A paper supply apparatus for conveying paper to an image forming apparatus has a paper accommodating unit to accommodate paper and to be drawn out from an accommodating space in a main body of the image forming apparatus. The apparatus also has a handle to rotate about an axis extending in the width direction of the paper in the paper accommodating unit. The handle includes a first edge that moves toward the paper accommodating unit upon rotation of the handle and a second edge that opposes the first edge. A link on the first edge of the handle releases engagement with the main body when the first edge moves toward the paper accommodating unit. A flapper is disposed on the second edge of the handle and forms a point where a force acts to move the first edge toward the paper accommodating unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a paper supply apparatus which is used in a copying machine, printer, facsimile or the like, and to an image forming apparatus equipped with the paper supply apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A paper supply apparatus such as a paper supply cassette apparatus comprises a paper accommodating unit configured to accommodate stacked paper sheets and to be drawn out from the main body of an image forming apparatus (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H10-101237). The paper supply cassette apparatus comprises an outer plate, which is observed outside the main body, and a handle between this outer plate and the paper accommodating unit. The handle is configured to engage the cassette with the main body. When the user pulls the cassette toward the outer side of the main body, the paper accommodating unit is opened to the outside. On the other hand, when the cassette is pushed toward the inside of the main body, then the paper accommodating unit is closed.
The paper in the paper accommodating unit is supplied out toward the interior of the main body at a prescribed conveyance pressure. Therefore, the cassette has to be accurately installed on the main body. For example, a hook locking mechanism provided on the upper end of the handle may work for accurate installation of the cassette on the main body. When the upper end of the handle with the hook locking mechanism is moved toward the paper accommodating unit, the engagement between the hook locking mechanism and the main body is released so that the user may draw the cassette out from the main body.
The hook locking mechanism, which is required for accurate installation of the cassette, may prevent the user from intuitively operating the cassette such as just simply drawing out it because the user has to insert his/her finger tips into the lower end of the outer plate, and then grip the handle with his/her index finger to unlock the hook locking mechanism with pressing the outer plate with his/her thumb in order to draw out the cassette when he/she tries to open the paper accommodating unit. In addition, an insufficient force onto the outer plate, an insufficient gripping force to the handle or a case that user grips the handle at a wrong position far from the prescribed adequate position may result in a failure in unlocking the hook locking mechanism.

Paper supply apparatus and image forming apparatus equipped with the same


Dry-powdered, silica-coated phosphor particles for use in manufacturing a CRT screen are dispersively coated with silica particles on the surface thereof to enhance the flow characteristics of the phosphor particles according to the present invention. A method of manufacturing the dry-powdered, silica-coated phosphor particles comprises the steps of sequentially first-dispersing silica particles in methanol, slowly adding dry-powdered phosphor particles to said silica-dispersed methanol, second-dispersing methanol in the silica-dispersed phosphor particles-adding methanol, filtering said resultant methanol of the second-dispersing step, drying the filtered resultant of the filtering step, and sieving the dried resultant of the drying step through a screen.

The present invention relates to silica-coated phosphor particles for use in manufacturing a screen assembly for a cathode-ray tube(CRT), and more particularly to dry-powdered, silica-coated phosphor particles having improved flow characteristics thereof, a method of manufacturing the silica-coated phosphor particles and a CRT comprising a screen assembly manufactured by using the silica-coated phosphor particles.
Referring to FIG. 1, a color CRT 10 generally comprises an evacuated glass envelope consisting of a panel 12, a funnel 13 sealed to the panel 12 and a tubular neck 14 connected by the funnel 13, an electron gun 11 centrally mounted within the neck 14 and a shadow mask 16 removably mounted to a sidewall of the panel 12. A three color phosphor screen is formed on the inner surface of a display window or faceplate 18 of the panel 12.
The electron gun 11 generates three electron beams 19a or 19b, said beams being directed along convergent paths through the shadow mask 16 to the screen 20 by means of several lenses of the gun and a high potential applied through an anode button 15 and being deflected by a deflection yoke 17 so as to scan over the screen 20 through apertures or slits 16a formed in the shadow mask 16.
In the color CRT 10, the phosphor screen 20, as shown in FIG. 2, comprises an array of three phosphor elements R, G and B of three different emission colors arranged in a cyclic order of a predetermined structure of multiple-stripe or multiple-dot shape and a matrix of light-absorptive material surrounding the phosphor elements R, G and B.
A thin film of aluminum 22 overlies the screen 20 in order to provide a means for applying the uniform potential to the screen 20, increase the brightness of the phosphor screen and prevent the burning of the phosphor screen due to ions that are produced as the result of a decomposition by collision of gases residing on the tube with the electron beams emitted from the electron gun and the decreasing of the potential of the phosphor screen. And also, a film of resin such as lacquer(not shown) may be applied between the aluminum thin film 22 and the phosphor screen to enhance the flatness and reflectivity of the aluminum thin film 22.
In a photolithographic wet process, which is well known as a prior art process for forming the phosphor screen, a slurry of a photosensitive binder and phosphor particles is coated on the inner surface of the faceplate. It does not meet the higher resolution demands and requires a lot of complicated processing steps and a lot of manufacturing equipments, thereby necessitating a high cost in manufacturing the phosphor screen. And also, it discharges a large quantity of effluent such as waste water, phosphor elements, 6th chrome sensitizer, etc., with the use of a large quantity of clean water.
To solve or alleviate the above problems, the improved process of eletrophotographically manufacturing the phosphor screen by utilizing dry-powdered phosphor particles is developed.
Our copending Korean patent application Serial No. 95-10420 filed on Apr. 29, 1995 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention describes one method of electrophotographically manufacturing the phosphor screen assembly using dry-powdered phosphor particles sprayed through a nozzle from a hopper to the interior surface of the faceplate and charged by a corona charger, as is briefly explained in the following.
FIGS. 3A through 3E schematically show various steps in the above-described manufacturing method. FIG. 3A represents a coating step that forms an electrically conductive layer 132 is formed on the inner surface of the faceplate 18 and overlies an photoconductive layer 134 on the conductive layer 132.
The conductive layer 132, for example, can be formed by conventionally applying a volatilizable organic conductive material consisting of about 1 to 50 weight % of a polyelectrolyte commercially known as Catfloc-c, available from Calgon Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., to the inner surface of the faceplate 18 in an aqueous solution containing about 1 to 50 weight % of 10% poly vinyl alcohol and drying the solution. Said conductive layer 132 serving as an electrode for the overlying photoconductive layer 134. The photoconductive layer 134 is formed by conventionally applying to the conductive layer 132, a novel photoconductive solution containing ultraviolet-sensitive material and by drying it.
The ultraviolet-sensitive material can consist of bis dimethyl phenyl diphenyl butatriene, and one of trinitro fuorenone(TNF), ethylanthraquinone(EAQ) and their mixture. The photoconductive solution is prepared by dissolving 0.01 to 10% by weight of the ultraviolet-sensitive material and 1 to 30% by weight of polystyrene as a polymeric binder in a suitable solvent such as toluene or xylene.
FIG. 3B schematically illustrates a charging step, in which the photoconductive layer 134 is charged to a positive potential of less than 1 Kvolt, preferably above 700 volts by a corona discharger 3b. The charging step does not require a dark environment since the photoconductive layer 134 is sensitive to ultraviolet rays below about 450 nm of wave length.
FIG. 3C schematically shows an exposing step. The shadow mask 16 is inserted in the panel 12 and the positively charged photoconductive layer 134 is selectively exposed through an ultraviolet-transmissive lens system 140 and apertures or slits 16a of the shadow mask 16 to the ultraviolet rays from a ultraviolet lamp 138 with each predetermined incident angle with respect to each aperture or slit 16a. The charges of the exposed areas are discharged through the grounded conductive layer 132 and the charges of the unexposed areas remain in the photoconductive layer 134, thus establishing a latent charge image in a predetermined array structure. This exposing step also does not require a dark environment since the ultraviolet rays are used. Three exposures with three different incident angles of the three electron beams, respectively are required for forming a light-absorptive matrix.
FIG. 3D diagrammatically illustrates the outline of a developing step, in which, after removing the shadow mask 16, suitably charged, dry-powdered particles such as particular color-emitting phosphor particles or light-absorptive material particles are sprayed by compressed air toward a photoconductive layer 134 through a venturi tube 146 and a nozzle 144b from a hopper 148 and attracted to one of the charged or unexposed areas. The discharged or exposed areas depend upon the polarity of the charged particles due to electrical attraction or repulsion, thus one of the two areas is developed in a predetermined array pattern. Below the nozzle 144b, there is provided a discharge electrode 144a such as a corona discharger for charging dry-powdered particles to be sprayed in the nozzle 144b. The light-absorptive material particles for directly developing the unexposed or positively charged areas are negatively charged and the phosphor particles are positively charged for reversely developing the exposed or discharged areas. The charging of the dry-powdered particles may be executed by a triboelectrical charging method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,767 issued to Datta at al. on May 1, 1990 using surface-treated carrier beads.
FIG. 3E schematically illustrates a fixing step using a vapour swelling method. In the fixing step, the surface of the polymers-contained photoconductive layer 134, in which the particles are attracted in a preterminded array, is applied to solvent vapour such as acetone, methyl isobutyl ketone, etc. Then, polymers contained in the photocondustive layer 134 are dissolved and the dry-powdered particles deposited on the developed areas of the photoconductive layer 134 are fixed by an adhesive property of said dissolved polymers.
Turning to FIG. 3D, since the dry-powdered particles should flow from the hopper 148 through the venturi tube to the nozzle 144b and be sprayed at the nozzle 144b toward and over the whole surface of the photoconductive layer 134 by the compressed air in the developing step, an excellent flow characteristic is required on the surfaces of the dry-powdered particles.
However, although the dry-powdered phosphor particles are coated with a polymethyl methacrylate layer and an overlying polyacrylamide layer in order to provide charge characteristics, said coatings do not meet a sufficient fluidity demand in the phosphor particles. Therefore, there is one problem in the above-described process that the phosphor particles adhere to each other and the wall of the hopper 148 or the tube between the hopper 148 and the nozzle 144b. Also, the fluidity problem is caused between the phosphor particles and the carrier beads when they are mixed and generate the triboelectric charge in a developing step described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,767, cited above.
It is an object of the present invention to provide silica-coated phosphor particles having an excellent flow characteristics, for use in manufacturing a screen assembly for a CRT.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing or surface-treating the silica-coated phosphor particles having the excellent flow characteristics.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a CRT comprising a screen assembly manufactured by using the above silica-coated phosphor particles.

Dry-powdered, silica-coated prosphor particles for use in manufacturing a CRT screen assembly, a method of manufacturing them and a CRT comprising a screen assembly manufactured by using them


The present invention comprises a system and method for detecting multiple wavelength bands of infrared radiation. The present invention incorporates an optical concentrator or "optical funnel" to increase the energy density on the detection elements and discrete filters mounted in the funnels and a mounting structure for individual detector elements. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention is an advance over conventional infrared detector assemblies in several areas. The apparatus in accordance with the present invention provides a unified means for mounting detectors, optical concentrators and infrared filters. It also provides an efficient means for electrical connection to the detector elements. The present invention provides a mounting structure for the detectors bonding them directly to the body of the optical funnel and passing light into them from the "backside" of the detector elements. The present invention prevents cross talk by mounting the detector elements at the focused end of individual optical concentrators.

Optical detectors are utilized to detect infrared energy emanating from an object. Typically, one-dimensional or two-dimensional planar arrays of these optical detectors are utilized to detect this energy. Typically, the area receiving the signal must be increased or maximized to insure that the array receives an adequate amount of the signal.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional detector array 10 with four detectors 12. In this type of detector array 10, the detectors 12 are of maximum size while the gap 14 between the detector is minimized. Conventional art also discloses a separate mounting structure for the detectors because of their need for electrical insulation, interconnection, isothermal substrate and clear optical aperture on the front surface.
Typical prior art includes multichannel detector arrays without optical concentration means, and; single channel detectors with optical concentration means. The combination of an array of optical concentrator means with an array of detector elements is not typical in the prior art.
Also, multichannel detector arrays with individual filter elements have typically suffered from optical crosstalk due to optical scattering within the common space between the filter array and the detector array.
Accordingly, what is needed is a method and system for overcoming the cross-talk problems associated with conventional detectors while at the same time allowing for maximum detection of infrared energy. The method and system should be easily implemented utilizing existing manufacturing techniques. In addition, it should be cost effective and readily adaptable to existing devices.
The present invention addresses such a need.

Multichannel infrared detector with optical concentrators for each channel


The present invention provides a method for removing sulfur species from a gas stream without the use of a sulfur species removal process, such as an amine scrub. The sulfur species are removed by directly subjecting the gas stream to a sulfur recovery process, such as a Claus or sub-dewpoint Claus process at high pressure and moderate temperatures, wherein the sulfur recovery process comprises a catalyst which does not comprise activated carbon.

Stringent environmental standards of emissions of sulfur compounds, together with low sulfur specifications for fossil fuel products, have resulted in making sulfur management critical in modern power generation and energy use. Some processes where such sulfur management is important include gasification or liquefaction of coal, smelting of various sulfide containing ores, the sweetening of sour natural gas, oil refining, petrochemical production, destructive distillation of coal and oil shale, and the production and use of hydrogen sulfide containing geothermal steam and liquid for generating electricity. As modern power generation equipment process fossil fuel products with higher sulfur contents, the need for more efficient, low cost sulfur recovery processes will also increase.
Sulfur species, such as H2S and COS, are generally removed from the gas or liquid stream before further processing occurs. The usual sulfur species removal process involves an amine or similar scrub to separate the sulfur species. This involves passing the gas stream through a liquid containing an amine such as monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), triethanolamine (TEA), diglycolamine (DGA), or monodiethanolamine (MDEA) with or without proprietary additives, or through use of a physical solvent such as methanol or sulfalane, or various combinations of these. The sulfur species are retained in the liquid solution as a result of their reaction with the amines and or physical absorbtion. Once most of the amines in the solution have reacted or the solvent is loaded, the amine solution is regenerated in a step known as stripping. Here, the sulfur species are liberated from the solution by pressure reduction, the application of heat to increase vapor pressure, the cleavage of the nitrogen-sulfur chemical bond, and the contacting of this material with a stripping medium such as steam. Next, in a process conducted separate from the original gas stream, the sulfur species are converted to elemental sulfur by a sulfur recovery process, which is typically carried out at low pressure. Examples of sulfur recovery processes include conventional, also known as modified, Claus processes, and sub-dewpoint Claus processes, such as cold-bed adsorption and associated tail gas conversion processes, which typically achieve over 98% sulfur recovery.
There are several problems with these sulfur species removal processes. First, in the process of removing the sulfur species from the gas stream, other acid gases, such as CO2, and hydrocarbon fuel components are removed as well. The retention of these other acid gases or fuel components in the gas stream is desirable because their presence generates energy and/or power for example when the gas is burned and expanded in a gas turbine. Second, the sour gas stream is often at a much higher temperature and/or pressure than the sulfur species removal processes can accommodate. For example, sour syngas streams produced by the gasification of coal usually have temperatures above 250° F., while absorption or reaction of sulfur species with amine is favored at high partial pressures and low temperatures, typically 80-140° F. Adjusting the temperature and/or pressure of the sour gas stream to accommodate current sulfur species removal processes adds additional equipment and greater complexity to a plant with concurrent increases in cost. Therefore, processes that address these problems would help increase the efficiency of modern energy and power generation equipment.
One process is currently available which directly reacts the sulfur species in a syngas stream to sulfur without first treating them with a sulfur species removal system. This process is called "Selective Catalytic Oxidation of Hydrogen Sulfide" (SCOHS) (Department of Energy website, http://www.netl.doe.gov/coalpower/gasification/gas-clean/index.html (viewed Oct. 22, 2003)). This process has limitations however. First, the catalyst which converts the sulfur species to elemental sulfur comprises activated carbon, unlike the alumina catalyst used in most conventional and sub-dewpoint Claus sulfur recovery processes. Second, SCOHS operates at temperatures below 300° F., and preferably below 250° F., which is only slightly above the melting point of sulfur. A new process that would be adaptable for use with current Claus sub-dewpoint reactor and catalyst technology and would operate at higher temperatures would represent a significant advance in the art.
The present invention solves these problems and provides a new method of removing sulfur species from a sour gas stream.


A fluid plenum trough conveyor support that provides a near frictionless fluid film bearing to support a conveyor belt. The apparatus of the present invention may be used as a discrete conveyor belt support element. The discrete elements formed by the method of the present invention may also be sealingly joined to form a continuous trough conveyor path for a conveyor system. An improved particulate collection system is provided at termination points of the conveyor system for eliminating particulate emissions as the bulk materials transported by the conveyor are unloaded or transferred to receiving points.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting a conveyor belt. More specifically, the apparatus of the present invention relates to a fluid plenum trough conveyor support that provides a near frictionless fluid film bearing to support a conveyor belt. The apparatus of the present invention may be used as a discrete conveyor belt support element. The discrete elements formed by the method of the present invention may also be sealingly joined to form a continuous trough conveyor path for a conveyor system. An improved particulate collection system is provided at termination points of the conveyor system for eliminating particulate emissions as the bulk materials transported by the conveyor are unloaded or transferred to receiving points.
Conveyor belt systems have been known and used in many industries for many years. Many of these systems utilize a continuous loop belt to transport bulk materials from one point to another. Traditionally the belt is supported by idler rollers, or troughing rollers which define a conveyor path. The drive means that translate the belt along the conveyor path must be capable of moving the weight of the materials as well as overcoming the frictional forces developed between the belt and the above described support means.
The conveyor systems described above have many drawbacks. First, each of the support rollers is subject to wear and mechanical failure. These failures can damage a belt or cause premature wear of the belt. Second, the rollers require routine maintenance. Often the location of these rollers within the conveyor system will pose significant hazards to maintenance personnel assigned to service these components. Other times, the location of these components will merely be an inconvenience. In either case these difficulties can lead to significant delays or equipment downtime while maintenance personnel service the equipment. Finally, each roller introduces a component of friction into the system, which must be overcome by the belt drive mechanism. These frictional components tend to increase as the rollers and their associated bearings wear, requiring additional energy consumption by the drive mechanism. In turn, the belt drive mechanism is subjected to additional wear, potentially causing premature mechanical failure.
Fluid plenum conveyor belt support elements have been introduced to overcome these limitations. They function by the introduction of a pressurized fluid source between the belt and a trough formed in the plenum to contain and guide the belt. The pressurized fluid forms a fluid film layer between the trough and the conveyor belt. The fluid film supports the weight of the belt and the materials transported thereon, while providing a near frictionless bearing surface between the belt and the trough. This concept provides distinct improvements over earlier roller methods. First, maintenance of the bearings is virtually eliminated by the elimination of the moving components of the earlier roller systems. Second, the fluid film bearing significantly reduces the amount of friction between the belt and supporting conveyor path. Finally, the reduction of frictional forces encountered by the belt permits operation of the conveyor drive mechanism at reduced power levels resulting in reduced energy costs and reduced wear and tear on the belt drive mechanism.
While fluid plenum conveyor systems have many advantages over troughing roller systems, fluid plenum systems in the art demonstrate significant inefficiencies. First, the shape of these fluid plenum troughs inhibits efficient fluid film layer propagation. Second, the fabrication techniques used to form the troughs introduce surface irregularities which become more pronounced in response to operational and environmental factors. These surface irregularities further inhibit efficient propagation of the fluid film layer. Third, the prior art methods used to join discrete trough elements to form a continuous fluid plenum conveyor system introduce further surface irregularities at the joint between each element. Moreover, these junctions do not sealingly join trough elements, permitting the inefficient escape of pressurized fluid from the plenum. Fourth, the fluid plenum troughs of the prior art demonstrate the undesired characteristic of belt float, wherein an unloaded portion of the conveyor belt lifts uncontrollably from the trough. Finally, in applications that transport bulk materials containing or developing significant amounts of particulate matter, the pressurized fluid used to produce the fluid film surface can release the particulate into the environment, creating an environmental hazard.
Prior art versions of fluid plenum conveyors employ a cross-sectional trough shape consisting of a central radius symmetrically extending upward from each side of a vertical centerline. When the central radius reaches a desired angle, the trough is further extended with straight sides extending upward from a point of tangency with the central curve to create a trough of the desired cross section. The intent of the prior art designs was to create a trough with the same cross-sectional profile as prior art troughing rollers in accordance with Conveyor Equipment Manufactures Association, (CEMA) standards. It was thought that a fluid film conveyor trough of the described profile would best permit the intermittent use of standard CEMA troughing rollers in cooperation with fluid plenum troughs to form a continuous conveyor path. While this design more accurately replicates the conventional roller profile, it is not the optimum shape to create a supporting fluid film. Uniform contact of the belt with the trough surface is critical to allow the pressurized fluid to equally react against the entire surface of the belt. The flat tangential sections of the prior art design prevent uniform contact of the belt with trough surface. As a result, fluid flow separation occurring near the boundary of the tangentially flat portions and the curved portion disrupting the propagation of the fluid film layer.
Prior art troughs with tangential sides also exhibit surface irregularities which become more pronounced in response to operational and environmental factors. The surface irregularities primarily manifest themselves along the length of the tangential portions of the trough, and are defined by convex and concave portions interspersed throughout the trough surface. However, the techniques used to join the flat tangential portions to the central radius portion can also distort the surface of the central radius portion. The surface variations cause corresponding variations in the fluid pressure between these portions of the trough and the belt. The concave areas impose a lower pressure against the belt due to the belt bridging across the concave areas. The increased fluid flow across the concave portions further disrupts the propagation of the fluid film layer. Conversely, the convex areas impose higher pressures against the belt. When the pressure between the belt and the convex portions of the trough exceeds the pressure of the fluid film, the belt will come into frictional contact with the trough. In response to operational and environmental stresses, these surface irregularities become more pronounced, further reducing the efficiency of the fluid plenum conveyor system. In an application using air as the supporting fluid, a relatively low operating pressure of 1. PSI is typical. This seemingly low pressure exerts substantial total pressure within the plenum. For example: a trough supporting a 54xe2x80x3 wide conveyor belt has over 15,000. pounds of upward lift on a typical 20. foot long section. When combined with the effects of thermal expansion, these pressures will further distort the surface irregularities in the trough, seriously degrading the efficiency of the system. The resultant effect of all these inefficiencies is an increased power demand from the conveyor drive and blower mechanisms with corresponding wear on the belt, trough, and drive and blower mechanisms.
The prior art methods used to join discrete trough elements to form a continuous fluid plenum conveyor system introduce additional surface irregularities at the joints between each element. Moreover, these joints do not adequately seal joined trough elements, permitting the inefficient escape of pressurized fluid from the plenum. Typically, fluid plenum troughs in the art are joined by a tongue and groove arrangement, wherein a tongue is fixed to the underside of the plenum trough of one member and a groove is fixed to the underside of the plenum trough of a second member. The engagement of the tongue into the groove provides alignment and joining of the trough elements. The tongue and grooves are formed to parallel the contours of the trough elements. By this arrangement, the joint is unable to provide needed support to resist the perpendicular loads imposed on the trough. As a result, it is common to find troughs connected by this technique with an added surface irregularity along the joint. This irregularity will experience further distortion in response to the operational and environmental stresses discussed above. Furthermore, troughs joined by this technique do not include a sealing connection between the trough elements. As a result, considerable energy is lost in a long conveyor system, with even small amounts of fluid leaks at each plenum connection.
The characteristic xe2x80x9cbelt floatxe2x80x9d is another common problem with fluid plenum troughs in the art. The absence of a load to overcome the belt tension, causes the belt to span the center portion of the trough in the same manner as a belt encountering a convex surface irregularity described above. As the belt spans the central radius it lifts uncontrollably from the surface of the trough. In applications employing covers over the conveyor trough, the uncontrolled lifting of the belt can cause damage to the covers and the belt. Moreover, as the belt separates from the surface, fluid flow becomes less restricted, which if left uncorrected, will result in degraded fluid film layer performance over loaded portions of the belt.
The introduction of fluid plenum systems for use in conveyor operations has also created a potential environmental hazard. In operations where significant quantities of particulate products are transported or are created during the transport of bulk products, the pressurized fluid required to develop the fluid film layer tends to entrain the particulate, thereby contaminating the fluid. As a result, control measures are needed to prevent their release to the environment or causing damage to the fluid pressurizing system.
Consequently, there exists a need for an improved fluid plenum trough design that enhances the propagation and maintenance of the induced fluid film surface between the trough and the conveyor belt.
There is also a need to improve the methods of manufacture for the fluid plenum elements to reduce the occurrence of surface irregularities in the trough.
Furthermore, an improved method of joining fluid plenum elements is required to enhance the efficiency of the conveyor system to reduce drive mechanism and fluid pressurizing system loads.
Finally, there is a need to make fluid plenum conveyor systems more environmentally sound.
It is a first object of the present invention to provide a fluid plenum conveyor trough having improved fluid film propagation properties. This is achieved in the present invention by a preferred trough shape comprising a continuous radius extending symmetrically upward from each side of a vertical centerline, the radius created by a curve that would intersect at the midpoint of a standard CEMA roller. The point intersected by the vertical centerline should also be slightly lower than the top edge of the bottom roller of a standard CEMA roller trough. Selection of the radius, as defined above, permits use of a CEMA roller in series with the plenum trough without belt interference at either the receiving or transmitting ends of the plenum trough. By eliminating the flat tangential portions of the prior art trough profile, consistent belt pressure across the trough profile is achieved resulting in more efficient fluid film propagation.
Second and third objects of the invention, directed towards reducing the surface irregularities of the trough and facilitating the manufacturing process, are achieved by selection of the constant radius profile and maintaining the radius throughout the manufacturing process. A continuous radius trough is easily fabricated by either cutting a section pipe having the desired radius or forming a flat material to the desired radius. The continuous radius of the trough section is maintained by use of a precision alignment fixture temporarily securing and aligning a corresponding radius of arcuate end plates during their attachment to opposite ends of the trough section. After attachment of the mating flanges, the plenum is formed around the trough section such that the plenum conforms to the trough. The plenum optionally includes at least one arcuate support gusset enclosed therein, supporting the trough along its length and strengthening the plenum against torsional loads.
A fourth object of the present invention, directed to improve the joining of plenum elements, is achieved by the precision alignment of the arcuate mating flanges, as described above. Since each plenum element is identically formed, joining successive plenum elements in near perfect alignment is easily achieved. Adjoining mating flanges are joined by securing bolts, rivets or other suitable attachment means, received in aligned holes interspersed throughout the periphery of the flanges. To achieve a fluid tight seal, a gasket is compressed between the mating flanges by securement of the attachment means.
A fifth object of the present invention, directed to reducing the deleterious effects of belt float, is achieved by the attachment of tapered wedges to the constant radius portion of the trough. As an unloaded belt portion begins to lift from the trough surface, the edges of the belt encounter the tapered wedges. The wedges controllably lift the belt from the trough surface, facilitating purging of excess fluid from beneath the belt. The purging of excess pressurized fluid reduces the lifting energy imparted to the belt thereby preventing uncontrolled floating of the belt.
A final object of the present invention is directed towards controlling particulate release into the environment or contamination of the fluid pressurization system. This is achieved by the use of a fluid knife to clean particulate matter from the belt shortly after it has deposited the transported product to the delivery point. The fluid knife impinges the surface of the belt to dislodge the particulate matter and entrain it with the fluid and a larger mass fluid volume flow. The entrained particulate is then ducted to a standard filtration system, such as a bag house as such devices are commonly known by in the art.

Fluid plenum conveyor trough and method for fabricating and joining the same


Cellular antenna systems are provided for airship-type support at a position in the stratosphere. A single antenna system (20) may provide cellular communication for earth-based users located anywhere within a circle 400 miles in diameter (10). By use of array assemblies (21a) each providing 12 side-by-side beam positions per quadrant, with higher and lower elevation beams (32a', 36a') at each beam position, coverage can be provided for 96 cells arranged side-by-side in inner and outer annular bands (10). A turnstile-type antenna (26) provides coverage for a 97th central circular cell. By allocation of available groups of cellular frequencies in repetitive patterns around the outer annular band (1-6, FIG. 1), with frequency reuse in offset positions around the inner annular band, 16 times frequency reuse is provided while maintaining acceptable co-channel interference levels. A total number of channels of the order of 5,800 channels is thus provided for AMPS band A or band B usage with a single antenna system. Arrangements employing 6 dB attenuation (60) of signal levels at array edge elements provide reduced co-channel interference without diminishing antenna system gain at beam crossover angles.

This invention relates to antennas for cellular telephone applications and, more particularly, to antennas suitable for communication from the stratosphere with earth-bound cellular users. Such users may, for example, be located in any of 96 cells arranged side-by-side in a plurality of annular bands of a circular coverage area, plus a circular central cell. Thus, with an antenna system at a lower stratosphere altitude of about 13 miles, thousands of cellular users within a circular area of the order of 400 miles in diameter may be served by a single cellular antenna system.
In current systems, in order to provide cellular service to users over a wide geographical area, a large portion of system cost relates to the need for multiple antenna sites. Due to tower height and earth curvature constraints, each antenna installation provides coverage over only a relatively small area of the earth's surface. The resulting requirement for a large number of antenna installations is further complicated by limits on availability of both suitable existing support structures for antennas and suitable sites for construction of new antenna towers. A compounding factor is a growing public aversion to additional antenna installations and towers.
As is known, the troposphere is that part of the earth's atmosphere in which temperature generally decreases with altitude, clouds form and convection currents are active. The troposphere generally extends from the surface to a height/altitude ranging from about 3.7 miles at the poles, to about 11 miles at the equator. In the stratosphere, which is located above the troposphere and continuing to a height of about 30 miles, temperature remains constant or increases slightly with altitude and relatively inactive atmospheric conditions exist. Surveillance aircraft, as well as weather balloon devices and other lighter-than-air craft, are known to operate at altitudes of 70,000 feet (13.3 miles).
Positioning an antenna system above the earth in the stratosphere for greater coverage is not practical with current types of antennas used for cellular applications. Such antennas, which are positioned and powered for coverage of cellular users located in a relatively limited geographical area, may typically provide from one to four antenna beams per azimuth sector. Even with four antenna beams per 90 degree azimuth sector, frequency allocation limitations and other constraints limit the total number of users which can simultaneously communicate via a single antenna system/site. Thus, if the coverage area of a single site were increased, operation would be subject to overload because the greater number of users in the expanded area could readily exceed the frequency allocation and operating constraints of a cellular site addressing a total of only 16 cells (four cells for each of four azimuth quadrants) for example.
As a result, even if usable with a lighter-than-air type vehicle able to be positioned relatively motionless in the lower stratosphere, the current types of typical cellular antennas would be unsuitable. This is particularly true because from stratospheric height the individual cell size (area of earth surface coverage) resulting from use of existing cellular antennas from such height would tend to encompass a greater number of users than could be serviced within frequency allocations and other system constraints. Existing antennas would be further unsuitable because of the vertical dimensioning of beams provided by such antennas and the absence of any provision for coverage in a central circular area which would lie directly below a stratosphere-located antenna.
Objects of the present invention are, therefore, to provide new and improved antenna systems for cellular use and, more particularly, to provide such antenna systems having one or more of the following characteristics and capabilities:
suitability for use from a stratosphere location; PA1 coverage of cells arranged in annular bands within a circular coverage area; PA1 provision of a number of simultaneous antenna beams (e.g., 97 beams) adequate to cover a large number of cells of reasonable individual area, from a stratosphere position (e.g., 13 miles altitude); PA1 provision of dual elevation beams to double the total of individual antenna beams and individual cells; PA1 enablement of frequency reuse patterns to permit multiple reuse (e.g., 16 times reuse) without unacceptable co-channel interference; PA1 enablement of frequency reuse patterns to provide thousands of channels (e.g., 5800 channels) for AMPS band A or B with one composite antenna system; and PA1 reduction of sidelobe level for a multi-beam antenna by inclusion of attenuators in outermost outputs of a beam forming network. PA1 (a) an array assembly with a plurality of laterally-spaced linear vertical arrays of radiating elements, PA1 (b) a plurality of first feed networks, each coupled to a vertical array to provide vertical beam coverage between a first pair of elevation angles representing the edges of a first annular band of the circular coverage area, PA1 (c) a first beam forming network having a plurality of output ports coupled to the first feed networks to produce a plurality of simultaneous side-by-side beams each providing coverage of a coverage cell located in the first annular band and within the first azimuth sector, PA1 (d) a plurality of second feed networks coupled to the first feed networks to provide, in conjunction with the first feed networks, vertical beam coverage between a second pair of elevation angles representing the edges of a second annular band of the circular coverage area, and PA1 (e) a second beam forming network having a plurality of output ports coupled to the second feed networks to produce a plurality of simultaneous side-by-side beams each providing coverage of a coverage cell located in the second annular band and within the first azimuth sector; and PA1 a plurality of additional 2-D antenna configurations, each of substantially identical description to the first 2-D antenna configuration, and each arranged to communicate with users within a different azimuth sector; PA1 the 2-D antenna configurations arranged to provide coverage of a total of at least 80 coverage cells within the two annular bands of the circular coverage area.

Cellular antennas for stratosphere coverage of multi-band annular earth pattern


Provided is microbial materials for degradation of oils and toxic chemicals. The microbial material comprises (a) a microorganism and culture filtrate capable of degrading oil and toxic chemicals being at least one selected from the group consisting of Trichosporon loubieri Y1-A of deposit No. KCTC 10876BP, Trichosporon cutaneum, and white-rot fungi living upon the surface of wood, (b) rapeseed oils for producing more sophorolipid in surface of the said microorganism, (c) lipophilic powder being at least one selected from the group consisting of natural wax, synthetic wax, beeswax and waste candle, and (d) a microbial nutrient. This invention further comprises (e) the Bacillus subtilis of Deposit No. KCCM 10639 and the Bacillus subtilis of Deposit No. KCCM 10640. The microbial material can efficiently, rapidly degrade contaminants that are unreadily degradable, by increasing a contact area with the microorganism capable of degrading the unreadily degradable contaminants.

Major contaminants including, for instance, oils such as gasoline, naphtha, kerosene or Bunker C oil, toxic chemicals such as BTEX, and the like, have been leading to severe environmental contamination of nearby soil and groundwater due to poor degradability and serious toxicity.
Conventional technology for treatment of such contaminants in the soil or groundwater includes physical or chemical treatment, which, however, often has limited applicability because significant running costs are required and the soil ecosystem are severely ruined. One solution that has been proposed in recent years is biological treatment based on biodegradation by indigenous microorganisms in the contaminated soil and groundwater. However, one drawback of the use of biological treatment is that oil-to-soil cohesion or low water solubility, which results from lipophilic or hydrophobic properties of oils and toxic chemicals, makes biodegradation by the microorganisms difficult to achieve. Other problems associated with the use of biological treatment include a long process time is required and highly toxic contaminants may adversely affect activity of indigenous microorganisms, considerably lowering the overall treatment efficiency.

Microbial materials for degradation of oils and toxic chemicals


A vehicle system includes an autonomous mode controller and an entertainment system controller. The autonomous mode controller controls a vehicle in an autonomous mode. The entertainment system controller presents media content on a first display while the vehicle is operating in the autonomous mode and on a second display when the vehicle is operating in a non-autonomous mode. A method includes determining whether a vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode, presenting media content on a first display while the vehicle is operating in the autonomous mode, and transferring presentation of the media content to a second display when the vehicle is operating in a non-autonomous mode.

Vehicles operating in an autonomous (e.g., driverless) mode can relieve occupants, especially the driver, from some driving-related responsibilities. When operating in an autonomous mode, the vehicle can navigate to various locations using on-board sensors, allowing the vehicle to travel with minimal human interaction or in some cases without any passengers. Therefore, autonomous vehicles give passengers, especially the person who would otherwise be driving the vehicle, the opportunity to do other things while travelling. Instead of concentrating on numerous driving-related responsibilities, the driver may be free to watch movies or other media content, converse with other passengers, read, etc., while riding in an autonomous vehicle.


It is an object of the present invention to improve the performance of gradient liquid transfer in nano/micro liquid chromatographs when solvents are mixed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to gradient liquid transfer devices and methods for nano/micro liquid chromatographs, and more-particularly, to an improvement of liquid transfer performance in solvent mixing.
2. Prior Art
Recently, high performance liquid chromatographs have served as representative means for the separation and analysis of trace components. FIG. 4 shows an example structure of such a chromatograph. In a high performance liquid chromatograph 10, a solvent is transferred by a pump 14 from a mobile-phase solvent tank 12 through a passage, and an injector 16 introduces a trace sample into the solvent in the passage. The flow of the solvent leads the trace sample to a subsequent column 18. The trace sample is separated into components at a controlled temperature. The separated components are then detected by detection means 20, such as an absorbance detector. A computer 22 processes and analyzes A/D-converted detected signals, and also controls the conditions of the chromatograph.
Recently, a lower flow rate and a lower volume have been used to separate infinitesimal components at high resolution. Nano/micro liquid chromatographs which u se a flow rate of several tens of micro liters per minute to a nano liter per minute have been developed.
FIG. 5 shows a conventional liquid transfer system used for gradient elution in such a nano/micro liquid chromatograph. In the liquid transfer system 30, at a primary-solvent liquid transfer section 32, a primary solvent is replenished from a primary-solvent tank 34 to a metering pump 36, and then, a valve 38 is switched to transfer the primary solvent from the metering pump 36 through a primary-solvent passage 40 connected thereto.
At a secondary-solvent liquid transfer section 42, a secondary solvent is replenished from a secondary-solvent tank 44 to a metering pump 46, and then a valve 48 is switched to transfer the secondary solvent from the metering pump 46 through a secondary-solvent passage 50 connected thereto.
A three-way tee 52 (solvent mixing section) connected to the primary-solvent passage 40 and to the secondary-solvent passage 50 mixes the two solvents at a predetermined ratio. The mixed solvent is transferred to a subsequent separation system through a mixed-solvent passage 54. The mixing ratio of the two solvents is determined by the ratio of the flow rates specified by the metering pumps, and is controlled by a control section such as a computer. With the mixing ratio of the solvents being gradually changed, the mixed solvent is transferred to the subsequent separation system for gradient elution.
Due to the following two reasons, however, a considerable amount of the primary solvent enters the secondary-solvent passage 50 when only the primary solvent is transferred at a first stage.
First, since only a part (for example, from the pump 46 to the valve 48 in FIG. 5) of the passage 50 is initially filled with the secondary solvent, the primary solvent enters an empty part (for example, from the valve 48 to the three-way tee 52 in FIG. 5) of the passage 50, which has a considerable volume.
Secondly, the pressure of the liquid transfer system reaches, for example, as high as several tens of kilograms per square centimeters because of the resistance of the separation system, which is subsequent to the liquid transfer system. The primary solvent having a high pressure and entering the secondary-solvent passage 50 pushes the secondary solvent, which was previously stored at atmospheric pressure, to compress the secondary solvent. As a result, a further amount of the primary solvent enters the secondary-solvent passage. When water is used as the primary solvent and acetonitrile is used as the secondary solvent, acetonitrile is compressed due to the pressure of the water, and a considerable amount of volume contraction occurs. Since nano/micro liquid chromatographs have very small passage diameters and very small passage volumes, this solvent contraction also largely affects the entry of the primary solvent into the secondary-solvent passage.
When a considerable amount of the primary solvent enters the secondary-solvent passage in this way, even if the operations of the metering pumps are controlled such that the transfer of the primary solvent only is switched to the transfer of the mixed solvent at a predetermined time, actual switching is performed at a time later than the predetermined time, as shown in the graph of FIG. 6. In other words, it takes time for the pump 46 to push back the primary solvent which has entered the secondary-solvent passage 50, the secondary solvent cannot be mixed with the primary solvent during this time; and a time delay thus occurs. Therefore, the mixed solvent may be transferred to the separation column with a delay, so that separation is performed late; or analysis of the measurement results may be inaccurate, which is a problem.

Equipment and method for feeding liquid gradient in nano/micro liquid chromatography

Abstract: In a gradient liquid transfer device and method for a nano/micro liquid chromatograph, an opening and closing unit (160) capable of opening and closing a solvent passage (150) for transferring a secondary solvent is provided in the vicinity of a solvent mixing section (152) in a liquid transfer system (130); a passage from a metering pump (146) of a liquid transfer section (142) to the opening and closing unit (160) is filled with the secondary solvent in advance; and an appropriate pressure is applied to the secondary solvent. Therefore, the entry of a primary solvent into the solvent passage for transferring the secondary solvent is suppressed. In another gradient liquid transfer device and method for a nano/micro liquid chromatograph, a liquid having a low compression rate is filled, in advance, in a part of a solvent passage subsequent to a metering pump of a liquid transfer section, and only the required amount of a secondary solvent is filled subsequent to the liquid. Therefore, the entry of the primary solvent into a solvent passage for transferring the secondary solvent is suppressed, and liquid-transfer performance is improved.


A cue ball, suitable for practice purposes, into which a circular hole is drilled and the core material removed therefrom. The core material is then replaced with a circular level. Perpendicular to the circular level is a pattern which allows for, or directs placement of, the cue tip upon the ball. As a result, the invention provides a user with a basic target area for developing english or spin upon the ball. The leveling devices allows the user to position the ball in the same position, presenting the target area to the user in a repeatable manner.

This invention relates to a novel practice cue ball and a method for developing "english" or spin on a cue ball through the use of such a practice cue ball.
More particularly, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a cue ball into which a circular hole is drilled and the core material removed therefrom. The core material is then replaced with a circular level. Perpendicular to the circular level, along the outer surface of the cue ball, is a pattern which allows for, or directs, placement of the cue tip upon the ball. As a result, the practice cue ball visually provides a user with a basic target area for developing "english" or spin upon the ball. The leveling device allows the user to consistently orient the ball in the same position, presenting the target area to the user in a repeatable manner, no matter where it is located on the playing surface.
While the invention is particularly directed to the art of practice cue balls, and will be thus described with specific reference thereto, it will be appreciated that the invention may have usefulness in other fields and applications.
Any game requiring the use of a cue ball will necessarily require the development of english, or spin, upon such cue ball. English is defined as the spin applied to a ball by striking it in a particular location. More specifically, "right english" is the spin applied to a ball by striking it to the right of center to create a counterclockwise spin on the ball. "Left english" is the spin applied to a ball by striking it to the left of center to create a clockwise spin on the ball. "Draw" is the spin applied to a ball by striking it below center to create a back spin. "Follow" is the spin applied to a ball by striking it above center to create a forward spin. These and other various types of spin are applied to the ball through use of a stroke, defined as the movement of the hands and arms to strike a ball with a stick, pool cue, billiard stick, or other apparatus.
The development and application of the stroke necessary to produce the spin or the ball movement desired is difficult to master. Use of a teaching aid or a training device to enhance the development of the hand-eye coordination and/or muscle memory necessary to repetitively produce such an effect will be beneficial.
Heretofore, a training cue ball that assists a user in creating spin on such cue ball has not been developed. In particular, to the inventor's knowledge, no one has developed a cue ball including a pattern which provides a user with basic target areas for developing english. Further, no method or apparatus to ensure that the practice cue ball can be consistently placed in the same position, thus presenting the pattern to the user in a repeatable fashion, has been developed.
A wide variety of pool or billiard balls and closely related training devices having visible training patterns are known. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 1,108,441 to Hubbell discloses pool balls with zig-zag patterns placed thereon to aid in visually determining the relative angle or position of the pool balls. U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,305 to Nicholson shows pool balls including variably colored segments which aid in selecting a point at which a cue ball should strike an object ball by the use of an imaginary line extending through the center of the ball and the desired pocket. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 3,947,026 to Scoutten and U.S. Pat. No. 3,843,120 to Ricci disclose training devices which aid in teaching the true point of aim and/or desired points of contact to be used in a pool or billiards game.
None of these prior patents, however, show a cue ball with a pattern visible on or through the outer surface of the cue ball for development of english or a levelling device included therein to allow the cue ball to be consistently placed in the same position, thus presenting the pattern to the user in a repeatable manner.


An optical device package includes a substrate having a top portion with an a recess for receiving an optical semiconductor component and an elongated linear groove for receiving an optical fiber. The optical fiber is positioned within the groove in said substrate such that the top surface of the optical fiber is substantially at or below the upper surface of the substrate and the optical fiber is operatively aligned with the optical semiconductor component for the transfer of optical signals therebetween. A frame is hermetically sealed to the upper surface of the substrate.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a package for optical devices, and particularly to a module for operatively coupling one or more optical fibers with one or more optical devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various optical devices are known in the art and include such semiconductor devices as light emitting diodes (LEDs), laser diodes, and photodetectors. Optical semiconductors, e.g., optoelectronic devices, effect a conversion between optical signals and electronic signals.
Optical semiconductor components are sensitive to environmental conditions and are generally sealed in hermetic packages or in plastic molding to prevent degradation caused by atmospheric contaminants such as humidity, dust, and free ions. The optical input/output surfaces of the components operatively coupled in a package are especially susceptible to contamination, hence, the desirability of hermetically sealing the package to prevent contact with the outside atmosphere. Hermetic sealing typically involves mounting a cap to a substrate having an optical semiconductor component by means of soldering, welding, and the like.
One prior known optical device module includes a submount body having a groove buried with an insulator, an optical semiconductor component mounted on the submount body, a cap arranged across the groove and fixedly bonded to the submount body by a bonding member for hermetically sealing the module. An electrical wiring layer connected to the semiconductor device extends to the outside of the cap through a groove buried with an insulator.
Another type of prior known optical device package includes a first substrate having a groove thereon into which an optical fiber is fitted, and a second groove to fix the optical fiber by applying adhesive, the second groove being formed on a part of the first groove, a width and a depth of the second groove being wider and deeper than those of the first groove so that the optical fiber is not in contact with the second groove. A second substrate pushes the optical fiber against the first groove.
A problem with the aforementioned prior known devices is that the optical axis must be above the top surface of the optical bench, i.e., the chip or substrate onto which the optical fiber is mounted, because the active area of the optical semiconductor component (e.g., a laser, photodetector, or the like) is above the optical bench surface. Therefore, the lid must have a a V-groove to accommodate the optical fiber. This creates problems during sealing because the alignment of the optical fiber can be disturbed during the sealing step. Moreover, it is more difficult to create a low temperature seal (which may be required due to the sensitivity of the semiconductor device to high temperature) when the lid must seal around the fiber.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have an optical device package wherein the lid does not require V-grooves to accommodate the optical fiber.


A valve unit has a fluid housing through which a fluid duct extends from a first opening across a valve seat to a second opening, a valve drive connected to the fluid housing and configured to drive a valve closing body cooperating with the valve seat, the valve closing body coming into contact with the fluid in operation on the face side facing the valve seat and on a side facing away from the valve seat, and a connecting plate having a connecting surface to which the fluid housing can be mounted and in which a fluid supply duct and a fluid outlet duct are formed. The fluid housing is adapted to be mounted to the connecting plate in a first position and in a second position rotated in relation to the first position through 180 degrees relative to an imaginary axis of rotation extending perpendicularly to the connecting surface, wherein during operation of the valve unit, with a direction of flow of the fluid through the connecting plate remaining unchanged, a flow over the seat takes place in the first position and a flow under the seat takes place in the second position.

Depending on the application and field of use of a valve unit, a flow over the seat or a flow under the seat of a valve may be desired. This can be achieved in a very simple way by using two different valve components that provide for the flow to be guided accordingly. The structural effort does not involve a complete restructuring of the valve unit, so that a valve manufacturer can offer such different valve units without immense additional expense.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve unit which allows the flow against the valve seat to be changed in a particularly simple manner in an existing system, so that such valve units become even more cost-effective.


A method is shown for fracturing a subterranean formation from a deviated well bore. A plurality of spaced fracture initiation points are created in the well bore. Hydraulic pressure is applied to all of the sets of perforations at the fracture initiation points to extend a plurality of spaced fractures in the formation in directions substantially perpendicular to the deviated well bore direction. The same perforated interval in the wellbore is shot two or more times, using a conventional perforating gun in order to achieve a desired hole count over a shorter distance. The perforating technique is combined with a pumping protocol which better insures that the fracturing fluid being pumped flows more evenly through each set of perforations upon the application of hydraulic pressure rather than the majority of the fluid entering only the first perforated interval of the wellbore.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the completion of oil and gas wells and, in particular, to perforation and fracturing processes which are performed during completion operations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In drilling operations for the production of oil and gas deposits, operators strive to maximize both the rate of flow and the overall capacity of hydrocarbon from the subsurface formation to the surface where it can be recovered. Various stimulation techniques have been developed, one of the most commercially successful techniques being referred to as "hydraulic fracturing". The rate of flow or production of hydrocarbon from a geologic formation is naturally dependent on numerous factors. One of the most obvious of these factors is the radius of the borehole; as the radius of the borehole increases, the production rate increases, generally speaking. A related factor is the number and quality of the flow paths from the formation to the borehole available to the migrating hydrocarbon. A fracture or large crack within the producing zone of the geologic formation, originating from and radiating out from the wellbore, serves to increase the effective wellbore radius. The end result is that the producing well behaves as if the entire wellbore radius were increased significantly.
The hydraulic fracturing process involves targeting a portion of the strata surrounding the wellbore and injecting a specialized fluid into the wellbore at pressures sufficient to initiate and extend a fracture into the formation. The fluid which is injected through the wellbore typically exits through holes which are formed in the cemented well casing using a special tool known as a perforating gun. However, sometimes wells are completed with no casing and therefore no perforations exist so that fluid is injected through the wellbore and directly to the formation face. Whether the well is cased or uncased, what is usually created by this process is not a single fracture, but a fracture zone, i.e., a zone having multiple fractures, or cracks in the formation, through which hydrocarbon fluids can flow to the wellbore and be produced at the surface. These fractures are extended by continued pumping and are either propped open with sand or other propping agents, or the fracture faces are etched by a reactive fluid such as an acid, or both. These techniques allow hydrocarbons contained in the formation to more readily flow to the fractures to the well bore. The artificially created fractures may be complimented by naturally existing fractures, or by fractures caused by previous or simultaneous stimulation operations in the same or nearby formations. The quality of the fracturing operation obviously has a great effect on the overall success or failure of the well production.
When fractures are created from a substantially vertical well bore penetrating the formation, there are often only two vertical fracture wings which are produced. Because these conditions have generally been viewed as less than optimum for hydrocarbon production, techniques have been developed to maximize the number of fractures created in the subterranean formation in both vertical and deviated wellbores. Because a larger number of fractures are being created, the interval or distance being stimulated is also generally increased. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,835,928 discloses a method of forming a plurality of vertically disposed spaced fractures from a deviated well bore penetrating a formation. A deviated well bore is drilled in a direction transverse to a known preferred fracture orientation and spaced fracture initiation points are created in the deviated well bore. Spaced vertical fractures are produced in the formation by separately creating and extending a fracture from each fracture initiation point.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,431 has as its object to create a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel fractures from a deviated wellbore. The in situ least principal stress direction of the formation is first determined. A predetermined number and size of perforations are then created in the casing at spaced fracture initiation points. In the preferred technique, each set of perforations is isolated and hydraulic pressure is applied to open the perforations and initiate fracturing.
One problem with the prior art fracturing techniques which Applicant's invention is intended to address is based partly upon the realization that increasing the number of fractures available to accept fracturing fluid and/or increasing the distance or interval being treated might actually work at cross purposes to the stated objective of achieving the greatest degree of hydrocarbon production. This can be explained, at least in part, because a greater number of fractures over a larger formation distance provides an increased possibility that all or most of the fracturing fluid will enter only the first or first few perforated intervals rather than being spread evenly across all the desired perforated intervals.
One deficiency in the prior art techniques therefore involves the type of perforating technique employed. The previously described references and others teach techniques for creating, for example, three or more perforated intervals in a given wellbore, each perforated interval having a given predetermined perforation shot count. In the charge carrier of a conventional perforating gun, the charges are spaced at, for example, a 60 degrees phasing and at a vertical distance of about 2 inches. Such a conventional configuration results in a shot density of 6 shots per foot using a 3⅜ inch gun in a 5½ inch casing. To achieve a higher shot count, for example 60 holes, the perforation interval would have to be on the order of 10 feet. A number of references in the perforating gun arts are directed to methods and apparatus for maximizing the number and size of holes created in the well casing which serve as fracture initiation points. However, none of these references, to Applicant's knowledge, teach the advantage of limiting the formation distance or interval being shot.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,684 shows an explosive carrier in which the explosive charges are mounted in a unique staggered spiral pattern which allows a greater number of shots that can be fired per unit length while increasing the spacing between explosive charges. The increased spacing of the charges is said to reduce the potential interference between fired shots, thereby providing a greater perforated hole size. However, specialized charge arrangements while achieving a greater shot density, sometimes fail to penetrate as deeply into the surrounding formation as compared to traditional off the shelf guns.
Despite the advances which have been made in the perforating and fracturing technologies of the type described above, a need continues to exist for further improvements which will result in even greater hydrocarbon production.
A need exists for improved techniques which will better insure that the fracturing fluid being pumped will flow more evenly through each set of perforations upon the application of hydraulic pressure, rather than the majority of the fluid entering only the first perforated interval of the wellbore.
A need exists for an improved fracturing technique which allows a predetermined target flow rate to be achieved early on in the pumping operation which flow rate creates a desired backpressure at the perforated intervals in the wellbore, whereby the fracturing fluid more evenly penetrates each perforated interval of the wellbore.


Power output switching circuit for use in high current and high frequency applications. The output circuit provides a series of geometrically symmetric, parallel spaced semiconductor converters arranged such that the voltage for each semiconductor output device is substantially equal and minimal for each device. In this way, each device exhibits substantially the same impedance, such that circuit performance is largely a function of intrinsic device characteristics, and substantially independent of cross coupling and other external influences.

The performance of semiconductor circuit designs employing multiple paralleled devices operating at high currents and/or at high frequencies, e.g., above 10 Khz, is often limited by the mutual interaction of the paralleled devices. In particular, conventional power converter performance is limited in the frequency-power product available. There are high power converters in the sub-hundred kilowatt to multi-megawatt range that employ switching frequencies in the 1 Khz range using SCRs (Silicon Controlled Rectifiers), thyristors and GTOs. In the tens of kilowatt range with switching frequencies from about 1 Khz to about 10 Khz, converters often use, for example, IGBTs (insulated Gate Bi-Polar Transistors) and Bi-Polar power devices. Higher frequency operation with IGBTs and Bi-Polar devices is accomplished with higher losses, more complexity, restrictive performance and increased expense. A particularly suitable device for high frequency converter operation is the power MOSFET (Metal Oxide Silicon Field Effert Transistors). MOSFETs are capable of switching frequencies in the Mhz range and are simple to control. However, MOSFETs are subject to higher resistive losses for comparable maximum current for each device. Such losses, however, can be controlled with efficient thermal management that provides low operating junction temperatures.
Conventional converter construction and operation does not lend itself to high switching frequencies, e.g., >10 Khz operation, without high losses. Additionally, conventional converter construction does not lend itself well to the parallel operation of power MOSFETs at high switching frequencies, due to the mutual interaction, or cross-talk, between the parallel devices. The need exists for circuit designs and constructs that provide for the efficient paralleled operation of multiple devices at high currents and high signal frequencies.


A readhead for a photometric diagnostic instrument for illuminating a target area substantially uniformly via only a single light-emitting diode (20) and receiving light from the target area so that reagent tests may be performed is provided with a housing (12, 14, 16) adapted to be incorporated in a photometric diagnostic instrument, first and second light sources (20) mounted in a fixed position relative to the housing (12, 14, 16), a light guide (26) mounted to receive light from each of the light sources (20) which conveys, when only one of the light sources (20) is illuminated, substantially all of the light from the light source (20) to illuminate a target area substantially uniformly, and a light detector (70) coupled to receive light from the target area. Each of the first and second light sources (20) is composed of only a single light-emitting diode (20) for emitting substantially monochromatic light of a different wavelength.

The present invention relates to a readhead for a photometric diagnostic instrument, such as a reflectance spectroscope, for performing tests on a sample of body fluid to be analyzed.
It is useful for various medical diagnostic purposes to utilize a reflectance spectroscope to analyze samples of body fluid, for example, to detect on immunotest strips or chemistry test strips the presence of blood in a person's urine. Conventional reflectance spectroscopes have been used to detect the presence of blood in a urine sample disposed on a reagent pad. Any blood present in the urine reacts with the reagent on the reagent pad, causing the reagent pad to change color to an extent which depends on the concentration of the blood. For example, in the presence of a relatively large concentration of blood, such a reagent pad may change in color from yellow to dark green.
One conventional reflectance spectroscope detects the concentration of the blood by illuminating the reagent pad and detecting, via a conventional reflectance detector, the amount of light received from the reagent pad, which is related to the color of the reagent pad. Based upon the magnitude of the reflectance signal generated by the reflectance detector, the spectroscope assigns the urine sample to one of a number of categories, e.g. a first category corresponding to no blood, a second category corresponding to a small blood concentration, a third category corresponding to a medium blood concentration, and a fourth category corresponding to a large blood concentration.
A prior art reflectance spectroscope has been provided with an optical system in the form of a read head in which a light bulb is disposed directly above the reagent pad to be tested and a reflectance detector is disposed at a 45.degree. angle to the horizontal surface of the reagent pad. Light from that spectroscope passes through a first vertical optical path from the illumination source to the reagent pad and through a second optical path, disposed 45.degree. with respect to the first optical path, from the reagent pad to the reflectance detector.
Other devices have been designed to illuminate a reagent pad. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,755,058 to Shaffer discloses a device for illuminating a surface and detecting the intensity of light emitted from the surface. The surface is directly illuminated by a plurality of light-emitting diodes disposed at an acute angle relative to the surface. U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,689 to Dosmann, et al. discloses a diffused light reflectance readhead in which one or more light-emitting diodes are used to illuminate a reagent pad and in which light from the reagent pad is detected by a light sensor.

Readhead for a photometric diagnostic instrument


An apparatus for controlling a plurality of vehicle safety devices, for example two safety devices, that are normally set to operate in a set time sequence, whereby if the vehicle is in a collision and the first safety device malfunctions, the second safety device is immediately activated to ensure passenger safety.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling a plurality of vehicle safety devices.
2. Prior Art
Air bag systems and preloader systems are representative examples of various vehicle safety systems/devices that have been developed to protect passengers from the shock of vehicle collisions. However, an effective way of ensuring the safety of passengers involved in a vehicle collision is to use two types of safety system. For example, an arrangement that is known is to equip the driver's seat with an air bag system and a preloader system, and when it is sensed that a collision has occurred, first the preloader system is activated and this is followed by the activation of the air bag system, thereby providing the driver with increased safety assurance.
This type of conventional arrangement has drawbacks, however. An air bag system is set to operate after a certain delay that is based on the assumption that the passenger is restrained by a seatbelt. Therefore, if for example the preloader system should malfunction and fail to operate in a collision, the passenger, especially the passenger's head, will be moved a considerable way forward before the air bag has inflated sufficiently, and it is even possible that the operation of the air bag system cannot ensure the passenger's safety.

Apparatus for controlling a plurality of vehicle safety devices


A battery pack of a series combination of cell units is connected with a motor drive control circuit to drive a traction motor for a vehicle. A current sensor senses a discharge/charge current of the battery pack, and a voltage detecting circuit senses a voltage between two separate points in the series combination of the battery pack. A memory section stores a reference voltage drop quantity representing a decrease in voltage during a predetermined time interval between the two separate points. An offset detecting section compares an actual voltage drop quantity sensed by the voltage detecting circuit, with the reference voltage drop quantity, thereby detects a non-discharge/charge-current state of the current sensor, and reserves an output of the current sensor, as an offset quantity upon the detection. A correcting section corrects a sensed value of the discharge/charge current with the reserved offset quantity.

The present invention relates to control apparatus and method for a battery pack for a vehicle, and more specifically to control technology to improve a current sensing accuracy.
A Published Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H11(1999)-150873 shows an electric vehicle control system arranged to sense a charge/discharge current of a battery to detect the residual capacity of the battery accurately. This control system reserves an output value of a current sensor, as an offset value, when the battery is in a state free from charging and discharging, and corrects the sensed current value of the current sensor with the offset value in the normal operating state.


A firearm with muzzle noise reducer is disclosed with one or more barrels in which the bullets reach their final velocity in front of the barrel and a muzzle noise reducer constructed such that it can divert propellant gas upon reaching the final bullet velocity. This construction for diverting the propellant generally is in form of openings located length-wise in a barrel. The openings may have different forms and arrangements, e.g. an electronic and/or inertia-activated time-control element that controls the divergence of propellent gas. A method of reducing the muzzle noise is also disclosed.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a method for reducing the muzzle noise of fire-arms, as well as a fire-arm, in particular a shotgun.
2. Description of Related Art
In many fire-arms, the bullet, for example a small-shot charge, achieves its final velocity already before the barrel's muzzle. This allows the integration of an acceleration section and a control section within the barrel. In the acceleration section, the propelling charge accelerates the bullet to its final velocity. The control section acts as a further direction stabilizer of the bullet. Thus, no velocity increase of the bullet, at least no significant increase, occurs in the control section.
Such inner ballistic relations exist with shotguns, which are used for hunting and sport shooting, in particular.
Besides special construction characteristics, i.e. the development of a choke boring, depending on the purpose for usage, such shotguns have varying barrel lengths, that is, the control section is longer or shorter, depending on the desired dispersion of the shot.
A forest hunting shotgun or a skeet shooting shotgun is specified to develop a relatively high dispersion, while a field hunting shotgun or trap shooting shotgun must be developed, so that each shot remains as tightly together as possible. Therefore, the control sections of the shotguns are correspondingly long to their preferred purpose for usage. However, the acceleration section of the barrel is the same length for both types of guns.
Because of the often disturbing noise, it is customary, especially in skeet shooting booths, to wear ear plugs. However, since people shoot in many different directions and under considerable elevation angles, it is hardly possible to take constructive precautions against booming the environment. When skeet shooting, the noise of the shot is still audible at a relatively large distance away from the shooting booth.
It has already been suggested to provide conventional and commercial guns with a silencer. Generally, a silencer of this type is constructed from an expansion casing, which is designed before the muzzle of the barrel and essentially coaxially to it. Hereby, the propellent resulting from burning the propelling charge is caught directly after leaving the muzzle. Depending on the construction of the silencer, the expansion noise will be more or less strongly reduced.
Such silencers, however, do have disadvantages. Generally, they are best suited only for single-barrel weapons. As long as the weapons are multi shots, as is often necessary for sporting purposes, a silencer can only be used in conjunction with a magazine gun or an automatic gun. Such weapons, though, are hardly used for sporting shooting. Double, especially double over-and-under shotguns, are used more frequently than magazine or automatic shotguns. Each of the two barrels can lend its own, special dispersions by a varying choke boring at the muzzle.
Silencers, which stick out over the muzzle of the weapon, have the disadvantage that because of their damage or erroneous assembly, parts of the bullet or the small-shot charge graze the mechanism of the silencer and can, thus, be misguided, whereby one can expect the destruction or damage of the silencer.
In addition, the gun's center of gravity is located at the front as a result of the silencer being positioned before the muzzle. Thus, it allows itself to swing along with a horizontally flying goal signifying a considerable disadvantage for skeet-and trap shooting.
After all, the silencer placed on top of the barrel alters the weapon's range finder position as a result of its diameter, as far as it is even intended to carry any kind of range finder. Thus, a serious sport shooting will be strongly hampered.
From the DE-PS 31 31 265, it is known that horizontal borings are designated for diverting the propellents already in the acceleration section of the barrel, that is in the case of a hand gun. When using typical ammunition, the final velocity of the bullet can hereby be strongly reduced, for example on an area under supersonic speed. This way, the noise of a bullet is avoided. Although the fire-power will also be strongly reduced.

Method of reducing the muzzle noise of firearms and firearm of reduced muzzle noise


Conductive or barrier material is deposited on a semiconductor substrate having recessed features by a method that has at least two operations. The first operation involves depositing a layer of the material on at least a portion of the field regions of the wafer. The second operation involves resputtering at least the layer residing on the field region of the wafer under high pressure. If the pressure is sufficiently high, momentum transfer reflection of the resputtered material will take place, such that at least some of the resputtered material is placed in the recessed features of the wafer. This approach can, among other advantages, offer improved step coverage and better utilization of the material.

Damascene processing is a method for forming metal lines on integrated circuits. It involves formation of inlaid metal lines in trenches and vias formed in a dielectric layer (inter metal dielectric). Damascene processing is often a preferred method because it requires fewer processing steps than other methods and offers a higher yield. It is also particularly well-suited to metals such as copper that cannot be readily patterned by plasma etching. In order to frame the context of this invention, a brief description of a Damascene process for forming a partially fabricated integrated circuit is described below.
A typical Damascene process flow begins with a dielectric into which recessed features have been etched. A diffusion barrier layer, followed by a metal layer are laid upon the dielectric. The metal layer is typically composed of copper or aluminum. The metal layer fills in the recessed features and forms conductive paths for the resulting IC device.
The barrier layer is important because metal ions from the conductive paths may otherwise diffuse into the silicon devise and the dielectric layer. Suitable materials for the diffusion barrier layer include tantalum, tantalum nitride, tungsten, titanium, titanium nitride, and the like. The barrier may be formed by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process such as sputtering or a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. During the deposition process, etching of the diffusion barrier layer may be carried out on certain portions of the substrate to achieve optimal coverage.
Chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) is employed to eliminate excess metal from the top of the dielectric and to create a flat top surface. CMP also removes the diffusion barrier layer on the field region.
This process can be repeated to create a multilayered IC device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and apparatus for resputtering process that improves barrier coverage


Disclosed are a foldable and spreadable electronic device and a method of manufacturing the electronic device. The electronic device may include a flexible chip, a protection film and a flexible substrate. The flexible chip may include a first wiring on a first face thereof. The flexible chip may have a foldable and spreadable structure by reducing a thickness from a second face thereof. The protection film may be disposed on the second face of the flexible chip for protecting the flexible chip. The flexible substrate may include a second wiring on one face thereof. The protection film on disposed on the second face of the flexible chip may make contact with the flexible substrate. The first wiring of the flexible chip may be electrically connected to the second wiring of the flexible substrate using a wire.

1. Field
The invention relates to electronic devices and method of manufacturing electronic devices. More particularly, the invention relates to foldable and spreadable electronic devices, and methods of manufacturing the foldable and spreadable electronic devices.
2. Related Technology
Electronic devices have been widely utilized in modern electronic industry, so that the electronic devices such as semiconductor memory devices are required to have a high performance, a thin thickness and a minute size. To meet these requirements for the electronic devices, various solutions have been studied and searched. In particular, a flexible electronic device has been recently developed to have a foldable and spreadable structure.

Electronic devices and methods of manufacturing electronic devices


The silicone composite product comprises a silicone gel obtained by curing a specified addition-curable type organopolysiloxane composition, and an elastomer layer or resin layer formed on the silicone gel by use of an organopolysiloxane having Si-bonded alkenyl groups and Si-bonded hydrogen atoms. The silicone composite product has the elastomer layer or resin layer formed integrally with the silicone gel phase, whereby such problems as adhesion of dust or refuse to the surface of the silicone gel, etc. can be solved effectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a silicone composite product of which the inside part comprises a silicone gel and the surface layer comprises a silicone elastomer or silicone resin, and to a process for preparing the silicone composite product.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Cured silicone products extremely low in hardness and penetration as compared with elastomer are called "silicone gels" in the field of art. The silicone gels, because of their excellent electrically insulating properties and stability of electrical properties as well as excellent pliability, are used for potting or sealing of electric and electronic parts, especially as a coating material for covering control circuit components, such as power transistors, integrated circuits, capacitors, etc. to protect these components against thermal or mechanical disorder or malfunction. However, the surface of a silicone gel is so tacky as to permit easy adhesion of refuse or dust thereto and to cause such a workability problem that molded products cannot be superposed on the silicone gel. Furthermore, the silicone gel is unsatisfactory in mechanical strength, and may be broken or damaged in an operation for removal of the dust or the like adhered thereto.
As a method of improving the above-mentioned drawbacks of the silicone gels, there have been known, for example:
(i) a method in which a silicone gel is protected by a casing, a cover or the like formed of an organic material, thereby preventing the adhesion of refuse, dust, etc. on the silicone gel and achieve mechanical protection of the silicone gel;
(ii) a method in which a protective layer of other organic high-hardness resin is provided on a silicone gel;
(iii) a method which, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. 1-25704 (1989), comprises the steps of applying an organohydrogenpolysiloxane or the like to a silicone gel, and diffusing the organohydrogenpolysiloxane or the like into the surface of the silicone gel, followed by heating to cure the organohydrogenpolysiloxane or the like, thereby forming a silicone elastomer or silicone resin layer; and
(iv) a method in which, as disclosed in Japanese Pre-examination Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 61-277414 (1986), an organohydrogenpolysiloxane is applied to an uncured silicone gel composition, and, before diffusion occurs, heating is carried out to simultaneously cure both the inside silicone gel composition and the surface layer in which the organohydrogenpolysiloxane has been incorporated, whereby a silicone elastomer layer is formed on the surface of the silicone gel.
However, the method (i) above involves such problems as unsatisfactory adhesion between the silicone gel and the casing, due to rising of the gel into corners of the casing.
Also, the method (ii) has the problem of separation between layers being liable to occur because of insufficient adhesion between the layers.
In the method (iii), the kind and amount of the organohydrogenpolysiloxane having functional groups capable of reacting with the residual functional groups in the silicone gel must be so selected that the organohydrogenpolysiloxane will not remain uncured on the surface of the silicone gel, or there is need for cleaning or wiping after the cure.
According to the method (iv), the silicone gel composition is still in an uncured state when heating is conducted. Therefore, the organohydrogenpolysiloxane applied to the surface of the silicone gel composition is taken into the composition under the effect of convection. As a result, the surface layer may be cured nonuniformly or it may be impossible to obtain a favorable protective layer.

Silicone composite product and process for preparing the same


Microprocessor-based car door locking system includes an electromechanical door lock for elevator car doors having a latch-type rotary solenoid to move a plunger into locked and unlocked positions. In the locked position, the plunger engages a bracket mounted on the elevator car door. The door lock also includes a controller that integrates the door lock into the elevator system and provides failure management for the door lock. The door lock of the present invention does not require power during either the locked or unlocked state.

It is typical for elevator systems to include a door lock mechanism on hoistway doors. The door lock mechanisms on the hoistway doors prevent the hoistway doors from being opened when the elevator car is not at a landing. A majority of the hoistway door locking mechanisms are mechanical and include multiple rollers and moving parts. Such door locking mechanisms require frequent adjustments and are a cause for many callbacks.
In recent years, elevator codes have required locking devices for preventing elevator car doors from opening when the elevator car is not within the door zone. Existing door locks for the elevator car doors are similar to locks used for the hoistway doors and are primarily mechanical. The elevator car door locks also require cumbersome installation procedures and frequent adjustments. Additionally, in the event of failure of the door lock, the elevator controller is not aware of failure.
Another major concern in elevator car door locking mechanisms, besides reliability and adjustability problems, is noise level. Noise is a concern since the door locking mechanism should not be noticeable to the occupants of the elevator car. Power consumption of the door lock is another consideration in designing door locks.