FAIL of the XOR gate 203 is at a high level when the PLL is in normal operation (i.e., the PLL clock PLL_CLK oscillating with a constant time period). The output signal SAMP and the output signal SAMP_D1 may be at a high level or a low level at the same time when the PLL is not in normal operation (i.e., the PLL clock PLL_CLK not oscillating or oscillating with an inconstant time period). A low-level output FAIL of the XOR gate 203 indicates that the PLL is not in normal operation. Although an abnormal operation of the PLL can be detected by the test circuit, the quality of the PLL clock and whether the abnormal operation is caused by false settings of the PLL cannot be known. In addition, the sampling clock EXT_CLK must be precisely controlled to slightly lead the PLL clock PLL_CLK to accurately sample the PLL clock PLL_CLK; such limitation increases the difficulty in practicing the test. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 8,040,995 discloses another test method, which uses a circuit for measuring jitters of a PLL clock. The circuit uses an oscillator to generate an oscillating signal whose frequency is a multiple of that of the PLL clock, and uses a counter to count the number of cycles of the oscillating signal in a count interval, in which the count interval is an integer multiple of the time period of the PLL clock. Then, the count result is analyzed to obtain the jitter information of the PLL clock. A shortcoming of this circuit is that the oscillator is so easily affected by manufacturing, voltage and temperature that the oscillating signal becomes unstable. Whenever there is a change in manufacturing, voltage and/or temperature, the measure result becomes inaccurate. In short, this circuit is not capable of determining how the temperature affects the PLL because the temperature has a greater influence on the reference clock (i.e., the oscillating signal) than on the PLL clock.

PLL status detection circuit and method thereof


The present invention provides a 4-methyl-1-pentene polymer having excellent balance between heat resistance and rigidity, a process for producing the polymer, and a film and a LED mold formed from the polymer. The 4-methyl-1-pentene polymer comprises 50 to 100% by mass of a constituting unit derived from 4-methyl-1-pentene and 0 to 50% by mass of a constituting unit derived from at least one of olefins having 2 to 20 carbon atoms excluding 4-methyl-1-pentene, wherein the 4-methyl-1-pentene polymer is obtainable by continuously feeding a monomer forming the 4-methyl-1-pentene polymer and an organic solvent to a polymerization reactor and continuously extracting a polymerization reaction mixture containing the resulting 4-methyl-1-pentene polymer from the polymerization reactor.

Since olefin polymers have excellent processability, chemical resistance and electrical and mechanical properties, they are molded into extrusion molded articles, injection molded articles, hollow molded articles, films, sheets and the like and have been applied to a wide range of uses, for example, convenience goods, kitchen utensils, packaging films, fibers such as non-woven fabrics, etc, household electric appliances, mechanical parts, electric parts, automobile parts and the like. In particular, olefin polymers containing 4-methyl-1-pentene have been used as a resin having excellent heat resistance together with excellent transparency, gas permeability and chemical resistance in various fields, for example, medical instruments, heat resistant electric wires, heat resistant dishes and the like.
Patent documents 1 and 2 disclose a catalyst, which comprises a solid titanium catalyst component composed of magnesium, titanium, halogen and an electron donor, and an organometal compound as a catalyst for polymerization of olefins containing 4-methyl-1-pentene. These patent documents also disclose a process for producing a 4-methyl-1-pentene polymer by a Batch polymerization method using the above-described catalyst. The resulting polymers prepared by these processes sometimes have inferior heat resistance for their rigidity depending to uses.
Recently, as a catalyst for polymerization of olefin polymers containing 4-methyl-1-pentene, a metallocene catalyst has been disclosed (referred to Patent document 3). This patent document also discloses a process for producing an olefin polymer containing 4-methyl-1-pentene by a Batch polymerization method. However, the resulting polymer sometimes has still insufficient balance between heat resistance and rigidity. Therefore, the improvement in the polymers and polymerization methods has been desired.    Patent document 1: JP-A-2005-89663    Patent document 2: International publication WO-2006-054613    Patent document 3: International publication WO-2005-121192

4-methyl-1-pentene polymer, process for producing the same and use thereof


A screwing tool, particularly a screwdriver (1) or screwdriver bit, for polygonal socket screws (8), having flank sections (12) which are convex in circumferential direction; in order to optimize the transmission of force it is proposed that the flank sections (12, 12') be interrupted in the central region of each flank (11) by a non-convexly extending intermediate section (13/13').

The present invention relates to a screwing tool.
A screwing tool for polygon socket screws is known from Federal Republic of Germany 32 06 494 A1 in which two adjacent polygon corners are connected by two convex flank sections forming a gusset in the central region of each flank. Since said gusset is set back with respect to a tangent to the convex flank sections, the force application surface is reduced together with the fact that furthermore only a reduced torque can be transmitted. Due to its notch effect the gusset in particular weakens the transmission stability of the screwing tool.

Screwing tool, particularly a screwdriver


In a vertical diode, an N+-type layer, an N−-type layer, and a P+-type layer are stacked in this order on a lower electrode film, and an upper electrode film is provided thereon. The effective impurity concentration of the N−-type layer is lower than the effective impurity concentrations of the N+-type layer and the P+-type layer. At least one of the N+-type layer, the N−-type layer, and the P+-type layer is formed from a small grain size polycrystalline semiconductor whose each crystal grain does not penetrate each layer through its thickness.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a vertical diode with an N-type layer and a P-type layer stacked therein and a method for manufacturing the same and a semiconductor memory device based on this vertical diode.
2. Background Art
Semiconductor memory devices including memory cells integrated on a semiconductor substrate have been conventionally developed. For instance, as such a semiconductor memory device, JP-A 2008-085071 (Kokai) discloses a ReRAM (Resistance Random Access Memory). The memory device disclosed in JP-A 2008-085071 (Kokai) includes a plurality of word lines extending in a first direction and a plurality of bit lines extending in a second direction. A resistance change element is connected between each word line and each bit line, and the resistance value of this resistance change element is used to store information. In this memory device, a thin-film diode is connected between the word lines and the resistance change element or between the bit lines and the resistance change element so that no current flows in the non-selected word lines and bit lines.
On the other hand, in semiconductor memory devices, memory cells have been downscaled for higher capacity and lower cost. However, in view of the limit of lithography technology, further downscaling may instead lead to cost increase. Hence, recently, stacking memory cells to increase integration density has come under consideration.
In the aforementioned ReRAM, to stack memory cells, the thickness of the thin-film diode needs to be decreased in view of processing issues and the like. However, in the thin-film diode with a small thickness, it is extremely difficult to satisfy both a low forward resistance and a high reverse breakdown voltage.

Vertical diode and method for manufacturing same and semiconductor memory device


Methods and systems for relaying an optical image using a cascade arrangement of tilted, concave mirrors are presented. An exemplary optical relay system includes a cascade arrangement of four mirrors each having concave, spherical surface figures. The first and third mirrors are configured to focus collimated wavefronts and the second and fourth mirrors re-collimate diverging wavefronts reflected from the first and third mirrors. Each mirror is tilted such that wavefronts located in the local field plane and local pupil plane of each mirror are physically separated. The magnitude and direction of each tilt angle are arranged such that off-axis aberrations introduced by each individual mirrors are largely compensated by the other mirrors. Such an optical relay system is employed to relay images of the pupil plane of a metrology system that is configured to perform accurate measurements of semiconductor structures and materials over a broad range of illumination wavelengths.

Semiconductor devices such as logic and memory devices are typically fabricated by a sequence of processing steps applied to a specimen. The various features and multiple structural levels of the semiconductor devices are formed by these processing steps. For example, lithography among others is one semiconductor fabrication process that involves generating a pattern on a semiconductor wafer. Additional examples of semiconductor fabrication processes include, but are not limited to, chemical-mechanical polishing, etch, deposition, and ion implantation. Multiple semiconductor devices may be fabricated on a single semiconductor wafer and then separated into individual semiconductor devices.
Metrology processes are used at various steps during a semiconductor manufacturing process to detect defects on wafers to promote higher yield. A number of metrology based techniques including scatterometry and reflectometry implementations and associated analysis algorithms are commonly used to characterize critical dimensions, film thicknesses, composition and other parameters of nanoscale structures.
In some examples, overlay and critical dimension (CD) metrology is performed by illuminating grating targets and measuring the angular distribution of light returned from the grating. The angular distribution maps to a spatial distribution in the pupil plane of an objective lens. The light distribution in the pupil plane of the objective lens is typically imaged onto a 2-dimensional pixelated sensor such as a charge coupled device (CCD) array by a pupil relay system. Collecting the angular distribution of light from the grating target at multiple discrete wavelengths or over a broad spectrum of illumination can provide additional accuracy and flexibility to the measurement of the target parameters.
In some examples, a pupil relay system includes refractive lens elements having spherical surface figures positioned symmetrically on the optical axis. Refractive lens elements are fabricated from dispersive optical materials. The dependence of refractive index on wavelength introduces chromatic aberrations. As a result, a well-corrected image may only be produced over a limited spectral bandwidth. In addition, many optical materials are strongly absorptive at wavelengths that are of particular interest to scatterometry (e.g., wavelengths near or below 200 nanometers). Most optical glasses do not transmit in the UV spectrum and below. In the deep-UV and vacuum-UV spectrums, viable transmissive materials are even more limited and expensive. This limits transmission efficiency and also limits the ability to correct chromatic aberrations.
In addition, significant optical design and manufacturing expense are incurred to mitigate the effect of ghost images that arise when refractive optics are used to form a pupil relay. Ghost images are undesired field or pupil images formed by multiple reflections from the spherical refractive surfaces of the relay optics. Ghost reflections are typically mitigated in two ways. In one approach, the location of the images formed by many combinations of multiple reflections is found and the optical design is tuned to ensure that these locations are all far from the detector plane. However, in practice, it is often impossible to be certain that no ghost reflections fall on the detector plane. In the second approach, high quality antireflection coatings are applied to all surfaces in the optical path to ensure that significantly less power is present in the ghost image than in the main image. Unfortunately, for broadband systems it is often difficult to design and fabricate a suitable antireflection coating.
In some other examples, a pupil relay system includes reflective elements with spherical surface figures positioned symmetrically on the optical axis.
Unfortunately, reflective elements symmetrically positioned on an optical axis require holes, obscurations, or a combination of holes and obscurations in the optical elements to allow light to propagate through the relay system. These holes and obscurations in the light path block potentially useful information and diffract light at their edges, thus risking contamination of the un-obscured regions of the pupil.
In some other examples, a pupil relay system includes reflective elements with aspheric surface figures positioned asymmetrically about the optical axis. Reflective elements can be positioned asymmetrically about the optical axis to avoid introducing obscurations in the light path. However, off-axis elements typically require aspheric surface shapes (e.g., off-axis parabolas or off-axis ellipses) to correct for aberrations introduced by their off-axis positioning. Aspheric surface shapes are more expensive to produce than spherical shapes and are more difficult to produce with the low levels of irregularity that are required to generate a well-corrected image. In particular, the processes used to generate aspheric surfaces tend to yield mid-spatial frequency irregularities in the surface figure that are particularly problematic in an angular resolved scatterometer. In an angularly resolved scatterometer, high-spatial frequency irregularity (i.e., roughness) can largely be blocked by field stops, and low-spatial frequency irregularity mainly causes an increase in the central lobe of the illumination spot. However, mid-spatial frequencies tend to increase the size of the spot tails which are then truncated and diffracted by the field stops. This diffraction can contaminate the pupil image and lead to measurement inaccuracies. Further, it is frequently difficult to produce well-corrected images using a simple system of aspherical mirrors with relatively large fields (usually required in a pupil relay) or at multiple conjugates (e.g., field plane and pupil plane imaging needed in a practical scatterometer).
In some examples, field and pupil images are located on or close to optical surfaces. This gives rise to increased sensitivity to imperfections and particulates on the optical surfaces. For example, in an angular-resolved scatterometer, light is focused to a small spot in the field plane. Any imperfection on a surface located near a field plane scatters a significant portion of the focused energy and contaminates the pupil images. Moreover, imperfections on a surface near a pupil plane are imaged at high contrast onto the measurement sensor where they contaminate a local region of the pupil. In some reflective pupil relay systems (e.g., an Offner configuration), a field plane is located directly on a mirror surface. This configuration is extremely sensitive to imperfections on the mirror surface.
Future metrology applications present challenges due to increasingly small resolution requirements, multi-parameter correlation, increasingly complex geometric structures, and increasing use of opaque materials. Thus, methods and systems for improved optical image relay over a broad wavelength range are desired.


A system for controlling a gas load imposed upon a high vacuum chamber includes a first chamber enclosing a high vacuum and positioned within an ambient environment, a second chamber enclosing a gas and positioned within the ambient environment adjacent to the first chamber, and a rotatable shaft having a first portion extending into the first chamber and a second portion extending into the second chamber. A ferrofluid seal is positioned about the rotatable shaft and positioned between the first portion and the second portion and the ferrofluid seal fluidically separates the first chamber from the second chamber. A control unit is attached to the second chamber and configured to control the gas enclosed in the second chamber such that a gas load in the first chamber is reduced.

The present invention relates generally to x-ray tubes and, more particularly, to reducing leak between x-ray tube chambers separated by a ferrofluid seal.
X-ray systems typically include an x-ray tube, a detector, and a bearing assembly to support the x-ray tube and the detector. In operation, an imaging table, on which an object is positioned, is located between the x-ray tube and the detector. The x-ray tube typically emits radiation, such as x-rays, toward the object. The radiation typically passes through the object on the imaging table and impinges on the detector. As radiation passes through the object, internal structures of the object cause spatial variances in the radiation received at the detector. The detector then emits data received, and the system translates the radiation variances into an image, which may be used to evaluate the internal structure of the object. One skilled in the art will recognize that the object may include, but is not limited to, a patient in a medical imaging procedure and an inanimate object as in, for instance, a package in a computed tomography (CT) package scanner.
X-ray tubes include a rotating anode structure of distributing the heat generated at a focal spot. The anode is typically rotated by an induction motor having a cylindrical rotor built into a cantilevered axle that supports a disc-shaped anode target and an iron stator structure with copper windings that surrounds an elongated neck of the x-ray tube. The rotor of the rotating anode assembly is driven by the stator. An x-ray tube cathode provides a focused electron beam that is accelerated across an anode-to-cathode vacuum gap and produces x-rays upon impact with the anode. Because of the high temperatures generated when the electron beam strikes the target, it is necessary to rotate the anode assembly at high rotational speed. This places stringent demands on the bearing assembly, which typically includes tool steel ball bearings and tool steel raceways positioned within the vacuum region, thereby requiring lubrication by a solid lubricant such as silver. In addition, the rotor, as well, is placed in the vacuum region of the x-ray tube. Wear of the silver and loss thereof from the bearing contact region increases acoustic noise and slows the rotor during operation. Placement of the bearing assembly in the vacuum region prevents lubricating with wet bearing lubricants, such as grease or oil, and performing maintenance on the bearing assembly to replace the solid lubricant.
In addition, the operating conditions of newer generation x-ray tubes have become increasingly aggressive in terms of stresses because of g forces imposed by higher gantry speeds and higher anode run speeds. As a result, there is greater emphasis in finding bearing solutions for improved performance under the more stringent operating conditions.
Placing the bearing assembly and rotor outside the vacuum region of the x-ray tube by use of a hermetic rotating seal such as a ferrofluid seal allows the use of wet lubricants, such as grease or oil, to lubricate the bearing assembly. Coolant for the ferrofluid seal may serve as coolant for the conventional bearings. In addition, maintenance may be performed on the bearing assembly and rotor without interrupting the vacuum in the vacuum region. Enabling the use of conventional bearings brings other advantages. For instance, more conventional parts, bearing assemblies, tolerances, design options, and materials are available for selection during the design process.
A ferrofluid seal typically includes a series of annular regions between a rotating component and a non-rotating component. The annular regions are occupied by a ferrofluid that is typically a hydrocarbon-based or fluorocarbon-based oil with a suspension of magnetic particles therein. The particles are coated with a stabilizing agent, or surfactant, which prevents agglomeration of the particles in the presence of a magnetic field. When in the presence of a magnetic field, the ferrofluid is caused to form a seal between each of the annular regions. The seal on each annular region, or stage, can separately withstand pressure of typically 1-3 psi and, when each stage is placed in series, the overall assembly can withstand pressure varying from atmospheric pressure on one side to high vacuum on the other side.
The ferrofluid seal allows rotation of a shaft therein designed to deliver mechanical power from the rotor on one side of the seal to the anode on the other side. As such, the rotor may be placed outside the vacuum region to enable conventional grease-lubricated or oil-lubricated bearings to be placed on the same side of the seal as the rotor to support the target. Furthermore, such bearings may be larger than those typically used on the vacuum side.
While ferrofluid seals hermetically seal one side from the other, gas and water vapor may diffuse through the ferrofluid, the rates of which are governed by diffusion mass transport. Ionizable gases that transport through the seal, when exposed to the high voltage environment of an x-ray tube, lead to ionization failure of the x-ray tube. As such, the environmental conditions that exist on the higher pressure side of the ferrofluid seal influence the type of gas and the total gas load that is present on the vacuum side of the seal.
Therefore, it would be desirable to design an apparatus and method to reduce the gas load through a ferrofluid seal.

Antechamber control reducing leak through ferrofluid seals


The moving parts of the clamping mechanism are enclosed within a hollowed out enlarged casing at the base of the stabilizer post. The hooked base of the post forms the bottom of the clamp. Inside the post casing the hooked top of the clamp is attached to two side panels with angled slots. A screw through a back panel engages a large rectangular nut fitted with angled protruding blocks on each side of the nut. The nut protruding blocks fit into the angled slots of the side panels. The bolt is rotataly fixed at one end so turning it moves the nut forward and backward along the screw. When the bolt is turned and the nut moves horizontally on the bolt, the side panels move up and down. The hooked top of the clamp moves up or down engaging and releasing a side rail of an operating table between the clamp elements. A relatively flat knob to turn the screw is the only protrusion from the post casing at the base.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to clamping devices that support a surgical retractor apparatus, and in particular to an operating table clamp that is built into and enclosed within a stabilizer post for supporting surgical retractor apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In clamping a stabilizer post to an operating table it is important to have a rigid connection between the operating table and the stabilizer post to insure that no movement of the post will occur during an operation.
Another consideration in an operating room is maintaining a sterile environment. The more complex the apparatus used in an operating room environment, the more opportunity there is for contamination. Exposed threads on screws and other parts of complex mechanical equipment present contamination hazards as well as posing a hazard to the staff in the operating room in terms of bumping into protruding pieces of equipment.
Sterility problems also arise when stabilizer posts are clamped directly to the operating table rail and slits are cut in the surgical drape to accommodate the post, thereby violating the barrier between the sterilized exterior above the drape and the unsterilized interior below the drape. Moving the stabilizer post presents a sterilization problem under those conditions.
Prior art devices primarily have operating table clamping means in which the clamp is separate from the post with the post sliding through the clamp or inserted in the clamp. The connection between the table and the post is weakened by a double clamp (one screw to tighten onto the table and one screw to tighten onto the post) and potential for having a loose screw is increased in addition to the hazard of having protruding screws and exposed screw threads.

Built-in enclosed stabilizer post operating table clamp


A flyback power supply method and apparatus is disclosed. An apparatus according to aspects of the present invention includes an energy transfer element having a primary winding and first and second output windings. The first and second output windings are coupled to produce first and second output values, respectively. A primary switch is coupled to the primary winding. A control circuit is coupled to the primary switch to regulate a sum of the first and second output values. A steering circuit having first and second output switches is also included. The first and second output switches are coupled to the first and second output windings, respectively, to regulate a ratio of the first output value to the second output value. The first output switch is coupled to block current through the first output winding and the second output switch is coupled to block current through second output winding. At least one of the first and second output switches is coupled to be closed when the primary switch is opened.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present invention relates generally to power supplies and, more specifically, the present invention relates to power supplies that use the flyback topology.
2. Background
Switching power supplies may be used for a multitude of purposes and applications. The flyback topology is a typical choice for switching power supplies with multiple outputs because it is often the solution with the lowest cost for many applications.
In many applications, it is often desirable for a power supply to provide output voltages that are invariant when the load current from the same output and the load currents from other outputs vary over a wide range. One example of an application where such invariant output voltages are desirable is a power supply for an audio amplifier. Audio amplifiers typically require two voltage sources of equal and opposite polarities with respect to a common reference, such as for example +40 volts and −40 volts.
It is difficult for a single flyback power supply that uses conventional methods of control to provide two invariant output voltages to audio amplifiers. Conventional methods regulate one output directly, and rely on good coupling between output windings of a transformer to keep another output voltage invariant to changes in the loads. Although the conventional method is adequate in many applications, it is unsatisfactory for audio amplifiers because of the special loading associated with audio signals.
The nature of audio signals causes the two output voltages to be loaded with unequal currents. It is common for one output to deliver a large current while the other output is delivering a small current. Imperfect coupling between windings of the transformer causes the voltage at the output with small current to rise unacceptably.

Method and apparatus to control two regulated outputs of a flyback power supply


Control apparatus is provided for pneumatically operating a sliding door on a marine vessel. A dual pneumatic system provides for a first pressure to operate the switching mechanisms of the control apparatus, while a second lower pressure provides for operation of a pneumatic cylinder to achieve door travel. Operation of the door may be controlled from either side of the door. Upon loss of pneumatic pressure, the control apparatus provides for relieving of the pressure to allow manual operation of the door. In a manual state of operating, flow controls are provided to regulate door travel in accordance with external force applied to the door. Controlled low pressure maintains the door in an open or a closed position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains in general to the field of pneumatic apparatus for operation of a door and in particular to a pneumatic control mechanism for opening and closing a sliding door on a nautical vessel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A large number of boats include at least one sliding door between the outside deck of the boat and the inside of a cabin. On larger boats or ships, many such sliding doors are used. In such applications, a sliding door is preferred over a hinged, swinging type of door because of space considerations and the negative aspects of a hinged door suddenly swinging in either direction due to rolling seas. A swinging door could severely injure a person when he or she is trying to enter or exit through such door when the rolling of the boat due to rough seas suddenly swings the door toward the person.
While sliding doors are preferred on a marine vessel, they are also subject to rapid opening or closing in an unrestrained condition due to rough seas. Thus, when a sliding door is unlatched, it will slide back and forth in its tracks depending upon the rolling or pitching motion of the boat and the location of the door. The result is that the door slams open or closed with a great deal of force. If a person is attempting to pass through the doorway associated with such a sliding door at the same time the boat is rocking, it is very probable that the person will be injured. Moreover, the constant rocking of the boat and therefore the slamming back and forth of a sliding door can cause damage to the boat and the door.
In order to negate the force effects of an unrestrained sliding door, the usual practice is to latch the door either in an open or a closed position. Latching of a sliding door is not, however, a complete solution to the problem. For example, when a latched-shut door is unlatched, preparatory to being open to allow a person or persons to pass therethrough, the rocking and/or rolling movement of the boat causes the door to move rapidly in either or both directions. To overcome this effect, the person must hold onto the edge of the door in an attempt to control the forceful motion of the door. Frequently, the person himself is trying to maintain his own balance and trying to control the movement of the door at the same time. Often, the result is a clumsy effort which is not successful and the door may slam against some part of the person causing him serious injury.
With the sliding door latched in an open position, passage therethrough in a safe and orderly manner is assured. But, the negative effects of the door always being open exist. The disadvantages of a latched-open door during foul or rainy weather conditions is obvious. Besides, why have a door if it is in the open position at all or most times?
In the prior art, most of the door control apparatus is designed for swinging doors. However, the door control apparatus intended for use with a swinging door is not adaptable to a sliding door, particularly where the swinging door apparatus includes articulated lever arms. In the category of door control apparatus which is adaptable to a sliding door, that is, those door controls which utilize a piston and cylinder which move in an axial direction, such prior art apparatus do not satisfactorily control the motion of a sliding door on a boat. There are a number of reasons for this deficiency. One is that the door apparatus will bias the door in either the open or closed direction while requiring force to move the door in the other direction. Therefore, with this type of door control apparatus, either a shut door or open door condition is imposed the opposite condition is achieved by overcoming the biased spring force and the hydraulic pressure force. To compensate for this condition, pneumatic pressure bleeding valves are incorporated in the pneumatic mechanism and/or a double-acting piston is used. While such apparatus does exist in the prior art, it does not offer a complete solution. One problem comprises a loss of power, either electrical or pneumatic. A loss of power could freeze the door in a closed position, which is totally unacceptable in an emergency. Another problem concerns the force used to close the door. A high force which may be necessary in rolling seas could injure a person momentarily stuck in the door opening.
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide pneumatic control apparatus for a sliding door particularly adapted for marine use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide pneumatic control apparatus for use with a sliding door which allows for emergency manual opening or closing of the door.
Another object of the present invention is to provide pneumatic control apparatus for a sliding door which is fail-safe.
Another object of the present invention is to provide pneumatic control apparatus for a sliding door which prevents injury to a person from the force of closing the sliding door.
The above-stated objects as well as other objects which, although not specifically stated, but are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention, are accomplished by the present invention and will become apparent from the hereinafter set forth Detailed Description of the Invention, Drawings, and the claims appended herewith.

Power control apparatus for a sliding door


Aspects of the present invention provide a tubular handling system for handling wellbore tubulars. In one aspect, the present invention provides a tubular handling system adapted to retain a tubular without damaging the outer surface of the tubular. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of connecting tubulars by remotely controlling the connection process, including joint compensation, alignment, make up, and interlock. In one embodiment, the tubular handling system comprises an elevator adapted to support a tubular utilizing a first portion of an upset of the tubular and a spider adapted to support the tubular utilizing a second portion of the upset. In another embodiment, at least one of the elevator and the spider is remotely controllable. In yet another embodiment, the tubular handling system comprising a joint compensator system adapted to provide fluid communication to the elevator during rotation of the tubular.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus of handling tubulars in and around a wellbore. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and apparatus to facilitate the formation of tubular strings. More particularly still, the invention relates to apparatus and methods for remote controlling the tubular connection process. More particularly still, the invention relates to methods and apparatus for supporting a string of tubular riser for use between an offshore oil and gas platform and the ocean floor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wells are drilled and produced using strings of tubular that are threaded together. For example, wellbore are formed by disposing a drill bit at the end of a drill string. Due to the torsional forces present when rotating a bit at the end of the string that may be thousands of feet long, the connection in drill string include a shoulder that can be torqued to a certain value. Other tubulars that line a borehole or serve as a fluid path for production fluids have a simpler threaded connection that only has to be fluid tight.
With the advent of offshore drilling, a riser is commonly used to isolate drill string or production tubing from the ocean water. Riser is relatively large diameter tubing that extends between an offshore rig floor and a wellhead at the ocean floor. Because the well is sometimes in hundreds of feet of water, riser can be hundreds of feet long and must bend and sway with the ocean current and in some cases, with the movement and drift of a platform at the surface. In addition to its relatively large diameter, riser typically has a large upset portion at one end where it is threadedly connected to another piece of riser to form a string.
Due to its function of providing isolation between possible hazardous material and the ocean, it is desirable not to damage, scratch, or mar the outer surface of riser with tongs or other gripping devices that are typically used to date on a rig floor to connect sequential pieces of tubular pipe. For example, tubular strings are made today at a well site with the use of an elevator that can grasp a piece of tubular, lift it above the well center, and lower it into a threaded portion of another tubular extending from the well. Once the tubulars are connected, the elevator then lowers the entire string to a position where it can be grasped by another gripping apparatus known as a spider.
At any time, either the spider or the elevator or both must be able to retain the string. The prior art elevators and spiders necessarily grasp the outer diameter of the tubulars in order to retain them axially. The spiders and elevators often use a die to enhance their ability to grip the tubulars. However, the die tends to damage, scratch, or mar the outer surface of the tubular body. While the collateral damage to the outside of the tubulars is of little concern with liner or casing, it is often unacceptable with riser.
There is a need therefore, for a method and apparatus for handing tubulars at a well that does not result in damage to the outer surface of the tubulars. There is also a need for remotely controlling the tubular handling or connection process. There is a further need for a method and apparatus that permits the formation of tubular strings without utilizing the outer surface of the tubulars for axial retention.

Method and apparatus for handling wellbore tubulars


The present disclosure provides a flexible display device, a display apparatus, and a method for manufacturing the flexible display device. The flexible display device comprises a flexible display panel, a hardened layer, and an integrated circuit layer with bumps. A front surface of the flexible display panel is provided with a circuit bonding region. The flexible display panel comprises a first flexible substrate. The hardened layer is on the first flexible substrate. The hardened layer is at a position corresponding to the circuit bonding region. The integrated circuit layer is bonded to the circuit bonding region by the bumps.

At present, COF (Chip on Flex) is generally used to realize the bonding between a flexible display screen and an IC (integrated circuit). COF is a soft material that does not cause wire breakage when pressure-bonded to the flexible display screen. However, the cost of COF is high and circuit wires cannot be made too thin. By COP (Chip on plastic), the IC is directly bonded on the flexible display screen, which is the future development direction.

Flexible display device with hardened layer, display apparatus, and method for manufacturing the flexible display device


A sterilization apparatus has a chamber within a housing in which the materials to be sterilized are placed and the chamber is supplied with liquid under pressure. A pressure sensitive, rapid acting implosion cartridge is in communication with the chamber and acts to depressurize the chamber in milliseconds when the desired sterilization pressure is reached. The cartridge then reseals the chamber for a subsequent pressure build-up.

Pressure treatment of various materials or devices, such as, for example, medical or dental instruments, in order to sterilize them has been used as an alternative to more common high temperature sterilization, such as steam sterilization, or high temperature washing. Steam sterilization generally requires an autoclave in which the instruments to be sterilized are placed, and a means for supplying steam to the autoclave. Such an arrangement is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,415,613 of Wallden. One of the disadvantages to such an arrangement is the danger inherent in using steam, which necessitates the use of expensive valving and steam conduit to minimize the possibility of leaks and accidental discharge of the steam.
Another type of sterilization process is liquid chemical sterilization, which requires a post treatment rinsing step, with the concomitant danger of recontamination, and gaseous disinfecting, such as with formaldehyde gas, which normally also requires an elevated temperature. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,449 of Kolstad et al. there is shown a method and apparatus for sterilizing dental instruments, for example, in which the instruments to be sterilized are placed in a sterilizing chamber and then subjected to relatively low and relatively high pressures in the presence of a sporicide atmosphere, which may comprise a mixture of formaldehyde, alcohol and water vapors, at a temperature in the range of 120.degree. F. to 160.degree. F. With the instruments in the chamber, the pressure in which is near a vacuum, a pressure pulse of vapor is introduced therein, the pressure being in the range of 25 psi to 40 psi above the starting pressure, and then the pressure is reduced to approximately the starting pressure. A preferred rate of pulsing is given as twenty discrete pulses within a two minute pulsing period. The actual sterilization depends on the sporicidal atmosphere, and the pulsing is alleged to enhance the effectiveness of that atmosphere. In addition, the process requires a relatively complex valving system to achieve the desired pulses.
Other sterilization arrangements use sterilization gas (U.S. Pat. No. 3,944,387 of Schreckendgust), and saturated steam (U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,919 of Powell).
The various prior art arrangements, which for the most part, depend upon heat (steam), radiation, or chemicals (formaldehyde vapor) are not practical where the material to be sterilized may consist, for example, of biomolecules, since desirable organisms may be destroyed along with undesirable organisms. Thus, it has been necessary to find alternative sterilization techniques, such as hydrostatic pressure sterilization, where the microorganisms are subjected to pressures as great as 3000 bar. Good experimental results in which unwanted microorganisms have been destroyed have been reported, but no definitive structure or system apparently has been proposed. See, for example, "Pressure Inactivation of Microorganisms at Moderate Temperatures" by P. Butz and H. Ludwig, Physica 139 and 140B (1986), North-Holland, Amsterdam at pp. 875-877.
Thus, while purely hydrostatic pressure treatment eliminates the dependence on high temperatures and/or chemical vapors for sterilization, with their attendant handling problems, the factors of versatility, convenience, economy, and simplicity have not been adequately addressed, nor have the pressures used nor the pressure redirection rates been sufficiently great to accomplish complete sterilization.


A strap assembly comprises an attachment member structure includes a main body and a plurality of attachment members. A first end portion of the main body is pivotable with respect to a second end portion thereof. Attachment members are connected to the main body at its opposing ends. A clasping device attached to the main body is engagable with one of the attachment members when a control portion of the clasping device is in a first position and selectively disengagable therefrom when a control portion of the clasping device is sufficiently displaced. A control structure is attached to the control portion of the clasping device such that sufficient displacement of the control structure with respect to the clasping device causes sufficient displacement of the control portion. A storage structure integral with the main body includes a passage configured for receiving at least a portion of the control structure therein.

Various types of strap assemblies and their uses are well known. Such strap assemblies are commonly used to secure one item to another item, apply loads between items, and the like. Examples of uses for such strap assemblies include, but are not limited to, straps used for animal restraint, straps used for parachute deployment, straps used for general binding or articles, and the like.
As can be appreciated from the various uses for strap assemblies, in many cases, it is desirable for a strap assembly to be configured in a manner allowing connected items to be quickly and selectively released or detached from each other. In such cases, the strap assembly includes a quick-release arrangement (e.g., integral clasping device) that allows such connected items to be quickly and selectively released or detached from each other. Therefore, it is apparent that strap assemblies with an integral quick-release arrangement are advantageous, desirable and useful.

Strap assembly with quick release arrangement


Identification of a gene from monocotyledonous plants such as rice, which codes for a transcription factor specific to a stress tolerant gene and provision of a novel environmental stress tolerant plant using the gene. From the rice genome, a gene, which binds to a cis element existing upstream of the gene encoding a stress responsive protein and for a transcription factor to activate the transcription of the gene, is identified. Further, the gene of the transcription factor is used to transform a plant, thereby improving tolerance against environmental stresses such as low temperature, dehydration, and salt stresses.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a protein, which regulates rice-derived environmental stress tolerance, a gene encoding the same, and a method for utilizing the same.
2. Prior Art
Plants possess tolerance mechanisms to cope with various types of environmental stresses in nature such as dehydration, high temperature, freezing, or salt stress. In the production of plants having such environmental stress tolerance, techniques have been heretofore used for genetically selecting and mating strains which are dehydration, salt, or low temperature tolerant. However, these techniques require long periods of time to select, and also have low success rates.
On the other hand, as the stress tolerance mechanism is elucidated at a molecular level, stress tolerant plants have been produced using biotechnological techniques. For example, it has been shown that stress proteins such as LEA proteins, water channel proteins, or synthetases for compatible solutes are induced in cells when they are exposed to stress, thereby protecting the cells from such stress. Thus, research has been attempted in which genes such as LEA proteins of barley or detoxification enzymes of tobacco, or genes of synthetases for osmoregulatory substances (e.g., sugar, proline, or glycinebetaine) are introduced into host plants. Research using genes encoding w-3 fatty acid desaturase of Arabidopsis thaliana, the D9-desaturase of blue-green algae, or the like, which are modification enzymes of the cellular membrane lipid, has also been attempted. In the above researches, a gene was bound to the 35S promoter of cauliflower mosaic virus and introduced into a plant. The level of stress tolerance of the recombinant plant was, however, low and unstable. Thus, none of these was put to practical use.
On the other hand, stress tolerance mechanism is found to be intricately associated with several genes (Plant Physiol., 115: 327–334 (1997)). Accordingly, research in which a gene encoding a transcription factor which simultaneously activates the expression of the genes is introduced into a plant, thereby enhancing the plant's stress tolerance, has been attempted (The Plant Cell, 10: 1–17 (1998)). However, when several genes are simultaneously activated, the energy of the host plant becomes directed towards the generation of the gene product or intracellular metabolism resulting from the gene product. Accordingly, the growth of the plant itself deteriorates or becomes retarded.
In contrast, the present inventors had isolated the genes DREB1A, DREB1B, DREB1C, DREB2A, and DREB2B encoding the transcription factors which bind to a stress responsive element and specifically activate the transcription of genes located downstream of the element from Arabidopsis thaliana (Japanese Patent Application No. 10-22847, Laying-Open (kokai) No. 2000-60558). They reported that introduction and overexpression of the genes in a plant enabled impartment of stress tolerance without causing retardation of a plant (Japanese Patent Application No. 10-292348, Laying-Open (kokai) No. 2000-116260).
Arabidopsis thaliana is classified as a dicotyledonous plant while major crops such as rice, maize, and wheat are classified as monocotyledonous plants. Dicotyledonous plants are relatively different from monocotyledonous plants from the viewpoint of plants evolution. It has been shown that the DREB1A gene of Arabidopsis thaliana functions well in monocotyledonous plants, but not as well in dicotyledonous plants. Thus, if a DREB-homologous gene derived from the monocotyledonous plant can be isolated, environmental stress tolerance can be more efficiently transmitted to monocotyledonous plants thereby.

Genes encoding plant transcription factors

Incorporated Administrative Agency, National Agriculture and Bio-Oriented Research Organization


A compound represented by formula (1):

Metal complexes act as catalysts in a redox reaction (redox catalyst) involving electron transfer such as an oxygenation reaction, an oxidative coupling reaction, a dehydrogenation reaction, a hydrogenation reaction, or an oxide decomposition reaction, and are used in production of organic compounds or polymer compounds. Further, the metal complexes are used in various applications including additives, modifiers, cells, sensor materials, and electroluminescence materials.
Among these metal complexes, it is known that the metal complexes including a macrocyclic compound as a ligand form a stable complex due to the effect of the large ring. For example, it is known that porphyrin complexes exhibit stability to acids, compared to non-cyclic complexes (see "Porphyrin no Kagaku" (Chemistry of Porphyrins), published by Kyoritsu Shuppan Co., Ltd. (1982)).
Further, it is known that the metal complexes having a transition metal atom as their center metals exhibit excellent catalyst activity as an oxidative coupling reaction catalyst and hydrogen peroxide decomposition catalyst (see Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 42, 6008 (2003)).
However, the metal complexes including a schiff base as a ligand, as disclosed in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 42, 6008 (2003), exhibit insufficient stability. Especially when a reaction is conducted in the presence of acids or under heating, the metal complexes exhibit instability to acids or heat, or alternatively both acids and heat for catalyst use. Accordingly, it is strongly desired to improve stability to acids or heat so as to use the metal complexes as a catalyst.

Cyclic compound, its metal complex and modified metal complex

Abstract: A compound represented by formula (1):

Abstract: wherein Y1 to Y4 each independently represent any one of the following groups:

Abstract: in which Rα represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group; P1 to P4 each independently represents a group of atoms necessary for forming a heterocyclic ring together with each Y1 to Y4 and the two carbon atoms adjacent to Y1 to Y4, respectively; P5 and P6 each independently represents a group of atoms necessary for forming a cyclic skeleton together with the carbon atom to which Z1 bonds or Z2 bonds; P1 and P2, P2 and P6, P6 and P4, P4 and P3, P3 and P5, and P5 and P1 may further combine with each other to form a ring; Q1 and Q2 each independently represents a connecting group or a direct binding; and Z1 and Z2 each independently represent any one of the following groups;                —NRβ2, —ORβ, —SRβ, —PRβ2 in which Rβ represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and when plural Rβs are present, these plural Rβs may be the same or different from each other.