A method of manufacturing a plurality of semiconductor chip packages and the resulting chip package assemblies. The method includes providing a circuitized substrate having terminals and leads. A first microelectronic element is arranged with the substrate and contacts on the microelectronic element are connected to the substrate. A conductive member is placed on top of the first microelectronic element and is used to support a second microelectronic element. The second microelectronic element is arranged with the conductive member in a top and bottom position. The second microelectronic element is then also connected by leads from contacts on the second microelectronic element to pads and terminals on the circuitized substrate. The conductive member is then connected to a third pad or set of pads on the substrate. An encapsulant material may be deposited so as to encapsulate the leads and at least one surface of the microelectronic elements. The encapsulant material is then cured thereby defining a composite of chip assemblies which may be singulated into individual chip packages.

The present invention relates to stacked microelectronic assemblies, to methods of forming such assemblies, and to components useful in such assemblies.
Semiconductor chips are commonly provided as individual, prepackaged units. A standard chip has a flat, rectangular body with a relatively expansive front face having contacts connected to the internal circuitry of the chip. Each individual chip is mounted in a package, which in turn is connected to a circuit panel, such as a printed circuit board, so that the contacts of the chip are connected to conductors of the circuit panel. In "flip-chip" designs, the front face of the chip faces the circuit panel, and the contacts on the chip are connected to the circuit panel by solder balls or other connecting elements. In many conventional designs, the chip package occupies an area of the circuit panel considerably larger than the area of the chip itself.
As disclosed, for example, in certain embodiments of commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,148,265, 5,148,266 and 5,679,977, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein, certain innovative mounting techniques offer compact assemblies with good reliability and testing approaches. A package which can accommodate a single chip in an area of the circuit panel equal to or slightly larger than the area of the chip itself is commonly referred to as a "chip-size package".
The total area of a plurality of chips mounted on a circuit panel is also a concern. Various proposals have been advanced for providing plural chips in a single package or module. It has been proposed to package plural chips in a "stacked" arrangement, i.e., an arrangement where chips are placed one on top of another. In a stacked arrangement, several chips can be mounted in an area of the circuit panel that is less than the total area of the chips. Certain stacked chip arrangements are disclosed, for example, in certain embodiments of the aforementioned '977 and '265 patents and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,159, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,033, also hereby incorporated by reference herein, discloses an arrangement in which chips are stacked one on top of another and interconnected with one another by conductors on so-called "wiring films" associated with the chips.
Still further improvements in stacked chip assemblies, for incorporating other elements within the assembly, would be desirable.

Method of making assemblies having stacked semiconductor chips


A syringe for metering fluid in which a plunger contains a plurality of stop surfaces which contact a stop on a syringe tube. The stop surfaces are linearly displaced from each other along a longitudinal axis of the plunger by distances corresponding to predetermined volumes of fluid to be metered. The stop surfaces are also angularly displaced about the longitudinal axis of the plunger so that incremental rotation of the plunger permits successive stop surfaces to limit plunger motion, thereby effecting a precise metering of the fluid.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a syringe and more particularly to a syringe for easily metering predetermined volumes of fluid therefrom.
2. Description of the Related Art
In many situations, it is necessary to either fill a syringe with a precise volume of fluid or discharge a precise volume of fluid from the syringe. Other situations require that precise volumes of fluid be incrementally discharged over a period of time.
In order to control the volumetric intake to and discharge from a syringe, a syringe tube typically has a visual scale calibrated in volumetric units. Therefore, a plunger inside the syringe tube is translated along the scale a distance corresponding to the desired fluid volume.
While such a scale is functional, circumstances may arise which make the scale difficult to read. For example, the fluid may have a color which does not contrast with the color of the scale. Further, there may be distortions in the scale from manufacturing. Variations in the eyesight of the person using the syringe may also make the scale difficult to read and use. Photosensitive fluids require an opaque syringe tube which makes it impossible to use a syringe tube scale. Finally, the discharge of successive precise volumes of fluid requires precise control of the plunger relative to the scale so that too much or too little fluid is not metered through the syringe. Precise control becomes more difficult with smaller dosages which require smaller plunger movements.


A system including a smart camera and a server computer. The smart camera may be configured to capture video data comprising a plurality of video frames, detect a triggering event and select a plurality of images from the plurality of video frames of the video data in response to the triggering event and communicate the plurality of images. The server computer may be configured to receive the plurality of images, analyze the plurality of images to perform an additional detection corresponding to the triggering event and generate a signal in response to the additional detection. The server computer may implement a neural network for analyzing the plurality of images. The neural network may use more computing resources than the smart camera uses for detecting the triggering event. Communicating the plurality of images may use less bandwidth than communicating the video data.

Advanced artificial intelligence based on technologies like deep neural networks are used for tasks such as object recognition in video. Neural networks are very powerful, but the power of neural networks come at the expense of significant processing requirements. Many neural networks are powered by expensive servers that run in the cloud. Services that utilize neural networks have to pay for access to the cloud based on how much processing time is used. The cost of constantly processing video from cloud-connected cameras can become prohibitively expensive. Furthermore, constantly processing video involves large time delays in getting the video loaded into the cloud servers and then processed.
Conventional technology for processing video using neural networks is implemented by having smart cameras constantly stream video to the cloud service. Uploaded video is then processed by the servers and results can be sent back to the smart cameras. Constantly uploading and processing video allows for full accuracy (i.e., best-case accuracy based on current technology) from powerful server-only neural network models and also allows notifications of detected events to be sent out in real time. However, constantly uploading and processing video is expensive both in terms of bandwidth usage and server compute resources.
An alternative conventional technology that saves some bandwidth usage and server compute resources starts a video stream upload after a motion trigger is detected by the smart camera. Waiting until a motion trigger is detected causes a delay in detection by the neural network by multiple seconds. Additionally, starting a video stream upload takes some non-negligible amount of time. Starting a video stream upload after a motion event can lead to the subject of the motion trigger already being out of view of the smart camera by the time the cloud server receives the video data. Sending the video data to the cloud server also takes time, which makes providing real time notifications unlikely without constant video streaming.
Another alternative conventional technology is to modify or compress the neural network to be run on the embedded circuitry of the smart camera devices. Running simplified neural network models on the smart camera eliminates the cloud server cost and the delay in transmitting the video data to the cloud server. However, operating a neural network without the processing power provided by the neural network cloud service requires reducing the size and complexity of the models. The reduced complexity used to operate the neural network on the smart camera also reduces predictive power and accuracy of detections. A neural network run on-device by the smart camera will not be nearly as powerful or accurate as the neural network enabled by the cloud service.
It would be desirable to implement hybrid cloud/camera AI computer vision system.

Hybrid cloud/camera AI computer vision system


A document retrieval is performed with similarities between documents in numeric data taken into consideration. To this end, generated is a set E of intervals in which each element of a set D of numeric values representing a feature A is included in any one of the intervals. Each numeric value in each document is indexed by assigning, with 1, an interval including an element x of the set D, and with 0, an interval without the element x. Each document data including numeric values is indexed by indexing its text part with term frequencies, and by indexing its numeric-value part with the above-described numeric value indexing scheme. By use of indices thus created for each of the document data, similarities between the document data are calculated using a vector space model or a probability model, and the document data are presented in order of similarity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a document retrieval system and a document retrieval method, and particularly to a system for retrieving a document including numeric data and a method of retrieving the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Advances in digitization of document information have made it critical to retrieve pieces of information needed by users from a vast amount of information. Information retrieval techniques are those for solving such an issue, and Internet search engines are applications of the information retrieval techniques. Once a user inputs his/her search request, pieces of information relevant to the input are retrieved from the vast amount of document information, and the relevant pieces of information are displayed in order of relevance.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2000-155758 titled "Method of Searching Documents and A Service For Searching Documents" discloses so-called "associative search," a method for retrieving, upon receiving a group of documents inputted by a user as his/her search request, a group of documents relevant to the inputted group of documents in a document database. In the associative search, firstly each document is broken into terms (or character strings). Then, a vector representing term frequencies each indicating how many times a specific term appears in each document is generated. Finally, documents relevant to the inputted group of documents are retrieved on the basis of similarities between vectors for the inputted documents and vectors for the documents in the document database (see Mochihashi, Daichi, et al. "Learning an Optimal Distance Metric in the Linguistic Vector Space," The transactions of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineer on Information and Systems D-II, Vol. J88-D-II, No. 4, pp. 747-756, April, 2005), and on the basis of similarities between documents calculated by using a probability model (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. Hei. 9-62693, titled "Document Classification Method Using Probability Model").

Document retrieval system and document retrieval method


A circuit for preventing false programming of unselected anti-fuses in an anti-fuse array includes a series impedance including a plurality of transistors which may be used for partial address selection connected between a source of programming voltage and a bit line.

1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to electronic circuitry. More particularly, the present invention relates to circuitry for programming an array of anti-fuses, and for preventing false programming of anti-fuses in an array of anti-fuses.
2. The Prior Art
The anti-fuse structure is similar to a capacitor; it contains an insulating material sandwiched between two conductors. For example, see application Ser. No. 861,519, Filed May 9, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,181 to Mohsen et al., assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. An anti-fuse may be programmed by applying a high voltage across the insulator until it ruptures, thereby shorting the two conductors together. The resistance of the ruptured anti-fuse is decreased by passing high current through it for an extended period of time. The period of voltage stressing is often called the stress time, and the period during which high current is allowed to flow is often called the soak time.
Anti-fuses may be used as a Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM) cell elements and may be placed in a PROM array. Some MOS anti-fuse memory PROM array circuits have reliability problems because the designs in which they reside have been implemented without taking into account the effects of substrate current and the parasitic bipolar devices in MOS circuits. The substrate current at issue is due to avalanching in the pinch off region of the MOS device. The parasitic bipolar device is composed of two or more like polarity diffusions separated by material of opposite polarity. For example, the drain and source diffusions of an MOS device are potentially the collector and emitter of a parasitic bipolar device whose base is either the substrate or the well in the substrate containing those diffusions.
If the substrate current is large enough, it can forward bias the base emitter junction of the parasitic bipolar device, thus turning it on. This parasitic device multiplies the substrate current by the beta of the bipolar transistor. A bata greater than 100 is possible, so a small substrate current can produce a large bipolar current.
A bipolar device may have multiple collectors. Therefore, one forward biased junction can draw collector current through numerous nearby junctions. These multiple collectors may cause reliability problems. For example, when one of a group of adjacent anti-fuse memory cells is being programed, if the parasitic bipolar device associated with one memory cell is turned on during the soak time, a current path via one of these parasitic multiple collectors may cause sufficient stress voltage across the adjacent unselected anti-fuses to rupture one or more of them and thus falsely program one or more of them.

Circuit for preventing false programming of anti-fuse elements


An apparatus for tensioning, stretching or pulling a traveling web of material (e.g., single or multiple layers) lateral to the longitudinal or machine direction of the traveling web is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one but usually a pair of clamping devices to be disposed opposite each other on lateral edges of the traveling web upstream of a processing area where the clamping devices include stationary members, where at least one stationary member includes first and second ends and a material-engagement surface, wherein, when in operational position, the first and second ends define a direction of the material-engagement surface that is transverse to the machine direction of the traveling web. A method of stretching or pulling a single layer or multiple layer web of material laterally to the machine direction of the traveling web to remove wrinkles also is disclosed.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for tensioning, stretching, or pulling a sheet-like, or web of, material widthwise and more particularly for tensioning, stretching, or pulling a single layer of sheet-like material, or multiple layers of sheet-like materials, to remove wrinkles, ripples and the like from the material.
Certain types of sheet-like, or webs of, material, such as fabrics, felts, and the like, are processed on needling looms, finishing machines, or other processing equipment to obtain a finished product. At first, the work piece may consist of an unprocessed single layer of material. The work piece also may consist of several layers of material or a laminate. The word "laminate" as used herein should be construed in its broadest sense. That is, the word "laminate" includes a plurality of overlying layers either joined together, or not joined together. The term "web of material" as used herein, in a general sense, refers to either a single layer of material or a laminate.
In a typical setup, a single layer of material, or a laminate, is loaded onto a material-processing machine. The processing of the sheet-like material may include interweaving or needling layers of batt onto it. The processing also may include passing the web of material through a finishing machine.
In certain situations, it may be more desirable to manufacture laminates, instead of a single layer of material. One reason for this is that laminates maintain consistent physical characteristics from product to product. Each layer of a laminate may be constructed differently or may be made of different materials altogether. Often, these multi-layered webs include at least one, and often two or more layers of base material, such as fabric, and layers of batt, which are subsequently interwoven onto the base layers.
As the material is being loaded onto the machine or as the material moves in the machine direction on the machine, one or more of the layers may develop wrinkles, ripples or other non-conformities. One reason for these problems is that the layers are stretched in the machine direction (MD) to pull the circumferences of the layers as close to one another as possible. The machine direction, or MD as used herein, refers to the longitudinal direction that the material travels when moving on a material-processing machine. This pulling in the MD direction causes a change in the material's cross machine direction (CMD) dimension. The cross machine direction or CMD as used herein refers to the lateral direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the machine direction (MD).
This relationship between the pulling in the MD and the shrinkage in the CMD dimension is called the material's contraction ratio. In some instances, the layers are constructed differently. Thus, each layer may have its own contraction ratio. As a result, differential width reductions in neighboring fabrics will result in wrinkles, ripples, and the like, in the layers of material. A single layer may wrinkle, as well, due to the pulling in the MD and the subsequent reduction of the CMD dimension of the single layer.
These non-uniformities typically present significant problems, especially prior to, and/or during, a needling, finishing, or other process. That is, if wrinkles in the layers are processed into the material (e.g., needled in via the needling loom or finished in via the finishing machine), non-uniformities develop in the finished product and the material must be reworked or, worse yet, scrapped altogether. Both of these options prove to be inefficient and costly due to added labor costs, production line shut downs and the need for additional raw materials. On the other hand, if wrinkles, ripples, or other non-uniformities are removed before further processing, they usually do not reappear after the single layer or laminate has been needled, finished or otherwise processed. Thus, there is a need to remove wrinkles from a single layer of material, or from a laminate, prior to further processing on a material-processing machine.
Conventional ways to remove these wrinkles, ripples, and the like, have included manual labor. Typically, at least two, and sometimes as many as six machine operators, are necessary to pull at the lateral sides of a single layer or a laminate to create a sufficient CMD tension. This manual process is extremely costly in terms of the amount of labor hours required to perform a given tensioning session. Also, this manual process is very difficult to repeat with consistent results, due to natural human error. Consistency, however, is important in this type of industry.
Attempts have been made to automate the tensioning or pulling of a web of material in general and specifically in the CMD or widthwise direction. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,448 to Cho provides an apparatus that includes a pair of rotary discs disposed at opposite side edges of a traveling fabric and a pair of push plates adapted adjacent the rotary discs. The pair of push plates is moved toward or away from the rotary discs in opposing relation thereto for spreading the fabric web widthwise. This apparatus also includes guide rollers positioned ahead of the spreading units to guide the fabric at each edge. These types of spreading apparatus are relatively complicated. They include machine parts, having their own relative motion, that need to interact at precise moments in order to achieve their objective of spreading a web of material. These types of apparatus also require a drive motor to actuate, for instance, the rotary discs. Such drive motors may need to be controlled, maintained, and repaired. In addition, since these types of apparatus are separately driven, and have their own relative motion vis-a-vis the motion of the web, they require extra energy to run. They also may, on occasion, have to be regulated to make sure the relative motions are in synchronization with the traveling web of material. Finally, these types of apparatus appear to only address the spreading of a single layer of material.

Cross machine tensioning system and method


A process comprising:

This invention relates to a process for preparing a simulated in situ polyethylene blend, which can be converted into film having a small number of or essentially no gels (or fish-eyes).
Polyethylenes of various densities have been prepared and converted into film characterized by excellent tensile strength, high ultimate elongation, good impact strength, and excellent puncture resistance. These properties together with toughness are enhanced when the polyethylene is of high molecular weight. However, as the molecular weight of the polyethylene increases, the processability of the resin usually decreases. By providing a blend of polymers of high molecular weight and low molecular weight, the properties characteristic of high molecular weight resins can be retained and processability, particularly extrudability (a characteristic of the lower molecular weight component) can be improved.
The blending of these polymers is successfully achieved in a staged reactor process similar to those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,047,468 and 5,149,738. Briefly, the process is one for the in situ blending of polymers wherein a high molecular weight ethylene copolymer is prepared in one reactor and a low molecular weight ethylene copolymer is prepared in another reactor. The process typically comprises continuously contacting, under polymerization conditions, a mixture of ethylene and one or more alpha-olefins with a catalyst system in two gas phase, fluidized bed reactors connected in series, said catalyst system comprising: (i) a supported magnesium/titanium based catalyst precursor; (ii) one or more aluminum containing activator compounds; and (iii) a hydrocarbyl aluminum cocatalyst, the polymerization conditions being such that an ethylene copolymer having a melt index in the range of about 0.1 to about 1000 grams per 10 minutes is formed in the high melt index (low molecular weight) reactor and an ethylene copolymer having a melt index in the range of about 0.001 to about 1 gram per 10 minutes is formed in the low melt index (high molecular weight) reactor, each copolymer having a density of about 0.860 to about 0.965 gram per cubic centimeter and a melt flow ratio in the range of about 22 to about 70, with the provisos that:
(a) the mixture of ethylene copolymer matrix and active catalyst precursor formed in the first reactor in the series is transferred to the second reactor in the series;
(b) other than the active catalyst precursor referred to in proviso (a), no additional catalyst is introduced into the second reactor.
While the in situ blends prepared as above and the films produced therefrom are found to have the advantageous characteristics heretofore mentioned, the commercial application of these granular bimodal polymers for high clarity film applications is frequently limited by the level of gels obtained. Particle size distribution and flow characteristics studies indicate that the gas phase resins having an average particle size (APS) of about 400 to about 600 microns exhibit significant compositional, molecular, and rheological heterogeneities. When such a granular resin is compounded, for example, with a conventional twin screw mixer in a single pass, and the resulting pellets are fabricated into film, the film exhibits a high level of gels ranging in size from less than about 100 microns to greater than about 500 microns. These gels adversely affect the aesthetic appearance of the product. The gel characteristics of a film product are usually designated by a subjective scale of Film Appearance Rating (FAR) varying from minus 50 (very poor; these films have a large number of large gels) to plus 50/plus 60 (very good; these films have a small amount of, or essentially no, gels). The FAR of the single pass film product mentioned above is generally in the range of about minus 50 to about minus 10/0. For commercial acceptability, the FAR should be plus 20 or better.
In addition to the FAR problem, in situ blends, which meet the film manufacturer""s requirements, have to be custom made in two reactors connected in series under defined conditions. It would, of course, simplify matters if the high melt index polymer and the low melt index polymer could be purchased separately since they more readily fall within the off-the-shelf spectrum of available polymers.
This option has been explored, and blends of various polymers have been found to provide desirable bimodal characteristics. The blending has been traditionally carried out by dry blending and/or melt blending. These blends, however, have never been able to overcome the FAR problem.
An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a process for preparing a simulated in situ blend from two independently prepared gas phase polymers, which blend not only has desirable bimodal characteristics, but can be extruded into a film having a relatively high FAR. Other objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter.
According to the present invention such a process has been discovered. The process comprises:
(i) providing a first polyethylene, prepared independently, having a melt index in the range of about 5 to about 3000 grams per 10 minutes and a density in the range of about 0.900 to about 0.975 gram per cubic centimeter and a second polyethylene, prepared independently, having a flow index in the range of about 0.01 to about 30 grams per 10 minutes and a density in the range of about 0.860 to about 0.940 gram per cubic centimeter, the weight ratio of the first polyethylene to the second polyethylene being in the range of about 75:25 to about 25:75;
(ii) blending the first polyethylene with the second polyethylene;
(iii) melting the blend; and, prior to extrusion or pelletizing,
(iv) passing the molten blend through one or more active screens, in the case of two or more active screens) positioned in series, each active screen having a micron retention size in the range of about 2 to about 70, at a mass flux of about 5 to about 100 pounds per hour per square inch.
The first and second polyethylenes can be homopolymers of ethylene or copolymers of ethylene and at least one alpha-olefin comonomer having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, preferably one or two alpha-olefin comonomers provided that they have the necessary melt indices, flow indices, and densities. The alpha-olefins can be, for example, propylene. 1-butene, 1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, and 1-octene. The preferred comonomer combination is 1-butene and 1-hexene.
It will be understood that the simulated in situ blend can be characterized as a bimodal resin. The properties of bimodal resins are strongly dependent on the proportion of the high molecular weight component, i.e., the low melt index component.
Each of the resins can be produced in the gas phase using a magnesium/titanium based catalyst system, which can be exemplified by the catalyst system described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,565. These resins can also be produced in a slurry or solution phase. Further, the catalyst system can be a vanadium based catalyst system such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,842; a chromium based catalyst system such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,445; a metallocene catalyst system such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,317, 036; or other transition metal catalyst systems. Many of these catalyst systems are often referred to as Ziegler-Natta catalyst systems. Catalyst systems, which use chromium or molybdenum oxides on silica-alumina supports, are also useful. Subject process should be operative with all of the various catalyst systems useful in preparing polyethylene.
A typical magnesium/titanium catalyst system can be described as follows:
The solid particulate precursor can be supported or unsupported. Another catalyst system is one where the precursor is formed by spray drying and used in slurry form. Such a catalyst precursor, for example, contains titanium, magnesium, and aluminum halides, an electron donor, and an inert filler. The precursor is then introduced into a hydrocarbon medium such as mineral oil to provide the slurry form. This is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,745.
The electron donor, if used in the catalyst precursor, is an organic Lewis base, liquid at temperatures in the range of about 0xc2x0 C. to about 200xc2x0 C., in which the magnesium and titanium compounds are soluble. The electron donor can be an alkyl ester of an aliphatic or aromatic carboxylic acid, an aliphatic ketone, an aliphatic amine, an aliphatic alcohol, an alkyl or cycloalkyl ether, or mixtures thereof, each electron donor having 2 to 20 carbon atoms. Among these electron donors, the preferred are alkyl and cycloalkyl ethers having 2 to 20 carbon atoms; dialkyl, diaryl, and alkylaryl ketones having 3 to 20 carbon atoms; and alkyl, alkoxy, and alkylalkoxy esters of alkyl and aryl carboxylic acids having 2 to 20 carbon atoms. The most preferred electron donor is tetrahydrofuran. Other examples of suitable electron donors are methyl formate, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, ethyl ether, dioxane, di-n-propyl ether, dibutyl ether, ethyl formate, methyl acetate, ethyl anisate, ethylene carbonate, tetrahydropyran, and ethyl propionate.
While an excess of electron donor is used initially to provide the reaction product of titanium compound and electron donor, the reaction product finally contains about 1 to about 20 moles of electron donor per mole of titanium compound and preferably about 1 to about 10 moles of electron donor per mole of titanium compound.
An activator compound is optional, but is often used with any of the titanium based catalyst precursors. Thus, the term xe2x80x9ccatalyst precursorxe2x80x9d is considered to include activated catalyst precursors. The activator can have the formula AlRaXbHc wherein each X is independently chlorine, bromine, iodine, or ORxe2x80x2; each R and Rxe2x80x2 is independently a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having 1 to 14 carbon atoms; b is 0 to 1.5; c is 0 or 1; and a+b+c=3. Preferred activators include alkylaluminum mono- and dichlorides wherein each alkyl radical has 1 to 6 carbon atoms and the trialkylaluminums. A particularly preferred activator is a mixture of diethylaluminum chloride and tri-n-hexylaluminum. If it is desired to use an activator, about 0.10 to about 10 moles, and preferably about 0.15 to about 2.5 moles, of activator can be used per mole of electron donor. The molar ratio of activator to titanium can be in the range of about 1:1 to about 10:1 and is preferably in the range of about 2:1 to about 5:1. The activator is preferably added separately neat or as a solution in an inert solvent, such as isopentane, to the polymerization reactor at the same time as the flow of ethylene is initiated.
The cocatalyst, generally a hydrocarbyl aluminum cocatalyst, can be represented by the formula R3Al or R2AlX wherein each R is independently alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, or hydrogen; at least one R is hydrocarbyl; and two or three R radicals can be joined to form a heterocyclic structure. Each R, which is a hydrocarbyl radical, can have 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and preferably has 1 to 10 carbon atoms. X is a halogen, preferably chlorine, bromine, or iodine. Examples of hydrocarbyl aluminum compounds are as follows: triisobutylaluminum, tri-n-hexylaluminum, di-isobutyl-aluminum hydride, dihexylaluminum dihydride, di-isobutyl-hexylaluminum, isobutyl dihexylaluminum, trimethyl-aluminum, triethylaluminum, tripropylaluminum, triisopropylaluminum, tri-n-butylaluminum, trioctylaluminum, tridecylaluminum, tridodecylaluminum, tribenzylaluminum, triphenylaluminum, trinaphthylaluminum, tritolylaluminum, dibutylaluminum chloride, diethylaluminum chloride, and ethylaluminum sesquichloride. The cocatalyst compounds can also serve as activators and modifiers.
In those cases where it is desired to support the precursor, silica is the preferred support. As noted above, using a support such as silica having the required span will produce a resin having the required span by substantial replication. Other suitable supports are inorganic oxides such as aluminum phosphate, alumina, silica/alumina mixtures, and silica modified with reagents capable of reacting with surface silanols such aluminum compounds exemplified by alkylaluminums and aluminum halides, boron alkyls and halides, dialkyl zincs, and hexamethyldisilazane. A typical support is a solid, particulate, porous material essentially inert to the polymerization. It is used as a dry powder having an average particle size of about 10 to about 250 microns and preferably about 30 to about 100 microns; a surface area of at least 200 square meters per gram and preferably at least about 250 square meters per gram; and a pore size of at least about 100 angstroms and preferably at least about 200 angstroms. Generally, the amount of support used is that which will provide about 0.1 to about 0.5 millimole of titanium per gram of support and preferably about 0.2 to about 0.3 millimole of titanium per gram of support. Impregnation of the above mentioned catalyst precursor into a silica support can be accomplished by mixing the precursor and silica gel in the electron donor solvent or other solvent followed by solvent removal under reduced pressure. When a support is not desired, the catalyst precursor can be used in slurry form.
As mentioned above, the catalyst precursor can be obtained by spray drying. In this option, a solution of the precursor is prepared and slurried with an inert filler. The slurry is then spray dried by methods such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,745. Generally, the amount of inert filler used is that which will provide about 0.3 to about 2.5 millimole of titanium per gram of spray-dried precursor. The fillers which are added to the solution prior to spray drying include any organic or inorganic compounds, which are inert to the titanium compound and the final active catalyst, such as silicon dioxide in the form of fumed silica, titanium dioxide, polystyrene, rubber modified polystyrene, magnesium chloride, and calcium carbonate. The fillers can be used individually or in combination. The spray dried precursor is about 10 to about 95 percent by weight filler. Typical Mg/Ti atomic ratios in the spray dried precursor range from about 3:1 to about 10:1. Average particle size can be adjusted by process means during spray-drying, and can be, furthermore, altered by separation techniques after spray-drying. Typical average particle sizes range from about 10 to about 30 microns using standard shaping and sizing techniques.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,926 provides another example of a magnesium/titanium based catalyst system comprising:
(a) a solid particulate catalyst precursor having the formula MgdTi(OR)eXf(ED)g wherein R is an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical having 1 to 14 carbon atoms or CORxe2x80x2 wherein Rxe2x80x2 is a aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical having 1 to 14 carbon atoms; each OR group is the same or different; X is independently chlorine, bromine or iodine; ED is an electron donor; d is 0.5 to 56; e is 0, 1, or 2; f is 2 to 116; and g is 1.5d+2;
(b) at least one modifier having the formula BX3 or
AlR(3-e)Xe wherein each R is alkyl or aryl and is the same or different, and X and e are as defined above for component (a)
wherein components (a) and (b) are impregnated into an inorganic support; and
(c) a hydrocarbyl aluminum cocatalyst.
The precursor is prepared from a titanium compound, a magnesium compound, and an electron donor. Titanium compounds, which are useful in preparing these precursors, have the formula Ti(OR)eXh wherein R, X, and e are as defined above for component (a); h is an integer from 1 to 4; and e+h is 3 or 4. Examples of titanium compounds are TiCl3, TiCl4, Ti(OC2H5)2Br2, Ti(OC6H5)Cl3, Ti(OCOCH3)Cl3, and Ti(OCOC6H5)Cl3. The magnesium compounds include magnesium halides such as MgCl2, MgBr2, and MgI2. Anhydrous MgCl2 is a preferred compound. About 0.5 to 56, and preferably about 1 to 10, moles of the magnesium compounds are used per mole of titanium compounds.
The electron donor, the support, and the cocatalyst are the same as those described above. The modifier can have the formula BX3 or AlR(3-e)Xe wherein each R is independently alkyl having 1 to 14 carbon atoms; each X is independently chlorine, bromine, or iodine; and e is 1 or 2. One or more modifiers can be used. Preferred modifiers include alkylaluminum mono- and dichlorides wherein each alkyl radical has 1 to 6 carbon atoms; boron trichloride; and the trialkylaluminums. About 0.1 to about 10 moles, and preferably about 0.2 to about 2.5 moles, of modifier can be used per mole of electron donor. The molar ratio of modifier to titanium can be in the range of about 1:1 to about 10:1 and is preferably in the range of about 2:1 to about 5:1. Since the modifier reacts with the precursor, it becomes part of the precursor.
A typical vanadium based catalyst system is comprised of (a) a vanadium compound or the reaction production of a vanadium compound and an electron donor (optional) as catalyst precursor; (b) a hydrocarbyl aluminum and/or a hydrocarbyl aluminum halide cocatalyst; and, optionally, (c) a halocarbon promoter. This system can be described in more detail as follows.
The vanadium compound can be any of the group of vanadium compounds well known to be useful as or in catalyst precursors in olefin polymerization processes. Examples are vanadium acetylacetonates., vanadium trihalides, vanadium tetrahalides, and vanadium oxyhalides. The halides are generally chlorides, bromides, or iodides, or mixtures thereof. More specific examples of these compounds are VCl3, VCl4, vanadium (acetylacetonate)3, vanadyl triacetylacetonate, VO(OC2H5)Cl2, VOCl(OC2H5)2, VO(OC2H5)3, and VO(OC4H9)3. The electron donor, if used, is the same as those mentioned above for the magnesium/titanium based catalyst systems.
Promoters are also an optional, but preferred, component of the catalyst system. Chlorinated or perchlorinated esters are suitable promoters. Examples of these esters are Cl3CCOOC2H5; CCl3CCl=CClCOOC4H9; C6H5CCl2COOR wherein R is an alkyl radical having 1 to 8 carbon atoms; and Cl2C=CCl-CCl2COOC4H9. Other suitable halocarbon promoters have the following formula:
RyCX(4-y)
wherein R=hydrogen or an unsubstituted or halogen substituted alkyl radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
X=a halogen; and
y=0, 1, or 2.
Preferred promoters of this group include flouro-, chloro-, and bromo-substituted methane and ethane wherein there are at least two X atoms, e.g., methylene dichloride, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, chloroform, CBr4, CFCl3, hexachloroethane, CH3CCl3, and CF2ClCCl3. The first three mentioned promoters are especially preferred. About 0.1 to about 10 moles, and preferably about 0.2 to about 2 moles, of promoter can be used per mole of cocatalyst.
The modifiers, cocatalysts, and supports are the same for both the vanadium and titanium based catalyst systems. When a support is not desired, the catalyst precursor can be used in liquid form.
Where modifiers are used, they are usually dissolved in an organic solvent such as isopentane and impregnated into the support following impregnation of the vanadium or titanium compound or complex, after which the supported catalyst precursor is dried. The cocatalyst is preferably added separately neat or as a solution in an inert solvent, such as isopentane, to the prepolymerization or polymerization reaction at the same time as the flow of ethylene is initiated.
Useful molar ratios for a vanadium based catalyst system are about as follows:
Polymerization is conducted substantially in the absence of catalyst poisons such as moisture, oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and acetylene.
With respect to the high melt index (or low molecular weight) polymer:
The high melt index can be in the range of about 5 to about 3000 grams per 10 minutes, and is preferably in the range of about 5 to about 1000 grams per 10 minutes. The molecular weight of the high melt index polymer is, generally, in the range of about 15,800 to about 35,000. The density of the polymer prepared in this reactor can be at least 0.900 gram per cubic centimeter, and is preferably in the range of 0.910 to 0.975 gram per cubic centimeter. The melt flow ratio of this polymer can be in the range of about 20 to about 70, and is preferably about 20 to about 45.
Melt index is determined under ASTM D-1238, Condition E. It is measured at 190xc2x0 C. and 2.16 kilograms and reported as grams per 10 minutes. Flow index is determined under ASTM D-1238, Condition F. It is measured at 190xc2x0 C. and 10 times the weight used in determining the melt index, and reported as grams per 10 minutes. Melt flow ratio is the ratio of flow index to melt index.
With respect to the low melt index polymer:
Because of the low melt index values, instead of melt index, flow index is determined and those values are used in this specification. The flow index can be in the range of about 0.01 to about 30 grams per 10 minutes, and is preferably in the range of about 0.2 to about 12 grams per 10 minutes. The molecular weight of this polymer is, generally, in the range of about 135,000 to about 445,000. The density of the polymer can be at least 0.860 gram per cubic centimeter, and is preferably in the range of 0.900 to 0.940 gram per cubic centimeter. The melt flow ratio of the polymer can be in the range of about 20 to about 70, and is preferably about 22 to about 45.
The blend or final product can have a melt index in the range of about 0.02 to about 3.5 grams per 10 minutes, and preferably has a melt index in the range of about 0.04 to about 2.0 grams per 10 minutes, or a flow index in the range of about 4 to about 165 grams per 10 minutes. The melt flow ratio is at least about 50, and is preferably in the range of about 55 to about 185. The molecular weight of the final product is, generally, in the range of about 90,000 to about 450,000. The density of the blend is at least 0.915 gram per cubic centimeter, and is preferably in the range of 0.916 to 0.960 gram per cubic centimeter.
As noted above, the blend has a broad molecular weight distribution which can be characterized as bimodal. The broad molecular weight distribution can be reflected in an Mw/Mn ratio of about 8 to about 44, preferably about 20 to about 30. Mw is the weight average molecular weight; Mn is the number average molecular weight; and the Mw/Mn ratio can be referred to as the polydispersity index, which is a measure of the breadth of the molecular weight distribution.
The weight ratio of the low melt index (high molecular weight) polymer to high melt index (low molecular weight) polymer in the blend can be in the range of about 0.4:1 to about 2.5:1, and is preferably in the range of about 0.75:1 to about 1.6:1. This is known as the split ratio or split. Alternatively, the weight ratio of the low melt index polymer to the high melt index polymer can be in the range of about 75:25 to about 25:75, and is preferably in the range of about 60:40 to about 40:60.
Typically, the transition metal based catalyst system, ethylene, alpha-olefin, and hydrogen are continuously fed into a polymerization reactor, and the high melt index polymer or low melt index polymer, as the case may be, is continuously removed from the reactor.
In the preparation of the high melt index polymer:
The mole ratio of alpha-olefin to ethylene can be in the range of about 0.005:1 to about 0.6:1, and is preferably in the range of about 0.01:1 to about 0.42:1. The mole ratio of hydrogen to ethylene can be in the range of about 0.5:1 to about 3:1, and is preferably in the range of about 1.7:1 to about 2.2:1. The operating temperature is generally in the range of about 70xc2x0 C. to about 110xc2x0 C. As mentioned above, the temperature is preferably varied with the desired density.
In the preparation of the low melt index (as reflected in flow index) polymer:
The mole ratio of alpha-olefin to ethylene can be in the range of about 0.01:1 to about 0.4:1, and is preferably in the range of about 0.02:1 to about 0.26:1. The mole ratio of hydrogen (if used) to ethylene can be in the range of about 0.001:1 to about 0.3:1, and is preferably in the range of about 0.017:1 to about 0.18:1. The operating temperature is generally in the range of about 60xc2x0 C. to about 100xc2x0 C. Preferred operating temperatures vary depending on the density desired, i.e., lower temperatures for lower densities and higher temperatures for higher densities.
The pressure, i.e., the total pressure in either reactor, can be in the range of about 200 to about 450 psi and is preferably in the range of about 280 to about 350 psig. The upper limit of ethylene partial pressure is set according to the amount of copolymer it is desired to produce the reactor. The balance of the total pressure is provided by alpha-olefin other than ethylene and an inert gas such as nitrogen.
A typical fluidized bed reactor can be described as follows:
The bed is usually made up of the same granular resin that is to be produced in the reactor. Thus, during the course of the polymerization, the bed comprises formed polymer particles, growing polymer particles, and catalyst particles fluidized by polymerization and modifying gaseous components introduced at a flow rate or velocity sufficient to cause the particles to separate and act as a fluid. The fluidizing gas is made up of the initial feed, make-up feed, and cycle (recycle) gas, i.e., comonomers and, if desired, modifiers and/or an inert carrier gas.
The essential parts of the reaction system are the vessel, the bed, the gas distribution plate, inlet and outlet piping, a compressor, cycle gas cooler, and a product discharge system. In the vessel, above the bed, there is a velocity reduction zone, and, in the bed, a reaction zone. Both are above the gas distribution plate.
A typical fluidized bed reactor is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,687, and a typical fluidized bed polymerization procedure is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,565.
The gaseous feed streams of ethylene, other gaseous alpha-olefins, and hydrogen, when used, are preferably fed to the reactor recycle line as well as liquid alpha-olefins and the cocatalyst solution. Optionally, the liquid cocatalyst can be fed directly to the fluidized bed. Where an activator is used, the partially activated or completely activated catalyst precursor is preferably injected into the fluidized bed as a solid or a mineral oil slurry. In the case of partial activation, activator is added to the reactor. The product composition can be varied by changing the molar ratios of the comonomers introduced into the fluidized bed. The product is continuously discharged in granular or particulate form from the reactor as the bed level builds up with polymerization. The production rate is controlled by adjusting the catalyst feed rate and the ethylene partial pressure.
The hydrogen:ethylene molar ratio can be adjusted to control average molecular weights. The alpha-olefin (other than ethylene) can be present in a total amount of up to 15 percent by weight of the copolymer and are preferably included in the copolymer in a total amount of about 1 to about 10 percent by weight based on the weight of the copolymer.
The residence time of the mixture of reactants including gaseous and liquid reactants, catalyst, and resin in the fluidized bed can be in the range of about 1 to about 12 hours and is preferably in the range of about 2 to about 5 hours.
As noted above, steps (ii) to (iv) are carried out prior to extrusion or pelletizing. For the purposes of this specification, the term xe2x80x9cextrusionxe2x80x9d is considered to include conventional extrusion processes such as blown tubular film extrusion and pipe and sheet extrusion, and blow molding, injection molding, rotational molding, slot casting, and other similar forms of resin processing. With respect to steps (ii) and (iii), the high melt index polymer (first polyethylene) and the low melt index polymer (second polyethylene) can be dry blended using conventional dry blending techniques or melt blended, again by using conventional melt blending techniques. Alternatively, the resins can be first dry blended and then melt blended or they can be melted separately; and then blended. In any case, the blend is placed in a molten state prior to step (iv). The molten blend can be prepared in a melter/mixer, which can take the form of a single screw extruder, a twin screw extruder/mixer, or a batch type mixer such as a BANBURYa or a BRABENDERa mixer. Tangential and intermeshing counter-rotating and intermeshing co-rotating mixers, two stage mixers, and multistage long length/diameter mixers can also be used. Also see the mixing systems in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,334,783 and 5,458,474.
The next step, i.e., step (iv), is to pass the molten blend through one or more active screens. When two or more active screens are used, the screens are positioned in series. The preferred number of active screens is 3. While more than 3 active screens can be used, it is desirable to use as few active screens over the number of 3 as possible, but up to 6 active screens may provide advantages in some cases. Active screens are those screens, which participate directly in the process of the invention, which results in a homogeneous blend comparable to the homogeniety of an in situ blend and gel reduction. Passive screens can also be, and are preferably, present in order to structurally reinforce the active screens. The passive screens do not, however, appear to contribute to the homogeneity and gel reduction. The active screens have a micron retention size in the range of about 2 to about 70. It is observed that these active screens contribute to the break up of gels into gels having sizes in largest dimension equal to or less than 200 microns. In effect, the active screen openings are large enough to essentially avoid capturing the gels, but small enough to break up the gels into the aforementioned sizes. The passive screens have micron retention sizes larger than 70, preferably much larger, since their function is reinforcement rather than homogeneity and gel reduction. For example, an active 325 mesh screen can be reinforced with 20 and 100 passive mesh screens. In any case, the passive screens do not capture or break up gels. It will be understood that the term xe2x80x9cscreensxe2x80x9d includes screens, sieves, and other filter media, and other equivalents for which the micron retention size can be determined. A description of various filter media can be found in Filtration of Plastic Melts, ed. D. Gneuss, publ. Gneuss Kunststofftechnik, Germany, 1988, pages 14 and 15; Filtration of Polymer Melts, publ. VDI-Verlag, DŸsseldorf, Germany, 1981, pages 1 to 7; Anderson Wire Works (Houston, Tex.) product data sheet, which describes its extruder screens in terms of micron retention; and Handbook of Chemistry, 10th Edition, 1961, pages 910 to 912. Generally, the screens are arranged by beginning with the larger micron retention size, proceeding to a smaller micron retention size, and ending with a larger micron retention size.
The screens can be, for example, square weave wire screens and Dutch weave wire screens, one of which is described as an 80 mesh by 700 mesh screen. The screens or equivalents can have closely spaced square openings, triangular openings, or round openings, regular or irregular in shape. With regard to equivalents, there are generally one or more layers corresponding to the one or more screens mentioned above. Equivalents are, for example, wire cloth screens, which have the disadvantage of letting certain soft particles slip through under pressure; sintered metal powders of the same or different diameters, but it is difficult to control the size of the spaces between the particles in order to approximate micron retention sizes; sintered metal fibers, a preferred equivalent; sand packs; and devices such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,661,249.
The resin melt is passed through the screen(s) at a mass flux in the range of about 5 to about 100 pounds per hour per square inch of active screen, and preferably at a mass flux in the range of about 30 to about 80 pounds per hour per square inch of active screen. Generally, only one pass through the screen(s) at the defined mass flux is sufficient to reduce the gels to 200 microns or less, usually less than 100 microns. It is found that at least a major proportion of the gels can be reduced to sizes of less than 100 microns by the process of the invention. Multiple passes can be used, if desired.
The resin blend can be extruded into film in a conventional extruder adapted for that purpose. Extruders and processes for extrusion are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,169,679 (see screw design); 4,814,135; 4,857,600; 5,076,988; and 5,153,382. Examples of various extruders, which can be used in forming the film are a single screw type such as one modified with a blown film die and air ring and continuous take off equipment, a blown film extruder, and a slot cast extruder. Twin screw extruders should also be considered. A typical single screw type extruder can be described as one having a hopper at its upstream end and a die at its downstream end. The hopper feeds into a barrel, which contains a screw. At the downstream end, between the end of the screw and the die, is a screen pack and a breaker plate. The screw portion of the extruder is considered to be divided up into three sections, the feed section, the compression section, and the metering section, and multiple heating zones from the rear heating zone to the front heating zone, the multiple sections and zones running from upstream to downstream. If it has more than one barrel, the barrels are connected in series. The length to diameter ratio of each barrel is in the range of about 16:1 to about 30:1. The extrusion can take place at temperatures in the range of about 160 to about 270 degrees C, and is preferably carried out at temperatures in the range of about 180 to about 240 degrees C. It will be understood that the resin blend is useful in any application where exceptionally well mixed resins are desired, e.g., in wire and cable, pipe, hose and tubing, injection molding, blow molding, and slot casting applications.
The advantages of the invention lie in the homogeneity of the blend, i.e., a homogeneity comparable to in situ blends; in FAR values of plus 20 or higher, which are consistently achieved in the film prepared from the resin blend; the capability of utilizing off-the-shelf polymers; and the desirable bimodal characteristics of the blend.
Conventional additives, which can be introduced into the blend, are exemplified by antioxidants, ultraviolet absorbers, antistatic agents, pigments, dyes, nucleating agents, fillers, slip agents, fire retardants, plasticizers, processing aids, lubricants, stabilizers, smoke inhibitors, viscosity control agents, and crosslinking agents, catalysts, and boosters, tackifiers, and anti-blocking agents. Aside from the fillers, the additives can be present in the blend in amounts of about 0.1 to about 10 parts by weight of additive for each 100 parts by weight of polymer blend. Fillers can be added in amounts up to 200 parts by weight and more for each 100 parts by weight of the blend.
Patents mentioned in this specification are incorporated by reference herein.

Process for preparing a simulated in situ polyethylene blend

Abstract: A process comprising:

Abstract: (iv) passing the molten blend through one or more active screens, in the case of two or more active screens, positioned in series, each active screen having a micron retention size in the range of about 2 to about 70, at a mass flux of about 5 to about 100 pounds per hour per square inch.

Union Carbide Chemicals and Plastics Technology Corporation


Damaged or spent catalytic converters of the type having a metallic container for foil-shaped carriers of washcoats for catalysts of noble metal are recycled by admitting them into an impact pulverizer which forms a mixture of randomly distributed particles belonging to a first fraction containing dust-like particles of washcoats and catalyst or to a second fraction containing nonmagnetizable particles of containers and magnetizable particles of carriers. A high percentage of the first fraction is withdrawn from the pulverizer with an air stream which also entrains a percentage of the second fraction, primarily particles of carriers; such particles of carriers are separated from the stream in a first step and the particles of the first fraction are thereupon separated from the stream for admission into a collecting receptacle. The remainders of the first and second fractions are evacuated from the pulverizer along a second path, such as by gravity flow, and the mixture of first and second fractions is thereupon classified by pneumatically conveying the remaining particles of the first fraction into the collecting receptacle and by magnetically separating the remaining particles of the carriers from the particles of the containers.

The invention relates to improvements in methods of and in apparatus for recycling discarded catalytic converters of the type used in motor vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in methods of and in apparatus for recycling catalytic converters of the type wherein a metallic container or housing confines normally sheet- or foil-like metallic carriers of a surface-enlarging substrate (called washcoat) for metallic catalysts.
It is known to equip motor vehicles with after-treatment devices for pollutant removal from automotive exhaust, commonly known as catalytic converters, wherein a housing or container (which can serve as a muffler) confines a ceramic body constituting a carrier of catalytic agents, particularly noble metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium. The catalysts are effective when their temperature reaches a predetermined value. Since the mass of the ceramic body is rather large, the catalysts which are deposited thereon become effective only after a relatively long interval of time following starting of the engine in a motor vehicle. In addition, ceramic carriers are sensitive to mechanical and/or thermal shocks so that they must be installed with a view to avoid vibration and/or abrupt changes of temperature of such converters.
Attempts to overcome the drawbacks of catalytic converters which employ ceramic bodies have led to the development of aftertreatment devices wherein the catalysts are applied to metallic carriers. A catalytic converter embodying metallic carriers of catalysts employs a metallic container or housing with an inlet for exhaust gases and an outlet for treated exhaust gases. The container confines sheet- or foil-like carriers for so-called washcoats which, in turn, carry metallic catalysts. The washcoats are thin coatings which enlarge the surfaces of laminations including the carriers and the washcoats, and the enlarged surfaces carry the catalysts. As a rule, the container and its inlet and outlet are made of special high-quality steel or a nonmagnetic ferrous alloy. The sheet- or foil-like carriers are often made from a ferromagnetic Fe-Cr-A1 alloy having a minimal thickness. Flat carriers alternate with corrugated or undulate carriers, and the flat carriers contact the nodes and antinodes of corrugations forming part of the corrugated carriers. Such contacting portions of the flat and corrugated carriers can be soldered or otherwise secured to each other. The coatings of washcoat can be made of gamma-aluminum-oxide, and the exposed surfaces of such coatings are impregnated with noble metals.
An advantage of a metallic converter is that its mass is small (especially when compared with the mass of a ceramic body) so that the entire device is rapidly heated to an optimum temperature as soon as the inlet of the container begins to receive exhaust gases from the engine of a motor vehicle. In other words, the catalytic effect is felt shortly or immediately after the engine is started. Moreover, a metallic converter is less sensitive to mechanical and/or thermal stresses which, in turn, renders it possible to install the converter in the tail pipe much closer to the engine than is advisable for a ceramic converter. Of course, as the metallic converter is rather close to the engine, its temperature is raised by the exhaust gases practically immediately after starting. This, of course, is in line with the dictates and suggestions by environmental protection agencies.
In spite of their aforediscussed important advantages over ceramic converters, metallic converters have failed to find commensurate acceptance in the industry. One of the reasons is believed to be that recycling of such metallic converters is unknown or that the heretofore proposed recycling methods and apparatus are unsatisfactory.
Recycling of converters for use in motor vehicles presently involves mechanical treatment which is followed by chemical treatment serving primarily to recover the active catalysts such as platinum, palladium and rhodium. A converter is ready for recycling when its catalytic activity deteriorates. Furthermore, it is often necessary to recycle certain converters which were damaged as a result of an accident or for any other reason. In many instances, removal of spent or damaged converters from motor vehicles is not carried out with a high degree of care so that the devices which are delivered for recycling often exhibit plugged inlets and/or outlets as well as remnants of tail pipes.
Published Japanese patent application Serial No. 02-209-433 proposes to recycle a metallic catalytic converter without prior removal of the metallic container. The converter is heated in an electric furnace and is thereupon quenched in water. This is intended to result in separation of gamma-aluminum-oxide layers of the washcoats and noble metal catalysts from the foil-shaped carriers and metallic container due to different thermal expansion coefficients of the separated constituents. The mixture of gamma-aluminum-oxide and noble metals is thereupon treated with an aqueous solution of caustic soda which results in dissolution of the washcoat of gamma-aluminum-oxide. The noble metals are thereupon recovered by resorting to a filtering operation. The proposal in the published Japanese patent application merely involves segregation and an increase of the concentration of noble metals. However, the metallic container remains connected with the foil-shaped carriers and thus necessitates additional recycling. Moreover, the just discussed recycling is possible only if the damaged or spent converters are delivered with open inlet and outlet nipples.

Method of and apparatus for recycling catalytic converters


A recycling separator system utilizes at least one, and preferably a series of cutters, which may be contained in sections whereby input is combined with fluid and directed through the cutters, such as in series, and then settled material may be removed through one of traps and sinks as at least a component of a first recycled material while floating material may be removed through float outputs as at least a component of a second recycled material.

For years, various efforts have gone into recycling polymers. For instance, carpet is a product often made of nylon with a latex backing. Separating the nylon from the latex after tufting and backing is not a particularly easy process.
Used carpet is often a waste product. Prior endeavors provided a process of shaving the nylon from the backing to reprocess the nylon. Unfortunately, this process leaves a nylon/latex carcass which still goes to the landfill usually after shaving nylon to be reprocessed. Furthermore, this reprocessing step of a nylon usually leads to a reprocessed nylon having a tensile strength of roughly 5,000 to 6,000 psi which is significantly inferior to the 12,000 psi that virgin nylon would otherwise provide due to impurities recycled with the nylon waste.
Other efforts have been made to reprocess PET bottles, often utilized for personal sized water bottles and other plastic bottles. The current methodology cuts bottles into strips or "flakes." Unfortunately, the strips can stick together since they are generally planar sandwiching impurities therebetween. If two of these planar pieces stick together, any impurity therebetween will often need to be eliminated by further processing or will add to the impurity value of the attempt at reclamation of the polymer. There is not believed to be a satisfactory method of addressing impurities currently available in the market.
It is believed that other polymer recycling techniques have other downfalls.
Accordingly, there is a perceived need for an improved likely recycling method and apparatus in an attempt to provide acceptable recycled polymers for reuse to various industries. Some uses may include compound polymers with the recycled material. Other uses may use the recycled materials in other uses, possibly to provide recycled plastics which may have benefits over other materials and some improved properties which can be marketed over new products.


The present invention relates to a thermosetting resin having high thermal resistance, high strength, flame resistance, and good processability which can be obtained by reacting polycarbodiimide substantially produced from one or more kinds of organic polyisocyanate with crosslinking agents having two or more active hydrogen groups in their molecules, one or more kinds of compounds having epoxy groups in their molecules or compounds capable of accelerating the trimerization reaction of carbodiimide, and production methods thereof.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a novel thermosetting resin having thermal resistance, flame resistance, high strength, and excellent processability, and production methods thereof.
2. Description of the prior art
In general, an addition polymerization of an organic polyisocyanate and a compound having active hydrogen groups has been known, as represented by the production of useful polymeric substances which are known generically as polyurethane in various combinations of reactions between such compounds. For example, the reaction of organic polyisocyanate with a polyhydric alcohol produces polyurethane, while its reaction with a polyamine produces polyurea, etc.
However, even if compounds have active hydrogen groups, aminotriazine, for example, has the free amino group directly bonded to the triazine nucleus with very high electron attractive property, and thus its reaction activity with isocyanate are thought to be very low. Furthermore, aminotriazine is usually solid, has a very high melting point, and is almost insoluble in liquid organic polyisocyanates. Consequently, there have so far been very few examples of the production of polymeric substances by the reaction of organic polyisocyanates with aminotriazine and it has been thought that no reaction takes place between these substances. As described above, the actual conditions of this reaction have not yet been completely elucidated.
On the other hand, the inventors of the present invention found during the process of making certain investigations with a view to developing a novel resin with thermal and flame resistance that condensation products which are extremely rigid, insoluble and infusible can be produced by reactions between organic polyisocyanates and aminotriazine, and made an application for patent with regard to this invention (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 41320/1984). However, it is thought that if a thermosetting resin with excellent physical properties such as strength can be obtained, the reaction between organic polyisocyanate and a compound having active hydrogen groups will have increased applicability and will be very useful.
Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a thermosetting resin having high thermal resistance and strength.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a flame resistant thermosetting resin having high thermal resistance and strength.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a thermosetting resin having high thermal resistance, high strength, flame resistance, and excellent processability.

Thermosetting resin and a method for producing it


A sheet has a long input edge and a short remote edge. The sheet has parallel side edges. The side edges extend at right angles from the ends of the input edge. Angled side edges extend from the ends of the remote edge to the ends of the parallel side edges. A pair of exterior fold lines extend from the ends of the remote edge. A pair of interior fold lines extend from intermediate regions of the remote edge parallel with the parallel side edges.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lawn debris handling system and more particularly pertains to assisting users in collecting and removing fallen leaves and other debris from yards in an economical and efficient manner.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of lawn debris systems of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, lawn debris systems of known designs and configurations previously devised and utilized for the purpose of removing debris through known methods and apparatuses consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,312,263 issued Apr. 4, 1967 to Wahlstrom relates to a tote bag for fallen leaves. U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,609 issued Jul. 14, 1992 to Tobin relates to a flexible trash bag support apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,718 issued Mar. 20, 2001 to Innocenti relates to a multi-function transporter for yard debris. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,742 issued Mar. 23, 2004 to Weathers relates to a leaf and debris chute.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a lawn debris handling system that allows assisting users in collecting and removing fallen leaves and other debris from yards in an economical and efficient manner.
In this respect, the lawn debris handling system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of assisting users in collecting and removing fallen leaves and other debris from yards in an economical and efficient manner.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved lawn debris handling system which can be used for assisting users in collecting and removing fallen leaves and other debris from yards in an economical and efficient manner. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


One embodiment disclosed relates to a system for power management of a group of computers. The system includes server side infrastructure (SSI) circuitry at each computer in the group and a centralized power management module (CPMM). The SSI circuitry includes local monitoring circuitry coupled to a central processing unit (CPU) of the computer. The CPMM has a management link to the SSI circuitry at each computer in the group. The local circuitry at each computer monitors power consumption at the CPU of that computer and transmits power consumption data to the CPMM. The CPMM applies a set of rules to the power consumption data to determine when and at which computers to enable and disable a CPU power throttling mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to power supplies for electronics and computers.
2. Description of the Background Art
Computer networks, such as the Internet, utilize high performance computer systems called "servers." Servers typically have high performance processors and contain hardware and software capable of handling large amounts of data. Servers provide a large number of computer users with compute services and access to large stores of information. For example, servers are used to host web sites that can be accessed by many computers via the Internet.
Multiple server components are often housed within a server housing or "server rack". Server racks are typically box-like structures or cabinets that contain a number of removable electronic modules or electronic trays. Each electronic tray can be a different server, or each electronic tray can hold one or more components of a server.
Other types of computing systems include bladed computers, workstations, and other computing machines. These computing systems may be in various arrangements, and are not necessarily in a racked configuration.
The above discussed server racks, blade chassis, workstation groups, and similar systems require substantial power to operate, and continuous operation of the computing systems is of critical importance in data centers, office environments, and other applications. Hence, improvements in systems and methods for providing power to systems with multiple computers are highly desirable.

Rack-level power management of computer systems

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


In a telecommunication system, providing to a recipient end point a caller identification (CID) from a calling end point, the calling end point including a default CID and at least one additional CID, the method includes receiving a call setup message from the calling end point, the call setup message including the additional CID, allocating a temporary end point for the call, from a pool of available end points, sending contact data for the allocated temporary end point to the calling end point, processing a first call received from the calling end point to the temporary end point, processing a second call to the recipient end point using the additional CID as the calling CID, and joining the first and second calls to generate a call from the calling end point to the recipient end point.

Mobile phones have become important devices in our daily life. A mobile phone or device is generally a subscriber to a telecommunication network in order to enjoy communication services, such as voice, data, . . . . A mobile user is generally identified using an International Mobile Subscriber Identity, or IMSI. The mobile IMSI is a unique number associated with all GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network mobile phone users. It is stored in the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) inside the phone. The SIM is actually unique to one subscriber and carries information to identify that subscriber in his home network, i.e. the network he is a subscriber of. This information includes the IMSI, further authentication data, and other data. The SIM is generally provided by the network operator when a user gets his subscription, and corresponds on this network to a unique MSISDN (Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number) which is actually the mobile device phone number in this network.
With the success of mobile telephony, and more generally with the multiplicity of enhanced communication services, each user today ends up associated with more than one communication devices, and consequently as many phone numbers—home, work, mobile, . . . .
Several recent developments have appeared to easy the user's burden in handling his numerous devices and/or phone numbers.
SIM cards carrying multiple subscriber identities are now available. Users can switch between subscriber identities using one single mobile device to register with different networks. One downfall with such a solution is that the user still has as many phone numbers as existing subscriber identities in his SIM card. Furthermore, as only one subscriber identity can be active at a time, call forwarding solutions are needed when a call involves the MSISDN of an inactive subscriber identity, i.e. an inactive MSISDN. For instance, when the user with multiple subscriber identities places a call to a recipient device using one of his inactive MSISDNs, a complex solution will be needed to use this inactive MSISDN as the caller Identification (CID).
Presenting the Caller Identification is a fairly recent service provided by most if not all network operators to their subscribers. For instance Caller ID (CID) corresponds to the service offered the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). CLIP (Calling Line Identification Presentation), a similar service offered for GSM mobile devices, is described in the document 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) TS23.081. Different solutions are available to transmit the caller ID information to the recipient device, for instance an SS7 (Signaling System 7) message for PSTN lines or an SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) message setup in GSM and UMTS networks for Voice over IP. The presented Caller ID is generally the subscriber Caller ID, here after referred to as the default Caller ID.
Changing the Caller ID for a calling device would allow to manage multiple Caller IDs through only one device. A user could place a call using his office, mobile, home, . . . called ID without the need of all the corresponding devices.
Solutions are known to present to a recipient device a Caller ID different than the default Caller ID. US2007105531S discloses a mobile device with a single SIM—and corresponding MSISDN—that is allocated with other MSISDNs. The mobile device, when sending a call setup message for calling a recipient device, passes on its IMSI number for authentication as well as one of the allocated MSISDN as the caller ID. As the call setup message is sent to the MSC (Mobile Switching Center), the MSC must support this additional parameter, and be modified accordingly. This additional field is not provided in the existing standards, and such a modification would require a heavy reconfiguration of all MSCs to be supported.
Today there is still a need for a simple solution that allows an efficient management of a user's plurality of Caller IDs. There is a further need for a service continuity when a user with multiple Caller IDs receives a call.

Method to manage multiple caller identities in a telecommunication system


A system, method and apparatus for rapid, large angle, high-precision steering of one or more beams of light, and in particular, laser beams, using one or more concave reflectors to provide narrow, essentially collimated output beams. The rapid, beam steering device amplifies the angular deflection provided by a small angle steering element by means of one or more concave reflecting surfaces while controlling the divergence of the output beam using a divergence control lens, to produce an essentially collimated output beam in a field of regard that subtends +/−45 degrees on one axis and +/−50 degrees on an orthogonal axis.

Precise and controllable delivery of laser beams to a desired location is an important technology with respect to telecommunications, military, and other general industrial applications. Beams of light having a low divergence, such as laser beams, play an important role in military and non-military systems, as they can provide a variety of functions, including, but not limited to, infrared countermeasures ("IRCM"), target designation, and communications, such as free-space optical communications. The most common means of obtaining such delivery is by using large, i.e., macroscopic, mechanically controlled mirrors, lenses and gimbals to steer laser beams. While this technology is mature, it is limited by, among other things, the mechanical nature of mirror movement. Furthermore, inertial properties of mechanically driven mirrors limit the speed with which steering can be changed. In addition, gimbaled or rotating mirrors or reflectors may be vulnerable to vibrations and accelerations.
With regard to military applications, such as infrared countermeasures (IRCM), target tracking and designation, and laser communications, at present, further improvement of these applications is hindered by the lack of small, lightweight, low cost, rapid laser beam steering, pointing, and tracking capabilities. The gimbaled and turret mounted laser systems that are currently available tend to be bulky, heavy, expensive and unsuitable for novel battlefield applications. Military applications would also benefit from an ability to emit multiple independently controlled laser beams and from adaptive optics technology. Each of these functions requires, or can benefit from, the ability to point, steer and track the beam. Current technologies have failed to deliver such abilities in accordance with military and defense requirements.
For example, laser beam or free-space optical communications is a particularly useful application of lasers to battlefield situations. The laser's highly directional beam provides the means for rapidly deployed, enormously high bandwidth, and highly secure point-to-point communications links over tactically significant ranges with good relay capability. These laser beam communications capabilities are, however, limited to communications between relatively large, fixed or slow moving objects, because of the slow speed, relatively large weight and significant power consumption of the current turret mounted, gimbaled laser beam steering systems. Employing current technologies, steered laser beams cannot, for instance, be used to provide communications links between rapidly moving or small vehicles such as, but not limited to, small unmanned flight vehicles, individual foot solders, terrestrial vehicles, or other manned or unmanned aircraft. This presents serious short comings in the era of "smart" battlefield and theater of engagement technologies.
Realizing the untapped, battlefield potential of laser beams, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Agency ("DARPA") launched the Steered, Agile Beam ("STAB") initiative in 1999, seeking the development of new beam steering technologies. DARPA specified that the new beam steering technologies should be capable of achieving significant reductions in size, weight, power, and cost over conventional methods. The primary objective of the STAB program was to produce a means to rapidly steer a laser beam over a wide three dimensional angular range while maintaining optical alignment with mobile targets at lengthy target ranges. In particular, the list of potentially useful and desired characteristics of the STAB program include the following specifications and objectives: 1) the ability to achieve a steering field of regard of 180° Azimuth and +/−45° Elevation (i.e., the ability to steer or scan a laser beam better than +/−45°), 2) eye safe operation, 3) rapid acquisition of the intended receiver and maintenance of optical alignment with mobile targets at representative target ranges of from 500 m up to 2 or 3 km, 4) correction for atmospheric degradation (if required), 5) covert optical data communications at extremely high bandwidth or throughput, 6) the ability to operate in the presence of strong daylight, 7) side lobe suppression of better than 30 dB, 8) compatibility with current target designation and IRCM infrastructure, and 9) means for covert target designation. The present invention substantially achieves all of these objectives.
As a result of the STAB initiative, numerous new beam-steering applications have been identified; however, current beam-steering technology still does not exist to support the identified applications by the STAB program. Most current optical beam steering systems continue to be mechanically driven systems—in whole or in part—which are complex, bulky, imprecise and expensive, and require high power to produce desired acceleration of the components thereof. The steering of these systems is relatively slow and imprecise, still often requiring mechanical stabilization, and such systems are still sensitive to vibration and acceleration.
Such shortcomings not only fail to meet the basic battlefield objectives established by DARPA, but further permeate other potential applications that would benefit from rapid, wide-angle agile beam steering. For instance, in the near term, new technologies for beam-steering systems with regard to military aircraft must facilitate self-protection (techniques-based infrared countermeasures or IRCM), targeting, passive and active searching and tracking, and free-space optical communications. Moreover, these systems must accommodate, in the longer term, damage-and-degrade-based infrared countermeasures. The new beam steering technologies must also be "conformal" to the outer skin of a vehicle, such as an aircraft, in order to reduce aerodynamic drag, reduce radar cross section, and minimize the obscuration to adjacent electro-optic systems.
In such cases, the optical beam steering system must deflect or steer an optical beam through relatively large angles, and there is a requirement for both a high speed of deflection and a high degree of precision in positioning the beam. A purely mechanical mirrored beam system can cover a large angular field with high resolution, but the speed or agility of the beam is limited by mechanical inertia. Electro-optical, acousto-optical, and low-inertia mechanical beam deflection systems are capable of high speeds of steering, but have a limited number of resolvable angular positions, typically in the magnitude of +/−1.5-3.0 degrees, and constitute, therefore, small angle or "fine" angle beam steering. As such, there is a need for a rapid, high-angle and precise agile beam steering system for numerous military aircraft applications.
In addition, the ability to rapidly steer multiple beams from a small, light weight package will allow conformal mounting of IRCM systems across all vulnerable points of a military aircraft. Multiple beam steering will also enable deployment of target illumination and designation systems capable of simultaneous engagement of multiple targets. Current technologies have failed to produce a beam steering system able to scan large angles, rapidly and precisely, and with the capability of accommodating more than one beam.
Recent advances in micro component technologies such as liquid crystals, micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) and optical MEMS, resonant cavity photo detectors, micro-diffractive optics, adaptive optics, micro-cavity quantum well lasers, thin film and photonic bandgap materials, for example, offer new opportunities in the development of "chip-scale" Microsystems for steered laser beam applications. However, such technologies are unable to meet all of the objectives of the STAB program and, in particular, are simply unable to deliver rapid, wide-angle and high precision beam steering capabilities.
Beam steering for IRCM applications, therefore, continue to focus on "macro" approaches to resolving the high angle, high speed, high precision dilemma. As such, size and bulk—undesirable features of current macro approaches—continue to plague current beam steering technology. For example, with regard to IRCM technologies, the prior art includes steering mirrors, pointing gimbals and monochromatic electro-optical, beam steering mechanisms. Steering mirrors require output windows many times the size of the system optical entrance pupil to scan over a large field of regard. Unfortunately, the mirror form factor requirements greatly increases the overall size of the sensor package.
By way of demonstration, a particular gimbaled approach for an IRCM device involves use of an imaging system mounted in a dome that is gimbaled to provide a desired pointing angle. The gimbals must point the entire sensor to scan the field-of-regard. Unfortunately, for aircraft applications, this requires a mirror below the platform line, which necessitates a hole in the platform. In addition, the dome and optical assembly is bulky, typically requires considerable volume, and has a radar cross-section which tends to increases the observe-ability of the vehicle.
Other approaches to an IRCM device have been suggested that would utilize existing technologies, such as a ball-turret recessed into the vehicle body. However, the downside of this approach is that, in order to obtain a full field of regard, a large window is required. This approach is further not feasible because the ball-turret must be deeply recessed and positioned within the body of the vehicle. Such an approach would simply utilize too much space within the aircraft vehicle.
Another approach that has been suggested as a conformal package is to implement a rotating prisms concept, which utilizes two prisms that rotate against each other. However, this approach is not desirable because the system is not entirely reflective, and as a result, there is a pointing error among different colors of the spectrum.
There are many other important applications which call for optical beam steering. One of these applications is free space optical communications, which is important to the telecommunications, cable and satellite television industries, as well as the military, as noted above.
From a military perspective, for example, communications networks that form the backbone of tactical communications are most often bulky, heavy, and time consuming to put into operation. Shortfalls in standard military tactical communications include the following:                Frequency allocation is a serious problem.        Bandwidth is too narrow for some traffic needs.        Radio frequency ("RF") omni-directional emissions allow targeting of defense systems.        Very limited use during periods of radio silence.        RF traffic more easily intercepted by the enemy.        RF signals can be jammed.        Time to set up and relocate RF stations (MSE) takes too long.        Use of wire as an alternative is costly, time consuming and somewhat inflexible.
Free-space optical communication has a number of advantages over RF communications, not least in the area of security. High performance laser systems have an inherently high level of link transmission security due to the very narrow transmitter beam width. It is necessary to directly interrupt the beam in order to access information, and this is both exceedingly difficult to achieve and easily detectable. For the same reasons, it causes no interference with nearby RF sources. Because lasers operate at a much higher frequency, moreover, they are able to achieve an exponential data throughput improvement. Transferring responsibility for throughput from satellite communication frequencies and into the free-space optical communication world will also free up RF for other military users and for applications that free-space optical communication cannot meet.
Accordingly, there is a need for a beam steering system capable of rapid operation over a wide angular field, and with a high degree of precision. The present invention satisfies this need.
The present invention successfully implements substantially of the aforementioned requirements, including, but not limited to, the DARPA STAB program objectives. The design of the present invention incorporates a high precision small angle steering element or "seeder" utilizing modern technologies such as, but not limited to, electro-optical, acousto-optical, opto-ceramic or piezoelectric actuators and a larger angle steering or amplification feature that is accomplished by spherical reflective devices, e.g., concave mirrors, which amplify the steering angle rendered by the fine-steering element. The novelty of the invention is represented by the amplification of a relative small steering angle, typically less than +/−1.5 degrees to a large steering angle, +/−45 degrees by one or more, but preferably two (2), curved reflectors. Indeed, the present invention can work with most, if not all, of the known small angle "seeder" or steering devices, including such non-mechanical technologies utilizing liquid crystal (LC) or other technologies known to those skilled in the art regarding rapid, small angle, high precision beam steering. The small angle steering can be achieved by any technology with high precision. The invention utilizes the reflection laws of physics and the tremendous speed (3×108 meters per second) at which the light travels, and solves the problems of many other steering schemes, which usually have less than +/−25 degrees of 2-dimensional steering range. To date, no embodiments of the aforementioned concept have been successfully reduced to practice and the prior art has largely failed to successfully accomplish rapid, high precision, large angle beam steering. The present invention accomplishes precise, large angle beam steering in an eloquent fashion.

System, method and device for rapid, high precision, large angle beam steering