A composition for developing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is disclosed. The composition has a form of a tablet or granule and comprises an organic development inhibitor having a solubility of not higher than 1 % by weight in an aqueous medium having a pH value of 6 to 12, and a water-soluble or alkali-soluble polymer having a melting point of 30.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. in an amount of not less than 5% by weight of total weight of the composition. The granules or tableted composition of the invention is preferably produced in a process comprising steps of (1) melting the polymer, (2) dissolving the organic development inhibitor in the melted polymer, (3) mixing the melted polymer containing the component with the remaining components of the composition, and (4) granulating or tableting the mixed composition. The composition is friendly for environment and is excellent in stability, conservability.

Traditionally, processing compositions for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials are used in the form of liquid or powder. When the processing composition is liquid, it is used as such or after being mixed with water in an optionally selected ratio. When it is powder, it is used after being dissolved in water.
However, in the case of liquid compositions, the presence of water therein increases both volume and weight, thus posing problems related to transportation cost and liquid leakage and other safety concerns, though they are easy to dissolve. In addition, when a large amount is handled, great weight is a significant burden on the user. In the case of powder agents, powder scattering poses a problem related to the working environment, though they much surpass liquid compositions in compactness.
Also, both liquid and powder compositions pose a problem of environmental pollution upon disposal due to the residence of the liquid or powder in the packing material after solution preparation.
To solve these problems, a number of methods wherein the processing composition is granulated or tableted are under investigation in the photographic industry.
In the production of granules or tablets, it is a common practice to uniformly mix a small amount of water and binders such as starch, polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose and gelatin, which binders are used to ensure a sufficient level of strength of the granules or tablets obtained, with the base components and either granulate the mixture by extrusion granulation, mixing stirring granulation or another granulating method or tablet the mixture by compressive forming. Then, the residual water is removed through the drying process to yield a finished product.
However, granulation using water is undesirable for photographic processing components, especially developing components, because their storage stability is significantly affected by the residual water therein. Although the residual water content can be reduced by drying, drying deteriorates the strength of granules or tablets, which can lead to dust formation due to vibrating destruction during transportation and poses a problem similar to that occurring in powder processing compositions, and more importantly, it raises production cost considerably.
A photographic processing composition usually contains organic compounds such as a developing agent, a developing inhibitor, a developing accelerator, an anti-silver sludge agent and a gamma value regulator. With the recent technical improvements, the number of organic compounds used and the number of their kinds have tended to increase.
In the case of liquid processing compositions, organic solvents can be used, in which the above-mentioned organic compounds can be dissolved, which offers a great advantage over powder processing compositions. However, although organic solvents can be present at several percentages of the total amount of base components, this amount is insufficient to dissolve the above-mentioned organic compounds; increasing the organic solvent content deteriorates the mechanical strength and storage stability of granules or tablets. Moreover, the use of a large amount of organic solvent is also undesirable from the point of view of environmental protection.


The present disclosure provides a novel endophyte, Serendipita vermifera ssp. bescii (“S. bescii”), uses thereof and methods incorporating the use thereof for enhancement of plant performance. The present disclosure also provides methods for detecting the presence of and identifying S. bescii.

Endophytes are typically fungal or bacterial organisms that live within or on plants. Fungal symbionts, such as mycorrhiza or certain clavicipitaceous foliar endophytes, survive within various host plant tissues, often colonizing the inter-cellular spaces of host's leaves, stems, flowers, or roots. These symbiotic endophyte-host relationships can provide fitness benefits to the host plant, such as enhancement of nutrient uptake or chemical defense from potential herbivores. Root-colonizing mycorrhizae often survive on photosynthetic carbohydrates from the plant, and in return, aid in the solubilization and uptake of water and minerals to the host, which can lead to the promotion of seed germination and plant growth. Additionally, the association of a fungal endophyte with a host plant often provides protection from pathogens or tolerance to a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses, such as insect infestation, grazing, water or nutrient deficiency, heat stress, salt of aluminum toxicity, and freezing temperatures. Host growth and fitness promotion and protection are thought to be achieved through multiple beneficial properties of the endophyte-host association. For instance, the endophytic organisms may produce growth-regulating substances to induce biomass production and alkaloids or other metabolites that have anti-insect and anti-herbivore properties. Additionally, fungal endophytes may directly suppress or compete with disease causing microbes, protecting the plant from potential pathogens.
Endophytic relationships between non-pathogenic fungi and host plants are of agricultural interest, particularly in plants that serve as sources for food, feed, fiber and ornamentals for a global population. Whether monocots (e.g., corn, wheat, switchgrass, rice) or dicots (e.g., legumes, tomato, cotton), there is a need to improve one or more of the following: plant biomass and/or output yields, overall plant health and productivity, and promotion of host plant protection from and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses.

Symbiont for enhancement of plant performance


A system and method is provided for revising the time stamp information in an MPEG-2 encoded data transport stream after content in the transport stream is modified. Incoming packets are stamped with arrival times and packet sequence counts. Synchronization points within the elementary stream are identified and arrival times for those synchronization points are calculated. After elementary streams are modified, commensurate arrival times are calculated based on arrival times and packet sequence counts of incoming packets, as well as the arrival times of the identified synchronization points within the elementary stream and the bit ratio between the incoming packets and the modified outgoing packets. Calculated arrival times are stamped on the outgoing packets and used to time the output of the outgoing stream.

This invention is described in the context of audio-video programs, which include at least one audio signal or one video signal. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the applicability of this invention to other types of program signals.
A program signal is composed of one or more component signals referred to herein as elementary streams. An example of an elementary stream can be one (natural or synthetic) audio signal, one (natural or synthetic) video signal, one closed captioning text signal, one private data signal, etc. Several techniques are known for compressing, formatting, storing and conveying such elementary streams. For example, the MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.263, H.263++, H.26L, and H.264/MPEG-4 AVC standards provide well-known techniques for encoding (compressing and formatting) video. Likewise, MPEG-1 (including the so-called "MP3"), MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and Dolby AC-3, provide techniques for encoding audio.
In addition, there are several known techniques for combining elementary streams for storage or transmission. MPEG-2 defines a technique for segmenting each elementary stream into packetized elementary stream ("PES") packets, where each PES packet includes a PES packet header and a segment of the elementary stream as the payload. PES packets, in turn, may be combined with "pack headers" and other pack specific information to form "packs". Alternatively, the PES packets may be segmented into transport packets of a transport stream, where each transport packet has a transport packet header and a portion of a PES packet as payload. These transport packets, as well as others (e.g., transport packets carrying program specific information or DVB systems information, entitlement management messages, entitlement control messages, other private data, null transport packets, etc.) are serially combined to form a transport stream.
In another known technique according to MPEG-4 systems, elementary streams may be divided into "sync-layer" (or "SL") packets, including SL packet headers. SL packets may be combined with PES packet headers, to form PES packets, and these PES packets may be segmented and combined with transport packet headers to form transport packets. According to another technique, transport packets are not used. Rather, elementary stream data is segmented and real-time protocol ("RTP") packet headers are appended to each segment to form RTP packets. In addition, or instead, user datagram protocol ("UDP") or transmission control protocol ("TCP") packet headers may be appended to segmented data to form UDP or TCP packets. Many combinations of the above are possible including formatting the elementary streams into SL packets first and then formatting the SL packets into RTP packets, encapsulating transport packets into TCP packets according to the so-called multi-protocol encapsulation("MPE"), etc.
The MPEG-2 PES and transport streams encapsulating MPEG-2 video will be used herein as a model for illustrating the invention. Also, this invention is illustrated using a hierarchical signal, wherein elementary streams are carried as segments in packets or cells of one or more higher layers. The term "systems layer" is herein used to refer to such higher layers. The MPEG-2 PES streams and transport streams will be used as a specific example of the systems layer. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other kinds of hierarchical layers may be used interchangeably as the systems layer for the elementary stream, such as the SL layer, the RTP layer, etc. Furthermore, "systems layer" need not be restricted to the "transport layer" according to the OSI seven layer model but can, if desired, include other layers such as the network layer (e.g., internet protocol or "IP"), the data link layer (e.g., ATM, etc.) and/or the physical layer. Also, other types of elementary streams, such as encoded audio, MPEG-4 video, etc. may be used. In addition, the term "transmission" is used herein but should be understood to mean the transfer of information under appropriate circumstances via a communications medium or storage medium to another device, such as an intermediate device or a receiver/decoder.
Audio-visual programs are obtained by using an appropriate combination of one or more elementary streams for storage or transmission of data. For example, one audio elementary stream and one video elementary stream may be combined, or one video elementary stream and multiple audio elementary streams may be combined. The transport stream format enables both single program transport streams (SPTS) in which the elementary streams of a single audio-visual program are multiplexed together into a serial stream, and multiple program transport streams (MPTS), in which the component elementary streams of multiple audio-visual programs are all multiplexed together into a single serial stream.
Referring to FIG. 1, to form a transport stream, each of N elementary streams 100 (including ES1, ES2, through ESN) is first packetized into N packetized elementary streams of (PES) packets 110, independent of its underlying compression format. Each PES packet is comprised of a PES packet header and a segment of a single elementary stream as a payload, which contains data for only a single elementary stream. However, a PES packet may contain data for more than one decoding unit (e.g., data for more than one compressed picture or for more than one compressed audio frame). A variety of packetization strategies for forming PES packets from an elementary stream are permitted.
PES packets from each elementary stream are further packetized into fixed size (188 byte) Transport Stream (TS) packets 120. Each TS packet 120, as shown in FIG. 2, consists of a fixed 4-byte Packet Header 121, an optional Adaptation Field 122 of variable length, and the remaining bytes containing the PES packet data as Payload 123. The fixed Packet Header 121 contains a field called Packet IDentifier (PID), which is a unique numeric identifier or tag for each Elementary Stream 100 carried in a Transport Stream 120. For example, one PID is assigned to a video ES of a particular program, a second, different PID is assigned to the audio ES of a particular program, etc.
TS packets 120 from multiple underlying elementary streams 100 are then multiplexed together according to the rules for transport streams set forth in the MPEG-2 Systems specification. This includes insertion of special TS packets 130 containing System Information (SI), which include tables specifying the different programs within the transport stream as well the PIDs which belong to each program. Thus the transport stream format consists of a lower compression layer, comprising the component elementary streams, and a higher systems layer, comprising the PES and TS packets.
The systems layer contains important timing information which enables the receiver to play back the audio-visual information in a time-synchronized manner. The PES packet header contains a Presentation Time Stamp (PTS) in the PES packet header which indicates the time instants at which the associated audio or video presentation unit (an audio or video frame) of a given audio-visual program should be decoded and presented to the user. This PTS is relative to the System Time Clock used by the transmitting encoder. The TS packets also carry samples of this encoder clock called Program Clock References (PCR) in a quasi-periodic manner to enable the receiver to synchronize its clock to that of the encoder. This enables the receiver to decompress and present the audio and video data at the correct times, thereby recreating the original presentation.
A requirement for MPEG-2 transport streams is that the PCR for each program must be sent at least once every 100 ms. In the case of the DVB extension (Specification of Service Information (SI) in DVB Systems, ETSI Standard EN 300 468, May 2000) to MPEG-2, these PCR packets are to be sent at least once every 40 ms. PCR information, along with other optional information, is carried in the TS packet inside the Adaptation Field 122. The PCRs for a given program can be carried in the TS packets carrying any one of the component elementary streams 100 of that program (as identified by its PID), or they can be carried in separate TS packets with a unique PCR PID. Typically PCRs are carried in the video PID of a program.
In the MPEG-2 context, there are many applications that require one or more audio-visual programs carried inside a MPEG-2 transport stream to be modified at the elementary stream level, using stream processing devices. The prior art teaches a number of "stream processors" or devices, such as transcoders, editors and splicers, that process previously generated transport streams. A transcoder receives an already encoded elementary stream and re-encodes it, e.g., at a different bit rate, according to a different encoding standard, at a different resolution, using different encoding options, changing the audio sampling rate or video frame rate, etc. while maintaining the underlying content with as much fidelity as possible. A splicer is a device that appends one signal to another, inserts that signal in the middle of the first, or replaces part of the signal at a given instant. For example, a splicer may append one encoded elementary stream at the end of another elementary stream in a program so that they will be presented seamlessly and in sequence. Alternatively, the splicer could insert one program in the middle of another, e.g., in the case of inserting a commercial in the middle of a television show. An editor is a device that edits (modifies) an elementary stream and produces an edited encoded elementary stream. Examples of these devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,141,447, 6,038,256, 6,094,457, 6,192,083, 6,005,621, 6,229,850, 6,310,915, and 5,859,660.
In such stream processing, the underlying bit positions of various parts of the elementary stream have been changed. For instance, video or audio transcoding tends to change the amount of information (number of bits) needed to represent each presentable portion of the video or audio. This is especially true for a transcoder that changes the bit rate of the output signal but is also true of a transcoder which, for example, re-encodes the elementary stream according to a different standard than it was originally prepared. Likewise, a splice or edit tends to change the relative location of two points (namely, the end point of the original encoded video signal portion that precedes the inserted elementary stream information and the beginning point of the original encoded video signal portion that follows the inserted elementary stream information) in the originally encoded video signal. Therefore, the modified elementary streams must be re-packetized and re-multiplexed into a syntax-compliant transport stream for serial transmission.
One of the critical requirements in transport stream output packetization and delivery is that the inherent information content in the outgoing elementary streams retain the same timing relationship as that of the input. This is required to enable the receiver to play back the underlying audio-visual presentation in a time-synchronized manner. Since the relationship between input and output elementary stream bits is invalidated by the process of stream processing, the output packetization process must somehow re-create the original timing relationship.
Existing approaches to this problem address this by using a full-fledged multiplexer at the output. This involves first recovering the original encoder clock for each modified program using clock recovery techniques like phase locked loops. Thereafter, the presentation times and decoding times of each outgoing audio or video frame are determined and re-stamped and inserted into the PES packets, and each outgoing TS packet is emitted in a manner that complies with the T-STD buffer model. Finally, PCR values are inserted into the emitted TS packets at the required frequency by looking up the recovered encoder clock at the instant of departure of the PCR-bearing TS packets. Since the timing information is completely regenerated and inserted, non-modified elementary streams in any processed program need to be de-packetized to their elementary stream levels, re-packetized, and re-transmitted. All these tasks, especially the need to obey T-STD buffer model requirements, impose a large implementation overhead, thereby increasing the complexity and cost of the stream processing system.

Method and system for re-multiplexing of content-modified MPEG-2 transport streams using interpolation of packet arrival times


An arc resistant switchgear assembly is provided having a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom surface, an upper surface, a first side wall, and a second side wall opposed to the first side wall and spaced a first distance from the first side wall, with each of the first and second side walls having an upper portion and a lower portion, and with each of the first and second side walls having an inner and an outer surface, with at least the lower portion of both the first side wall and the second side wall having at least one blow-off panel detachably secured thereto by fastening means. Each of the panels is detachably secured to the outer surface of the side wall to which each is secured. The assembly has a vertical plenum formed directly adjacent both the first and the second side walls, with the outer surface of each of the first and second side walls defining an inner side wall of each of the vertical plenums. The outer surface of the first side wall defines the inner side wall of one of the vertical plenums and the outer surface of the second side wall defines the inner side wall of an adjacent vertical plenum.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electrical switchgear, and more particularly to arc resistant switchgear, and even more particularly to arc resistant switchgear that features dedicated vertical plenums.
2. Description of the Related Art
This invention is directed to the providing of arc resistant switchgear featuring a dedicated vertical plenum for each vertical switchgear cubicle. Arc resistant switchgear is electrical equipment designed to withstand the effects of an internal arcing fault. The occurrence of arcing inside electrical switchgear has many undesirable results. The arc energy can cause a sudden pressure increase inside the enclosure resulting in severe mechanical and thermal stress on the equipment, particularly the door.
The arc itself can be caused by a bad breaker, the presence inside the switchgear of a small animal, bad insulation, or even lightning. As arcing begins, the gases inside the switchgear ionize. This ionization reduces the ability of the air inside the switchgear to provide its previous insulative capabilities, and in fact the ions generated by the degradation of the air molecules inside the switchgear causes the air to more readily conduct electricity. Consequently, any given arc tries to get more paths to ground. Further, the existence of an arc results in the temperature of the air in the enclosure rising quickly due to the high level of heat energy, since the temperature of the arc alone is can be 10,000-20,000° F.
As the gases expand rapidly, there is a rapid build-up in pressure. The combination of the rapid build-up in heat and the rapid build-up in pressure can result in an explosion with a shockwave that can measure Mach 2. If an individual is nearby the unit where the arcing occurs, they can be seriously injured, if not killed. There have been instances where the hot gases alone have been responsible for igniting the clothing of nearby workers, since the exhaust temperature alone can reach 2000° F.
At the very least, in an explosion due to arcing occurring inside switchgear, substantial material damage can occur, resulting in significant economic loss due to the interruption of energy distribution not to mention the destruction of the switchgear itself. This material damage can be to the door itself, or it can also involve the destruction of parts from within the switchgear unit, or burn through of the metal cubicles housing the switchgear unit. While one might think that all of the aforementioned process takes a considerable time to fully develop, in actuality the compression of the gas within the enclosed space due to the increase in pressure due to arcing, and the subsequent expansion of the gas as described above can all occur between 5-15 milliseconds.
Prior art electrical switchgear typically utilizes two main orientations of cubicles. In the one type of orientation, a vertical section of electrical components, typically breakers, separate two pairs of compartments, each pair of compartments having an upper cubicle and a lower cubicle, with the front pair of cubicles having doors facing the front of the switchgear unit, and with the rear pair of cubicles having doors facing the rear of the switchgear unit. In the event of an explosion, the exhaust theoretically exits from the affected cubicles through a vent or panel located in the top ceiling of each cubicle needing to be vented, with the exhaust passing into the room where the switchgear is located. In actuality, the door is typically forced open due to the force of the explosion and/or the metal housing of the cubicle can burn through.
In another type of prior art orientation of the cubicles, an internal horizontal plenum or passageway runs through a number of directly adjacent vertical pairs of upper and lower cubicles, with the upper cubicles often being vented by the type of vent discussed in the preceding paragraph. In addition, the cubicles underneath the internal horizontal plenum each have a vent located in their top ceiling, such that if an explosion occurs, the exhaust is forced upwardly into the internal horizontal plenum, and then ultimately discharged over the top of the switchgear typically into the air of the room where the switchgear is located. In switchgear having vents only in the ceiling, or in a combination of an internal horizontal plenum and ceiling vents, typically at least an 8′ vertical clearance between the top of the cubicle and the ceiling of the room where the switchgear is located must be maintained due to the force of any blast exhaust.
While it is apparent that the problem associated with arcing in electric switchgear has been recognized, it is also readily apparent that the need continues to exist for arc resistant switchgear. Attempts have focused on lessening the chance of an arc occurring, but when one occurs, the only way to minimize it is by quickly providing for the safe exhaust of the hot gases. Existing methods have not adequately solved the problem.

Arc resistant switchgear having dedicated vertical plenums


A charge adjuvant for promoting charging of toner particles comprising a dielectric carrier liquid; and an organic aluminum salt dissolved in the liquid, said organic aluminum salt being soluble in the carrier liquid at room temperature is disclosed. Also disclosed are solutions of the charge adjuvant with a charge director, a method of producing toner utilizing the charge adjuvant and a liquid toner.

To print an image on an appropriate substrate, a typical "electrostatic" digital printer first forms a copy of the image, conventionally referred to as a "latent image", on a photosensitive surface of a cylindrical roller, hereinafter referred to as a "photosensitive imaging plate" (PIP). To form the latent image a charger deposits a substantially uniform charge density on the photosurface. A laser then scans the charged photosensitive surface and discharges regions thereon to generate a pattern of charged and discharged, or partially discharged, pixels on the photosurface that forms the latent image and replicates the image to be printed.
A developer electrode is used to develop the latent image by applying ink or toner, hereinafter generically, toner, to the photosensitive surface. The toner comprises charged toner particles of a desired color, which adhere to the charged or the discharged or partially discharged pixels, depending on the details of the printing process used. The toner on the PIP is then optionally transferred from the PIP to a suitable transfer surface of another roller, conventionally referred to as an "intermediate transfer member" (ITM). The toner is transferred from the ITM (or the PIP, if no ITM is used) to the substrate, to print the image when the substrate passes through a nip between the ITM and an impression roller. In some cases the toner is transferred directly from the PIP to the substrate without an intermediate transfer via the ITM.
In many printing processes the toner is a liquid toner comprising charged toner particles dispersed in a non-polar carrier liquid having a relatively high electrical resistance. The toner particles generally comprise a polymer in which, optionally, a pigment is dispersed. In order for the toner particles to be properly electrophoretically transferred and adhered to the PIP, and optionally to the ITM or to the substrate, the toner particles are charged with an amount of charge that endows them with an appropriate mobility. Charging is generally accomplished by adding to the particles at least one charge control agent, alternatively referred to as a "charge director" (CD), which usually comprises organic salt or zwitterionic molecules.
A charge priming agent, conventionally referred to as a charge adjuvant (CA), that promotes charging of the toner particles by the charge director is also often added to the particles. For liquid toners, aluminum alkoxide, or a metallic soap, for example, magnesium stearate, aluminum tristearate or octoate, are commonly used as a charge adjuvant.
Some of the commonly used CAs, such as aluminum or magnesium stearate, are relatively insoluble at room temperature in carrier liquids typically used for liquid toners. To provide for effective activity of these CAs, they are generally added to a toner during production when toner ingredients are ground together so that the grinding process can thoroughly mix the CAs with the toner ingredients and optionally, react with them. However, because these CAs must in general be ground together with toner ingredients, they cannot usually be added to a toner after production to adjust for deviation of toner particle charge from a desired normative charge or to reverse or moderate dissipation of toner charge that may occur during the shelf life of the toner.
Some CAs, such as the aluminum alkoxides (which are the reaction product of a metal and an appropriate alcohol), are practically soluble in toner carrier liquids. However, these CAs tend to be highly reactive not only with toner ingredients but also with impurities, in particular water, that typically adulterate liquid toners. They tend to generate charge not only on toner particles, but to add to "parasitic" charge in the carrier liquid by interacting with the charge director and molecules in the carrier liquid that are not associated with the toner particles to generate charged molecular species. The parasitic charge contributes to background "parasitic conductivity" of the toner that tends to degrade quality of an image printed with the toner. In addition, the particular affinity of these CAs to water often results in their undergoing hydrolysis and precipitating out of a toner dispersion to which they are added. As a result, it is generally difficult to provide consistent and controllable levels of toner particle charging with these CAs.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,794,651 and 5,565,299 describe materials and processes for preparing a liquid toner. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,707,429 and 5,225,306 describe materials and processes for preparing a liquid toner using an aluminum tri-stearate charge adjuvant and aluminum alkoxide charge priming agent (Isopar soluble CA). U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,882 describes materials and processes for preparing a liquid toner using a charge adjuvant. U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,635 describes a negative charge director for liquid electrographic toners in which a negative charge is generated by a weakly associating charged functional group covalently bonded to the resin of the toner particles and a very strongly chelating molecule dispersed in the liquid phase to achieve charge separation. The disclosures of all the aforementioned U.S. patents are incorporated herein by reference.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A spin valve structure for a spintronic device is disclosed and includes a composite seed layer made of at least Ta and a metal layer having a fcc(111) or hcp(001) texture to enhance perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) in an overlying (Co/Ni)x multilayer. The (Co/Ni)x multilayer is deposited by a low power and high Ar pressure process to avoid damaging Co/Ni interfaces and thereby preserving PMA. As a result, only a thin seed layer is required. PMA is maintained even after annealing at 220° C. for 10 hours. Examples of GMR and TMR spin valves are described and may be incorporated in spin transfer oscillators and spin transfer MRAMs. The free layer is preferably made of a FeCo alloy including at least one of Al, Ge, Si, Ga, B, C, Se, Sn, or a Heusler alloy, or a half Heusler alloy to provide high spin polarization and a low magnetic damping coefficient.

Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM), based on the integration of silicon CMOS with MTJ technology, is a major emerging technology that is highly competitive with existing semiconductor memories such as SRAM, DRAM, and Flash. Similarly, spin-transfer (spin torque or STT) magnetization switching described by C. Slonczewski in "Current driven excitation of magnetic multilayers", J. Magn. Magn. Mater. V 159, L1-L7 (1996), has recently stimulated considerable interest due to its potential application for spintronic devices such as STT-MRAM on a gigabit scale. Recently, J-G. Zhu et al. described another spintronic device called a spin transfer oscillator in "Microwave Assisted Magnetic Recording", IEEE Trans. on Magnetics, Vol. 44, No. 1, pp. 125-131 (2008) where a spin transfer momentum effect is relied upon to enable recording at a head field significantly below the medium coercivity in a perpendicular recording geometry.
Both MRAM and STT-MRAM have a MTJ element based on a tunneling magneto-resistance (TMR) effect wherein a stack of layers has a configuration in which two ferromagnetic layers are separated by a thin non-magnetic dielectric layer, or based on a GMR effect where a reference layer and free layer are separated by a metal spacer. The MTJ element is typically formed between a bottom electrode such as a first conductive line and a top electrode which is a second conductive line at locations where the top electrode crosses over the bottom electrode. A MTJ stack of layers may have a bottom spin valve configuration in which a seed layer, an anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer, a ferromagnetic "pinned" layer, a thin tunnel barrier layer, a ferromagnetic "free" layer, and a capping layer are sequentially formed on a bottom electrode. The AFM layer holds the magnetic moment of the pinned layer in a fixed direction. The pinned or reference layer has a magnetic moment that is fixed in the "y" direction, for example, by exchange coupling with the adjacent AFM layer that is also magnetized in the "y" direction. The free layer has a magnetic moment that is either parallel or anti-parallel to the magnetic moment in the pinned layer. The tunnel barrier layer is thin enough that a current through it can be established by quantum mechanical tunneling of conduction electrons. The magnetic moment of the free layer may change in response to external magnetic fields and it is the relative orientation of the magnetic moments between the free and pinned layers that determines the tunneling current and therefore the resistance of the tunneling junction. When a sense current is passed from the top electrode to the bottom electrode in a direction perpendicular to the MTJ layers, a lower resistance is detected when the magnetization directions of the free and pinned layers are in a parallel state ("1" memory state) and a higher resistance is noted when they are in an anti-parallel state or " " memory state.
In a read operation, the information stored in a MRAM cell is read by sensing the magnetic state (resistance level) of the MTJ element through a sense current flowing top to bottom through the cell in a current perpendicular to plane (CPP) configuration. During a write operation, information is written to the MRAM cell by changing the magnetic state in the free layer to an appropriate one by generating external magnetic fields as a result of applying bit line and word line currents in two crossing conductive lines, either above or below the MTJ element. One line (bit line) provides the field parallel to the easy axis of the bit while another line (digit line) provides the perpendicular (hard axis) component of the field. The intersection of the lines generates a peak field that is engineered to be just over the switching threshold of the MTJ.
A high performance MRAM MTJ element is characterized by a high tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) ratio which is dR/R where R is the minimum resistance of the MTJ element and dR is the change in resistance observed by changing the magnetic state of the free layer. A high TMR ratio and resistance uniformity (Rp_cov), and a low switching field (Hc) and low magnetostriction (λS) value are desirable for conventional MRAM applications. For Spin-MRAM (STT-MRAM), a high λS and high Hc leads to high anisotropy for greater thermal stability. RA should be relatively small (about 4000 ohm-μm2 or less) for MTJs that have an area defined by an easy axis and hard axis dimensions of less than 1 micron. Otherwise, R would be too high to match the resistance of the transistor which is connected to the MTJ.
As the size of MRAM cells decreases, the use of external magnetic fields generated by current carrying lines to switch the magnetic moment direction becomes problematic. One of the keys to manufacturability of ultra-high density MRAMs is to provide a robust magnetic switching margin by eliminating the half-select disturb issue. For this reason, a new type of device called a spin transfer (spin torque) device was developed. Compared with conventional MRAM, spin-transfer torque or STT-MRAM has an advantage in avoiding the half select problem and writing disturbance between adjacent cells. The spin-transfer effect arises from the spin dependent electron transport properties of ferromagnetic-spacer-ferromagnetic multilayers. When a spin-polarized current transverses a magnetic multilayer in a CPP configuration, the spin angular moment of electrons incident on a ferromagnetic layer interacts with magnetic moments of the ferromagnetic layer near the interface between the ferromagnetic and non-magnetic spacer. Through this interaction, the electrons transfer a portion of their angular momentum to the ferromagnetic layer. As a result, spin-polarized current can switch the magnetization direction of the ferromagnetic layer if the current density is sufficiently high, and if the dimensions of the multilayer are small. The difference between a STT-MRAM and a conventional MRAM is only in the write operation mechanism. The read mechanism is the same.
Referring to FIG. 1a, a STT-MRAM structure 1 is shown and includes a gate 5 formed above a p-type semiconductor substrate 2, a source 3, drain 4, word line (WL) 6, bottom electrode (BE) 7, and bit line (BL) 9. There is also a MTJ element 8 formed between the bit line 9 and bottom electrode 7, and a via 10 for connecting the BE to the drain 4.
Materials with PMA are of particular importance for magnetic and magnetic-optic recording applications. Spintronic devices with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy have an advantage over MRAM devices based on in-plane anisotropy in that they can satisfy the thermal stability requirement but also have no limit of cell aspect ratio. As a result, spin valve structures based on PMA are capable of scaling for higher packing density which is one of the key challenges for future MRAM applications and other spintronic devices.
Materials exhibiting PMA such as CoPt, CoPt—SiO2, Tb(Fe)Co, and FePt have been reported multiple times in publications. However, all of the literature examples suffer from at least one drawback. It is preferred that establishing a PMA property in a spin valve structure does not require strenuous heating. Unfortunately, FePt or Tb(Fe)Co need high temperature annealing to achieve high enough PMA which is unacceptable for device integration since certain components are damaged by high temperatures. CoPt and its alloys such as CoCrPt and CoPt—SiO2 are not desirable because Pt and Cr are severe spin depolarizing materials and will seriously quench the amplitude of spintronic devices if incorporated in the spinvalve structures. That leaves the novel magnetic multilayer systems such as Co/X where X=Pt, Pd, Au, Ni, Ir, and the like for consideration. As stated above, Co/Pt, Co/Pd, and Co/Ir will not be good PMA materials for spintronic devices because of the severe spin depolarizing property of Pt, Pd, and Ir. Furthermore, Co/Pt, Co/Pd, and Co/Ir configurations typically require a very thick and expensive Pt, Pd, or Ir as a seed layer. Au is associated with high cost and easy interdiffusion to adjacent layers which makes a Co/Au multilayer for PMA purposes less practical. On the other hand, a Co/Ni multilayer configuration as a PMA material candidate has several advantages including (a) much higher spin polarization from Co, Ni, and Co/Ni interfaces, (b) better stability from the robustness of Ni layer insertion, (c) much higher saturation magnetization of 1 Tesla or about 2× higher than other Co/M combinations (M=metal), and (d) low cost.
PMA materials have been considered for microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) as described by J-G. Zhu et al. in "Microwave Assisted Magnetic Recording", IEEE Trans. on Magn., Vol. 44, No. 1, pp. 125-131 (2008). A mechanism is proposed for recording at a head field significantly below the medium coercivity in a perpendicular recording geometry. FIG. 1b is taken from the aforementioned reference and shows an ac field assisted perpendicular head design. The upper caption 19 represents a perpendicular spin torque driven oscillator for generating a localized ac field in a microwave frequency regime and includes a bottom electrode 11a, top electrode 11b, perpendicular magnetized reference layer 12 (spin injection layer), metallic spacer 13, and oscillating stack 14. Oscillator stack 14 is made of a field generation layer 14a and a layer with perpendicular anisotropy 14b having an easy axis 14c. The ac field generator in the upper caption 19 is rotated 90 degrees with respect to the lower part of the drawing where the device is positioned between a write pole 17 and a trailing shield 18. The writer moves across the surface of a magnetic media 16 that has a soft underlayer 15. The reference layer 12 provides for spin polarization of injected current (I). Layers 14a, 14b are ferromagnetically exchanged coupled. Improved materials for the reference layer and oscillator stack are needed as this technology matures.
Several attempts disclosed in the literature have been made in order to achieve high PMA from Co/Ni multilayer configurations. However, all of the examples typically involve a very thick underlayer to establish PMA. For instance, G. Daalderop et al. in "Prediction and Confirmation of Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy in Co/Ni Multilayers", Phys. Rev. Lett. 68, 682 (1992) and F. den Broeder et al. in "Co/Ni multilayers with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy: Kerr effect and thermomagnetic writing", Appl. Phys. Lett. 61, 1648 (1992), use a 2000 Angstrom thick Au seed layer. In V. Naik et al., "Effect of (111) texture on the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of Co/Ni multilayers", J. Appl. Phys. 84, 3273 (1998), and in Y. Zhang et al., "Magnetic and magneto-optic properties of sputtered Co/Ni multilayers", J. Appl. Phys. 75, 6495 (1994), a 500 Angstrom Au/500 Angstrom Ag composite seed layer is employed. Jaeyong Lee et al. in "Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of the epitaxial fcc Co/60-Angstrom-Ni/Cu(001) system", Phys. Rev. B 57, RS728 (1997) describe a 1000 Angstrom thick Cu seed layer. A 500 Angstrom Ti or 500 Angstrom Cu seed layer with heating to 150° C. is used by P. Bloemen et al. in "Magnetic anisotropies in Co/Ni (111) multilayers", J. Appl. Phys. 72, 4840 (1992). W. Chen et al. in "Spin-torque driven ferromagnetic resonance of Co/Ni synthetic layers in spin valves", Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 012507 (2008) describe a 1000 Angstrom Cu/200 Angstrom Pt/100 Angstrom Cu composite seed layer. The aforementioned seed layers are not practical with Co/Ni multilayer PMA configurations in spintronic devices. Typically, there is a space restriction in a direction perpendicular to the planes of the spin valve layers in advanced devices in order to optimize performance. Seed layers thicker than about 100 Angstroms will require thinning a different layer in the spin valve to maintain a certain minimum thickness for the spin valve which can easily lead to performance degradation.
Therefore, an improved seed layer is needed that is thin enough to be compatible with spintronic devices and which can induce high PMA in overlying Co/Ni multilayer structures.

Thin seeded Co/Ni multilayer film with perpendicular anisotropy for spintronic device applications


A conduit body assembly that can easily be reconfigured at a job site into any of several specific conduit body configurations, depending on the particular requirements at the site. The assembly includes a conduit body and one or more hubs that may be secured to the conduit body to form various conduit bodies such as LB, C, T, LL, or LR. The conduit body includes a bottom, side walls, end walls, and a top cover. The bottom, side walls, and end walls each include one or more threaded apertures and a threaded blank installed in each aperture. The hubs each include a threaded inner end. One or more blanks may be removed from the apertures on the conduit body and replaced by a hub at each such aperture to form various conduit bodies such as LB, C, T, LL, or LR. The conduit body assembly of the present invention makes it very simple for an installer to configure a conduit body to fit a particular need at the job site. The top cover may be removed to make wiring connections and then replaced to form a rain tight junction box at an intersection of electrical conduits.

Electrical conduit, including rigid conduit and electrical metal tubing (EMT), is frequently used for installing electrical cables in buildings. As the conduit is routed throughout a structure, various junction boxes, or conduit bodies as they are frequently termed, are required to be installed to permit routing electrical cables to their various loads and destinations. A system of nomenclature has been developed in the electrical industry to describe the various conduit body configurations. Each configuration includes a one or two letter designation, which is determined by the location of the conduit outlet locations on the conduit body. The conduit outlets can typically be located on the bottom, sides, or ends of the conduit body. As an example of this nomenclature, a conduit body having a conduit outlet on the bottom and another on the end, a bottom to end configuration, is commonly designated an "LB" conduit body. Other conduit bodies include a "C" conduit body for an end to end configuration, a "T" conduit body for a middle and two end configuration, and "LL" and "LR" conduit bodies for side to end configurations.
Conventional conduit bodies are therefore typically provided in several standard arrangements in an attempt to fulfill all the possible configurations that will be needed at the job site. Unfortunately, this requires electrical manufacturers to stock at least six different junction boxes to meet the anticipated applications in the field. A manufacturer would therefore typically stock at least five separate conduit bodies, including types LB, C, T, LL, and LR. Since there are at least six different trade sizes of rigid conduit and EMT, a manufacturer or a supplier of conduit bodies is required to stock about 30 separate rigid conduit bodies. Electricians must therefore carry a large number of separate conduit bodies to the job site in order to be prepared to wire the building.
U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/264,484 and 11/393,202 disclosed conduit body assemblies that were reconfigurable in the field, thereby eliminating the need for conduit bodies having separate configurations. This enabled an installer to carry one assembly for each trade size to meet all possible anticipated conduit body configurations.
Although the aforementioned conduit body assemblies reduced stocking requirements and improved installer efficiency in the field, still further improvements are needed to simplify the installation of conduit bodies for rigid conduit or EMT.


A process for producing a component module comprising a module carrier and a plurality of components with which contact is made on the latter, comprising the following steps:                arranging separated components on a surface-adhesive film at a predefined contact-specific spacing from one another,        embedding the components in a flexible material in order to form a flexible holding frame which holds the components,        pulling off the film,        producing contact-making elements on the exposed side of the components,        performing a functional test of the components and, if necessary, repair and/or replacement of components, and        fixing and making contact with the components held in the holding frame on the module carrier.

Wafer level packaging (WLP), as it is known, is a particularly cost-effective method of producing true chip-size packages, that is to say components of only chip size. These components are distinguished by the fact that the individual chips are soldered or adhesively bonded, with the active side downward, generally to small solder or gold bump contacts on the printed circuit board or the module board, that is to say in general terms the module carrier, and do not have to be housed further (naked chips). In this case, following the mounting of the chip, all the connections of the chip are in the shadow of the silicon, that is to say directly underneath the latter. Outside the memory area, multi-chip modules also demand the assembly of many different components. The drawbacks with WLP housing technology are, firstly, that the components are susceptible to mechanical damage, since the rear of the chip is unprotected. In addition, the spacing of the connections (pitch) has to be reduced in the case of a large number of connections, in order to accommodate them all under the component. This requires expensive module carriers, which do not meet the Standard. One solution to this would be to arrange the connections in a "fan-out" arrangement, that is to say they are located outside the chip shadow. Conventional packages (TSOP, BOC) are therefore constructed in such a way that the connecting contacts are not fitted directly to the chip but to a lead frame/interposer, which is larger than the actual chip and surrounds the latter, so that a standard pitch can be complied with and conventional module carriers can be used. However, the use of the lead frame or an interposer is expensive and complicated.
A further drawback of conventional technologies is that the function of a finished component module, for example a memory module, can be determined only after permanent contact has been made, for example after all the components (that is to say for example memory modules and passive components) have been soldered in. If a chip or another component then does not function, complicated manual repair work is necessary. This also applies to all other multi-chip modules.
The invention is therefore based on the problem of specifying a process for producing a component module which provides a remedy here and eliminates the aforementioned drawbacks.
In order to solve this problem, a process for producing a component module comprising a module carrier and a plurality of components with which contact is made on the latter is provided, comprising the following steps:                arranging separated components on a surface-adhesive film at a predefined contact-specific spacing from one another,        embedding the components in a flexible material in order to form a flexible holding frame which holds the components,        pulling off the film,        producing contact-making elements on the exposed side of the components,        performing a functional test of the components and, if necessary, repair and/or replacement of components, and        fixing and making contact with the components held in the holding frame on the module carrier.

Process for producing a component module


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: (a) forming a first film containing a metal element on a substrate by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times, the cycle including: (a-1) supplying a first precursor gas being a fluorine-free inorganic gas containing the metal element to the substrate; and (a-2) supplying a first reactant gas having reducibility to the substrate; (b) forming a second film containing the metal element on the first film by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times, the cycle including: (b-1) supplying a second precursor gas containing the metal element and fluorine to the substrate; and (b-2) supplying a second reactant gas having reducibility to the substrate; and (c) forming a film containing the metal element and obtained by the first film and the second film being laminated on the substrate by performing the (a) and (b).

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, including a process of forming a thin film on a substrate, a substrate processing apparatus, and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium.
2. Related Art
As one of processes of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a process of forming a film containing a metal element on a substrate is performed by alternately performing supplying a precursor gas containing a metal element and fluorine (F) to the substrate and supplying a reactant gas having reducibility to the substrate. For example, a tungsten (W) film can be formed on a substrate by alternately performing supplying hexafluorotungsten (WF6) gas to the substrate and supplying a diborane (B2H6) gas to the substrate.

Method of manufacturing semiconductor device, substrate processing apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium


A software application running on a server provides a webpage to an browser of a selling entity. The webpage includes an amount of instructions that renders User Interface (UI) components on the browser. The selling entity uses the UI components to configure an Interactive Marketing Presentation (IMP). The selling entity configures each segment of the IMP to include rich-media content (text, video, audio, and images). Configuration information of the configured IMP is communicated from the webpage to the software application via the network. The software application stores the configuration information in a database. A purchasing entity may then view the interactive marketing presentation by visiting a URL provided by the selling entity that causes the software application to retrieve the configuration information from the database, and to generate and supply a set of instructions that render the IMP using the configuration information onto the browser of the purchasing entity.

Client Relationship Management (CRM) systems provide a tool for sales associates of an organization to manage relations with clients. CRM systems are typically accessible through a web browser via a network, and allow a group of sales associates to store contact information of clients, keep track of interactions with clients, and manage marketing campaigns. Unfortunately, CRM systems do not have effective functionality for closely tracking each interaction of every sales associate. Determining successful marketing techniques that other sales associates can emulate is costly. In some cases, it may not be possible to determine the most effective marketing technique because a top sales associate may decide to keep their marketing techniques confidential in order to maintain their competitive edge within the organization. Third, an organization is usually unaware of how a potential client responds to the marketing pitch by a sales associate because the interaction between the sales associate and the contact typically ends when the communication ends. Thus the organization is generally forced to surmise the success of a marketing campaign from the overall number of closed deals. A more effective solution is desired.

Providing webpages used to configure interactive marketing presentations over a network


A clock anomaly detection circuit includes: a dividing unit configured to output a divided target clock by dividing frequency of a target clock; a first time width measurement unit configured to obtain values of the divided target clock using rising edges of a monitoring clock that is synchronized with the target clock, and to measure an H level time with and an L level time width; a second time width measurement unit configured to obtain values of the divided target clock using falling edges of the monitoring clock, and to measure an H level time with and an L level time width; and an anomaly determination unit configured to determine that the target clock is abnormal when an anomaly is detected in the H level time width or the L level time width measured in the first time width measurement unit and when an anomaly is detected in the H level time width or the L level time width measured in the second time width measurement unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology for detecting an anomaly state such as clock disturbance in a digital circuit that operates based on a clock provided from an external oscillator.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a conventional technology for detecting anomaly of a clock, there is a method shown in FIG. 1, for example. In this method, presence or absence of a clock edge within a predetermined monitoring period is monitored. When no clock edge is found in the monitoring period, it is determined that clock interruption occurs so as to output an alarm. After that, when at least a clock edge is found within the monitoring period, the alarm is released.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a circuit for realizing this clock anomaly detection method. FIG. 3 shows an operation time chart of the circuit. This circuit includes an FF (flip-flop) 1, an FF 2, an FF 3, and an OR circuit 4. An interruption detection target clock is received by a CL terminal of the FF 1, and an inversion of the interruption detection target clock is received by a CL terminal of the FF 2. D terminals of the FF 1 and the FF 2 always receive H level and CK clocks receives a monitoring timer signal.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the interruption detection target clock is normal, output values of the FF 1 and the FF 2 are always cleared. Therefore, outputs of the FF 1 and the FF 2 become L even when the monitoring timer is H. After the interruption detection target clock is interrupted (at A point), the outputs of the FF 1 and the FF 2 are not cleared by the interruption detection target clock. Thus, when the monitoring timer becomes H, H is held. In addition, when the monitoring timer becomes H at the time of B, output of the FF 3 becomes H so that an alarm is output. After that, when the interruption detection target clock is restored, outputs of the FF 1 and the FF 2 become L, and the output of FF 3 becomes L at a time when the monitoring timer becomes H next, so that alarm output stops. Clock interruption detection can be performed according to such operation.
There are following two documents: a patent document 1 and a patent document 2 as prior art on anomaly detection of a clock.
[Patent document 1] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 09-244761
[Patent document 2] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 11-355110
In the above-mentioned conventional technology, anomaly can be detected only when any clock edge is not detected within the monitoring period, and clock interruption within a shorter period and clock disturbance that is an metastable state of clock period cannot be detected. Therefore, in the conventional technology, when there occurs an anomaly due to clock disturbance, there is a problem in that it takes long time to specify whether the anomaly is caused by a problem in a clock system.

Clock anomaly detection circuit and clock anomaly detection method


A system for automated operation of a plurality of machines deployed on an underground worksite is provided. The system includes a monitoring module provided on-board each of the plurality of machines. The system also includes an area isolation control module associated with the underground worksite. The system further includes a machine control module coupled to the monitoring module and the area isolation control module.

In fleet management applications, a number of machines such as mining machines operate at an underground worksite. The machines are generally controlled by an operator seated at a remote operator station. The machines are configured to perform various operations, such as transportation of payload from load points to dump points, drilling, hammering, and the like. During loading and unloading of the payload, the machines travel between the load and the dump points along a predetermined route. The route may be defined by the operator or by a production planning software. However, sometimes obstructions, barriers, personnel or machinery may lie in the route of the machines.
U.S. Published Application Number 2014/0214235 describes a control system for use with a plurality of machines operating at a worksite. The control system may have a plurality of communicating devices, and a plurality of onboard controllers, each mountable to the plurality of machines. The control system may also have an offboard controller in communication with the plurality of onboard controllers via the plurality of communicating devices. The offboard controller may be configured to selectively assign each of a plurality of sequentially arranged dump targets for use by each of the plurality of machines based on an order in which the plurality of machines arrive at a dump location. The offboard controller may be further configured to make a determination that lanes extending to two dump targets of the plurality of sequentially arranged dump targets overlap, and selectively skip assignment of one of the two dump targets based on the determination.

System and method for automated machine operation


A composition for crosslinking olefin polymers including an olefinically unsaturated alkoxysilane, a free radical generator, and an organic hindered amine light stabilizer compound, together with a process for crosslinking olefin polymers comprising blending said composition with an olefinic polymer, allowing the silane to graft to the polymer, and causing the grafted polymer to crosslink, preferably by subjecting it to moisture in the presence of a hydrolysis/condensation catalyst.

The properties of polymers can be modified by crosslinking of the polymer chains. One method for crosslinking which is commonly used is known as "silane crosslinking", i.e., crosslinking using olefinically unsaturated alkoxysilanes. This method involves at least two stages, which may be done together. In the first stage, (a) silane is grafted onto polymer chains in the presence of a free radical generator and in a second stage, (b) crosslinking of the polymer chains occurs through the formation of Si--O--Si bonds as bridges. The grafting step is normally effected while the polymer is in a molten state, most commonly in an extruder, while the crosslinking step is normally carried out after the polymer has been formed into its desired shape, such as a pipe or wire insulation, while the polymer is in a solid state. To effect crosslinking, the intermediate formed by grafting is subjected to moisture, for example, hot water or steam, in the presence of a hydrolysis/condensation catalyst. The two processes most often employed are (1) a two-step process as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,646,155 and (2) a one-step process as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,117,195.
One important commercial application of silane crosslinking is to crosslink ethylene polymers used as insulation and sheathing compositions for electrically or optically conductive wire and cable. In this application, it is often necessary for the crosslinked insulation to survive extended periods of exposure to heat, light, and air, during which the polymer may undergo degradation such as by embrittlement or discoloration. To prevent or reduce such degradation, it is often desirable to include in the crosslinked polymer one or more stabilizer compounds.
Many such stabilizer compounds reduce oxidative degradation of polyolefins by intercepting free radicals in the polymer and converting them to unreactive forms. Unfortunately, the silane grafting stage described above also involves free radical processes, and therefore stabilizers may interfere with the silane grafting step. Therefore a problem associated with silane crosslinking employing such stabilizer compounds is the difficulty of accurately combining some or all of the silane, free radical generator and hydrolysis/condensation catalyst (some or all of which are liquids) and stabilizers with the base polymer which is a solid to minimize this interference.

Silane, free radical generator, amine blends for crosslinking of olefin polymers


Fusion compounds comprising a target cell-specific portion fused to an oligomeric rival nuclease are disclosed. The inventive compounds are useful as anti-cancer agents. Methods of preparation and use of the inventive compounds are disclosed.

The cell-specific targeting of compounds which are directly, or indirectly, cytotoxic has been proposed as a way to combat diseases such as cancer. Bagshawe and his co-workers have disclosed (Bagshawe (1987) Br. J. Cancer 56, 531; Bagshawe et al (1988) Br. J. Cancer 58, 700; WO 88/07378) conjugated compounds comprising an antibody or part thereof and an enzyme, the antibody being specific to tumour cell antigens and the enzyme acting to convert an innocuous pro-drug into a cytotoxic compound. The cytotoxic compounds were alkylating agents. eg a benzoic acid mustard released from para-N-bis(2-chloroethyl)aminobenzoyl glutamic acid by the action of Pseudomonas sp. CPG2 enzyme.
An alternative system using different pro-drugs has been disclosed (WO 91/11201) by Epenetos and co-workers. The cytotoxic compounds were cyanogenic monosaccharides or disaccharides, such as the plant compound amygdalin, which release cyanide upon the action of a .beta.-glucosidase and hydroxynitrile lyase.
In a further alternative system, the use of antibody-enzyme conjugates containing the enzyme alkaline phosphatase in conjunction with the pro-drug etoposide 4'-phosphate or 7-(2'-aminoethyl phosphate)mitomycin or a combination thereof have been disclosed (EP 0 302 473; Senter et al (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85, 4842).
Rybak and co-workers have disclosed (Rybak et al (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 21202; WO 91/16069) the cytotoxic potential of a monomeric pancreatic ribonuclease when injected directly into Xenopus oocytes and the cytotoxic potential of monomeric RNase coupled to human transferrin or antibodies directed against the transferrin receptor. The monomeric RNase hybrid proteins were cytotoxic to human erythroleukaemia cells in vitro.
Other approaches are the in vivo application of streptavidin conjugated antibodies followed, after an appropriate period, by radioactive biotin (Hnatowich et al (1988) J. Nucl. Med. 29, 1428-1434), or injection of a biotinylated mAb followed by radioactive streptavidin (Paganelli et al (1990) Int. J. Cancer 45, 1184-1189). A pilot radioimmunolocalisation study in non-small cell lung carcinomas was conducted with encouraging results (Kalofonos et al (1990) J. Nucl. Med. 31, 1791-1796).
Apart from these examples, it is rather more common to see biotinylated antibodies and streptavidin-enzyme conjugates which are used in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
These previous systems have used relatively large antibody-enzyme or antibody-streptavidin or antibody-biotin conjugates and may comprise portions of non-mammalian origin which are highly immunoreactive.
Rapid penetrance (Yokota et al (1992) Cancer Res. 52, 3402-3408) and rapid clearance (Colcher et al (1990) J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 82, 1191-1197) has been demonstrated for single chain Fv antibody fragments (ScFv).
In using the cell-specific reagents aforementioned in a therapeutically useful situation one of the requirements that needs to be met is for the cell-specific reagent to accumulate to a sufficiently higher level at the target cell than at other cells. A further requirement is that a directly or indirectly cytotoxic reagent is carried to the target cell, and it is preferred that the said cytotoxic reagent is of high potency.
We have now devised improved systems at least some of which exhibit higher avidities to the selected target cells, and make use of novel, potent directly or indirectly cytotoxic agents.

Imperial Cancer Research Technology Limited


A pump driven by air pressure comprising an air cylinder, a piston in the cylinder to move up and down, an upper cylinder cap and a lower cylinder cap, a connector combined with a tubular projection of the upper cap for gas to flow through an interior of the connector, a valve base connected with a tubular projection of the lower cap, the piston moving up and down to move a tubular rod for changing gas flowing route and then forcing the piston to move in a reversed direction for pumping in liquid.

A conventional water pump is known to have an eccentric rod fixed on a shaft of a motor, and the eccentric rod is connected with a pivotal shaft provided with a sidewise piston rod having a piston, which are moved to and fro in a pressure cylinder by the motor so as to pump in and out gas in the cylinder.

Zen Yea Village, Sheh Tou Shian, Jang Hwa Hsien


A steering system, comprising: an input cylinder having a first hydraulic chamber and a second hydraulic chamber; a transmission mechanism, wherein a transmission efficiency for converting and transmitting a linear motion of the input cylinder to a rotary motion of a steering wheel is less than a transmission efficiency for converting and transmitting the rotary motion of the steering wheel to the linear motion of the input cylinder; an output cylinder connected to a steerable vehicle wheel and having a third hydraulic chamber and a fourth hydraulic chamber; a first hydraulic passage for connecting the first hydraulic chamber to the third hydraulic chamber; a second hydraulic passage for connecting the second hydraulic chamber to the fourth hydraulic chamber; a flow rate control mechanism for exchanging hydraulic oil with: a first hydraulic circuit including the first and third hydraulic chambers and the first hydraulic passage; and a second hydraulic circuit including the second and fourth hydraulic chambers and the second hydraulic passage, in order to adjust a ratio of hydraulic oil quantities in the first and second hydraulic circuits; a steering actuator for providing the steerable vehicle wheel with a steering power assistance; and                a controller for cooperatively controlling the flow rate control mechanism and the steering actuator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to vehicle steering system for setting the ratio of the steered angle of a wheel tire relative to the steering angle of a steering wheel depending on a driving situation without causing any sensation of discomfort to a driver.
2. Prior Art
Conventionally, a technology called steer-by-wire is known which connects a steering wheel to a steerable vehicle wheel via electric signals and utilizes an electric control for improving performance and for securing mountability into vehicles or vehicle cabin space. However, such a device lacks reliability against an electric failure, etc. and has difficulty in transferring a reaction force of a road surface applied to a steering wheel by means of motors; therefore, has not yet been put to practical use. As an alternative vehicle steering system which is functionally equivalent to the above system and therefore can continuously vary the ratio of the steered vehicle wheel angle relative to the steering angle of a steering wheel, a system using mechanical gears is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-211541 and is practically used. This type of steering system has a high power steering actuator and are provided with a variable ratio transmission mechanism using gears and motors somewhere in a steering column, in which the motors are controlled to adjust the output/input ratio, and the steering actuator is cooperatively controlled to set the ratio of the steered angle of a steerable vehicle wheel relative to the steering angle of a steering wheel depending on a driving situation. This system still use a steering column, thus reliability is secured and there is no need of virtually creating any reactive torque.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-276617, etc. disclose a steering system which uses a cable instead of a steering column for securing layout flexibility. This steering system uses a flexible cable for connecting a steering wheel to a rack. Thereby, flexibility in space and layout can be secured. Further, a steering system in known in which a variable steering angle ratio mechanism is combined with such a system as described above to enable the setting of the ratio of the steered angle of a steerable vehicle wheel relative to the steering angle of a steering wheel depending on a driving situation.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-122140 discloses a steering system in which a steering wheel is connected to a steerable vehicle wheel via a hydraulic line, and pumps and valves are used to realize a variable steering transmission ratio mechanism. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-082007 also discloses a steering wheel which uses hydraulic lines for connection to realize a variable steering transmission ratio mechanism. These systems secure flexibility in space and layout similarly to the above-mentioned systems using cables.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-211541    Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-276617    Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-122140    Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-82007


A pneumatic grinding/polishing machine is disclosed. It includes a fixed upper casing, a lower casing, an annular wall, an upper sealing member, a lower sealing member, a rotor, multiple vanes, a central shaft assembly and a grinding tray assembly. An inlet port of the annular wall is disposed above an outlet port and the inlet port and the outlet port are isolated from each other by a middle stopper ring. The upper sealing member has an upper stopper ring and an upper cover body. The lower sealing member has a lower stopper ring and a lower cover body. A dustproof sheath is disposed around the second bearing for preventing the splashing dusts from contacting with the second bearing. Therefore, this invention is easy to assemble and manufacture, no leakage, long using life.

The present invention relates to a pneumatic grinding/polishing machine in which a middle stopper ring serves to effectively isolate the upper inlet port from the lower outlet port with an excellent leakproof effect. Also, a dustproof sheath is used to prevents the splashing dusts from entering the second bearing so as to prolong the using life of the grinding/polishing machine.
FIGS. 1 to 3 show an existing pneumatic grinding/polishing machine which includes a fixed upper casing 11, a lower casing 12, an annular wall 13, an upper and a lower sealing members 14, 15, a rotor 21, multiple vanes 22, a central shaft assembly 23 and a grinding tray assembly 24.
The upper casing 11 is formed with an air inlet 111 connected to an external high pressure air source, an air outlet 112 communicated with atmosphere, a central chamber 113, an inlet passage 114 and an outlet passage 115. The lower casing 12 is secured to the bottom edge of the upper casing 11. The annular wall 13 is formed with an inlet port 131, an outlet port 132 and a rotor receptacle 133. The upper sealing member 14 is disposed with an upper partitioning ring 141 and an upper cover body 142. The lower sealing member 15 is disposed with a lower partitioning ring 151 and a lower cover body 152.
The rotor 21 has multiple equally spaced vane slots 211 for receiving the vanes 22. The central shaft assembly 23 includes a central shaft 231 engaged with the rotor 21, an eccentric block 232 positioned in the lower casing and an eccentric recessed seat having an opening facing downward (not shown). The grinding tray assembly 24 includes a grinding tray shaft 241 and a grinding tray 242 for grinding the surface of a work piece. The rotor 21 is rotatably disposed on the upper and lower sealing members 14, 15 via two bearings, that is, indirectly rotatably disposed on the upper casing 11. Similarly, the grinding tray assembly 24 is rotatably disposed in the recessed seat of the central shaft assembly 23 via another bearing.
After high pressure air is guided into the air inlet 111, the air goes into the inlet port 131 for pushing the vanes 22 so as to rotate the rotor 21. The air is finally exhausted from the air outlet 112 through the outlet port 132. The rotor 21 will drive the central shaft assembly 23 to rotate for driving the eccentric grinding tray 242 to irregularly rotate so as to grind the surface of the work piece.
The conventional pneumatic grinding/polishing machine has some shortcomings as follows:
1. The manufacturing and assembling procedures are troublesome. The conventional pneumatic grinding/polishing machine includes specifically shaped upper and lower partitioning rings 141 and 151. Especially, the upper partitioning ring 141 has two downward extending vertical sections 141A each of which has a toothed portion 141B at its free end. Similarly, the lower partitioning ring 151 has two upward extending lower vertical sections 151A each of which has a corresponding toothed portion 151B at its free end. Therefore, after assembled, the engaged upper and lower vertical sections 141A, 151A can just separate the inlet port 131 and outlet port 132 from each other. It is difficult and time-consuming to manufacture and assemble such elements with vertical sections and toothed portions. Also, the manufacturing cost for such elements is relatively high. PA1 2. The conventional pneumatic grinding/polishing machine is subject to leakage of air. After engaged, a gap will still exist between the toothed portions 141B and 151B. After a period of use, due to high speed rotation of the rotor 21 and the eccentrically irregular rotation of the grinding tray 242, the gap between the toothed portions 141B, 151B will be enlarged. This will lead to leakage of air. PA1 3. Short using life. During grinding, the grinding tray 242 is eccentrically irregularly rotated at high speed. This will make the lower casing 12 fill with irregularly splashed dust. This dust is restricted within the lower casing 12 and tend to be left in the bearing, especially in the second bearing 26 as shown in FIG. 7. Moreover, the bearing itself contains multiple ball members and lubricant so that the dust is apt to attach thereto to damage the bearing or harden the lubricant. This will disable the rotor 21 from smoothly rotating.

No. 21-6, Shang-Tien Lane, Hsin-Hsing Road


An impeller having flexible impeller blades with a stiffness which allows the blades to flex into a backward-curved impeller configuration at the maximum intended rotational speed of operation, and to return to a more radial blade configuration at lower rotational speeds, thereby enabling efficient operation at a broad range of rotational speeds.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for inducing a local flow in a fluid, such as for example, an impeller for aerating a liquid and an aeration method using the impeller. More particularly, this invention relates to an aeration method and an apparatus using an impeller having blades that flex as a function of impeller speed, so that at lower impeller speeds the blades are substantially radial, and at full operating speed the blades are fully backward-curved, thereby maintaining a more constant velocity of fluid exiting the impeller.
2. Description of Related Art
Radial impellers or rotors are used in many devices, such as vacuum cleaners, fluid pumps, air compressors, mixers and wastewater aerators. These devices typically comprise a circular central plate or hub, onto which a number of impeller blades are mounted. The performance of an impeller is a function of many variable factors, such as impeller diameter, blade width, blade angle and/or curvature, number and spacing of blades, etc. For a given impeller geometry, the impeller's performance will be most efficient at a specific impeller rotation speed (RPM), with specific inlet and outlet conditions. This optimum impeller speed and the specific inlet and outlet conditions are termed the impeller's "design conditions." The performance of an impeller typically is less than optimal when the impeller operates at other than its design conditions.
It has been found that non-radial, backward-curved impeller blades provide increased volumetric capacity, allowing an impeller to pump more fluid for a given power input than with radial blades. By "backward-curved," it is meant that a blade curves along its length, in a direction opposite the direction of the impeller's rotation, from the blade's root to its tip. Non-radial impeller blades, however, are generally more expensive to manufacture than are radial blades.
In many applications, it is important that the velocity of the fluid exiting the impeller (the "exit velocity" or "local flow velocity") be controlled. For example, in wastewater aeration applications, it is critical that the water leaving the impeller have a minimum local flow velocity, relative to the remainder of the body of wastewater, of approximately 12 feet per second (ft./sec.). At this speed, "white water" is generated, which is where aeration occurs. If the local flow velocity of the wastewater from the impeller drops below 12 ft./sec., sufficient aeration will not be achieved. It is therefore common for aeration facilities using known, fixed-blade impeller configurations to drive the impellers at a rotational speed which results in a local flow velocity incrementally greater than 12 ft./sec.--commonly approximately 18 ft./sec. Increasing the local flow velocity beyond the minimum needed to generate white water, however, does not appreciably improve aeration. Thus, driving the impeller at higher rotational speeds than necessary to achieve the minimum local flow velocity needed for aeration wastes energy, and unnecessarily increases operating costs.
Many aeration facilities attempt to reduce unnecessary energy consumption by controlling the rotational speed at which an aeration impeller is driven. For example, many aeration installations use two-speed electric motors to drive the aeration impellers. Alternatively, variable-frequency drives (VFD's) may be used with the drive motors for the impellers, enabling the motor speed to be continuously controlled within an operating range. Some installations use dissolved oxygen monitors to control the drive speed of the impellers responsive to the oxygen content of the wastewater. However, with known, rigid-blade impeller configurations, the local flow velocity of water from the impeller is a function of the speed of rotation of the impeller. Therefore, adjusting the rotational speed of the impeller's drive motor directly affects the local flow velocity of water discharged from the impeller. As discussed above, a local flow velocity which is too low results in insufficient aeration, whereas a local flow velocity which is too high wastes energy. Thus, known, rigid-blade aeration impeller configurations suffer the disadvantage that they have a narrow range of rotational drive speeds providing efficient operation.
Thus, it can be seen that a need exists for an aeration impeller capable of operating efficiently over a broader range of rotational drive speeds than is permitted by known impeller configurations. It is to the provision of such a device that the present invention is primarily directed.

Method and apparatus for aeration using flexible blade impeller


A method and system of misfire determination includes establishing an acceleration misfire threshold and an acceleration sub-misfire threshold. Then incremental engine position is sensed and a series of acceleration data-points are derived (401). If a data-point of the series of acceleration data-points falls between the sub-misfire threshold and the misfire threshold, then a training process is aborted for a blanking period based on a delay time whose length is preferably based on engine operating conditions (415). If a data-point of the series of acceleration data-points does not fall below the sub-misfire threshold, then the series of acceleration data-points, are averaged and a synchronously corrected acceleration data-point is derived (417). Then, a misfire condition is indicated when the synchronously corrected acceleration data-point exceeds the established acceleration misfire threshold (421).

Many contemporary reciprocating engine controls have integral misfire detection systems. With increasingly stringent emissions standards the assurance of accurate and complete misfire detection under all engine and vehicular operating conditions is becoming mandatory.
Commonly, system designers rely on measurement of crankshaft engine angular velocity, and sometimes crankshaft or other forms of, engine acceleration, both dependent largely on engine torque produced during a firing process, to determine misfiring of a particular engine cylinder. Typically, misfires are predicted by various signature analysis, and/or spectral analysis, methods that analyze the velocity or acceleration information measured.
Some contemporary engine misfire detection systems use position encoders affixed to an engine's crankshaft to determine rotary position of an engine. From this rotary position measurement, an engine speed and/or absolute position information can be derived. With this information the engine can be controlled in accordance with its mission, and combustion misfires can be detected through behavioral signature analysis as noted above. In operation such position encoders are subject to measurement inaccuracies as the engine rotates. These inaccuracies can lead to erroneous indications of true (physical) engine rotary position as the position encoder rotates. Moreover, because of crankshaft dynamics including: crankshaft torsional vibrations, inertial torque due to reciprocating masses, piston mass imbalance, and other mechanically induced vibrations on the engine's crankshaft, the engine rotary position data can effect the accuracy of misfire detection particularly at high engine speeds where these behaviors can largely swamp out any signatory behavior of a misfire event.
Some prior art misfire detection systems minimize position encoder errors by learning their behavior when the engine is not fueled, then subtract-out the learned behavior when the engine is fueled. The engine is defueled to prevent learning of misfire behavior--in case a misfire occurs during the learning process. If a misfire was learned during the learning process, then it would be subtracted out of the behavior and thus any misfires may not be reliably detected. Besides requiring off-line calibration, these schemes do not correct for mechanically induced vibrations on the engine's crankshaft in a fueled condition, nor do they account for changing engine operation with aging.
Another problem with high accuracy prior art misfire determination systems is data rate, or the rate at which the engine's positional data must be analyzed for misfire, and the impact on computational resources to support this high accuracy. In a typical prior art misfire detection system, the system's main microcontroller, or other hardwired circuit, is often charged with analyzing misfire behavior. As misfire detection over all operating conditions becomes required, a greater burden is shared by the main microcontroller in completing this task. This becomes particularly difficult at high engine speeds because the main microcontroller must forfeit much of its resources to service the misfire detection strategy.
What is needed is an improved signal processing approach for misfire detection, particularly one that is less resource intensive and more accurate, particularly at high engine speeds, and adaptive to changing engine conditions over the life of the engine.

Method and system for misfire determination using synchronous correction


A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell (9), an exhaust gas circulation passage (10) which circulates part of the exhaust gas from the fuel cell (9) back to the fuel cell (9), a fuel injector (3) which injects liquid fuel into the circulated exhaust gas, and a vaporizer (4) which vaporizes the injected fuel. The fuel cell system has a high response, as the liquid fuel injected into the exhaust gas rapidly vaporizes.

JP-A-2000-100462 published by the Japanese Patent Office in 2000 discloses a technique wherein liquid fuel is sent to an evaporator according to the load of a fuel cell, and the liquid fuel is vaporized and supplied to a reformer. In the reformer, part or all of the hydrocarbon fuel is reformed into hydrogen according to the following equations (1) and (2).CnH2n+2+nH2O→nCO+(n+2)H2  (1)CO+H2O→CO2+H2  (2)
The hydrogen obtained by reforming is supplied to the anode of a fuel cell.