A closed loop process is shown for treating oil and saline contaminated particulate materials such as drilling cuttings such as are encountered in oil and gas well bore drilling operations. The process includes at least two washing stages and three solids separation stages. A process fluid tank utilizes an auger to remove deposited solids from the process fluid while hot gases being bubbled through the tank facilitate separation and skimming of oil and hydrocarbon components from the tank surface.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates generally to a process for treating oil-contaminated particulates, such as drilling cuttings, and particularly those in which the salt content is high enough to present a disposal problem. More specifically, the invention relates to a staged washing and solids removal process for treating particulate materials such as drilling cuttings or drilling mud pit residues to produce a source of desalinated solid particles suitable for various uses or disposal as a non-hazardous waste.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
Oil and gas well drilling fluids, known in the industry as "muds", have been known for many years. The return of this mud from the borehole where the drilling occurs includes cuttings and other materials that were not originally present in the mud. In an oil-based mud drilling operation, there are typically two liquids (diesel and water) that normally become waste and are environmentally hazardous. When drilling with oil-based mud, the drilling rig must be washed with diesel in order not to contaminate the mud with water. Other sources of contamination exist on the rig, as well.
In various regions, tanks are used for storing drilling fluids and cuttings where reserve pits are not permitted. Also, removal may be required from presently existing reserve pits. In the reserve pits, the used drilling fluid contents are typically contaminated by, for example, top soil used in constructing the pit. Unclaimed mud, diesel and other effluents from the well may be dumped into a pit with significant pollution.
An object of the present invention is to provide a closed loop process for treating contaminated clays, sands, fines, gravels, drilling cuttings, or other solids or particulate containing fluids to produce an environmentally acceptable product.
The present invention also has as an object to provide a closed loop system for effectively removing oil, salt water residue, diesel or other contaminants produced by the drilling operation so that they are separated from the cuttings produced in the drilling process and are not otherwise dumped into the environment, as in the prior art.
Another object of the invention is to avoid the onerous expense of hauling contaminated cuttings and particulate materials from reserve pits or tanks to hazardous waste disposal locations which may be hundreds of miles from the well being drilled.
Another object of the invention is to provide a closed loop process for the treatment of particulate materials which is effective to remove, reduce and separate both chlorides and hydrocarbons from such materials, using only a small amount of water and leaving an environmentally acceptable product.

Treatment of oil-contaminated particulate materials


A process for producing mixed oxides containing an alumina species in which a mixture of a hydrated alumina having a specified surface area (average crystal size), a fluid medium and a compound having the formula M.sub.x A.sub.y wherein M is selected from the group consisting of metals, silicon, boron, arsenic and tellurium, A is selected from the group consisting of oxygen and anions, x is from 1 to 4 and y has a value satisfying said formula depending on the valence of M, is formed into a uniform sol, the sol is recovered from the liquid medium and dehydrated, and the dehydrated product is de-agglomerated to produce a mixed oxide having an average particle size of about 1 micron or less.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for preparing particulate, mixed oxides using an alumina hydrate as one of the starting materials. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved process for producing mullite.
2. Description of the Background
Mixed metal oxides are finding increasing use in the manufacture of precision ceramic parts for high tech ceramics, solid state electronics and other high technology fields. The starting materials for such end products are generally sub-micron, de-agglomerated mixed metal oxide powders, e.g. mullite. Mullite is an aluminum silicate having the formula 3Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 .multidot.2SiO.sub.2 (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 /SiO.sub.2 =1.5) that forms a solid solution with aluminum oxide when the molar ratio of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 /SiO.sub.2 is in a range of 1.50 to 2.87 (Ceramic International, 9 (4), 107-113 (1983) by J. A. Pash). Mullite is recognized as a useful material in ceramic applications where high temperature stability is required. Mullite is also resistant to thermal shock making it useful in critical applications. To obtain the desired properties, e.g. low sintering temperature, it has been found necessary to utilize synthetic mullite where the homogeneity and microstructure of the mullite can be controlled. Specifically, it is desirable to produce mullite having sub-micron particle size.
Synthetic mullites are currently produced by a variety of methods including coprecipitation, sol-gel, vapor phase reaction, and thermal diffusion. Of the above mentioned, the sol-gel technique is currently the most widely practiced method. In the sol-gel method, a colloidally dispersed boehmite sol is combined with a dispersed colloidal silica sol to obtain an intimate mixture. The mixture is then dried, milled to reduce particle size, fired to convert the amorphous mixture to mullite, and then milled again to reduce the particle size of the finished powder. Generally speaking, the boehmite sol employed in the prior art methods consists of small size boehmite crystals referred to as "pseudoboehmite".
Techniques for producing mullite by sol-gel techniques are disclosed, for example, in German Patent DE 3,618,576, and Japanese Kokai No. SHO 63(1988-144111). Additionally, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,928, there is disclosed a method of forming a water-dispersible boehmite colloidal sol.


A method of determining wear of a seal element includes rotating a seal plate relative to the seal element and such that the seal plate and the seal element form a rotational sealing interface. The seal element includes an insert embedded in the seal element. A portion of the seal element is worn with a sealing face of the seal plate. The insert is contacted with the sealing face of the seal plate. A portion of the insert is worn to create a wear particle of the insert. The presence of the wear particle in a lubrication oil is sensed with an oil monitoring system.

The present disclosure relates to seal assemblies. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to multi-material carbon face seals.
In existing bearing assemblies for aircraft bearing compartments, a dry face seal often provides a critical sealing interface within the bearing compartment. If the dry face seal loses its sealing capability, oil and mist within the compartment can leak into the bleed air. It is beneficial to have a dry seal configuration that provides a fully sealed interface at all times.
Occasionally, it is possible for a dry face seal to lose its sealing capability due to excessive wear of the seal. In some instances, metal-to-metal contact and wear of seal carriers and seal plates can generate metal particles as well as sparks due to frictional heating which may ignite lubrication oil in the compartment.


The invention relates to a device for exposing a digital image onto light-sensitive material. Prior to exposure, the digital image is split into n partial digital images (nxe2x89xa72) whose data is passed on to a control unit. According to the data, this unit controls n reflective light modulators that can be controlled pixel by pixel such that n partial images are generated at these light modulators that are illuminated by an illumination unit. The partial images are reproduced onto the light-sensitive material using an objective. In order to join the partial images into a total image, a prism or beam splitter complex is designed and arranged between the illumination unit, light modulators and reproducing objective such that both the illumination and the reproducing beam paths pass through it.

The invention relates to a device and a method for exposing a digital image onto light-sensitive material, which includes a computer unit for splitting the digital image into n partial digital images, where nxe2x89xa72, at least one control unit for controlling n reflective light modulators, pixel by pixel, for generating the n partial images, an illumination unit for illuminating the light modulators and an objective for reproducing the partial images onto the light sensitive material. Such devices and methods are known from various references dealing with digital exposure devices.
The German Patent No. 42 11 128 discloses one example that describes an image transfer method. With this method, an image original is scanned point by point and line by line, the individual signals are digitized and the digital image signals are reproduced on photographic paper via an optical system using a light modulator that is illuminated by a light source.
In particular, with such exposure devices it has also been known to split the digital images into partial images. Each partial image is then displayed on a light modulator. Using an optical system, the partial images are reproduced next to one another on the light-sensitive material resulting in the total image being presented on this material. Because the resolution of the light modulator must always be sufficient only for a part of the image, even larger images can be exposed in this manner with a sufficient resolution without the need to use expensive extreme high-resolution image generation devices. However, with this procedure it is always problematic to reproduce those areas where the partial images connect such that no density jump occurs in the image.
One example for such an exposure method is described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,814. Here, the original digital image is split into numerous partial images. One after the other, the partial images are generated using an LCD and exposed onto the light-sensitive material one next to the other using a projection lens system. Placing the partial images of the LCD image next to one another to combine them to a total image on the light-sensitive material is accomplished such that either the LCD, the objective, a beam splitter inserted into the beam path or the light-sensitive material is moved between the exposures of the partial images. To avoid density jumps in the connecting zones of consecutive partial images, the partial images are exposed overlapping by a few pixels. In the overlapping area, the density of the pixels of each partial image is then reduced inversely proportional to the number of overlapping partial images. For a precise recalibration of varying densities transmitted by individual pixels, sensors are inserted into the beam path of the LCD""s overlapping areas prior to exposure of the images, such that the pixels with multiple exposure can be measured and corrected.
This method is suitable for exposure processes where a fast production of many images is not required. For example, it lends itself to the generation of infrequent index prints between the standard exposures. In this case, the time loss resulting from the consecutive exposure of partial images and also the calibration required between exposures can be tolerated. However, with this method, the exposure of an entire digital image takes too much time to be used in a photographic reproduction device where images are to be exposed continuously.
Another system, which is particularly suitable for a line exposure device for consecutive exposure of two partial images is described in the, U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,299. Here, two lines arranged underneath one another of a DMD (so-called Digital Micromirror Device or Deformable Mirror Device) are illuminated by a lamp and the light is modulated by the small mirrors of the DMD according to the image data such that one half of the image line is generated on each DMD line. The modulated and reflected light of the two image line halves is redirected using an optical system consisting of reflective prism surfaces, such that lines that are located underneath one another in the object, each representing one image half of a line, are displayed next to one another in the image. This results in a consecutive line on the material to be exposed.
In the same manner as with all other digital exposure devices, where on paper partial images are combined to a total image, the problem of a density jump at the connecting edges of the partial images occurs, of course, here as well. However, the patent document does not deal with this problem.
A particular problem of this arrangement stems from the fact that the illumination and reproduction beam paths must be spatially separated sufficiently such that the reproduction beam path is not vignetted by the illumination optics. This spatial separation prevents a compact design of the exposure system.
This problem is addressed by the device disclosed in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/495,802. This device combines the light reflected by two DMDs by means of a beam splitter. The DMDs are arranged on both sides of the beam splitter such that the light of one DMD passes through one half of the beam splitter. The light of the other DMD is reflected by the second half such that images generated by the DMDs are reproduced next to one another on the light-sensitive material. For the illumination, a light source that illuminates the DMDs passing by the beam splitters and the reproducing objective is provided for each DMD. To correct the connecting area of the consecutively reproduced partial images, this application recommends to partially decouple the combined partial images from the reproduction beam path using a beam splitter. The decoupled light is guided to a sensor where the exposure in the connecting zone is monitored for uniformness. In this manner, a continuous correction of the density in the connecting zone can be carried out even during the exposure. Similar to the previous arrangement, the disadvantage with this one is also that a very compact design is impossible because the illumination and reproduction beam paths must be spatially separated. Furthermore, it is problematic with such designs to adjust the two light modulators such that their images connect precisely on the photographic paper.
It is, therefore, the principal objective of the present invention to develop a device for exposing digital images, where partial images generated at various light modulators are reproduced simultaneously next to one another on light-sensitive material, such that, with a compact, adjustment-friendly design of the device, no density jumps occur at the connection areas of the partial images.
This objective, as well as other objectives which will become apparent from the discussion that follows, are achieved according to the invention by a device and a method wherein the generated partial images are combined by a prism or a beam splitter complex, arranged between the illumination unit, light modulators and the objective, such that both the illumination and the reproduction beam path pass through it.
A very compact design of the exposure device can be accomplished by the arrangement of beam splitters or beam splitter prisms between the illuminating unit, light modulator and reproduction objective according to the invention, because both the illumination and the reproduction beam paths can be directed through the beam splitters or prisms. By directing the beams in this manner, it is possible to attach the reflecting light modulators directly to the complex that combines the partial images. On one hand, this makes possible the extremely compact design of the exposure device, and on the other hand, it becomes comparatively easy to adjust the light modulators due to the attachment of the light modulators on the complex. For example, using a glass adhesive they can be placed on the complex in a movable fashion and then moved around until an uninterrupted total image is achieved when reproducing a test image on the light-sensitive material. Thereafter, the glass adhesive is hardened. Once adjusted, the light modulators remain in a fixed position on the complex; even the replacement of components of the exposure device, for example, of the illumination unit or the objective, would not require a new adjustment.
When using prism complexes, these are designed and arranged such that beams emitted by the illumination device strike the prism interface at such a small angle that they are completely reflected onto the light modulator at the respective interface at the transition to the optically thinner medium. The beams reflected by the light modulator strike the interface of the beam splitter prisms at a different angle than the incident beams such that they can pass the interfaces. During the transmission, the beams are deflected such that behind the beam splitter prisms together with beams reflected by other light modulators they result in a common beam bundle, which exposes an uninterrupted image onto the light-sensitive material.
DMDs (Digital Micromirror Devices), VFDs (Vacuum Fluorescence Displays), reflective LCDs, GLVs (Grating Light Valves) or any other reflective light modulators can be used as the light modulators.
Depending on the design and arrangement of the beam splitter complex and the illumination design, partial images of any desired number of light modulators can be combined. Although an even number of light modulators is easier to implement for symmetry reasons, basically an uneven number of light modulators can be combined as well.
Both physical and geometrical beam splitters are conceivable for beam splitting. Metallic physical beam splitters have the advantage that regarding the color, they barely alter the split beam, such that the combined image does not require color correction; however, their disadvantage is a high light loss.
All potential multi-color light sources, such as halogen lamps or LEDs, whose light can be combined in a common beam path using a beam splitter are suitable as illumination units. For the illumination, it is only important that the light for all light modulators originates from the same light source, if at all possible. Depending on the design of the beam splitter complex, the light of the illumination unit can be directly directed to the light modulators, or the light of the illumination unit is initially split by additional beam splitters such that several virtual images of this one light source are generated that each illuminate one light modulator. The advantage of having only one illumination unit for illuminating several light modulators is that changes of the illumination unit affect all partial images generated by the light modulators in the same manner, such that no density jumps due to differing fluctuations at the connecting edges of the partial image are recognizable in the total image.
The design of illumination unit, illumination optics, beam splitter complex, light modulators as well as reproduction optics should be symmetrical such that both the beam paths that illuminate the light modulators and the light paths that reproduce the image generated at the light modulators onto the light-sensitive material have the same length for each light modulator. This is the prerequisite for a Kxc3x6hler beam path to be realized. For this, an illumination optics must be designed and arranged such that the image of the light source is reproduced in the pupil of the reproduction optics and the reproduction optics must be designed such that the pupil of the illumination optics at the same time becomes the port of the reproduction optics. Such a beam path ensures that no location information of the lamp is transferred into the image. Eliminating any location information and using only one light source prevents time-related changes that occur locally at one place in the lamp from being visible at the edge of a partial image but not at the edge of the connecting one, which would result in density jumps at the connecting area.
In place of the implementation of a Kxc3x6hler beam path, the beam path for preventing density jumps can also be designed such that the light reproducing the connecting area of the partial images stems from the same place of the illumination unit.
For a full understanding of the present invention, reference should now be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Device and method for exposing a digital image onto light-sensitive material


A system and method is provided for monitoring the keystroke and mouse-click actions of a visitor to an e-commerce web site. After receiving a signal that represents an attempt to terminate the on-line session between a visitor and the e-commerce web site, and an e-commerce shopping cart contains at least one good or service, or if the shopping has items removed from it, or even if the shopping cart is empty, the visitor is prompted to respond to one or more prompts in a display screen.

The proliferation of Internet web sites has enabled users to locate and access commercial "e-commerce" web sites that offer the sale of goods and/or services directly over the World Wide Web. In a typical "e-commerce" Internet web site, a plurality of hyperlinks are formatted as text and/or graphic controls (e.g., buttons, drop-down lists, check boxes, text boxes, and the like) and represent goods and/or services offered for sale by the site's proprietor.
Ideally, search engines provide a relatively level playing field for e-commerce merchants to compete and sell their goods and services. It is no longer inconceivable for a small business owner that sells a particular good to compete with a massive department store chain located in a different geographic region and that provides the same or similar good for sale. The ability of a plurality of parties to compete effectively over the Internet has driven the development of e-commerce software applications, such as well known e-commerce shopping cart applications that enable visitors of a web site to select specific items for sale and, thereafter, to purchase those items through on-line purchasing functionality.
Referring to the drawing figures in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, there is shown in FIGS. 1-7 a series of display screens representing a typical prior art e-commerce web site. In the examples shown in FIGS. 1-7, the web site offers a plurality of items for sale and generally arranged by category. The example prior art e-commerce web site shown in FIGS. 1-7 is representative of a web site for STAPLES department store.
As shown in FIG. 1, a series of general category hyperlinks directed to office supplies and furniture is provided. For example, below the category, Office Supplies, is a plurality of hyperlinks for batteries, binders and binder accessories, boards and easels, etc. FIG. 2 shows a display screen that represents results presented to a visitor of the web site after the hyperlink for Tape, Glue and Adhesives (FIG. 1) is selected. As shown in FIG. 2, more particular categories of tape, glue and adhesives are provided, including glue & adhesive products, invisible tape, mounting & specialty tapes, and the like.
FIG. 3 shows an example display screen of a typical prior art e-commerce web site after a visitor selects the hyperlink for tape dispensers (FIG. 2). A plurality of specific items and respective prices is provided in the display screen shown in FIG. 3 for the visitor to select and purchase. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the visitor has selected SCOTCH DESIGNER TAPE DISPENSER. As shown in the upper right hand corner of FIG. 4, the visitor has not selected any items for purchase, and, therefore, the shopping cart summary 10 is listed as empty. Also shown in FIG. 4, the visitor has entered three for the quantity of tape dispensers for purchase in the quantity text box 12.
FIG. 5 shows the same e-commerce web site display screen as shown in FIG. 4, but differs in that the shopping cart summary 10 indicates the visitor has selected three SCOTCH DESIGNER TAPE DISPENSERS.
FIG. 6 shows another product, SCOTCH TRANSPARENT TAPE, that has been selected by the visitor for purchase. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the visitor has entered a quantity of five for purchase, shown in quantity text box 12. Once the visitor selects add-to-cart button 14, the e-commerce site updates the visitor's e-commerce shopping cart with the newly added items, substantially as shown in the shopping cart summary 10, in FIG. 7.
Continuing with reference to FIG. 7, the visitor has several choices available to him. For example, the visitor can select checkout button 16, which typically provides a display screen that prompts the visitor to submit credit card or other payment information to complete the transaction. After the transaction is completed, then the goods (or services) are delivered in accordance with shipping arrangements provided in the e-commerce web site. Alternatively, the visitor can continue shopping and select more items to be entered into the e-commerce shopping cart. Also, the visitor can amend the contents of the e-commerce shopping cart by removing items that are provided therein, or by changing quantities of items in the shopping cart.
A shortcoming in the prior art exists because a visitor of an e-commerce web site is able to terminate the on-line session with the site, for example, by closing the web browser application. In most Windows-based web browser software applications, the visitor can click the X button in the top right portion of the windowed screen. Alternatively, the visitor can select File from a menu, and then select Exit from the File sub-menu. Moreover, a user of Windows-based web browser software can effectively terminate on-line session with an e-commerce web site by pressing the ALT key and F4 key simultaneously, or by pressing the CTRL key and the F4 key simultaneously. Further, a user can click a mouse button over an icon representation in the WINDOWS TASKBAR and select the choice, Close, from the respective menu. Still another method to terminate an on-line session includes navigating and/or "surfing" to another web site. For example, a visitor can type a URL for a different web site in a browser address bar and be presented with a different web site, thereby terminating the communication session with the e-commerce web site. Alternatively, a hyperlink to another web site may be provided in the e-commerce web site, thereby enabling the visitor to terminate his session with the e-commerce web site and begin a new session with the web site identified in the hyperlink.
Thus, there are many ways for an on-line shopping session to terminate prior to the completion of a sales transaction.
After goods or services have been selected and added to an e-commerce shopping cart, and the visitor terminates the on-line session with the e-commerce web site, the visitor might never return to the merchant's e-commerce web site again. This presents a drawback for on-line merchants in that revenue is not realized. In typical prior art e-commerce web sites, the merchant maintains a record of the contents added to the e-commerce shopping cart, and the next time the visitor establishes an on-line session with, and logs in to, the merchant's web site, the contents are presented again to the visitor.
On some e-commerce web sites, the contents of the shopping cart are saved and on other sites they never are. Typically, if a user is not logged in to an e-commerce site, for example, by submitting a unique user name and password, the contents are never displayed. Information regarding shopping cart contents are not usually stored locally on a user's device, such as in Internet cookies, and, therefore, e-commerce web site server do not automatically populate an electronic shopping cart without the user being logged in.


This invention provides low molecular weight lipid-GAG and phospholipids-GAG conjugates and methods of use thereof in suppressing, inhibiting, preventing, or treating a pathogenic effect on a cell, including, inter alia, infection with intracellular pathogens.

Lipid-conjugates having a pharmacological activity of inhibiting the enzyme phospholipase A2 (PLA2, EC 22.214.171.124) are known in the prior art. Phospholipase A2 catalyzes the breakdown of phospholipids at the sn-2 position to produce a fatty acid and a lysophospholipid. The activity of this enzyme has been correlated with various cell functions, particularly with the production of lipid mediators such as eicosanoid production (prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes), platelet activating factor and lysophospholipids. Lipid-conjugates may offer a wider scope of protection of cells and organisms from injurious agents and pathogenic processes, including the prevention and treatment of microbial infections. Lipid-conjugates may offer a wider scope of protection of cells and organisms from injurious agents and pathogenic processes, including the prevention and treatment of microbial infections.
Lipid-conjugates have been subjected to intensive laboratory investigation in order to obtain a wider scope of protection of cells and organisms from injurious agents, pathogenic and inflammatory processes.

Lipid-polymer conjugates, their preparation and uses thereof

Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ltd.


A pixel portion of an image pick-up device having a pixel portion of pixels arranged in matrix converting a subject image to an electric signal, and a scanning unit of sub-scanning circuits outputting a video signal, a first scanning circuit selecting a pixel position in a first matrix direction and a second scanning circuit selecting a pixel position in a second direction intersecting the first direction. One of the first and second scanning circuits shares the signal lines. The image pick-up device includes a scanning control circuit controlling the first and second scanning circuits. The pixel area structures of the pickup device are uniform, the wirings are uniform, and the vertical and horizontal driving systems and an output system are uniform. Thus, pixel signals outputted from two output systems have no property differences and image quality is improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pick-up device of a multi-channel output system, with the multi channels having a uniform structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
An MOS solid-state image pick-up device adopts a multi-channel output system (multi-line output system) for simultaneously obtaining a plurality of video signal outputs in parallel therewith from a single image pick-up device, as a general method for obtaining a video signal at a high frame rate from an image pick-up device having millions of pixels.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a multi-channel output system in a general MOS solid-state pick-up device according to a related art. Referring to FIG. 1, the solid-state pick-up device has (n×n) pixels.
Matrix-arranged pixels P11 to Pnn are divided into four areas. A divided-area-1 has an area ranging from P11 to Paa, a divided-area-2 has an area ranging from P1b to Pan, a divided-area-3 has an area ranging from Pb1 to Pna, and a divided-area-4 has an area ranging from Pbb to Pnn.
A vertical scanning circuit 5 drives pixels on first to a-th rows, and a vertical scanning circuit 6 drives pixels on b-th to n-th rows. Horizontal reading circuits 1 and 3 read pixels on first to a-th columns, and horizontal reading circuits 2 and 4 read pixels on b-th to n-th columns.
Signal outputs are obtained from the pixels arranged in the respective divided-area-1 to divided-area-4, that is, the signal outputs from the pixels P11 to Paa in the divided-area-1 are obtained by the horizontal reading circuit (also referred to as a horizontal scanning circuit) 1 and the vertical scanning circuit 5. The signal outputs from the pixels P1b to Pan in the divided-area-2 are obtained by the horizontal reading circuit 2 and the vertical scanning circuit 5. The signal outputs from the pixels Pb1 to Pna in the divided-area-3 are obtained by the horizontal reading circuit 3 and the vertical scanning circuit 6. The signal outputs from the pixels Pbb to Pnn in the divided-area-4 are obtained by the horizontal reading circuit 4 and the vertical scanning circuit 6.
FIG. 2 shows an image pick-up device for processing a plurality of video signal outputs as obtained as above according to the related art. The signals from the horizontal reading circuits 1 to 4 are supplied respectively to signal processing units 7 to 10. The signal processing units 7 to 10 have the same structure and comprise an amplifier and an AD converter, respectively. In the signal processing units 7 to 10, the respective input signals are amplified by the amplifiers, the amplified signals are converted into digital signals by the AD converters, and the digital signals are then supplied to an image memory 11. The image memory 11 stores and holds the signals from the signal processing units 7 to 10, and supplies the stored signals to a video signal processing unit (not shown) at the latter stage. The image memory 11 combines pixel signals in the divided-area-1 to divided-area-4, thus to form one image.
By the way, in the device with the above structure, the video signals in each of the divided-area-1 to divided-area-4 pass through signal processing systems individually comprising a scanning circuit and a video signal processing unit. Thus, the differences of electric properties among the signal processing systems cause the variation in signal level. Consequently, the quality of the finally-combined image degrades.
Then, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-209503 (Patent Document 1) discloses the suggestion to solve the above-mentioned problem.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an image pick-up device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-209503 (Patent Document 1). The image pick-up device shown in FIG. 3 is a general MOS solid-state pick-up device.
The pixel arrangement of the image pick-up device shown in FIG. 3 is the same as that shown in FIG. 1. In the image pick-up device shown in FIG. 1, the pixels are included in one of the divided areas. However, the divided areas do not include any common pixel. On the contrary, in the image pick-up device shown in FIG. 3, the adjacent divided areas include common pixels. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 3, a divided-area-1 comprises pixels P11 to Pbb, a divided-area-2 comprises pixels P1a to Pbn, a divided-area-3 comprises pixels Pa1 to Pnb, and a divided-area-4 comprises pixels Paa to Pan.
Horizontal reading circuits 15 to 18 respectively read the pixels in the divided-area-1 to divided-area-4. For example, the signals of the pixels Paa through Pbb are outputted from the entire horizontal reading circuits 15 to 18. The signals of the pixels Pa1 and Pb1 are outputted from both of the horizontal reading circuits 15 and 17. The outputs from the overlapping-read pixels are averaged, to thus average the property variation in horizontal reading circuits at the boundary of the divided areas and to reduce image deterioration.


A reticle sorter and a semiconductor fabrication facility employing one or more reticle sorters is provided. The reticle sorter(s) generally lies between a reticle storage system and a group of one or more photolithography exposure tools (e.g., steppers) and is configured for sorting reticles in one or more cassettes. The use of the reticle sorter provides sorting functionality apart from the reticle storage system and typically closer to the group of photolithography steppers with which it is associated. This can, for example, significantly increase the throughput of semiconductor wafers through the associated photolithography exposure tools as well as in the semiconductor fabrication plant as a whole.

Semiconductor manufacturers compete in a highly competitive and capital-intensive industry. A state-of-the-art semiconductor fabrication facility can cost $1 billion or more and include hundreds of different fabrication tools including, for example, material stockers, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) systems, photolithography systems, chemical-mechanical planarization systems, etc. On any given day, a number of different batches of semiconductor wafers can run through a fabrication facility. To recover the capitalization costs and remain competitive, semiconductor manufacturers continually seek to improve semiconductor throughput and yield.
Manufacturers pay particular attention to the photolithography process, a process which occupies a substantial amount of floor space and is performed on a given wafer a number of different times throughout the fabrication process. The photolithography process typically involves applying a photoresist layer (e.g., SiO.sub.2) over the surface of a semiconductor wafer using a coating machine or coater. The wafer then moves to an exposure tool, such as a photolithography stepper, which exposes the photoresist layer to a patterned light source. The light source is typically patterned using a mask or reticle (hereinafter reticle). The reticle typically contains clear and opaque features which generally define the pattern to be created in the photoresist layer. The exposed photoresist is then developed and regions of the photoresist are dissolved such that the pattern is transferred to the photoresist layer. The exposed regions of the underlying semiconductor wafer layer are then processed by, for example, etching the exposed wafer layer, depositing a material on the exposed wafer layer, or doping the exposed wafer layer.
For a given wafer, the photolithography process may be used a number of times as layers are formed over layers to form the ultimate semiconductor device structure. To perform the various photolithography processes, a typical plant employs upwards of 10-20 different photolithography steppers and can use thousands of different reticles. Given the substantial use of photolithography in the semiconductor fabrication process, manufacturers find any increase in the throughput of photolithography systems to be highly desirable.


Optical films, and organic light-emitting display devices employing the same, include a high refractive index pattern layer including a lens pattern region and a non-pattern region alternately formed, wherein the lens pattern region includes a plurality of grooves each having a depth larger than a width thereof, and the non-pattern region has no pattern; and a low refractive index pattern layer formed of a material having a refractive index smaller than a refractive index of the high refractive index pattern layer, wherein the low refractive index pattern includes a plurality of filling portions filling the plurality of grooves.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to optical films for reducing color shift and/or organic light-emitting display devices employing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) include an anode, an organic light-emitting layer, and a cathode. Here, when a voltage is applied between the anode and the cathode, holes are injected into the organic light-emitting layer from the anode, and electrons are injected into the organic light-emitting layer from the cathode. At this time, the holes and the electrons, which are injected into the organic light-emitting layer, are recombined in the organic light-emitting layer so as to generate excitons, and the excitons emit light while transitioning from an excited state to a ground state.
In such an OLED, a lifespan problem resulting from deterioration due to a luminescent material, which is an organic material, is key in developing OLED technology, and many techniques have been introduce to overcome this problem.
A technique using a microcavity structure, which is one of the techniques to overcome the lifespan problem, causes light that is being emitted and has a specific wavelength to resonate, so as to increase the intensity of the light and emit the light to the outside. That is, in the technique, a distance between an anode and a cathode is designed to match with a representative wavelength of each of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), so that only a corresponding light beam resonates and is emitted to the outside and other light beams are attenuated. As a result, in the technique, the intensity of the light beam emitted to the outside is increased and sharpened, thereby increasing brightness and color purity. In addition, the increase in brightness induces low power consumption, thereby increasing a lifespan of the OLED.
However, in a microcavity structure, wavelengths to be amplified are determined based on a thickness of an organic deposition material layer. Here, a length of a light path changes at lateral sides, thereby causing an effect similar to a change in the thickness of an organic deposition material layer. Therefore, wavelengths to be amplified are changed.
In other words, as the viewing angle is tilted from the front to a side, the maximum resolution wavelength becomes shorter, and thus a color shift occurs as the maximum resolution wavelength decreases. For example, even if white color is embodied at the front, the white color may become bluish at a lateral side due to blue shift phenomenon.

Optical film for reducing color shift and organic light-emitting display device employing the same


A program vector can represent attributes of a program to be generated. EPG data can be received, and metadata necessary for generation of a program vector PP can be extracted from the EPG data. A morphological analysis can be carried out on contents and title included in the metadata to disassemble the contents and the title into words. Items included in the metadata can be subjected to a vector creation process to generate the program vector PP. An effect vector can be extracted on the basis of a genre of a program associated with the metadata. The extracted effect vector can be associated with the generated program vector PP and the processing can be ended. This can be applied to a distribution server for distributing contents.

Conventionally, in order to recommend a program in the television and radio broadcasting to the user, for example, a program matching information preferred by the user is selected by using program information (or program meta data) such as an EPG (Electronic Program Guide). A method to recommend a program to the user varies in dependence on a method to acquire data preferred by the user. An example of the method to recommend a program to the user is an initial-interest catalog method whereby, first of all, information on interests of the user is initially cataloged in advance and then used as a basis for recommending a program to the user. Another example of the method to recommend a program to the user is a viewing-history utilization method to recommend a program to the user by using a history of programs viewed by the user in the past. A further example of the method to recommend a program to the user is a collaborative filtering method to recommend a program to the user by using viewing histories of other users.
In the initial-interest catalog method, first of all, the user is requested to catalog information such as a category of favorite programs, a preferred genre and the names of favorite talents in advance. Examples of the favorite-programs category are a drama and a variety program. Examples of the preferred genre are a mystery and a comedy. Then, the cataloged information is used as a keyword for recognizing program meta data matching the interest of the user. Finally, the name of a program to be recommended to the user is acquired.
In the viewing-history utilization method, every time the user views a program, the meta data of the viewed program is stored and, as past meta data has been stored to a certain degree, the stored meta data is analyzed to obtain information such as a category of favorite programs, a preferred genre and the names of favorite talents. Then, the obtained information is used as a keyword for recognizing program meta data matching the favorite of the user. Finally, the name of a program to be recommended to the user is acquired.
In an apparatus such as a recording apparatus employing an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), for example, information on favorites is acquired not only on the basis of a viewing history, but also in some cases on the basis of information on a history of recording reservations or a history of user operations such as recording operations. In such cases, it is possible to distinguish a program accidentally viewed by the user from a program intentionally viewed by the user as a program of interest to the user so that information reflecting better favorites of the user can be acquired. A program accidentally viewed by the user is a program viewed by the user as a program presented by a television receiver (or a radio) in a turned-on state not set by the user because the user has a particular interest in the program and views the program.
In the collaborative filtering method, given a first user, first of all, an operation is carried out to search for a second user with a viewing/operation history matching the viewing/operation history of the first user and the viewing/operation history of the second user is acquired. Then, a program is selected among programs viewed by the second user as a program not viewed yet by the first user and recommended to the first user.
In addition, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-160955, for example, there has been proposed a technology whereby an n-dimensional attribute vector is added in advance to a broadcast program as attributes of the program. Then, a selection vector is compared with the attribute vector to select a program to be recorded or a program to be reproduced. The selection vector is a vector generated from data initially recorded by the user and average values of attributes represented by attribute vectors of programs reproduced by the user or programs with reserved recording.
If a program is selected by adoption of the initial-interest catalog method, however, the selected program represents only a specific interest, which was owned by the user at the time the user initially cataloged information. In addition, in order to record details of the information, the user needs to carry out complicated information-cataloging operations. Thus, in order to simplify the operations to catalog the information to be recorded in the initial setting process, the number of pieces of information to be recorded needs to be reduced. In consequence, only a program selected on the basis of rough information recorded by the user can be recommended. As a result, the degree of precision to select a program matching the favorite of the user is low.
In the other methods such as the viewing-history utilization method, on the other hand, a recommended program is selected by simply using a sum or average value of pieces of meta data, which have been collected on the basis of a viewing history of the user. Thus, if the history is not stored to a certain degree in this case, it is not possible to recommend a program correctly matching the favorite of the user. In addition, in the case of the viewing-history utilization method, correlations among pieces of meta data are insensitive, making sufficient personalization impossible. On the top of that, if histories are piled up, in some cases, biases may be developed in weights due to history items overlapping each other with ease and history items each having an element spreading with ease as a history. History items overlapping each other with ease are items easily detected as a favorite of the user. An example of the history items overlapping each other with ease is a genre. On the other hand, a history item having an element spreading with ease as a history is an item difficult to detect as a favorite of the user. An example of the history item having an element spreading with ease as a history is a performer.
To put it concretely, let us assume for example that the user is a fan of commentator A. Thus, the user enjoys viewing a live coverage of a baseball game by team B with comments made by commentator A. In this case, pieces of information of "a live coverage of a baseball game", which is a genre, overlap each other with ease as a history. That is to say, the information of "a live coverage of a baseball game" is detected easily as a favorite of the user. However, pieces of information of "commentator A", which is a performer, hardly overlap each other. That is to say, information of "commentator A" is hardly detected as a favorite of the user. Thus, there is a case in which a live coverage of a baseball game by team B with comments made by another commentator is recommended while a variety program in which commentator A performs is not recommended.
In addition, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-160955, an attribute vector is added in advance to a broadcast program. Then, a selection vector is compared with the attribute vector to select a program to be recorded or a program to be reproduced. The selection vector is a vector generated from data initially recorded by the user and average values of attributes represented by attribute vectors of programs reproduced by the user or programs with reserved recording. Also in this case, since an operation history of the user is used, in some cases, biases may be developed in weights due to history items overlapping each other with ease and history items each having an element, such as a performer, spreading with ease as a history.
Let us assume for example that the user enjoys dramas and only variety programs of comedian A who does not perform in a drama. In addition, let us assume that the user views such variety programs and dramas at a ratio of 2:8. In a selection vector generated for such a user, pieces of information of "performer B" performing frequently in dramas overlap each other as a history rather than comedian A who hardly performs in a drama in spite of the fact that performer B is not specially a favorite star of the user. Thus, a documentary program in which "performer B" performing frequently in dramas performs is recommended, taking precedence of variety programs having comedian A as a performer.
In addition, an item of importance to selection of a program varies from user to user. For example, a performer is of importance to a certain user while the substance of a program is of importance to another user. Nevertheless, since all items are operated in the same way, a favorite unique to a user may not be reflected in a recommended program in some cases.
On the top of that, since what is utilized in the collaborative filtering method is the favorite of another user, it is difficult to extract information representing the favorite of each user in detail.

Information-processing apparatus, method, system, computer-readable medium and method for automatically recording or recommending content


A power storage system and a method of driving the power storage system and preventing damages due to possible erroneous operations are disclosed. One inventive aspect includes a power converter that converts power, a power storage device that stores power and a main switch that is configured to switch between a charge path and a discharge path. The power storage system controls the main switch by sensing a connection between the power converter and the power storage device.

1. Field
The disclosed technology relates to a power storage system including one or more rechargeable battery cells and a method of driving the power storage system so as to prevent damage due to possible erroneous operations.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Because of possible environmental disruptions and limited natural resources, there are increasing interests in renewable power generation. However, generators may need to store power for efficiently use of the stored power during times of non-generation.
A power storage system can store generated power from new reproduction energy sources into a battery. It can also store power of a public utility's power plant in a battery by connecting the battery to the output of such a plant. Later on, the power storage system can supply the stored power back to the power plant or a downstream load.
After generated power from new reproduction energy sources or power of the commercial system is stored into a battery, the stored power can be retrieved when there is a power failure or when there is a problem on the power supply side. A device that stably supplies the stored power from a battery to a commercial generation system (or a load) is referred to as an uninterruptible power supply system (hereinafter, referred to as a UPS). In order to reduce data loss or information loss due to power failures, a UPS is usually used for computers or communication networks. In such a UPS, a power storage system is an essential constituent element.
A typical power storage system includes a battery and a power converter. The power converter converts power, which usually is stored in a battery, from one type to another type appropriate to a commercial generation system (or a load). Or it can convert power (e.g., generated from new reproduction energy sources) from a commercial generation system to power appropriate to the battery. The battery and the power converter are connected to each other. When the battery and the power converter are wrongly connected, a problem on a battery management system (hereinafter, referred to as a BMS) may occur. For example, the BMS may erroneously operate when it manages the battery, e.g., cell balancing charging and discharging.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the disclosed technology and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Power storage system and method of driving the same


A multiband-capable antenna device includes a loop-shaped radiation element including a power feed end and a ground end, and a matching circuit including a first inductance element loaded at the power feed end and a second inductance element loaded at the ground end and magnetic-field coupled to the first inductance element. The loop-shaped radiation element is configured to resonate in a plurality of resonance modes including an even mode and an odd mode. The first inductance element and the second inductance element are wound and connected such that magnetic fields are mutually strengthened for one of the even mode and the odd mode, and such that the magnetic fields are mutually weakened for the other of the even mode and the odd mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antenna device capable of transmitting and receiving radio signals in a plurality of frequency bands, and a communication terminal apparatus including such an antenna device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a communication terminal apparatus including a mobile phone, for example, such a loop antenna as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-43826 may be utilized. This loop antenna is configured by a looped-shaped conductor having one end as a power feed end and the other end as a ground end, and having an entire length of one wavelength. This loop antenna suppresses gain reduction even when being used in proximity to a human body, and exhibits excellent radiation characteristics.
In recent years, there is a need for a communication terminal apparatus to accommodate a plurality of frequency bands. For example, a communication terminal apparatus accommodating a penta-band of GSM (registered trademark; Global System for Mobile communication) 850, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900, and UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) is required to accommodate a relatively wider band of 824 to 960 MHz (Low Band) and 1710 to 2170 MHz (High Band).
According to the loop antenna for accommodating such a relatively wider band, as shown in FIG. 1A, three resonances (resonance 1, resonance 2 and resonance 3) are used to cover a plurality of frequency bands. In other words, resonance 1 forms a passband in a Low Band while resonance 2 and resonance 3 form a band in a High Band.
As shown in FIG. 1B, resonance 1 is caused by fundamental waves in the odd mode, and shows a resonance mode having monopole-type current distribution in which the intermediate point of loop antenna 101 is defined as an electric field maximum point. Resonance 2 occurs in the even mode, and shows a resonance mode having dipole-type current distribution in which there are two electric field maximum points on loop antenna 101. Resonance 3 is caused by harmonics in the odd mode, and shows a resonance mode having current distribution as shown in the figure in which there are three electric field maximum points on loop antenna 101. In this case, the "odd mode" represents a mode in the state where the current direction from the power feed end to the radiation element and the current direction from the ground end to the radiation element are aligned with each other. The "even mode" represents a mode in the state where the current direction from the power feed end to the radiation element and the current direction from the ground end to the radiation element are opposite to each other.
The resonance frequency of each resonance can be determined by the size of loop antenna 101. On the other hand, when this resonance frequency is controlled in a matching circuit, it is conceivable to implement a configuration in which an inductance element L1 and an inductance element L2 are loaded at the power feed end and the ground end, respectively, of the antenna, as shown in FIG. 1C.
However, when inductance elements are loaded in this way to adjust the frequency, the amount of change in each resonance frequency is increased as the frequency is higher. In other words, by the method of simply loading an inductance element, it is difficult to independently control the resonance frequency for each resonance mode.

Antenna device and communication terminal apparatus


Method for producing and maintaining an assignment of object data of an object to a changing physical position of the object in a sorting device, with the steps: feeding in an object at an entry point to the sorting device, capturing and storing identity data as part of the object data of the object; on the basis of sorting data, determining a transfer point assigned to the object; transporting the item as far as the specified transfer point; discharging the object at the specified transfer point; capturing optical object data of each object ejected at the transfer point once the object has reached a predetermined position on the sorting device, at the transfer point or along a delivery path extending from the transfer point to a removal point, and storing the optical object data as a further part of the object data of the object; transporting the object along the delivery path; and during that transportation, tracking the discharged object on the basis of the optical object data by means of tracking, and storing a current position of the object as a further part of the object data of the object, as well as a device for executing the process.

The invention relates to a method and a device for producing and maintaining an assignment of object data of an object to a changing physical position of the object in a sorting device which comprises at least one entry point for feeding objects to the sorting device and a plurality of transfer points at which selected objects can be discharged from the sorting device.
In order to identify an object that has been discharged from a sorting facility, e.g. a sorting conveyor, one can use the sorting data of the objects on the sorting conveyor that are available via the control unit of the sorting conveyor, wherein for example image matching or a comparison of other identification features such as barcodes, etc. can then be carried out. Such assignment is complex. Furthermore, when an object is discharged, the unambiguous assignment between object and position is usually lost, because objects overtake one another or are pushed over one another.
The task of the present invention is to not lose, at any point in time, the assignment between a discharged object and its position during a course of movement of the object following on from the discharge process, and furthermore, in the event that the assignment is lost once, to restore it without substantial effort.

Method and device for producing and maintaining an assignment of object data and the position of an object


Provided is an engine having positive displacement chambers containing pistons and an external combustion chamber which utilizes the energy stored in compressed fuel and compressed air in combination with the energy released during combustion of the fuel to drive the pistons. Energy expended compressing the fuel and air are recovered.

The invention relates to an engine having positive displacement chambers and an external combustion chamber which utilizes the energy stored in compressed fuel and compressed air in combination with the energy released during combustion of the fuel. Energy expended compressing the fuel and air to high-pressures at an external source, such as a gas station or residence, is recovered and utilized in combination with combustion of the fuel in an external combustion chamber to selectively power the engine on demand.
Internal combustion engines provide both portable and stationary power sources that have materially enhanced the development of industry throughout the world. It is well known that internal combustion engines are relatively inefficient and make use of only a portion of the available energy that may be derived from fossil fuels and other fuels available. In recent years, especially in view of the increasing costs of fuels, government regulation, as well as environmentalism, most engine manufacturers have undertaken the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly engine systems. Such developments have been in the nature of improving specific characteristics of internal combustion engines such as fuel metering, carburetor, fuel injection, valve control, fuel ignition, and the like. Although many positive results have been achieved toward fuel economy the cost of fuel to the consumer, as well as emissions to the environment, represent a disadvantage to the practical utilization of internal combustion engines. It is desirable to design and provide an engine energy-producing system that minimizes utilization of various types of fuels, along with emissions, and yet provides an engine system having an energy and power output that may be utilized at or above the current efficiency of the energy and power output of conventional internal combustion engines.
Air pollution (emissions) is an ordinary byproduct of conventional internal combustion engines, which are used in most motor vehicles today. Various devices, including items mandated by legislation, have been proposed in an attempt to limit the emissions, which a conventional internal combustion engine exhausts to the atmosphere. Most of these devices have met with limited success and are often prohibitively expensive as well as complex. A cleaner more efficient alternative to the conventional internal combustion engine is needed to power vehicles and other machinery.
A compressed gas could provide a motive energy source for an engine since it could eliminate most of the usual pollutants exhausted from an internal combustion engine burning gasoline. An apparatus for converting an internal combustion engine for operation on compressed air is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,387 issued May 27, 1975 to Simington. The Simington patent discloses an apparatus including a source of compressed air and a rotating valve actuator, which opens and closes numerous mechanical poppet valves. The valves deliver compressed air in a timed sequence to the cylinders of an engine through adapters located in the spark plug holes. The output speed of an engine of this type is limited by the speed of the mechanical valves and in fact the length of time over which each of the valves remains open cannot be varied as the speed of the engine varies.
Another apparatus for converting an internal combustion engine for operation on steam or compressed air is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,102,130 issued Jul. 25, 1978 to Stricklin. The Stricklin patent discloses a device, which changes the valve timing of a conventional four (4) stroke engine so that the intake and exhaust valves open once for every revolution of the engine instead of once every other revolution of the camshaft in a four (4) stroke engine. A reversing valve is provided which delivers live steam or compressed air to the intake valves and is subsequently placed in the reversed position in order to allow the exhaust valves to deliver the expanded steam or air to the atmosphere. A reversing valve of this type does not provide a reliable apparatus for varying the amount of motive fluid (gas) to be injected into the cylinders when it is desired to increase the speed of the engine. A device of the type disclosed in the Stricklin patent also requires the use of multiple reversing valves if the cylinders in a multi-cylinder engine are to be fired in a sequential fashion.
Engines having an adiabatic structure have recently come into productive use. These engines employ an adiabatic material such as a ceramic for constructing engine components including the combustion chambers and exhaust pipe. Engines of this type do not require the cooling of the engine by dissipating the internally generated heat. The heat energy possessed by the high-temperature exhaust gas, produced by the conventional combustion engine, is recovered and fed back to the engine output shaft, axles and the like to enhance engine output.
One known method of recovering exhaust gas energy is to reduce the rotational force of a turbine. This turbine is rotated by the exhaust gas using a multi-stage gear mechanism to drive the engine crankshaft. Another method of energy recovery is to effect a series connection between an exhaust turbine having a compressor for intake, and supply the output of the attached generator to a motor provided on the engine output shaft, thereby enabling the exhaust energy to be recovered for rotational energy use. Still another idea is to provide the engine with an exhaust bypass circuit; effect the series connection between the exhaust turbine having the generator and the exhaust turbine having the compressor to intake; supply the output of the generator to a motor provided on the engine output shaft; drive the compressor; and control the amount of exhaust that passes through the exhaust bypass circuit, thus running the engine in a nearly ideal state. These proposals have been disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 59-141712, which describes an engine equipped with an exhaust energy recovery apparatus. This is also elaborate and impracticable. However, the gear mechanisms required for these methods introduces design-specific problems. The transfer efficiency of one stage of a gear mechanism ordinarily is 90-95% and there is a decline in efficiency to about 80% with a three-stage gear mechanism. Furthermore, the nominal rotational speed of an exhaust gas turbine can be as high as 10,000 rpm. Reducing the turbine speed requires a gear mechanism having a greater number of stages, thus resulting in much lower transfer efficiency and a greater amount of frictional loss usually with accompanying increase in assembly weight. Since the rotational speed of the exhaust gas turbine is manufactured to accommodate the rotational speed of the engine, optimum engine turbine performance cannot be achieved.
With proposals described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 59-141712, the engine is run in an almost ideal state by controlling the amount of exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust bypass circuit on the basis of data received from an engine velocity sensor and an engine load sensor. No control is performed to optimize the rotational speed of the exhaust turbine or the efficiency of the turbine.
An exhaust brake control system installed in an automotive vehicle equipped with an automatic or possible manual transmission is not new to the industry. The specification of Japanese patent Kokoki Publication No. 58-28414 describes an exhaust brake control system in which an exhaust brake is controlled by signals from an exhaust brake switch usually placed on the vehicle instrument panel, a throttle switch actuated based upon the amount the vehicle accelerator pedal is depressed, and a shift switch actuated by manual control of the automatic transmission. Compressed air generated during brake actuation may be stored in an accumulator for subsequent use during periods of peak power demand or even when the engine is cold.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,623 describes a positive displacement engine having an external combustion chamber. Solid, liquid and gaseous fuels can be burned in the external combustion chamber. This type of engine requires a fuel pump 36 which pumps the liquid or gaseous fuel to the combustion chamber (column 2, lines 49-51). This patent does not teach the use of a high-pressure fuel vessel nor the use of a high-pressure air vessel, which are capable of containing at least about 1,000 pounds per square inch (psi). Positive displacement cylinders of automobiles, such as those described in the ""623 patent are only capable of pumping air up to a maximum of about 140 psi (based on atmospheric pressure of 14 psi and a 10:1 compression ratio). This patent also does not teach or suggest utilizing the significant energy stored in compressed fuel and compressed air from an source external to the engine in combination with the energy released during combustion of the fuel in order to further reduce the amount of fuel combusted and reduce the emission produced.
There is a need for an improved combustion engine that utilizes the energy expended compressing the fuel and air to high-pressures at an external source, such as a gas station or residence, in combination with combustion of the fuel in an external combustion chamber to selectively power the engine on demand to avoid producing emissions and wasting fuel during idle at stops.
An objective of the present invention is to provide an improved combustion engine that utilizes the energy stored in compressed fuel and compressed air from an external source in combination with the energy released during combustion of the fuel to power an engine.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved combustion engine having reduced emissions.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide an engine having instant-on power such that the engine can easily be shut down during idle.
The above objectives and other objectives are obtained by a combustion engine comprising:
at least one positive displacement chamber;
a reciprocating piston disposed in the at least one positive displacement chamber;
an external combustion chamber in communication with the positive displacement chamber for containing a mixture of compressed gas;
an ignitor in the combustion chamber constructed and arranged to ignite a fuel in the combustion chamber;
at least one valve constructed and arranged to control the flow of the compressed gas from the combustion chamber into the positive displacement chamber;
at least one exhaust valve constructed and arranged to control the flow of expanded gas from the positive displacement chamber;
a high-pressure fuel vessel in communication with the combustion chamber;
at least one valve for controlling the flow of pressurized fuel from the high-pressure fuel vessel to the combustion chamber;
at least one external valve constructed and arranged to fill the high-pressure fuel vessel with compressed fuel from an external fuel source;
a high-pressure air vessel in communication with the combustion chamber;
at least one valve for controlling the flow of pressurized air from the high-pressure air vessel to the combustion chamber; and
at least one external valve constructed and arranged to fill the high-pressure air vessel with compressed air from an external pressurized air source.
Also provided is a method of making rotational energy in an engine comprising:
filling a high-pressure fuel vessel with a compressed fuel to a pressure of at least 1000 pounds per square inch from a source external to the engine;
supplying compressed fuel to a combustion chamber from the high-pressure fuel vessel;
filling a high-pressure air vessel with air to a pressure of at least 1000 pounds per square inch from a source external to the engine;
supplying compressed air to the combustion chamber from the high-pressure air vessel;
burning the fuel and air in said combustion chamber to form a compressed combustion gas;
opening an intake valve and supplying the compressed combustion gas to a positive displacement chamber containing a reciprocating piston such that the compressed combustion gas expands forcing the piston in a direction that increases the volume of the positive displacement cylinder and forms and expanded gas; and
closing the intake valve and opening an exhaust valve and allowing the expanded gas to exit the displacement chamber while the piston is moving in a direction which decreases the volume of the positive displacement chamber.
The present invention has an advantage over prior art engines in that energy in the form of compressed fuel and compressed air is utilized in combination with the energy released during combustion of the fuel. The significant energy expended during compression of the fuel and air at a users residence, work, gas station, or other, can be recovered during use of the vehicle. In this manner, fuel, such as natural gas, and air can be compressed during night hours when electricity rates are low and the energy expended compressing the fuel and air recovered during use of the engine, in order to further reduce the amount of fuel combusted and reduce the emission produced.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides instant-on power, such that combustion can be shut down during non-use, such as in traffic jams. Significant quantities of fuel are burned and emissions formed during idling of automobiles stuck idle in traffic jams, which are easily avoided by use of the present invention.

Engine having external combustion chamber


A piezoelectric actuator includes a first beam including a first bottom electrode, a first piezoelectric film on the first bottom electrode, and a first top electrode on the first piezoelectric film, a fixed end assigned at an end of the first beam and fixed on a substrate, a connecting end assigned at another end of the first beam and suspended over a free space; and a second beam including a second piezoelectric film connected to the first piezoelectric film at the connecting end, a second bottom electrode under the second piezoelectric film, and a second top electrode on the second piezoelectric film, a working end assigned at an end of the second beam opposite to another end to which the connecting end is assigned and suspended over the free space; wherein a distance between centers of the fixed end and the working end is shorter than a distance from the working end to the connecting end.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an actuator using a piezoelectric thin film, and in particular, to a micro-electromechanical device using a piezoelectric actuator.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, an actuator fabricated by a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) technology has attracted attention. In the actuator, a beam is bended and displaced by a drive force, such as an electrostatic force, a thermal stress, an electromagnetic force, and a piezoelectric force. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-181800, a shaft attached on a free end of an actuator using a piezoelectric thin film is rotated.
Moreover, micro-electromechanical devices, such as a variable capacitor and a switch, which use an actuator, has been proposed. The variable capacitor or the switch fabricated by the MEMS technology includes a movable electrode provided on a beam of the actuator having a released end supported on a substrate, and a fixed electrode provided on a surface of the substrate, which faces the actuator. The actuator varies in distance between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode.
In particular, in a variable capacitor having a piezoelectric actuator which uses an inverse piezoelectric effect or an electrostrictive effect as a drive force, a movable beam may continuously and widely vary the interval between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode. Accordingly, a capacitance variation of the variable capacitor may increase. Moreover, since the air or gas between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode is used as a dielectric, the variable capacitor has advantages of an extremely large Q value and the like.
Moreover, the structure of a variable capacitor may have applicability to a switch. For example, in a capacitive type switch, a movable electrode is capacitively coupled with a fixed electrode across an extremely thin dielectric film. Alternatively, in a DC contact type switch, a movable electrode is brought into direct contact with a fixed electrode. Such a switch fabricated by the MEMS technology has also attracted attention, since the switch has both a low on-state resistance and a high insulating isolation property in an off-state.
A piezoelectric actuator has a long and thin beam including a piezoelectric film sandwiched by upper and bottom electrodes. The beam is projected in the air. Therefore, it is a serious problem that the beam is vertically warped due to a slight residual stress in a material of the piezoelectric film. Hence, it is extremely difficult to adjust a capacitance value with an applied voltage to a variable capacitor as designed, or to set a drive voltage of a switch at a steady value.
For example, at an operation end in which the movable electrode is provided in the piezoelectric actuator, a displacement D of the beam due to the inverse piezoelectric effect is approximated by the following expression:D˜E·d31·L2·t−1   (1)where E is an electric field applied to the piezoelectric film, d31 is a piezoelectric strain coefficient of the piezoelectric film, and L and t are a length and thickness of the actuator respectively.
A warpage Dw of the piezoelectric actuator, which is caused by a residual stress occurring on the deposited piezoelectric film and the like, is approximated by the following expression:Dw˜Sr·L2·t−1   (2)where Sr is a residual stress.
As understood from a comparison between expression (1) and expression (2), both of the displacement D and the warpage Dw have a similar relation regarding the length L and the thickness t of the piezoelectric actuator. Specifically, the displacement D and the warpage Dw are proportional to a square of length L, and are inversely proportional to the thickness t. For example, in order to expand a drive range of the piezoelectric actuator, it is effective to increase the length L or to decrease the thickness t. In response, the displacement D may be increased, but also the warpage Dw is increased. Hence, in order to increase the drive range of the piezoelectric actuator with suppressing the warpage, geometrical modification for the actuator may have almost no effect. There will be no other way but to reduce an absolute value of the residual stress Sr compared to an absolute value of the piezoelectric strain (E·d31) due to the inverse piezoelectric effect.
Regarding lead zirconate titanate (PZT) that is a piezoelectric film having a large inverse piezoelectric effect, it is necessary to anneal a PZT film at about 600° C. after the PZT film is deposited at room temperature in order to obtain a good film quality. A contraction in volume may occur due to such annealing. Accordingly, a residual stress of the PZT piezoelectric film is inevitably increased. Meanwhile, for a piezoelectric film, such as aluminum nitride (AlN), zinc oxide (ZnO), and the like, which can be deposited at around the room temperature with a good film quality, it is possible to relatively precisely control a residual stress by adjusting deposition conditions. However, an inverse piezoelectric effect in the piezoelectric film, such as AlN, ZnO, and the like, is smaller than the PZT film by a factor of ten or more.
In the case of using a piezoelectric material having such a large inverse piezoelectric effect in order to increase the piezoelectric strain of the piezoelectric film of the piezoelectric actuator, it is difficult to control a residual stress in a piezoelectric film, and to suppress a warpage of the actuator. Moreover, a piezoelectric material, in which the residual stress can be controlled relatively easily, has a small inverse piezoelectric effect. In such piezoelectric material, a drive range of the actuator cannot be sufficiently increased in comparison with the warpage of the actuator. Due to the problems as described above, technological application of the piezoelectric actuator is precluded. The piezoelectric actuator is largely warped by the slight residual stress due to a serious problem relating to such a structure of the piezoelectric actuator, that is, the thin and long beam structure. Therefore, it is difficult to fabricate a variable capacitor with a capacitance held constant, or a switch with an operation voltage held constant.

Piezoelectric actuator and micro-electromechanical device


It is intended to reduce occurrences of interlayer short-circuiting due to pinholes existing in an interlayer insulating film particularly in a circuit formed on an insulating substrate. A wiring line mainly made of an anodizable metal such as aluminum, tantalum, titanium, or the like is formed on an insulating surface, and an interlayer insulating film is so formed as to cover the metal wiring line. The substrate is then immersed in an electrolyte of, for instance, ammonium tartrate. Portions of the metal wiring line which are exposed by the pinholes of the interlayer insulating film are selectively anodized by allowing a current to flow through the wiring line by using it as one of the electrodes and gradually increasing a voltage difference between the wiring line and the opposed electrode. Thus, insulation performance of the interlayer insulating film is improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a semiconductor circuit or device having thin-film transistors (generally called TFTs) which circuit or device is used in an active matrix liquid crystal display and an image sensor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, the technology of forming TFTs on an insulating substrate has been developed and is applied to manufacture of liquid crystal displays, image sensors, etc. Interlayer short-circuiting was a problem to be solved in developing such a technology. The technology of forming TFTs on an insulating substrate is similar to that of forming a semiconductor integrated circuit. However, these two technologies are different from each other in the following points, which are presumed to be causes of the interlayer short-circuiting problem.
First, because of the use of an insulating substrate, it is difficult to remove static electricity and, therefore, dust such as film forming dust likely attaches to a substrate. If an interlayer insulating film is formed without removing a dust piece attached to a substrate, the dust piece causes a pinhole when later peel off, reducing the interlayer insulation.
Second, because of the heat resistance of a substrate, the reflow technique for a phospho-silicate glass (PSG) cannot be used, which is commonly used in manufacture of semiconductor integrated circuits. Further, the methods of forming an interlayer insulating film are limited to plasma CVD and the like. Therefore, the step-coating performance is insufficient, and dust etc. likely occur during film formation. Insufficient step-coating performance likely causes cracks etc. in an interlayer insulating film, possibly resulting in interlayer short-circuiting.

Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A system comprises an acoustic coupling product label (20) for mounting on a product to be serviced. The label (20) includes a memory (23) for storing information relating to the product to be serviced, control means (29) for controlling the flow of data from the label (20), an activation switch (22), and an acoustic transducer that emits tones corresponding to said product information. The system further includes a telephone (30) and a computerized product support system (50), which collects and interprets the information provided by the label (20). The control means (29) is arranged to control the flow of data from the label (20) to the system (50) at a rate and time required by the system (50).

There are a number of problems associated with the reporting of faults on self-service devices, such as Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). Normally a fault is reported by someone in the vicinity of the device, who calls a service centre. They then verbally quote the serial number of the device, which is compared to a service database, by call centre staff, to determine the level of service contract covering the device before the call is connected to a customer care agent.
The present system is based on a label that is mounted on the device, the issues arise where the label may be inaccessible, or the person placing the call to the service centre may just misread the serial number.
This problem is exacerbated by regulations from product-certification organizations such as UL (Underwriter Laboratories Inc.), CSA (Canadian Standards Association), and VDE (Verband Deutscher Elektrotechniker), which specify that the printed serial number label must be attached to the frame of the product, near its power source, which is usually on or near the base of the product. Unfortunately this placement of the printed serial number label may cause difficulty for the customer trying to find the desired product serial number in a timely and accurate manner, so the serial number may be given to the service provider. Also, a product's serial number may be hidden by mounting equipment requiring burdensome disassembly, such as having to remove a cash register from its mounting in a check-out stand.
The initial telephone connection to the service centre and the serial number reporting could be automated, as is disclosed in the applicant's US patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,365, by attaching an acoustic coupling device to the self-service device that automatically dials the service centre and then automatically reports the serial number only. This solves the problem of the initial connection but does not address the required communications between the label on the device and the automated Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) system in the call centre.
Due to the levels of experience of the staff in some environments they may not be able to correctly identify the configuration of the device they are reporting the fault on. This can lead to an extended call to the service centre while basic configuration information for a device is sought. This is an inefficient use of the time of the customer care agent and can be frustrating for the customer.
There is a need to provide a product label for assisting customers or, in the case of financial institutions, members of staff, in providing more extensive product information easily and accurately during a service call, preferably near the beginning of the service call.


An apparatus and method provide for measurement at various positions over an extent of an uneven structural surface, and preparation of spacers, cut to appropriate thicknesses based upon such measurements, such that when affixed to the respective measurement locations, outer facing surfaces of the spacers are collectively coplanar. A method of aligning a surface includes defining a reference plane in a fixed condition relative to the structural surface, and determining a differential distance between the structural surface and the reference plane at various locations along an extend of the particular structural surface. Using these measurements, indexed according to location, spacers are cut to a thickness based upon the respective differential distances at corresponding locations, which, when mounted to the structural surface at these recorded locations, results in alignment of outwardly facing surfaces with a common plane. Advantageously, at least a portion of the processes is automated.

The invention relates to a structural surface alignment apparatus and method, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus by which spacers can be prepared for attachment to an uneven wall, or other surface or sub-surface, in an organized fashion, to collectively align outwardly facing surfaces of the spacers in a coplanar condition when attached to such surface, so as to allow facilitated mounting of an object having a generally planar confronting surface to the structure or other surface in a stable manner, with the mounted spacers interposed therebetween.
In order to securely apply sheet rock, wall board, paneling, cabinetry, door frames, wood panels, stone, marble firing strips, mechanical fasteners (such as aluminum Z-clips, or the like, to a wall or other receiving structure in a stable and secure manner, it is desirable to first provide an aligned, planar mounting surface. It is well known that many existing building structures provide less than perfectly aligned surfaces and which deviate significantly from true planar configuration. Therefore, the process of mounting fixtures, paneling, and the like, thereto is often a challenging and time consuming endeavor, as the surface, such as vertical wall, often varies to a meaningful extent from a true planar or vertical state, by consequence of previous, less than perfect, construction. Similarly, hanging door frames can also be troublesome, as the opening must first be made square and plumb.
The prior art has not heretofore adequately addressed the above issues, and has failed to provide a fully satisfactory solution for allowing construction to proceed, or be implemented, in a manner permitting facilitated preparatory alignment of a surface for attachment thereto of an installed fixture, such as the aforementioned sheet rock, paneling, cabinets, door frames, etc.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a method and apparatus for preparing spacers for placement along a surface according to preceding measurements which, when same were affixed to the surface at organized locations and spacing, would result in collective outwardly facing surfaces of the spacers being generally aligned in a common plane. A fixture having a planar surface could then be easily attached to the surface by being supported in assured contact with each of the spacers over an entire confronting extent thereof.
It would be yet more desirable to provide such method and apparatus in a form which is suitably mobile for transport to various building sites and relocation on site, and which would be versatilely adaptable for a wide range of mounting applications.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for use in aligning a mounting surface which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for use in use in aligning a mounting surface which readily permits practice of the method at various locations, and which is suitable for varied applications, including installation of wall board, paneling, cabinets, wall units, etc.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus which is easy to implement in practice in a time-saving, reliable and non-labor intensive manner.

Structural surface measuring and aligning apparatus and method


A hydraulic steering unit (1) is described comprising a supply port arrangement having a pressure port (P) connected to a main flow path (6) and a tank port (T) connected to a tank flow path (7), a working port arrangement having a left working port connected to a left working flow path (8) and a right working port (R) connected to a right working flow path (9), a bridge arrangement (14) of variable orifices (A2L, A2R, A3L, A3R) having a first left orifice (A2L) connected to the main flow path (6) and to the left working flow path (8), a first right orifice (A2R) connected to the main flow path (6) and to the right working flow path (9), a second left orifice (A3L) connected to the left working flow path (8) and to the tank flow path (7), and a second right orifice (A3R) connected to the right working flow path (9) and to the tank flow path (7). Such a steering unit should make steering comfortable. To this end a measuring motor (15) a measuring motor (15) is arranged in one of the left working flow path (8) and the right working flow path (9) and an amplification flow path (16) is connected to the one working flow path (8, 9) downstream the measuring motor (15).

Such a steering unit is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,334. In such a kind of hydraulic steering unit the variable orifices are arranged in a kind of Wheatstone bridge. One diagonal of the bridge is arranged between the pressure port and the tank port and the other diagonal is arranged between the two working ports.
When, for example, it is intended to steer a vehicle equipped with such a steering unit to the left, the first left orifice and the second right orifice are opened, wherein the second left orifice and the first right orifice are closed or remain closed. Hydraulic fluid from the pressure port then flows through the first left orifice to the left working port and from there to a steering motor connected to the working port arrangement. Hydraulic fluid displaced from the steering motor flows back through the right working port and the right working flow path to the second right orifice. When passing the second right orifice the fluid is returned to the tank flow path and from there to the tank port.
The orifices are usually formed by a spool-sleeve-arrangement. A steering wheel is connected to one of the spool and the sleeve. When the steering wheel is turned, spool and sleeve are rotated relatively to each other to open two orifices and to close two other orifices. The hydraulic fluid flowing from the pressure port to the working port arrangement drives a measuring motor which in turn restores the spool-sleeve-set to its original or neutral position. In this way, it is possible to supply the required amount of hydraulic fluid to the working port arrangement and from there to the steering motor.


A trolley roller assembly for use with a conveyor system and including a roller for rolling engagement with a track of the conveyor system and having a central bore, a trolley hanger, a pin member having a shaft portion passing through an aperture in the hanger and positioned in the roller bore, and a bearing interposed between the pin shaft portion and the roller. The pin member further includes an enlarged head portion positioned in the roller bore and forming an annular shoulder with the pin member shaft portion and the bearing comprises an outer race, a plurality of balls relatively mounted in the outer race, and an inner race formed in part by the pin member head portion and in part by a collar surrounding the pin member shaft portion and positioned against the annular shoulder of the pin member. The inner race is formed in part by an arcuate annular groove in the pin member head portion and in part by a complementary annular arcuate groove in the collar. Each arcuate groove defines approximately one half of the inner race and the annular arcuate grooves in the head portion and in the collar coact to define an included angle of at least 100.degree..

This invention relates to trolley assemblies.
In various manufacturing and warehouse facilities is common practice to use overhead tracks for moving suspended loads between spaced points within the facility. The loads are typically carried by trolley assemblies which include rollers at their upper ends rollably guiding on the track and further include hangers carried by the rollers and depending downwardly from the rollers to provide a carrier for the suspending loads. Whereas trolley assemblies of this general type provide an effective means of moving loads from point to point within warehousing or manufacturing facilities, the trolley assemblies tend to be rather high maintenance items and tend to have a relatively short product life. Specifically, when subjected to heavy twisting forces generated by heavy loads being carried by the hangers, the trolley bearing elements and the raceways receiving the bearing elements may suffer both outer diameter and inner diameter corner damage which requires immediate repair of replacement.